Nick Nelson

This sentiment is so odd to me when literally zero of the 30 major-league teams have any interest in signing Bauer.

I assumed people are aware of Clevinger's negative rep, which goes well beyond the domestic abuse allegations from last year. He's a clown, there are plenty of examples. Remember the time he screwed his team over by breaking COVID protocol? Remember the time he publicly ripped Jorge Polanco for being a PED user because he gave up a home run to him? Remember the time he almost started a brawl because he felt Dom Smith rounded the bases too slow on him? (It happened in his third-most recent start!) There you go. Evidence!

Minnesota's lone offseason rotation addition and their projected No. 5 starter is already facing health uncertainty. If the Twins are able find some coins under the couch cushion, could they make a late final addition to bolster the starting staff? Image courtesy of Orlando Ramirez, Brad Mills, Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports The Twins haven't exactly had great luck in acquiring starters with known health concerns; Tyler Mahle and Chris Paddack being banner examples. So it wasn't terribly surprising to hear that Anthony DeSclafani, who missed the second half last year with an elbow injury, has experienced renewed soreness while throwing in camp, putting him behind schedule in his build-up. The Twins are saying they still expect DeSclafani to be ready for Opening Day. We'll see. But their starting pitching safety net is already starting to look shaky. Last year their rotation thrived in part because layers of depth enabled them to endure a major mid-season injury (Mahle) without missing a beat. If DeSclafani can't rebound, the Twins are burning that contingency already by elevating Louie Varland into the rotation, and the depth behind him is entirely unproven. Knowing how much this front office enjoys having those layers of experienced depth, and how pivotal this element was to the team's success last year, it's easy to see the appeal of adding another MLB starter with the season opener still three weeks away. Of course, there's a sticking point, because we also know the front office appears to be right up against an ownership-imposed spending cap. The good news (for them) is that supply seems to be outweighing demand at this late juncture of the offseason. Quite a few starters are still looking for jobs, and if they want to have any chance at building up to be ready at the start of the season, they need to get into camps ASAP. That might mean accepting low-dollar guarantees or even minor-league contracts. From MLB's free agent tracker, here's a list of noteworthy remaining names in free agency. I'm skipping Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, given that Joe Pohlad explicitly ruled out that type of signing, but with Scott Boras and the Twins you never know. I'm also skipping Trevor Bauer, because, nah. (If you feel inclined to bring his name up in the comments, please, don't. It's not happening.) Here are 11 names worth keeping an eye on in the remaining free agent pool. Zack Greinke: At last check he was still preparing to pitch this year, coming off an ugly age-39 season with the Royals. Twins came close to signing him ahead of the 2022 season. Michael Lorenzen: A clear-cut mid-rotation arm, but he did make the All-Star Game last year. Twins reportedly showed interest in him earlier in the offseason. Could they circle back? Mike Clevinger: Pitched pretty well for the White Sox last year and has Derek Falvey ties from Cleveland. But his stuff hasn't been the same since Tommy John surgery in 2021, and his personality probably doesn't fit the clubhouse vibe Falvey's trying to build. Rich Hill: Threw 146 innings last year at age 43, though his effectiveness waned. Has history with the Twins, for whom he was very effective in the shortened 2020 season. He might be a better candidate to keep an eye on as a midseason addition. As Hill admitted last October: “I have a pretty good gauge and a monitor on my body. And I think half a season is much more palatable than a full season.” Johnny Cueto: As of early February he was still looking for a gig. Might be open a minor-league contract at this point. Cueto was horrible last year but quite good for the White Sox in 2022 after signing a week into the season. Noah Syndergaard: Perhaps the most intriguing name on this list. Syndergaard is still only 31 and was a legit frontliner in the early stage of his career. The fact he's still available suggests teams aren't buying into a comeback (or he's stubborn on a high price tag) but on a low-risk deal he'd offer some exciting lighting-in-a-bottle upside. Jake Odorizzi: Coming off a missed season due to shoulder surgery, Odorizzi showcased his progress for teams recently and the Twins were among those in attendance. Like with Hill, there's history of a successful partnership here. Brad Keller: After a promising start to his career with the Royals, he's posted a 5.14 ERA in the past three seasons and struggled with major shoulder issues last year. But he's only 28 and should be available on a minors deal. Dallas Keuchel: Had some fun moments during his time with the Twins last year, although it required a lot of batted-ball luck, as he showed no remaining ability to induce whiffs. Keuchel continues to grind in efforts to keep his career going. Matthew Boyd and Vince Velasquez: I mention them because the Twins have a history of signing guys who are recovering from Tommy John surgery (i.e. Michael Pineda and Brock Stewart). Both Boyd and Velasquez underwent elbow surgery midway through 2023 and won't be available until the second half at the earliest. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the remaining free agent market. Do any of these names do anything for you on a low-stakes deal? Or are you comfortable enough with the starting pitching depth as is? View full article

