Part 6: Seth's Midseason Top 40 Twins Prospects (1-5)

I don’t think there are any major surprises in this grouping. The top four players are the same four players I had in the preseason. And my preseason #6 moved up to #5 with Tyler Jay’s move to the bullpen and a couple of injuries. The order of your top four may vary. I’d be curious how you have them ranked and why.

And as is the case with all prospect rankings, only time will tell what they become, but these are five worth watching closely

5. Lewin Diaz, 1B, 20

The Twins signed the burly first baseman in July of 2013 out of the Dominican Republic for $1.4 million. He spent 2014 in the Dominican Summer League. He began 2015 in the GCL before finishing in Elizabethton. That’s where he spent 2016, and he responded by being the Twins Daily short season minor league hitter of the year. He has been a force so far this season with the Kernels. He has hit .292/.329/.516 (.844) through the team’s first 50 games. He has a Twins organization-leading 20 doubles so far to go with seven home runs. As impressive for the 20-year-old has been, his strikeout rate is right around 15% which is terrific. He has his moments around first base, but he certainly has the ability to be more than adequate with the glove. Doubles are a good indicator of future power, and ultimately Diaz’s value to the Twins will be in his power.

Preseason Ranking: 6

4. Alex Kirilloff, OF, 19

Kirilloff was the Twins first-round pick in 2016, the fifteenth overall selection. At Plum HS near Pittsburgh, he played center field, first base and did a bit of pitching. However, it was his bat that got him noticed and drafted so high. Upon signing, he was sent to Elizabethton where he hit .306 with nine doubles and seven homers in 55 games. However, late in the season, he left a game holding his left elbow. This spring, he had Tommy John surgery and will miss the full season. It certainly is not unprecedented for a position player to have elbow surgery. Look no further than the Twins’ Miguel Sano. And if there is an organization that has plenty of people to talk to about the surgery, it is the Twins who have had many. Kirilloff can hit, and while he’ll need to adjust again next spring, he should be able to put up some offensive numbers, including power. Defensively, he profiles as a right fielder who could be a first base option down the line.

Preseason Ranking: 3

3. Fernando Romero, RHP, 23

Speaking of Tommy John survivors, Romero is on that list. He returned in mid-May of last year after missing nearly two years due to the surgery (and a subsequent knee injury). When he returned, he immediately shot up prospect rankings because of his big fastball (98+), really dominant breaking pitches, general control and performance. Romero was added to the Twins 40-man roster after last season. After his time in big league camp, he was sent to Chattanooga where it’s been a bit of a mixed bag, but his prospect status remains high. He is 4-5 with a 3.63 ERA in ten appearances (nine starts, and his one relief appearance was starting a suspended game). In 52 innings, he has given up 49 hits, walked 22 and struck out 49 batters. Some think he could be a decent contributor in the Twins bullpen now, but they need to build up his innings to be a starter as he has the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter.

Preseason Ranking: 2

Pre-2016 Ranking: 27

Pre-2015 Ranking: 25

2. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, 22

Gonsalves was the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2016 (and Twins Daily’s Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year) when he went a combined 13-5 with a 2.31 ERA between Ft. Myers and Chattanooga. It was his dominance of AA that really opened a lot of eyes. Gonsalves was the Twins fourth-round draft pick in 2013 out of high school near San Diego. He has gradually and consistently worked his way up the system, experiencing a lot of success along the way. While Gonsalves doesn’t light up the radar gun like Romero, he is a very smart pitcher who understands how to work opposing batters. He was invited to big league spring training and performed well in very limited opportunity before experiencing the same issue in the back of his left shoulder that he had in the Arizona Fall League last year. He has made three starts in Chattanooga of late and pitched well. In 17 innings, he has given up 11 hits, walked two and struck out 18 batters. As his velocity returns this summer, he should also move up to Rochester, and maybe even some big league time.

Preseason Ranking: 1

Pre-2016 Ranking: 6

Pre-2015 Ranking: 15

Pre-2014 Ranking: 13

1. Nick Gordon, SS, 21

Gordon came to the Twins as their first-round draft pick in 2014 out of high school in Orlando. He went straight to Elizabethton. He spent 2015 in Cedar Rapids and 2016 with the Miracle and Ft. Myers. Following his 2016 season, he went to the Arizona Fall League and his status really took a step forward. He hit .346 (.862) and played a lot of shortstop. He was invited to big league camp. I talked to him shortly after he was sent back to minor league camp, and he was glowing, talking about the confidence he had gained from the Fall League and his time in big league camp. He was expecting a strong season. So far, so good. Through his first 49 games, he has hit .306/.377/.490 (.867). He split time early in the season, playing about 2/3 of his games at shortstop and 1/3 of his games at second base, but since Engelb Vielma was sent to Rochester, Gordon has been playing exclusively shortstop.His offense has taken a step forward. His defense has taken a step forward. Gordon’s game has become quite well-rounded and he could be ready to start for the Twins within the next 12-14 months.

Preseason Ranking: 4

Pre-2016 Ranking: 4

Pre-2015 Ranking: 4

So there you have it, a quick (six-part) review of my personal midseason (pre-draft) Top 40 Prospect rankings and how those guys have done through the All Star break this year. If you missed any of the previous rankings, you can find them here:

Part 1: Prospects 31-40

Part 2: Prospects 21-30

Part 3: Prospects 16-20

Part 4: Prospects 11-15

Part 5: Prospects 6-10

Feel free to discuss any of these prospects and ask any questions that you may have. Of course, we also welcome your Top 10 or 20 prospect rankings as well.

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!