Twins Minor League Report (8/28): Kala’i Rosario Walk-Off Grand Slam Caps 2-Homer Night

Rosario is going to force himself onto the 40 man roster.  Not sure if the twins have long term plans, if not could definitely be a trade chip to help rebuild the bullpen. 
 

Wowzers on Jimenez. I know it’s A ball but the power looks legit and a great eye at the plate. For being a defensive backstop this offensive performance is drastically changing his outlook. Looks like we got a lot more back than a bag of balls for Paddack like some claimed. 

Rosario is absolutely locked in right now. Good for him! I love it when a player pushes the organization. Make them put you on the 40-man through sheer performance.

How do we feel about Winokur's season? He's been pretty inconsistent this season and has struggled to make contact in Cedar Rapids. He's also only 20 and been moved fairly aggressively. Time to move him off SS for good, maybe let him concentrate on 3B or CF while he works on his hitting?

I'm very high on Morris, but he needs to stay healthy.

6 minutes ago, Dman said:

For a minute there it looked like he was going to go on a heater the end of the year like last year and then he dropped back in August.  July he had an .800 OPS which seemed to indicate he might be ready to move up.  August he is below a .700 OPS with very little power.  His power stroke has left him this month and if you look as his body of work overall this year I don't see how they can promote him.

I don't think it matters where they play him in the field.  He must like being on the dirt or they wouldn't play him there. He's always had contact issues and we all knew hitting the ball consistently was likely going to be a problem for him. It looks like it is going to take time.  Hopefully this isn't another Miller type situation where he just can't identify pitches well enough\make good contact in zone.

Dman -  Ignoring the horrific start he has been a pretty solid.  My baseline was ignoring the 1 month could he be above .250 BA.  He has,.  This month yes down a little on HR but only has 1/2 the walks he has averaged.  Still think thats the law of small numbers.  Honestly I am fine with either direction leave him in high A to start the year or send him up to AA.  His numbers are so much better than Millers.   I am fine with whichever direction they go.  He still has a ton of upside and I expect power numbers to start to increase in the next year or two.   This will all come down to can he make enough improvements on the contact side.  a .286/.360/.481 slash line last month says yes to me even if it is a small sample size (keeping with the Miller comparison in 5 professional years he has never had a month as good as that one).  

We really need a 40 man roster article.  

First look players who will be dropped -  Cabrera, Davis, Misiewicz, Gasper,  Miranda, Vazquez (IL)

Players at risk:  Tonkin, Ohl, Kriske, Hatch, Funderburk, Adams, Julien, Martin, McCusker, Outman, Keirsey

Players who need to be added -  Mendez, Rojas, Schobel, Gonzalez, Fedko, Priellip, Morris, Lewis, Olivar, Rosario, Culpepper 

Maybe Added - Sabato, Holland, Cardenas, Klein, Canterino, Nowlin, Lawyerson, Bowen, Jones

At minimum you need 11 new spots from what I can see.   Plus will need a few spots for new signees (1 to 2 RP and maybe a 1st baseman).  

This will be by far the toughest year on the 40 man.  I think they can manage but we need to start trading a few of the 40 man eligible players consolidate for either better prospect,  more time, or MLB players.  

Both Tait and Jimenez both have looked like the real deal since coming to MN. Small sample size of course, but we'll keep our fingers crossed they can keep this up and become our long term catching duo of the future. I think Rosario has more than earned himself a promotion to AAA. Maybe they call up Fedko to open a spot on the roster. Good to see Morris having success coming off his injury. I always thought he had way too good of stuff to be struggling as much as he had. We have so many SP now, it's going to be interesting to see how they evaluate and sort through everyone. They need to somehow decide who will be a true starter, who will pitch in the pen, who can be long relief. I think they will be doing some piggyback starts to get as many innings for as many starters as they can. 

Everyone has to be excited about those two catchers the Twins got last month.  Not certain who we should be most excited about.  Tait turned 19 two days ago and is performing well at Hi-A.  But Jiminez is tearing the cover off the ball at Fort Myers although I guess we have to consider him a bit old at 19.  [Don't know how to do the smiley face as that comment was tongue in cheek.]  Only problem is that neither will join the Twins until 2027 at the earliest.  That's assuming there is baseball in 2027.