https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=2B

The Twins front office under Derek Falvey has gradually whittled away all of the quality talent they inherited in the middle infield, trading two All-Stars and a former top draft pick within the past year or so. And yet, as the organization charts a new future at second base, its prospect-driven outlook is as bright as ever. Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports In 2022, the following three players combined to start 156 of 162 games for the Twins at second base: Jorge Polanco, Luis Arraez, Nick Gordon. One season later, all three holdovers from the previous regime are gone, as the front office embeds its own wave of talent in planning at second base. This position was among the defining strengths for the Twins offense in 2023, ranking second among American League teams in wOBA and fWAR, behind only the world champion Texas Rangers. Can they maintain that advantage this year? TWINS SECOND BASEMEN AT A GLANCE Starter: Edouard Julien Backup: Kyle Farmer Depth: Willi Castro, Austin Martin, Michael Helman Prospects: Brooks Lee, Tanner Schobel, Luke Keaschall Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 3rd out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 14th out of 30 THE GOOD Julien is legit. That much is impossible to deny after he carried over his impeccable offensive track record to the major leagues. He ranked seventh in the AL Rookie of the Year voting by slashing .263/.381/.459 in 109 games during his first go with the Twins. Unfazed by the big lights of October, the newcomer even posted a 1.043 OPS in the playoffs. Regression always has to be considered a factor for sophomore big-leaguers coming off monster partial rookie seasons – especially one who rose out of relative obscurity like Julien. But it's getting harder and harder to doubt the former 18th-round draft pick; he literally produces everywhere. Aside from an elbow injury that sidelined him for a year, there have been no real lapses since he joined the pro ranks. Julien's signature skill – unparalleled discipline at plate – has proven viable at every level, keeping pitchers on the defensive. This isn't to say Julien is a perfect offensive player. He does strike out a lot and benefitted from a .371 BABIP as a rookie. He needs to be executing on his plan to punish pitches in the zone in order for his approach to fully pay off. But he's already shown enough power put himself on another tier of upside compared to Arraez, and Julien should be viewed as a top-of-the-lineup cornerstone in the same way Arraez was. At least, against right-handed pitching. As good as he is against righties, Julien is pretty much unplayable against left-handers. He slashed .196/.229/.217 versus southpaws as a rookie after posting a .649 OPS against them in the minors the previous year. So it's very handy to have Farmer on hand as a platoon-mate with a reliable veteran glove and .825 career OPS vs. LHP. This is a strong setup out of the gates. How long it remains in place will be dictated by health, Julien's glove, and how hard the prospects are pushing from below. Specifically, Lee is trending toward an MLB debut by midseason after wrapping up 2023 in Triple-A. With third base and shortstop now occupied indefinitely, second base currently looks like the best path for the switch-hitting top prospect, whose glove would almost surely be superior to Julien's. At that point, first base or designated hitter become possible destinations for the latter. Down the line, the Twins have a pair of other promising talents rising through their system, with Schobel and Keaschall drafted out of college in the second rounds of successive drafts. The two sit at No. 10 and 11 in Twins Daily's preseason prospect rankings as they prepare to conquer the high minors. In short, the pipeline is loaded at this position. THE BAD Minnesota's front office traded away a great deal of established quality in their overhaul at second base. Arraez is a star and Polanco was an extremely consistent producer when on the field. Even Gordon had shown an ability to deliver value in the majors. The Twins have shipped these veteran players out while investing their future at second largely in the unknown. Farmer is the most proven commodity of the current crop but he's a backup-caliber player, turning 34 this season. The Twins are obviously hoping Julien will carry the torch, and as mentioned there's plenty of reason to believe, but he's not without drop-off risk. Also, it wouldn't be shocking to see his shaky defense deemed untenable with further exposure, forcing him off the position. From there we are really putting a lot of faith in Lee. The Twins are propping up their No. 2 prospect as the heir apparent at second, with the left side of the infield now locked down by franchise players. It's important to remember, though, that even the most successful big-leaguers often experience a learning curve. Julien's immediate breakthrough last year was more the exception than the rule. FanGraphs projects a .245/.304/.379 slash line and .298 wOBA from Lee in the majors this season. It'd be an okay rookie year but underwhelming production from the primary starter at second, especially after Julien set the bar. I don't fault the Twins for trading players like Arraez, Polanco and Gordon proactively to get value for them while they can, but the downside of this plan is removing layers of depth and placing faith in inexperienced players, which has been a volatile proposition in the past. THE BOTTOM LINE With one of their top prospects knocking on the door behind their reigning top rookie, the Twins feature premier young talent at second base. Polanco leaves big shoes to fill as a two-way player who powered the top of the lineup, but between Julien, Lee, Schobel and Keaschall, there's a bright future ahead, while Farmer, Castro, Martin and others provide quality short-term depth. I feel very optimistic about this unit compared to the middling projection from FanGraphs. Catch up on the rest of our position-by-position preview series: Twins 2024 Position Analysis: Catcher Twins 2024 Position Analysis: First Base View full article

Sure, but the point in question wasn't platooning everyone, it was about platooning Kirilloff and Miranda at first. I do think if both players rebound into form that'd be quite an effective setup. Santana was brought in because unfortunately it's not a setup the team can currently trust. In general lefty hitters like Julien and Wallner and Kirilloff are never going to be good against LHP no matter how many reps they get. Platooning is a smart strategy to maximize offensive production. Although I did really like John Foley's piece the other day on the limitations of overdoing it, which might tie to your point.

Lefties who hit lefties pretty much don't exist. If you want an RH masher at the position, it's best to have a platoon partner on hand. I see your point about the roster restrictiveness but with Kirilloff being able to play OF, Miranda being able to play some 3B and both being able to DH, I don't see it as too cumbersome in this case.

On paper, first base looks like the biggest positional weakness for the Minnesota Twins heading into 2024. The likely Opening Day starter may leave much to be desired as a regular, but this position is teeming with matchup-based potential and sleeper upside. It could easily end up as one of the team's most productive sources of offense. Image courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports Over nearly a two-decade stretch, first base was a position of steady continuity (and alliteration) for the Twins franchise, with Mientkiewicz giving way to Morneau and then Mauer. Miguel tried to carry the torch, but Sanó's tenure at first ended in 2022 after three seasons, and last year, the position felt a bit rudderless in the absence of all these Ms. No player started more than 64 games at first base in 2023, and we can probably expect a similarly wide distribution in the coming season. In fact, for Rocco Baldelli and the Twins, smartly rotating players through the position may hold the key to unlocking its potential. TWINS FIRST BASEMEN AT A GLANCE Starter: Carlos Santana Backup: Alex Kirilloff Depth: José Miranda, Edouard Julien, Kyle Farmer Prospects: Yunior Severino, Aaron Sabato Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 12th out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 26th out of 30 THE GOOD The Twins have three primary players slotted into their first base mix heading into 2024: Santana, Kirilloff and Miranda. There's a nice balance to this blend: Experience and youth. Aggressiveness and patience. A lefty, a righty, and a switch-hitter. The addition of Santana was deemed necessary due to question marks surrounding the other two; he's a good fit in that he provides a stable floor without standing as a major barrier for Kirilloff or Miranda to break through. That is a possibility Minnesota's front office clearly wants to keep open, and for valid reason. Kirilloff can feature as the focal point in the lineup against righties when healthy and on his game. This is not so much theoretical as proven, albeit never in sustained fashion. The 26-year-old had his most productive burst yet last year, posting a 117 OPS+ in 88 games, but his campaign was once again derailed by injury and ended with surgery. This time it's a shoulder operation that he's looking to bounce back from while also still dealing with a twice-repaired wrist. Likewise, Miranda is coming back from his own shoulder procedure (scar tissue removal) that was deemed relatively minor. Unlike Kirilloff, Miranda experienced no success whatsoever in a lost 2023 season, slashing just .211/.263/.303 in 40 games with the Twins and failing to elevate his game much in the hitter-friendly confines of St. Paul. It was a hugely discouraging season, but not enough to fully dismiss all the promise he showed previously. Miranda starred in the minors during a breakthrough 2021 campaign and looked the part for much of his rookie year in '22. With Royce Lewis now entrenched at third, first base is Miranda's best opportunity to rebuild his value. If healthy and on the big-league roster he'd be favorably set up to do so, drawing at-bats against left-handed pitching in a platoon with the lefty-swinging Kirilloff. But the arrival of Santana likely means Miranda, still only 25, will need to wait his turn in the minors. Kirilloff and Miranda both feel like major wild-cards for the Twins and their offensive outlook this year. But it's nice that the club isn't entirely dependent on either, having acquired Santana as a veteran stopgap and contingency plan. While his bat is much diminished from its prime, Santana was still above-average last year at age 37 and his disciplined approach at the plate limits the chances of a total aging-related collapse. He also brings a high-quality glove, which the Twins have lacked at first base. THE BAD Although Santana remains a solid and slightly above-average hitter overall, his offense no longer stands out at his position the way it did during his prime in Cleveland. Last year his .323 wOBA ranked 17th out of 24 qualified first basemen, and unsurprisingly, projection systems are envisioning further decline from Santana, who turns 38 in April. ZiPS forecasts a .302 wOBA, which would've ranked third-worst at the positon last year. The hope is that Santana's role can be reduced and optimized, rotating strategically against left-handed pitching and maybe stepping aside at one point to make room for a fully-formed combo of Kirilloff and Miranda. But then, that was also the hope last year with Donovan Solano, and he wound up getting the third-most plate appearances on the team. As tantalizing it as it is to dream on Kirilloff and Miranda forming a mega-platoon, it's tough to trust either heading into this season. The uncertainty around both potential difference-makers puts the Twins in a bind, wanting to keep the gate open but at the same time needing to install a dependable short-term holding wall. With a limited budget, they landed on the aging Santana as their best bet. We'll see how it goes. Projections are not rosy; FanGraphs projects the Twins to rank second-worst in the American League at first base. THE BOTTOM LINE It's a big year for Kirilloff and Miranda. If either one can prove healthy and seize their potential over a sustained stretch, they are going have a shot at taking over this job. Santana is not a big impediment, which also speaks to his quality as a fill-in. I'll be curious to see how many appearances guys like Julien and Severino make at first this year. Giving prospect Brooks Lee a shot here would also be a possibility if things are clicking elsewhere in the infield. The roster is not exactly robust with reliable options but the Twins do have depth. Heading into the 2024 season, the future at first base still feels rudderless in many ways. The Twins are hoping one of their former top hitting prospects can re-emerge and establish himself as the next long-term solution. "M" alliteration accepted, but not required. Catch up on the rest of our position-by-position preview series: Twins 2024 Position Analysis: Catcher View full article

