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    Five Tools, One Question: Where Does Twins Prospect Brandon Winokur Belong?

    The young Twins prospect continues to flash tantalizing tools while working to refine his bat and settle into a long-term position.
    Cody Christie

    By Cody Christie

    Image courtesy of © Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

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    When the Twins selected Brandon Winokur in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft, they knew they were betting on upside. The California prep star came with plenty of athleticism, raw strength, and projection, but also a fair share of uncertainty about where he’d eventually fit on the diamond. Two years later, that description still feels accurate.

    At 6-foot-6, Winokur is one of the most physically imposing athletes in the Twins’ system. His combination of power, speed, and arm strength makes him a standout during any workout. What remains to be seen is where he will use those tools most effectively. Since turning pro, he has split time between shortstop, third base, and center field, all while showing flashes of potential at each spot.

    “Third base, short, center—it doesn’t really matter to me,” Winokur said recently. “As long as I’m in the lineup, I’m happy. It’s actually kind of fun to look up before the game and see which spot I’m playing that day.”

    While many evaluators assume that a player of Winokur’s size will eventually move off shortstop, he isn’t ready to give up on that dream. “There’s no reason I can’t play shortstop or third base long term,” he said. “If I keep working and improving, I think my size can actually help me make plays that smaller guys can’t.”

    That kind of confidence isn’t misplaced. History has shown that taller infielders can thrive with the right combination of athleticism and work ethic. Cal Ripken Jr. (6-foot-4) redefined the shortstop position for bigger players, while Corey Seager (6-foot-4) and Elly De La Cruz (6-foot-5) have continued to prove that height doesn’t have to be a disadvantage on the dirt. If Winokur’s defensive instincts and footwork continue to develop, he could follow a similar path.

    At the plate, the 20-year-old’s raw talent is just as intriguing. During his first full professional season, he launched 14 home runs, stole 23 bases, and posted a 118 wRC+ as a teenager in the Florida State League. This past season with High-A Cedar Rapids, those totals climbed to 17 homers and 26 steals, but his wRC+ dropped to 97. He was over two years younger than the competition at his level and faced older pitchers in all but 18 of his plate appearances. 

    Even so, the Twins and Winokur know there’s room to grow when it comes to consistent contact. In his pro debut, he had a 32.4 K% which he improved to 28% during the 2024 season. Last season, he made even greater improvements by posting a 24.8 K% in a career-high 529 plate appearances. After hitting .204 with a .670 OPS through June, he rebounded to .258 with a .727 OPS the rest of the way, cutting down his swings and misses in the process (23.1 K%).

    “Reducing strikeouts was a big focus going into the season,” Winokur explained. “The Twins really pushed me to put the ball in play more, especially with two strikes. That work definitely paid off as the year went on.”

    This fall, Winokur is suiting up for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, where his attention remains on refining his swing mechanics and unlocking more of his raw power. His combination of size, athleticism, and competitive drive continues to make him one of the more fascinating prospects in the Twins organization. Currently, Twins Daily ranks him as the organization’s 12th best prospect. 

    Whether his long-term defensive home ends up being shortstop, third base, or the outfield, the tools are there for Winokur to make an impact. For now, the Twins will let him keep exploring all his options, and that’s exactly how he likes it.

    What will be Winokur’s long-term defensive home? Can he stick on the infield even at his height? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

    Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!

    View Twins Top Prospects
    Cody Christie is a Twins writer and content contributor. His writing can be found exclusively at Twins Daily and his voice can be heard on radio stations throughout the Upper Midwest. Outside of the Twins, he is a father, high school teacher, and avid runner.
    Follow Cody Christie on Twitter: nodaktwinsfan

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    tony&rodney

    tony&rodney 16,948

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    3 hours ago, Schmoeman5 said:

    "Don't bet on Winokur but, really, dont bet against him." So really, just dont bet then. That way you can't be wrong.

    You silly goose. It's not about being right .... or wrong. I never for even a second believe my opinions are facts. In case I used upsetting or triggering words, I shall try again. 

    Brandon Winokur is an unknown. His talent and potential are off the charts. It is a mistake  to judge him now on his messy skills. 

    Maybe an off the cuff example might help (or not). Whereas guys like Paul Skenes or David Winfield to name two fellows have off the charts talents, they also have off the chart skills. Sandy Koufax had off the chart talent but his skills were years in the making. I'll let statheads look up the data but it seems like he toiled for 5-6 years before his emergence as the best pitcher in baseball. Not a clean example and anyone is free to poke holes or scream objections, but merely an attempt to explain that there are people whose talents are raw and the skills are slow to develop.

    EGFTShaw

    EGFTShaw 682

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    A lot of comments.
    A lot of MN Twins, better not get too excited comments. (and if you look at the history, rightfully so)

    As anyone who have tortured themselves and read my posts you will notice I tend towards optimism and potential.

    EXCEPT, what makes me nervous is not the overall history of MLB with tall athletic guys, (by the many people forget that Dave Winfield was drafted in MLB, NFL, NBA and ABA; unicorn my a$$, this guy was god's gift to Gophers Athletics), but the history of the Twins organization to develop hitters.

    But with nothing to lose, I am going to bet on the upside.

    I'll save my disappointment for later.

    bean5302

    bean5302 9,277

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Winokur is going to look awkward. He's super tall and lanky which is going to make his movement look slow and awkward as his stride length and speed will be dramatically different from your typical 6'0" SS. Being 6'6" tall means he's going to need to stay very low so he can overcome the leverage his height will have in inertia.

    I'm glad to see everybody at TD has already slotted every SS prospect in as a future MVP and all that, but it's pretty rare to see them work out in reality. Especially with a team that doesn't know how to coach fundamental defense.

    twinstalker

    twinstalker 761

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Not sure what the fascination is with this guy.  He hasn't shown anything.  At some point one of these bad prospects on the Twins or elsewhere will defy the odds and suddenly get good out of nowhere.  But you can be 99% on any player like this he won't ever be anything...despite hitting well in the Twins AA/AAA parks,  Don't be fooled again.

    tony&rodney

    tony&rodney 16,948

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    6 minutes ago, twinstalker said:

    Not sure what the fascination is with this guy.  He hasn't shown anything.  At some point one of these bad prospects on the Twins or elsewhere will defy the odds and suddenly get good out of nowhere.  But you can be 99% on any player like this he won't ever be anything...despite hitting well in the Twins AA/AAA parks,  Don't be fooled again.

    Can I ask - How many times have you watched Brandon Winokur play baseball? 

    "....you can be 99% on any player like this he won't ever be anything...." - from the comment.

    Can you name another player you have seen who is arguably the biggest, fastest, strongest, and most coordinated guy in an organization? There just aren't any other players like him in the Twins system.

    Winokur is a complete unicorn, one of a kind athlete. His talent is off the charts but his skills have yet to reach the levels expected to move him more than one level per year and Winokur may need to repeat a level too. It is why he is still used as a shortstop, why he gets picked to play in the Arizona Fall League, and why his name is always in the lineup. He didn't receive the highest bonus money but his potential is what all teams drool over and hope to develop. There isn't any hurry and if he never makes it in baseball that doesn't mean he doesn't have the talent or that an organization shouldn't seek to polish that stone. Think Elly De La Cruz. Then again, Cruz has people who don't like him .... go figure.

    If you haven't watched Winokur play, treat yourself to a couple dozen of his games via milb.com or go watch him in person several times. If you watch one game you may see a tall gangly kid doing not much or you may see the talent and wonder if he can be pushed up the ladder faster. Winokur is a work in progress. He is young.



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