In response to your question regarding the Twins soon having seven starting pitchers, I will refer to something I think Tom Kelly once said.  "You can never have enough starting pitching." 

2 hours ago, rdehring said:

Everyone has to be excited about those two catchers the Twins got last month.  Not certain who we should be most excited about.  Tait turned 19 two days ago and is performing well at Hi-A.  But Jiminez is tearing the cover off the ball at Fort Myers although I guess we have to consider him a bit old at 19.  [Don't know how to do the smiley face as that comment was tongue in cheek.]  Only problem is that neither will join the Twins until 2027 at the earliest.  That's assuming there is baseball in 2027.

In response to your question regarding the Twins soon having seven starting pitchers, I will refer to something I think Tom Kelly once said.  "You can never have enough starting pitching." 

I fully agree.  The Twins now have 3 high ceiling young catchers. 

You have Tait  (19) who has a swing that has the potential to be generational.  A true power bat playing catcher.  There is a few questions on hit hit tool, and more questions on his defense.  You then have Jimenez (21) who is considered a strong defensive catcher with questionable power and hit tool . . . who suddenly morphs into a power hitting, great plate discipline middle of the order player in A ball (Twins can't develop anyone).    Then you have the one most forget about Diaw.  An extremely athletic player with a good bat - questionable D skills but who hit the cover off the ball at high A ball.  He is also 21.  He has a little more injury risk.  

During drafts I have continually stated that the Twins punt on Catcher either thinking they can take someone in the mid to late rounds and make them useable,  or when they do spend decent capital on 1 (like Jeffers) they hit on them they just spend capital on the position very rarely.  Here we spent a 3rd round pick on Diaw, Tait was a major piece in the Duran deal (the highest investment), and Jimenez you found as what was considered a flyer pick and that most on this board balked at as not enough and the Twins shouldn't have got money they should have gotten a better prospect.  Other than Tait they have not spent or used a lot of assets to acquire this depth.  It also takes a lot of risk off the Tait pick.  If he flames out you still have 2 legit other option.    

For me Tait is a top 4 prospect,  Jimenez I think I would slot right around Winokur 15-ish (if he replicates next year easily top 10), and Diaw is around 20 and that is primarily due to his injuries.   

3 hours ago, bunsen82 said:

We really need a 40 man roster article.  

First look players who will be dropped -  Cabrera, Davis, Misiewicz, Gasper,  Miranda, Vazquez (IL)

Players at risk:  Tonkin, Ohl, Kriske, Hatch, Funderburk, Adams, Julien, Martin, McCusker, Outman, Keirsey

Players who need to be added -  Mendez, Rojas, Schobel, Gonzalez, Fedko, Priellip, Morris, Lewis, Olivar, Rosario, Culpepper 

Maybe Added - Sabato, Holland, Cardenas, Klein, Canterino, Nowlin, Lawyerson, Bowen, Jones

At minimum you need 11 new spots from what I can see.   Plus will need a few spots for new signees (1 to 2 RP and maybe a 1st baseman).  

This will be by far the toughest year on the 40 man.  I think they can manage but we need to start trading a few of the 40 man eligible players consolidate for either better prospect,  more time, or MLB players.  

I'm sure we'll get one (or a dozen) in about a month. There's still all of September to consider.

Drops don't usually happen unless there is an add so I'd group them by priority.

Players who need to be added - Gonzalez, Prielipp, Rojas, Morris, Mendez, Culpepper. Don't dump your top 30 prospects, especially when they're in AA/AAA.

Maybe added - Schobel, Fedko, Rosario, Cardenas, Olivar. I think they could find a trade partner for Fedko (someone who wants to be able to option him) and add Rosario. I doubt they add Cardenas or Olivar or one would be catching right now instead of Mickey Gasper. Schobel and Rosario could get drafted, but can they stick on a roster for a whole season?