The Twins made a change atop the training staff last offseason, and based on evidence, Nick Paparesta's hiring was a massive success. In stark contrast to the previous year, Minnesota's lineup was formidable and near full strength once October arrived. With fewer roster contingencies in place heading into 2024, the Twins are counting on continuing to experience better fortune on the injury front. Image courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports The Minnesota Twins had their eyes on Nick Paparesta long before they were able to finally pry their new head athletic trainer away from the Oakland Athletics in November of 2022. "The Twins requested permission to speak with Paparesta when they hired (Michael) Salazar three seasons ago," Dan Hayes wrote in The Athletic at the time, "only to learn he was happy in Oakland and under contract." So it was a fortuitous twist of fate that Paparesta's attitude had shifted once the Twins decided it was time for another change in direction, following three years with their second choice at the helm. While making clear they didn't fully attribute the calamitous health issues that plagued their team to Salazar, the Twins understandably wanted a fresh start. Injuries became an overriding theme of 2022. They were tired of it, as reflected by Rocco Baldelli's grumpy demeanor in fielding a litany of injury-related questions during virtually every press scrum in the second half. The characterization of Paparesta's impact from his own general manager with the A's, David Forst, certainly painted an appealing picture. "Before Nick got to Oakland, we did spend a lot of time talking about injuries, talking about our medical department, answering questions to the media about it," Forst said at the Winter Meetings, per Hayes. "When he came in with an objective process and sort of remade the staff ... I think the biggest compliment I can give is it’s an area I didn’t have to worry about.” No surprise, then, that when Minnesota got the chance to interview Paparesta following Salazar's dismissal, they hired him without delay. "It really stood out as someone we thought fit exactly what we were looking for,” Derek Falvey said. Looking back at Paparesta's first year on board, his addition seemingly delivered on everything the Twins wanted from it. This is best exemplified by a comparative look at the late-season lineups. In September of 2022, Baldelli found himself consistently running out lineups full of backups and minor-leaguers. His team slid from one game behind Cleveland on September 1st to finishing 14 games behind by year's end, collapsing under the weight of cascading, catastrophic injury woes. As Falvey and others accurately pointed out, you can't pin all of that on the head trainer. Injuries are primarily a function of luck and uncontrollable factors, no matter who's in charge. But there were some situations that were handled oddly, and no one could say it was close to being an area they "didn't have to worry about," so the desire to make a change was valid. Especially with the ability to bring in a name they coveted. Year one under Paparesta was by no means a picnic from a health perspective. The Twins still ranked among the league leaders in placements on the injured list and days lost to the IL. Much of that owed to challenges Paparesta inherited. But what really stands out is the way these challenges were managed and the way overall injury impact was mitigated. The Twins went 11-22 after September 1st in 2022 as they faded from relevance. After September 1st last year, they went 18-10 before charging into the playoffs with nearly every key player (save Byron Buxton) available to them. Reviewing the season as a whole, there were some remarkable accomplishments from a durability and recovery standpoint: The Twins used only two catchers all year long. They got 139 of their 162 starts (86%) from five starting pitchers, and needed only eight starters total (minus openers). All of their starters, save Tyler Mahle, were healthy in October. Carlos Correa made 580 plate appearances despite battling plantar fasciitis throughout the season. The Twins navigated tricky second-half health situations with other players like Brock Stewart, Royce Lewis, Jorge Polanco and others, in addition to Correa, but managed to have them all available and playing well when it counted most. Again, it's important to emphasize that a head trainer only has so much influence on these things. Much of it is indisputably based on random luck and happenstance. But it's really hard to look at the sum result here and not feel like Paparesta worked a borderline miracle with his mere presence. Baldelli certainly took notice. "Nick Paparesta was one of our best offseason pickups, along with all the players you can list," the manager raved to reporters at a season-ending presser in October. Baldelli and the Twins will need to hope that Paparesta's program can continue to pay dividends in year two, because the training wheels are set to come off. The club was equipped to absorb significant health setbacks from guys like Mahle and Buxton last year because of the immaculate built-in depth behind them. This time around, Louie Varland is the rotation's first line of defense instead of its second. And at least right now, there is no one like Michael A. Taylor padding the CF depth chart. With players like Sonny Gray, Jorge Polanco, Emilio Pagan and Nick Gordon departing, layers of depth have been stripped away from a roster that still boasts plenty of high-end talent, much of it unproven over the rigors of a full major-league season. Keeping most of that talent healthy and available -- especially in the rotation, which feels especially thin on contingencies going into this season -- will be essential to a successful season, and especially to setting themselves up for a deeper playoff run. That's a daunting proposition because it is largely out of anyone's control, and Twins fans have unfortunately been conditioned for pessimism on this front.. But after one season under Paparesta and the revamped training staff, it's easier to feel better about the things that can be controlled. He proved his prowess and then some in his first year as one of Minnesota's most underrated acquisitions. How are you feeling about the Twins' health outlook for the 2024 season? Are you confident their improved outcomes can continue under Paparesta's leadership? Which situations have you most concerned as spring training gets underway? View full article

