3 Under-the-Radar Twins Prospects to Watch in the Spring Breakout Game

Fans have followed their favorite teams' prospect lists for decades, and MLB finally decided to capitalize on the hype with an event that puts those players in the spotlight. According to MLB.com, “MLB Spring Breakout is a four-day event showcasing baseball’s future: the current stars of Minor League Baseball. The inaugural edition will be held from March 14-17 at Grapefruit and Cactus League stadiums during Spring Training. A series of 16 exhibition games will be played between teams comprised of each MLB organization’s top prospects, creating a new touchpoint on the baseball calendar that celebrates our sport’s budding talent.”

On Saturday, the Twins will host the Rays at Hammond Stadium, with some of baseball’s best prospects scheduled to appear. The estimated start time for the game is 3:05 PM CST. Minnesota fans will get a first opportunity to see Walker Jenkins, the team’s top-ranked prospect, along with other highly-touted talents like Emmanuel Rodríguez, Gabriel González, David Festa, Marco Raya, and Charlee Soto. The entire Spring Breakout roster can be found here, but there are multiple players outside the team's top-10 prospects list to watch during Saturday’s game. Here are three lesser-known prospects worth your close attention.

Kala’i Rosario, OF
TD Prospect Rank: 13
The Twins selected Rosario with their fifth-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, out of high school in Hawaii. Since it was in the middle of the pandemic, it was a strange draft limited to five rounds. However, the Twins found two solid prospects with their last two picks (Marco Raya and Rosario). In 2023, Rosario played the entire season at High-A and hit .252/.364/.467, with 27 doubles, three triples, and 21 home runs. His OPS rose 105 points compared to the 2022 season, and he was two years younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League. Following the season, he was named the Midwest League MVP, as he helped the Kernels win the league’s championship. Defensively, he has limited range even in the corner outfield spots, so it will be critical for him to continue producing on the offensive side of the ball. 

Danny De Andrade, SS
TD Prospect Rank: 15
De Andrade was among the top-ranked prospects during the 2021 international signing period, and the Twins signed the Venezuelan shortstop for $2.2 million. In 105 games in 2023, he hit .244/.354/.396, with 21 doubles, three triples, and 11 home runs for Low-A Fort Myers. Over 98 percent of his plate appearances came against older pitchers; he was one of the youngest players in the Florida State League. In February, I wrote about how ZiPS views him with surprising long-term value. He will likely play most of the upcoming season at Cedar Rapids, and must prove he can stick at shortstop as his body matures. He's at least two years away from MLB, but Saturday will offer fans a chance to get a better idea of what they're waiting for.

Zebby Matthews, RHP
TD Prospect Rank: NR
The current Twins front office loves drafting college pitchers from smaller schools in the middle and late rounds of the draft. Once they identify a player with some latent upside, they bring them into the organization and try to make the necessary tweaks to turn them into a big-leaguer. As an 8th-round pick from the 2022 MLB Draft, Matthews fits the mold. Last season, he posted a 3.84 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP and 9.6 K/9. His fastball typically sits in the mid-90s, and it'll be fascinating to see where his velocity is when asked to pitch one inning in a showcase event. His command is outstanding, with 1.3 BB/9 last season, and he has a chance to pitch at Double-A in 2024.  

What do you hope to see in the team’s first Spring Breakout game? Which prospects do you view as under the radar? Leave a comment to 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!