Free agents: Christian Vazquez, Genesis Cabrera

Marginal out-of-options relievers - Hatch, Kriske, Tonkin, Misiewicz, Davis

Marginal out-of-options position players - Julien, Miranda, Outman

That's 10 open spots.

Could be non-tendered/cut without worrying: Keirsey, McCusker, Fitzgerald, Gasper

Trade bait: Larnach

That's 15 open spots without even thinking about marginal relievers with options (Ohl, Adams, Funderburk), Kody Clemens or Austin Martin. They have 2 players on the 60-day IL which will reduce that to 13 spots.

4 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I'm sure we'll get one (or a dozen) in about a month. There's still all of September to consider.

Drops don't usually happen unless there is an add so I'd group them by priority.

Players who need to be added - Gonzalez, Prielipp, Rojas, Morris, Mendez, Culpepper. Don't dump your top 30 prospects, especially when they're in AA/AAA.

Maybe added - Schobel, Fedko, Rosario, Cardenas, Olivar. I think they could find a trade partner for Fedko (someone who wants to be able to option him) and add Rosario. I doubt they add Cardenas or Olivar or one would be catching right now instead of Mickey Gasper. Schobel and Rosario could get drafted, but can they stick on a roster for a whole season?

Free agents: Christian Vazquez, Genesis Cabrera

Marginal out-of-options relievers - Hatch, Kriske, Tonkin, Misiewicz, Davis

Marginal out-of-options position players - Julien, Miranda, Outman

That's 10 open spots.

Could be non-tendered/cut without worrying: Keirsey, McCusker, Fitzgerald, Gasper

Trade bait: Larnach

That's 15 open spots without even thinking about marginal relievers with options (Ohl, Adams, Funderburk), Kody Clemens or Austin Martin. They have 2 players on the 60-day IL which will reduce that to 13 spots.

True,  but you just cut 6 RP  in your scenario LOL.  4 who are currently on the team.  You would have to replace those either internally, through acquisition or off season signings.  

4 hours ago, Dman said:

Man Rosario with an 1,190 OPS almost 1.200 for August with 10 HR's this month.  Absolute monster level numbers as he passes McCusker (22) and looks to catch and Fedko (26) for the HR lead.  If you would have told me he would have an .860 OPS after he put up a .500 OPS the month of April I wouldn't have believed it.  Just shows you how good he has been since April. There isn't much separating him from Fedko other than one bad month early in the year.  There's going to be some tough 40 man decisions this year.

Morris must have heard me complaining about his K rate, lol. I guess he showed me.  That was elite stuff he had last night and the pitching line showed just how dominate he was 1 hit, no walks and 8K's in 4 innings work.  I might have to chew on my put him in the pen comments.  More of that and he is gonna be hanging with Matthews again.

To me Morris looks like a perfect candidate to turn into a power bullpen arm

23 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

True,  but you just cut 6 RP  in your scenario LOL.  4 who are currently on the team.  You would have to replace those either internally, through acquisition or off season signings.  

Go get some minor league free agents and pick the best ones. Move a couple of the SP prospects who can't make the rotation into the bullpen.

Pitchers sorted oldest to youngest (numbers from Fangraphs, may not be up to date as of 8/29)

David Festa 25.5

Zebby Matthews 25.3

Simeon Woods Richardson 24.9 (out of options 2026)

Connor Prielipp 24.6

Taj Bradley 24.4

Mick Abel 24.0

Andrew Morris 24.0

CJ Culpepper 23.8

Marco Raya 23.1

Kendry Rojas 22.8

The Twins need some minor league depth with options, but do they need 8 starters in the minors?

1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

Go get some minor league free agents and pick the best ones. Move a couple of the SP prospects who can't make the rotation into the bullpen.

Pitchers sorted oldest to youngest (numbers from Fangraphs, may not be up to date as of 8/29)

David Festa 25.5

Zebby Matthews 25.3

Simeon Woods Richardson 24.9 (out of options 2026)

Connor Prielipp 24.6

Taj Bradley 24.4

Mick Abel 24.0

Andrew Morris 24.0

CJ Culpepper 23.8

Marco Raya 23.1

Kendry Rojas 22.8

The Twins need some minor league depth with options, but do they need 8 starters in the minors?