Pairing one of the best offensive catchers in baseball with a highly experienced and steady veteran backup, the Twins boast a setup behind the plate that most teams envy. Our annual spring roster preview kicks off with a breakdown of Minnesota's outlook behind the plate. Image courtesy of Erik Williams and Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports I'm a believer that catchers play a vital role in their team's run prevention success – one that is underrated by what current statistics can measure. There are certain aspects of calling a game, building rapport with pitchers, and withstanding the sheer rigor of major-league catching that are hard to quantify, but undoubtedly impactful. Last year, the Twins used only two catchers all season, and both have strong defensive reputations. This inarguably factored into the success of the pitching staff all year long, and now Minnesota will carry forward some continuity, with the same duo in line to return and split time here in 2024. TWINS CATCHERS AT A GLANCE Starter: Ryan Jeffers Backup: Christian Vázquez Depth: Jair Camargo, Brian O'Keefe (NRI), Patrick Winkel (NRI) Prospects: Camargo, Noah Cardenas, Ricardo Olivar Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 9th out of 30 Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 15th out of 30 THE GOOD Jeffers is coming off a breakthrough season that saw him emerge as arguably the league's biggest offensive threat at his position. His .858 OPS led all MLB catchers with 300 or more plate appearances, as he ranked second among Twins hitters in OBP (.369) and first in slugging (.490). Being able to insert a bat like this at the catcher position provides a massive competitive advantage, which is why Rocco Baldelli started Jeffers in every single playoff game last year. (It's also why Joe Mauer just went into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.) The breakout season was a change of pace for Jeffers, following back-to-back disappointing campaigns. For the 26-year-old and the organization that so badly wanted to believe in him, this has been a long time coming. "I worked really hard to have the year I had last year, but I've still got to turn around and do it again. I don't have any doubts that I will be able to," Jeffers told Phil Miller of the Star Tribune. "It didn't feel like a fluke. It felt like I finally laid the groundwork of who I am as a ballplayer. It felt like it was an extremely repeatable type of season." The prolific power-hitting performance was rather convincing. Jeffers came through with monster home runs in crucial spots, including an unforgettable eighth-inning go-ahead blast against the Rangers that nearly incited a brawl. He drilled a 10th-inning homer in May that registered as the highest exit velocity by any Twins hitter in the Statcast era. Jeffers stepped up and did amazing things in big spots, which is the sign of a star. He also improved on what had been a glaring deficiency in his defensive game, throwing out a career-high 25% of base stealers--in a season in which the league's success rate on steals skyrocketed. Partnering with Jeffers behind the plate once again is Vázquez, who is entering the second season of a three-year, $30-million deal. In stark contrast to Jeffers, Vázquez provided no thump with the bat last year, slashing .223/.280/.318, for a meager 65 OPS+ that ranked as his worst since 2018. However, the veteran backstop graded out extremely well defensively, enabling him to produce 1.0 fWAR in 102 games. Even though the price tag might seem rough for a backup catcher, the Twins were wise to hold onto Vázquez for the depth and assurance he provides. Jeffers flashed a big ceiling, but he has a long history of injuries and lapses. Having a seasoned vet like Vázquez available is more than just a luxury. THE BAD Ever since Mauer moved to first base a decade ago, catcher has been a volatile position for the Twins, who've struggled to sustain much success there. Part of what made the Hall of Famer so special was his stability and consistency, which are brutally hard to maintain as a catcher. In the post-Mauer era, we've seen flashes – an All-Star first half from Kurt Suzuki, an explosive Bomba Squad contribution from Mitch Garver – but both those faded quickly. Is Jeffers destined for the same, following his own glimpse of greatness? He might feel confident his breakout season was "extremely repeatable," but FanGraphs has doubts, projecting Jeffers for 1.8 fWAR this year (down from 2.7) with a 70-point drop-off in wOBA. The 26-year-old has unfortunately earned his status as one of the biggest regression candidates on the team; he slashed just .203/.277/.384 between 2021-22, and last year his strikeout and walk rates remained static while his production was buoyed by a .359 BABIP. Unless he improves his contact rate or discipline, Jeffers will always be susceptible to the kinds of slumps that plagued him in the postseason, wherein he went 2-for-19. Even if he doesn't replicate his 134 OPS+ from last year (he won't), Jeffers can still be a valuable primary catcher with his power and defense, so long as he's healthy. It will be interesting to see how his fielding metrics grade out, as last year they were quite poor despite his improvements in controlling the run game. The sudden drop-off in framing effectiveness was especially striking. (Pun intended.) This a fine example of why I feel there's a disconnect between catching metrics and reality, because I doubt you'd find anyone with the Twins (or their opponents) who would consider Jeffers anything less than a very good defensive catcher. THE BOTTOM LINE Given all the extremes involved, I'd expect some regression to the mean across the board: Jeffers will likely be a little worse offensively, a little better defensively. Vázquez will probably experience the reverse. As long as both stay relatively healthy, it's hard to see the catcher position being any kind of real liability for the Twins. Their true upside here really depends on Jeffers. If he can find a way to sustain or even improve upon what he did in 2023, the Twins will boast one of the best catching units in baseball. On the flip, if Jeffers misses extended time – as he did in both of the previous two seasons – that upside pretty much evaporates with the step down to Vázquez, and then you're one injury away from reaching into some very untested depth. Their ideal scenario still involves using each player often. As Mauer prepares for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame, the Twins are hoping Jeffers is ready to solidify his standing (er, squatting?) as the franchise's best two-way catcher since. If he falls short, Minnesota's outlook at this position isn't so hot, with Vázquez turning 34 this year and no clear impact prospects on the way. Where would you rank the Twins' catcher situation within the AL Central? What about in the league as a whole? What developments do you expect behind the plate this year? View full article

