Matthew Lenz

On an all-new From Lee to Limestone, Matthew Lenz led Five Questions with Anthony Prato. Prato was drafted in 2019 from UConn and is currently playing at Double-A Wichita. Find out what adjustments he's made, how comfortable he feels playing around the diamond, his goals for 2023 and much more. View full video

Typically the phrase “Availability is the Best Ability” is used when referencing a player's health. In fact, this was a phrase uttered again and again as a reason to extend Jose Berríos, who we could rely on for 190 plus innings a year. Alas, Berríos is in Toronto and the current Twins regime has placed value in a different type of availability in their time with the Twins. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge The Twins Front Office has made it a point of having players on their roster who can handle multiple positions. From Ehire Adrianza when they first took over, to signing Marwin Gonzalez ahead of 2019, and more recently signing the likes of Kyle Farmer, Donovan Solano, and Joey Gallo. Maybe a better example of the value a multi-positional player can bring is former first round pick Nick Gordon, who played multiple infield and outfield positions last season. Not surprisingly, you can find this throughout the Twins Minor League system as well. Jose Miranda was a utility infielder, Austin Martin has playing time at three positions, and even top prospect Royce Lewis was moving around the diamond prior to his second ACL tear in 2022. This regime clearly values players who can make themselves available to play multiple positions. Enter Anthony Prato. The 24-year-old prospect has found himself playing every position aside from pitcher, catcher, and center field. A 7th round pick out of the University of Connecticut in 2019, Prato is yet another success story from a draft that includes Matt Wallner, Brent Headrick, Louie Varland, and Edouard Julien – all guys who have already contributed to the Major League club in 2023. But calling him just a super-utility player would be selling him short…after all, you aren’t named a 2022 Organization All-Star by MiLB.com "just" because you can play six positions. Prato can HIT. In his first three Minor League seasons, Prato has boasted a .772 OPS, including a .380 OBP (!!!) and 64 extra-base hits across 972 plate appearances. His power is a work in progress but it’s inarguably coming along by evidence of hitting 10 home runs in 2022 when he entered the season with just two round trippers to his name. If that isn’t proof enough of the developing skill, check out this bomb where the opposing Left Fielder didn’t even move other than to get a better view of the moonshot. In addition to his on-base ability and developing power Prato is a threat on the base paths, stealing 22 bases in 2022 and already notching one steal in 2023. I wouldn’t put it past him to notch a 15-15 season this year which was something only 102, or 2.5%, of Minor Leaguers accomplished last season. By adding more power to his game in 2023, Prato hopes to be added to the Twins 40-man roster ahead of the next Rule 5 Draft. For fans familiar with the Twins Minor League system and the Rule 5 Draft, I think we can agree that the Twins were very lucky to keep him in the 2022 iteration of the draft. He’ll be forcing the Twins hand if he puts up a wRC+ of 119 or better in the 2023 season. Even if the power stays where it’s at, a .444 SLG was good for 9th in the organization in 2022, we know this regime loves players who make themselves available at multiple positions. Anthony Prato does just that. To learn more about Anthony Prato, including his favorite pizza spot in New York City (yes, he grew up a Yankees fan…we forgive him?), please check out the eight minute interview embedded at the top of this article. View full article

Pablo Lopez inked a four-year, $73MM deal establishing as a top option for the Twins for the length of the contract. Was the deal good for both sides and what does it mean for the rotation moving forward? View full video

Shortstop has taken quite a hit early on with Carlos Correa dealing with back spasms and Kyle Farmer taking a fastball to the face. Who is available to fill-in until one or both are healthy? View full video

2nd annual Lenz family Opening Day! Weather was great (in LF, at least), Target Field’s facelift looked good, and a Sonny Gray was on fire! Good to see you at the pregame party!

This is a head scratching observation more than analysis and anger, but through six games Joey Gallo has been used as a platoon at first base. Is that role really playing to his strengths and what’s best for the team? View full video

The Twins start the season 3-0 and while some areas are all sunshine and rainbows (looking at you, starters) other areas leave more to be desired (looking at you, Max Kepler). Is it too soon to look at some changes? View full video

Let’s look back at the off-season that was, and look ahead to the season that will be. View full video

Rocco Baldelli told reporters that Buxton will be the primary DH to start the season as they build him up in center field. The sky surely isn’t falling but this isn’t great news for a team coming off two disappointing season. What impact will this have on the club on both sides of the ball? View full video

Recently, Derek Falvey made comments regarding the possibility of utilizing a 6-man rotation. The Twins surely have depth at starting pitching, but do they have the health and in-game management belief system in place to make it feasible? View full video

The new pitch clock is going to be an adjustment for everyone. Which Twins reliever averages 26 seconds between pitches? Who works the quickest? Watch to find out. View full video

Spring Training is under way and there are three main storylines to key in on ahead of Opening Day. View full video

Every year baseball prospectus releases their PECOTA percentile data. This video looks at three of the findings for pitchers and hitters of the 2023 Minnesota Twins. View full video