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In the 2016 edition of the Twins Prospect Handbook, Cody, Seth and I took a look at how the team's prospect list could look twelve months from now.
This is the lead-in from the book:
"Since the Twins Prospect Handbook became a joint-effort four years ago, the Twins have always had a consensus top prospect. With Byron Buxton narrowly avoiding losing the “prospect” label, this winter will be more of the same.
But a year from now Buxton will have shed the label. If Jose Berrios continues to pitch the way he has been the last two seasons, he’ll lose the label as well. Southern League MVP Max Kepler? It’s probably fair to say he’ll get the big-league at-bats that will prohibit him from heading up the prospect list next year as well.
Fortunately for the Twins (and their fans), the cupboard is far from bare and we’re going to look into our prospect crystal ball and determine who is - or could be - finding their name on the top of the list next winter."
While we don't want to give away too much of what the article talks about in the book, we do encourage you to think about what your Top 10 could look like a year from now.
It's probably safe to assume that the consensus Top 3 Twins prospects who were mentioned above - Buxton, Berrios, Kepler - will graduate from prospect-status. So who fills that void?
Let's take a look at the names that might top that list:
Nick Gordon, SS - Gordon impressed in his first full-season and seemed to answer those that had questions about his ability to stick at shortstop. Now he heads back to his home state with a chance to ascend up national prospect lists.
Jorge Polanco, SS/2B - There are still plenty of questions about Polanco's defensive home and there is increasing belief that he'll end up at second base. But his bat is for real and Twins fans have seen glimpses of that in his brief MLB stints. Out of options after the season and blocked by Brian Dozier, Polanco best chance to break into the bigs probably is in a different organization. Not a bad chip to have, though, especially when he could top this list next year.
Tyler Jay, LHP; Kohl Stewart, RHP; Stephen Gonsalves, LHP - Depending on what list you're looking at, you're likely to find these three in some order in the bottom half of the Top 10. Any of them could make a Berrios-type climb up the charts. And who you think tops that list is a matter of preference. Is it Jay? Last year's first round pick who was drafted and considered the most likely of all draftees to reach the big leagues? Or maybe it's Stewart. The high-ceiling, former QB who has the potential to throw four plus-pitches, but hasn't been striking guys out? You can't forget Gonsalves, the lefty that's been dominating each level that he has pitched.
Who else would you put in consideration? If you've read the Prospect Handbook, you might even notice that Seth's guess to top the list was not mentioned above.
Though we love our prospects here, MLB Network's radio host (and Mets fans) Casey Stern famously said before the trade deadline last year, "Prospects are cool. Parades are cooler." Could it be that the Twins turn their attention to a parade this July and move prospects. (I think we can all agree on the likelihood of that.)
Look into your prospect crystal ball. What do you see?
Are you optimistic about the Twins right now?
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
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