All Twins players have reported to camp, and so spring training is officially underway. As such, we have to ask, are the moves done? Is this the 2024 team in its final form? It seems like the answer is no, but the countdown to Opening Day is on as the front office continues to slow-play their hand. Image courtesy of © Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK As Derek Falvey likes to remind us, the start of spring training does not mark an end point for the offseason. There's no window that expires in mid-February, and team-building efforts can extend all the way up to Opening Day. As major-league camps fire up across the league, with numerous free agents still unsigned and roster holes unfilled, there's no denying the validity of his point. Will one of those free agents end up in Minnesota? Could a late-breaking trade still be in the works? Let's catch up on the current state of affairs and then size up the remaining market. Building Up Bullpen Bulk Since last we checked in for a status update, the Twins have added two more relievers to their major-league bullpen mix: right-hander Jay Jackson and left-hander Steven Okert. The Twins signed Jackson to a one-year deal with a club option, while Okert was acquired via trade from the Marlins in exchange for Nick Gordon. The 36-year-old Jackson has followed a fascinating path, with stops in several different MLB organizations as well as Japan. Officially signed on the same day as Carlos Santana, Jackson adds another seasoned veteran to a clubhouse that's been stocking up on them. Okert, 32, also boosts the Twins' experience quotient in the bullpen. He's been a standout lefty reliever for the Marlins over the past three seasons. As things stand, the Twins have done very little to offset their losses in the rotation, with Anthony DeSclafani the sole addition to Minnesota's starting pitching mix. We'll see if that changes, because indeed the offseason is not over, but it's looking like the Twins may rely more on bulk innings from their deep bullpen this year to protect their starters and keep workloads in check, as opposed to replacing Sonny Gray with another horse at the front of the rotation. Still Searching for a Right-Handed Outfield Bat Falvey and the Twins have not been shy in asserting that they continue to pursue at least on more roster addition, hinting that another right-handed outfielder is in their sights. There are still a few options remaining on the free agent market, including a reunion with Michael A. Taylor, who remains unsigned coming off a solid season in Minnesota. Adam Duvall and Tommy Pham are other names out there, and beyond them, some lesser alternatives like Kiké Hernandez and Adam Engel who might be available on minors deals. Slim pickings unless the Twins can swing a trade, as they did last year to get Taylor. There's growing optimism that Byron Buxton will be a factor in center field this year, and Rocco Baldelli shared his intent to get Buxton out there early in Grapefruit League action, but I still find it hard to believe the Twins feel great about their depth behind him, knowing his history. Meanwhile, they currently lack even a token Kyle Garlick-level RH option to supplement their lefty-swinging depth. Something else has got to be coming, even if not an earth-shattering pickup. How much longer can they wait? Free Agency: The Boras Five The five biggest remaining names on the free agent board – Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, Jordan Montgomery, Matt Chapman, and J.D. Martinez – are all Scott Boras clients. It's not the first time we've seen Boras hold strong with big-name players, even if it means negotiating into the spring. In fact, we saw a very similar scenario result in Carlos Correa's first contract with the Twins. On the surface, there are a number of reasons to think one of these impact players could wind up in Minnesota. There's the aforementioned team/agent history, the club's newly-secured TV revenue, and the fact that you don't have to squint hard to see a fit for any of the five, save Chapman. This is the kind of spot where Falvey's front office likes to strike with an unexpected big move that shakes up the roster and outlook. Some type of creative short-term deal would make sense given the elements involved. But, I must say, I'm sure not getting the vibe that Minnesota's decision-makers feel they have much of any financial flexibility to work with. There's been enough of a hold-up merely getting something across the finish line with one of these middling RH outfielders. I'd like to believe a stunner signing or significant trade is still in store, to give this sleepy offseason a late jolt of life. But my faith is waning... Roster and Payroll Projection: Feb 17th Little has changed over the past few weeks. Jackson and Okert joining the roster, with big-league deals and no minor-league options, puts them at the front of the line for bullpen spots. That leaves a handful – Josh Staumont, Jorge Alcalá, Kody Funderburk – and others vying for the final job. Right now I've got Staumont as the favorite, but it could well be that the Twins end up going with a length arm who can cover more innings. Does this roster look complete to you? I say no. At the very least I'd expect another outfielder to come aboard and nudge Trevor Larnach from his bench spot. But with spring training games getting started in one week, it's the group that Baldelli and the Twins are currently ready to bring to battle. View full article

One year after the starting rotation was their defining strength, the 2024 Minnesota Twins may find that the way to get the most out of their starters is to rely on them less. Image courtesy of Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports The visionary pitch for Minnesota's front office, the grand formula for sustainable success, was always this: Tampa Bay North, but with more resources. The Twins' baseball ops department has been massively overhauled and built out during Derek Falvey's tenure, in an effort to keep pace with the league's best in operational excellence. Meanwhile, Falvey has also been given the financial flexibility to take some big swings that might not be possible in Tampa, or at his former organization in Cleveland--for instance, signing Carlos Correa to nine-digit deals in consecutive offseasons. Even if the Twins have more budgetary freedom than Tampa and Cleveland, clearly, it's not infinite, and they are feeling the crunch this offseason. With Correa's salary now accounting for more than a quarter of available payroll (per self-imposed restrictions), the Twins are challenged to maintain their pitching edge on a tight budget. This means that re-signing Sonny Gray was never a viable option. Nor was shopping in free agency to replace him. With the start of camp upon us, optimism that a major rotation addition will come via trade is waning. Unable to meaningfully offset their losses in the starting corps, the front office has conspicuously shifted its focus to stacking up bullpen depth this offseason. The recent Nick Gordon trade, which returned 32-year-old lefty Steven Okert, is just the latest in a long line of moves adding experienced depth to Minnesota's reliever pool, both on the 40-man roster and beyond it. Trades, major-league signings, minor-league signings, waiver claims: the front office has used every avenue to compile an impressive quantity of capable arms, adding onto what was a very effective unit by year's end in 2023. As a result, their bullpen projects as the best in the league. Preseason projections are only worth so much, but on paper, this looks like a new defining strength for the Twins. After watching relievers play such a pivotal role in the team's postseason success last October, that's not such a hard thing to believe. The Twins appear poised to lean into this strength, embracing a "quality innings are quality innings" mindset and a bullpen-heavy strategy, not unlike the one Tampa deployed successfully last year. The Rays led the American League in pitching fWAR and won 99 games while getting fewer innings from their starters than all but two AL teams. They relied on a deep, dependable bullpen to carry the load, and it worked out brilliantly for them. Zach Eflin led all Rays starters in 2023 with 178 innings pitched. No one else threw more than 120. I wouldn't expect the Twins to be quite that extreme this year, but it wouldn't shock me if the distribution is similar, with Pablo López the only starter routinely given the freedom to pitch past the fifth or sixth. For varying and overlapping reasons (health and effectiveness), it makes sense to use relatively quick hooks with the likes of Chris Paddack, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober and Anthony DeSclafani. A well-stocked bullpen makes this possible, and even advisable. You might respond by saying, "Didn't we try this in 2022? That didn't work." Which is fair! But as I wrote at the time, it wasn't so much the premise that failed the Twins as the pieces they used to put it into practice. The team's Opening Day rotation in 2022 included Chris Archer and Dylan Bundy. The bullpen included Tyler Duffey, Emilio Pagán (bad version), Joe Smith, Jharel Cotton and Jhon Romero -- players who are all gone and mostly out of the league two years later. Perhaps the strategy wasn't bad; it's just that the players were. The Twins are much stronger in both departments from the jump this season. In dissecting the 2022 pitching experiment, I concluded that it suffered from four fatal flaws: The starters weren't good enough, or healthy enough, even in shortened starts. You've got to have at least one starter who can be the workhorse. Their bullpen wasn't built adequately to handle the burden. Losing your pitching coach mid-season doesn't help. As I look back at that list now, I find myself mentally checking those boxes for this year's team, with Pete Maki at the helm. It's a roster that is far more equipped to execute on the bullpen-forward strategy that helped the Rays thrive last year. Of course, this all depends on the relief corps actually coming together and performing like the Twins hope they will. That's a volatile proposition. I also believe they are leaving themselves too little margin for error in the rotation if they don't add another starter. But in general, as the vision for pitching success in 2024 comes into focus, I find it's one I can get behind, now that they actually have the personnel to see it through. View full article