There is lots of moving parts and 8 starting pitching options is to much.  Need to move to bullpen,  trade them . . . or open mor starting pitching spots (ie. trading Lopez and/or Ryan).  I am really struggling to envision how it would work trading a Ryan.  

17 hours ago, mark sills said:

Andrew Morris was pitcher of the day. Looked awesome. two strike outs each inning. 

Morris may need a little more movement on his pitches and a great changeup would help, but he should have already used up all of the ****** broken bat hits allowed in one career. He has consistently been 96-98 mph with well placed FB, so there is a path for him as a solid pitcher. The run yesterday scored on a hit just beyond the second baseman and the WP was a low pitch the catcher simply missed, it never hit the dirt; an easy call for a PB. In any event, despite too many hits given up this year Morris remains a very impressive prospect. I do not place anyone above him.

41 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

I think Winokur's performance has been pretty solid. We knew he was drafted as a great athlete and that he was raw, but to this point, he's more than held his own. He's not maybe as smooth/natural as Walker Jenkins, so him moving one level per season is fast enough. He's filled out the stat sheet nicely. 

He did say recently that he prefers 3B to SS, but he's done a very nice job at SS and I think they need to keep playing him there and keep him athletic enough to do it. He's pretty smooth. And he's fine in CF too. But offensively, I'm very encouraged. And he's just getting better. 

I watch way too much minor league baseball and love Winokur. He is a classic one level per year advancement player. He has amazing physical skills and if he can harness the swing to create more consistent contact he is a star at shortstop, third base, centerfield, or wherever the manager places him. I cannot think of anyone more athletic. Patience will be necessary with Winokur .... 2028.

5 hours ago, cheeseheadgophfan said:

To me Morris looks like a perfect candidate to turn into a power bullpen arm

Maybe even Sands, who hit 97 MPH on Wednesday. Curiously, SWR hit 96 in the same game. Though I'm not a Sands fan, when he stays ahead in the count, he's pretty impressive.

16 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I think Winokur's performance has been pretty solid. We knew he was drafted as a great athlete and that he was raw, but to this point, he's more than held his own. He's not maybe as smooth/natural as Walker Jenkins, so him moving one level per season is fast enough. He's filled out the stat sheet nicely. 

He did say recently that he prefers 3B to SS, but he's done a very nice job at SS and I think they need to keep playing him there and keep him athletic enough to do it. He's pretty smooth. And he's fine in CF too. But offensively, I'm very encouraged. And he's just getting better. 

I see Miguel Andujar as a possible future comp - 1B/3B/OF utility player.

23 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

I watch way too much minor league baseball and love Winokur. He is a classic one level per year advancement player. He has amazing physical skills and if he can harness the swing to create more consistent contact he is a star at shortstop, third base, centerfield, or wherever the manager places him. I cannot think of anyone more athletic. Patience will be necessary with Winokur .... 2028.

He might end up being a better defensive version of Willi Castro.

On 8/29/2025 at 5:56 PM, tony&rodney said:

I watch way too much minor league baseball and love Winokur. He is a classic one level per year advancement player. He has amazing physical skills and if he can harness the swing to create more consistent contact he is a star at shortstop, third base, centerfield, or wherever the manager places him. I cannot think of anyone more athletic. Patience will be necessary with Winokur .... 2028.

All he has to do is take a leap to consistently contact pitches in the zone. He may do that in ‘26 or ‘27…. When he does, he will be in St.Paul and building his  resume. 

Winokur is so young but so athletically strong. Definitely a freak of nature so when he actually develops man strength, wow! Look out.  It makes sense to move him around the defensive spectrum when he is 20-22 years old so he can see the game from different perspectives. He will find a D-home and when(not if), when he finds his discerning eye at the plate, he will light up the minors and force his way to MLB. 
Playing his 21 yo season NEXT year in A+ ball to start, he will still be a year younger than the average guy in A+. He will and should stay there until he starts to crush his contract rate. He has 1k PA’s in pro ball so his sample size is still relatively small. He will develop. Like others have stated, just takes some time.