What are the best opportunities to take a trip and catch the Twins on the road this year? Here's a primer on following your favorite team, while experiencing new cities and ballparks along the way. Image courtesy of Nick Nelson / MLB Traveling to see the Twins on the road has become one of my absolute favorite parts of fandom. It's an excuse to go visit and explore different cities, and of course, seeing baseball played in the many unique venues across the league is a joy. Sampling the food, sizing up the sightlines, and socializing with local fans: you can't beat it. I have a poster on my office wall tracking my progress, and by its count I have thus far visited 18 of the 30 active MLB ballparks. This year, I'm sizing up a few chances to knock additional parks off the list, while maybe revisiting an old favorite or two. With the start of the season closing in, let's run through the upcoming schedule with an eye on road trips and vacation opportunities for Twins fans who want to travel to see the team in action. Midwest Tour to Open the Season For a second straight year, the Twins open in Kansas City at the end of March. I'll say right up-front that KC is my favorite baseball road trip. Aside from Target Field (and the Metrodome), there's no ballpark at which I've seen more games than Kauffman Stadium. With great barbecue, beer and neighborhoods, Kansas City is an awesome city in which to spend time. Crucially, it's a manageable drive from the Twin Cities (about seven hours down I-35, roughly equal to Chicago). The Twins visit the Royals twice this year, once at the very beginning of the season and once in September, meaning visitors will avoid the brutal heat that sometimes accompanies a midsummer affair. I highly recommend getting there at least once this year, if you haven't done so before. Kauffman Stadium is a gem, with beautiful sightlines, unique location and a nice blend of historical charm plus modern amenities. The gameday vibes are immaculate. With talks of a new downtown stadium in the works, there might not be too many more chances to visit this MLB institution. Ambitious early-season travelers could complete a Midwest loop by catching the opening series in Kansas City and then taking a detour on the way back to Minneapolis, heading east for the following short series against the Brewers. It's about about an eight-hour drive from KC to Milwaukee, with a chance to stop in affiliate city Cedar Rapids along the way. (Unfortunately, the Kernels don't open their home schedule until the following week.) The Twins play the Brewers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Catch both, leave town after the matinee series finale, and make the five-hour drive back to Minneapolis in time for a late dinner. (Our Steve Trefz has more details on what you can see and do in Kansas City and Milwaukee, if you're thus inclined.) Then get some rest. You'll need to gather your energy for the home opener at Target Field on Thursday. Other noteworthy road trips in April include Detroit and Anaheim (weekends), and Baltimore and Chicago (midweek). Orioles Park at Camden Yards is high on my list of parks to see, but I don't think I'll make it this year. Steve also wrote about Comerica, Camden, and those two cities for us, and you can check out that article on Saturday for details. Crossing the Border in May The Twins head to Canada in the middle of May for a weekend series in Toronto, which is a trip I'd love to take one of these years, but probably not this time around. Last summer, I went to Montreal for a bachelor party; I'm pretty sure there's a moratorium on any of us re-entering the country. I've been to games in Cleveland and Washington, both on work trips and neither time to see the Twins. (I happened to see the Nationals clinch their World Series berth in 2019, which was cool.) I liked both parks, but would rank them closer to the middle tier than to the top. D.C. is a way cooler city than Cleveland, in my humble opinion. Pinpointing PNC in June I've got my sights set on the mid-June series in Pittsburgh, because PNC Park is very high-priority on the list of stadiums I have yet to visit. Everyone raves about this yard, and the pictures are gorgeous. The June 7-9 weekend series looks like a great time to get out there and absorb the experience in all its glory. I've never been to Pittsburgh, so I'd welcome any tips on places to stay, sights to see, or attractions to check out. Preceding the Pittsburgh series is a midweek matchup against the Yankees. New York City is a blast, but personally, I could take or leave Yankee Stadium. When I went, it felt cold and sterile, with some odd design choices. The idea of seeing the Twins play there also feels daunting, though this year's matchup could potentially feature some real offensive fireworks. Pittsburgh is a short flight and manageable bus/train ride from New York, so there's potential here for an extended multi-city romp out East. The June schedule also features weekend trips to Houston, Oakland and Seattle, as well as a midweek trip to Arizona. Seattle ranks highly as a city and stadium. Oakland and Arizona have bottom-tier parks. Go See the Oracle in July Just before the All-Star break in the middle of July, the Twins travel to San Francisco for a weekend series against the Giants. This, along with the Pittsburgh series, stands out as the biggest highlight of the road schedule this year. Oracle is right up there with PNC among ballparks at which I haven't seen a game. (Bonus points for wearing a Correa Giants jersey if you make it to one of these games.) July offers a couple of other solid road trip destinations, including a weekend series in Detroit. I'd be all about making that trip (a lengthy 10-hour drive, but a much more reasonable sub-two hour flight) if it wasn't so closely bunched with San Francisco. I still might try to make it work, because Detroit is the only remaining AL Central city (and stadium) I've yet to visit. If you missed New York in June, you have an opportunity to catch the Twins against the Mets at the end of July, though it's another midweek series. I went to Citi Field way back in 2010 and saw Carl Pavano beat Johan Santana. We went to a nearby bar afterward and watched the U.S. lose to Ghana in the World Cup. It was a great time. The stadium reminded me a lot of Target Field, which makes sense given that it opened one year earlier and incorporated many of the same trends. I'd like to go back sometime. Alas, not this year. Returning to Wrigleyville in August The Twins played a late-season two-game series against the Cubs in Chicago back in 2021, and three games there with no fans in 2020. Not since 2018 have the Twins played a standard three-game series at Wrigley Field, but they return in August for a Monday-through-Wednesday set. The weekday scheduling can make this tough to negotiate, but Chicago tends to be a cheap flight and survivable seven-hour drive. I try to make a point of getting to Chi-town frequently, because my sister lives there. It's nice to use Twins road trips as an excuse to go. The city is fantastic, in contention for my favorite in the country. I've gone to Chicago for September series against the White Sox each of the past two years (with very different on-field vibes) and gained more appreciation for the Guaranteed Rate Field experience, but the ballpark – and especially the surrounding neighborhood – can't compete with Wrigleyville. August also offers an opportunity to visit San Diego and see the Twins play at Petco Park. That's a spectacular stadium and surrounding area. I went in 2022 and watched Joe Ryan give up approximately 20 home runs against the Padres. I'll definitely go back again soon; hopefully they host a weekend series in 2026. Texas is the most travel-friendly road trip series in August, a four-gamer spanning a weekend in the middle of the month. Someday I'll go see Globe Life Field, but there's not much pulling me there, nor to Dallas in the dog days of summer. Plenty of September Sights to See In the final month of the season, the Twins visit four different cities, closing out their road schedule with a weekend trip to Boston--another really cool city with a must-see ballpark, and the mid-September weather at Fenway should be phenomenal. This is an excellent late-season target if the early autumn best suits your travel plans. If you missed out on Kansas City all the way back at the start of the season, you've got a chance to make the trek in September instead. The Twins also play four-game series in both Tampa and Cleveland, with the latter potentially holding some drama in the AL Central race. There's no shortage of places to go and ballparks to see on the Twins schedule this season. Which road trips are you considering making? What are your favorite memories of traveling to see your favorite team play? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments. View full article

We spent the past couple of weeks counting down our picks for the top 20 prospects in the Minnesota Twins organization entering 2024. Let's review the list and what it says about the state of the farm system. Before the start of spring training each year, Twins Daily asks our group of writers to share their preseason rankings of top Twins prospects. We take the results, calculate them, and arrive at a consensus board that informs our annual Twins Daily Top Prospects countdown. It should be noted that this list merely serves as a starting point for our real-time top prospect rankings, which are updated throughout the season with new stats and blurbs. I highly recommend bookmarking that page if you're a prospect hound who wants to keep a close tab on rising talent in the system. For now, here's a rundown of our rankings to open the 2024 season, with links to read more and analysis of key themes that emerged from the list. Twins Daily Top 20 Prospects of 2024 (Click on the player's name to read their full prospect profile from our team.) 20. Zebby Matthews, RHP: Strike-throwing machine buzzed through Low-A. 19. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP: Stock is fading, but he's still youngish. 18. Ricardo Olivar, OF: Intriguing because he can hit and can play catcher. 17. Connor Prielipp, LHP: Down with another elbow injury, but a bright talent. 16. Matt Canterino, RHP: Returning from his own elbow injury, primed for impact. 15. Yunior Severino, 1B: One-tool player whose power is worth price of admission. 14. Danny De Andrade, SS: Toolsy teenager is rounding into impressive form. 13. C.J. Culpepper, RHP: 13th-rounder raised his profile with strong pro debut. 12. Kala'i Rosario, OF: Can his classic run-producer profile overcome poor glove? 11. Luke Keaschall, 2B: Advanced college bat handled minors in his first taste. 10. Tanner Schobel, 2B: One step ahead of Keaschall, at Double-A, but similar mold. 9. Brandon Winokur, OF: High-school draft pick flashed eye-popping power tool. 8. Charlee Soto, RHP: Another prep pick poised to rise fast with advanced stuff. 7. Cory Lewis, RHP: Deep pitch mix headlined by knuckleball distinguishes him. 6. Austin Martin, OF: Shook off injuries and struggles with redeeming second half. 5. David Festa, RHP: Near-ready with MLB stuff if he can keep it in the zone. 4. Marco Raya, RHP: Stellar results in limited sample due to cautious handling. 3½. Gabriel González, OF: Newly acquired outfielder is aggressive but can mash. 3. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF: Rare power/patience combo threatened by contact woes. 2. Brooks Lee, SS: Convincing first full season in minors has him at doorstep of majors. 1. Walker Jenkins, OF: Top draft pick showed to be full package in dominant debut. Where Does the Twins' Farm System Rank Among MLB Teams? It's easy to read through all these profiles of promising young players and feel excited about the future. But that is the nature of prospects. Every organization across the league is bursting with young talent, so it's all relative. You might wonder how Minnesota's stable of prospects on whole compares against other organizations around the league. The answer: right around the middle of the pack. In Keith Law's ranking of MLB farm systems at The Athletic, he had the Twins ranked 17th out of 30. Baseball America has them 14th. According to Fangraphs, Minnesota's farm system currently ranks 15th. While one might consider it disappointing that the Twins are viewed by outsiders as having an average system, there are two things to consider. The first is that much of their young impact talent has already graduated to the majors. Including last year's historic rookie class of Edouard Julien, Royce Lewis and Matt Wallner would significantly lift this overall group in perception. Secondly, Minnesota's system is noticeably rich in high-end talent, featuring two players who are consensus top-30 prospects (Walker Jenkins and Brooks Lee) and another who cracks the top 50 on most lists (Emmanuel Rodriguez). A Late Addition to the List The announcement of the Jorge Polanco trade took place with our 2024 preseason prospect rankings already baked, and our countdown already underway. Still, we felt it was important to represent the newcomer Gabriel González in these rankings somehow, given that his addition does meaningfully impact the overall quality of the system. Obviously, we're not as familiar with González's game as the Twins prospects we've been closely following, but the general view on him is strong enough (top-100 rankings from MLB and The Athletic) that we felt comfortably sneaking him into the top five, between Rodriguez and Raya as our "3½-ranked" prospect for this year. Fellow newcomer Darren Bowen might slot somewhere into the back end of the top 20, but his placement felt less clear, so we'll sort that out for our season-opening update next month. Having González basically side-by-side with Rodriguez in our rankings makes for a "beautifully asymmetrical pair," as JD Cameron put it in his E-Rod writeup. Both are outfielders at similar stages of development, but one is a bulky, aggressive swing-at-everything force and the other is an ultra-patient athletic oddity. Pivotal Year for the Pitching Pipeline Among pitching prospects in our top 20, several are of the same mold – college pitchers drafted in the middle rounds with a goal of unlocking new levels of success. David Festa, Cory Lewis, C.J. Culpepper, Zebby Matthews and several who just missed the cut share this characterization. These are the types of draft-and-develop projects Derek Falvey was hired to spearhead. Big tests lie ahead for all of these hurlers, as Festa vies for a shot in the majors and others navigate the transition to the upper minors. We're going to have a much better picture of the true quality of Minnesota's pitching pipeline by the end of this year. As things stand, the front office appears poised to lean on this prospect depth with a lack of impactful additions to the rotation this offseason. Prioritizing Power Bats The Twins front office has clearly placed an emphasis on power-hitting in building their major-league offense, and that reflects in the makeup of their top hitting prospects in the minors. With the stark exception of Austin Martin (who was notably drafted with a high pick by another team), virtually every position player in this top 20 counts power as a primary offensive strength. In some cases – Rodriguez, Brandon Winokur, Kala'i Rosario, Yunior Severino, etc. – the big question is whether these players can develop enough contact skill to limit strikeouts and make that immense power viable. The 2B Pipeline It's notable that, within the past 12 months or so, the Twins have shipped out three players who were not-so-long-ago considered key to their depth and outlook at second base. Polanco, Luis Arraez and Nick Gordon combined to make 156 of the team's 162 starts at the position in 2022, and now all are gone. But as you look at this list of upcoming high-quality talent, it becomes easier to see why the Twins were willing to flip these established big-leaguers for value. Julien, who was our No. 5 prospect at this time last year, is set up to primarily man second base from the outset of 2024. Last year's No. 2 prospect Lewis is also an option there going forward if it's deemed to be his best spot defensively. Current No. 2 prospect Brooks Lee could force the issue by pushing for playing time at third, if he himself doesn't end up second. Martin played more at second than anywhere else for St. Paul last year, and is also pretty much MLB-ready. Further down the line, you've got a pair of promising prospects in Tanner Schobel and Luke Keaschall, who both profile best at second base. Share Your Thoughts I know we have a lot of hardcore prospect followers in our audience and I've really enjoyed reading all the comments throughout this series. Now that you take a step back and look at these rankings, what are your thoughts? Who are we underrating, or overrating? How do you feel about the health of Minnesota's system as a whole? View full article

By virtue of a randomized draft lottery, the Twins lucked their way into Walker Jenkins with the No. 5 overall pick last year. In doing so they added a prized prospect to the top of their system and, perhaps, a new franchise centerpiece. Age: 18 (DOB: 2/19/2005) 2023 Stats (Rk/A): 115 PA, .362/.417/.571, 3 HR, 22 RBI ETA: 2026 2023 Ranking: NR National Top 100 Rankings BA: 13 | MLB: 10 | ATH: 15 | BP: 16 What's To Like At this point? Everything. Walker Jenkins was considered a "1-1" player in the draft (worthy of taking first overall) because he, like four others with that billing from the loaded 2023 class, excels at everything and projects achievable superstar potential. Aaron Gleeman aptly describes Jenkins as looking "like he was built in a lab to play baseball, with a physical, athletic 6-foot-3 frame and a smooth left-handed swing that already produces big-time power." That swing and power earned Jenkins rave reviews as a prep star in Southport, North Carolina. In glancing through some highlights from his days at South Brunswick High School, it's not hard to see why Bryce Harper comparisons took root for the lefty-swinging outfielder, who's also drawn parallels to fellow North Carolina prep standout Josh Hamilton and Hall of Famer Larry Walker. The Twins were thrilled to get Jenkins with the fifth pick, going slightly over-slot to sign him for $7.14 million soon after. The 18-year-old sealed his rep as one of the truly elite prospects in the game by dominating his pro debut, posting a .989 OPS in 26 games between the rookie-level Florida Complex League and Single-A Florida State League. His huge power was on display with three homers, four triples and five doubles in 116 plate appearances, but at the same time Jenkins struck out out only 12% of the time in his first exposure to pro pitching. His compact swing helps him get to the ball with lightning quickness and catch up to high velocity. A combination of contact and power skills puts Jenkins in rarefied air, and he rounds out his hitting prowess with a true five-tool skill set. He can run, he can track down the ball in the outfield, and he's got a big arm. His baseball IQ, makeup and leadership receive tremendously high marks. Jenkins is the full package. What's Left To Work On As great as everything looks right now, Jenkins has a long way to go. He has proven his superiority over players in high school and the lowest levels of the minors but there are many upshifts in competition ahead, and many more hurdles for Jenkins to overcome. First and foremost, he needs to stay healthy. That has been a challenge for many of the club's highest-drafted and highest-ranked prospects in years past, ranging from Royce Lewis to Alex Kirilloff to Byron Buxton. Jenkins has already endured some injury issues in his high school career – he underwent surgery for a hip impingement as a freshman, and suffered a broken hamate bone during his senior year – but he was obviously healthy after signing last year. There's nothing about his build or approach that would suggest durability is going to be a concern. From there, it's just a matter of handling more advanced pitching at each level, but Jenkins is well suited for the task with a plate approach that's going to be exceedingly tough to solve. Right now the outlook for his bat is less in question than the outlook for his glove. Jenkins played center field in high school and made all of his defensive starts there in the minors last year, but will he stick? The Twins seem somewhat bullish on that idea, and Jenkins is fast enough that you can't rule it out, but most scouts feel he will outgrow the position and end up in an outfielder corner. That's not necessarily a big deal, because his bat projects to be a big asset anywhere, but obviously it's fun to dream on Jenkins putting up huge offensive numbers as a center fielder a la Mike Trout. For the time being, he figures to keep getting most if not all of his starts in center field, where his defense is currently a strength. What's Next Presumably Jenkins will pick up where he left off last year, playing in the Florida State League for at least the first few months. If he keeps performing the way he did during a 12-game stint last year, the outfielder could earn himself a promotion to Cedar Rapids once the weather gets warmer. Arriving at Double-A by year's end is not totally out of the question; such an ascent would likely place Jenkins among the game's very elite prospects. The baseball world is watching Jenkins with awe and anticipating big things in 2024. MLB.com's top prospect experts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo both predicted he'll be the best hitter in the minors this year. "I feel like, in general, fans maybe underappreciate him a little bit because he was only the fifth pick in the Draft last year," said Callis. "He’d clearly be the number one pick in a lot of drafts. ... I mean, there’s not much this guy can’t do." Twins Daily 2024 Top Prospects Countdown 20. Zebby Matthews, RHP 19. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP 18. Ricardo Olivar, OF 17. Connor Prielipp, LHP 16. Matt Canterino, RHP 15. Yunior Severino, 1B 14. Danny De Andrade, SS 13. C.J. Culpepper, RHP 12. Kala'i Rosario, OF 11. Luke Keaschall, 2B 10. Tanner Schobel, 2B 9. Brandon Winokur, OF 8. Charlee Soto, RHP 7. Cory Lewis, RHP 5. David Festa, RHP 4. Marco Raya, RHP 3. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF 2. Brooks Lee, SS 1. Walker Jenkins, OF Let's hear your thoughts on No. 1 prospect Walker Jenkins! You can check back tomorrow for a full recap of the list plus key takeaways as we head into the 2024 season. View full article