Jamie Cameron

Educated guess on my part, but you may well be right. There was conversation about having him in CR for the playoffs at the end of last season. I can get on board with either bc I don't think it'll make much material difference, it'll either be 'CR' or 'CR soon'. Thanks for reading!

Not every fifth overall pick enters their first full season as a pro among the game's top 20 prospects. This one will. Let's look ahead to his coming campaign. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo Entering the 2023 MLB Draft, Walker Jenkins was considered one of two consensus elite prep prospects. After an exceptional pro debut, expectations are sky-high entering 2024. What can Twins fans expect from his sophomore season? The prospect preview series will tell the stories of a number of Twins draft picks from 2023, detailing their signing, skillsets, and expectations for 2024. Draft Context In 2023, for the second consecutive draft, the Minnesota Twins had a gift fall into their lap. In 2022, it was Brooks Lee, the most well-rounded college bat, falling to No. 8 overall. In 2023, the Twins’ boon came via the draft lottery. Minnesota moved from a default position of 13th to fifth overall, the first example of a team moving up under the new collectively bargained draft lottery system. Minnesota’s good fortune gave them access to the upper echelon of talent in a potentially historic draft class. It’s worth revisiting how the 2023 pool of draftable talent became such an embarrassment of riches. The 2020 draft was shortened to five rounds, due to COVID-19. Organizations had limited access to prospects, resulting in an inflated number of prep prospects going to college. The majority of those became draftable again in 2023. Add that to a prep class full of excellent up-the-middle prospects, and 2023 looks like the strongest draft class since 2011 (in which 17 of the top 46 picks became MLB All-Stars). Scouting and Signing Entering draft day, Jenkins was the consensus number-four prospect in an incredibly strong group comprising Dylan Crews, Wyatt Langford, Paul Skenes, Jenkins, and Max Clark. Pre-draft industry chatter linked the Twins to down-the-board names like Jacob Gonzalez (who was picked 15th overall, by the White Sox). The Tigers provided the first modest surprise, taking Clark third. After the Rangers selected Langford, Jenkins became a shoo-in for the Twins, who honored legendary scout Mike Radcliff with the pick. Jenkins has a sweet, left-handed swing defined by simplicity. He has a quiet pre-swing approach and efficient, simple movements. Jenkins has already developed strong, in-game pull-side power, which extends to the opposite field. The repeatability of his swing, consistency of his mechanics, and athleticism afford him good barrel manipulation, which he consistently demonstrated in hitting everything hard in his pro debut. Jenkins’s athleticism is on display defensively, too. He has a plus arm and at least above-average speed. An above-average glove should keep him in center field to start his pro career. At worst, he’ll have the tools to be a strong defensive presence in right field. Jenkins, and indeed any of the top five players in the 2023 draft, would easily qualify as the top prospect in the 2024 draft; such was the strength of a loaded class. Jenkins debuted in most prospect lists as a consensus top-25 player, and he’s only ascended after obliterating any pitching he’s seen in his first two minor-league levels. If Jenkins can stay healthy and keep hitting, he’ll be in the conversation for the best prospect in baseball a year from now. Jenkins is represented by the Boras Corporation. As such, negotiations over his signing bonus dragged on throughout the allowed window, post-draft. As the signing deadline approached, there was mounting anxiety from Twins fans. Minnesota remains one of two MLB organizations who have never spent into their allotted draft pool overage (orgs are permitted to spend five percent beyond their draft bonus pool without meaningful penalty). This, undoubtedly, was the hold up in negotiations. Jenkins eventually signed for a slightly above-slot $7,144,200, as the final first-round draftee to put pen to paper. An Impressive Pro Debut Jenkins was too strong for any competition he faced in 2023. He made short work of the Florida Complex League, hitting .333/.390/.537 with a 138 wRC+ in 59 plate appearances. After moving up to Low-A Fort Myers, he accelerated. In 56 plate appearances, he managed .392/.446/.608 with a 182 wRC+. Jenkins barely walked (or struck out) at either level. Simply put, he hasn’t been tested by pitching as a professional yet. It was as good a debut as anyone could have hoped for. Were it not for Langford blasting his way to the doorstep of the Texas Rangers clubhouse, Jenkins’s impressive start would have commanded more attention. Expectations for 2024 Having quickly proven he is too good for Loa A, Jenkins likely starts 2024 at High-A Cedar Rapids. That will be a step up in competition, and a step away from the comfort of the Twins Fort Myers complex and the reliably palatable Florida weather. Jenkins has answered every question asked of him in his young career with ease. If he can remain healthy and maintain his levels of performance in 2024, finishing the year at Double A is attainable. Reaching Wichita would open the door to an MLB debut in 2025, in his age-20 season. Jenkins, continuing on his current path in 2024, can cement his status as the best Twins prospect since Byron Buxton. What will count as a successful 2024 for Jenkins, in your opinion? Where are you setting his benchmarks, and how fast do you want to see the Twins advance him? Let's talk about the future, right here in the future's past. View full article

Yeah so this is an oft-asked question. In the current top 50 from Pipeline, only two of those prospects are pitchers. It's pretty rare to see high caliber int prospect arms. Think about the ratio of starting pitching arms taken in the first round of the draft. In 2023, that was Skenes, Lowder, Dollander, Meyer, and Waldrep (you can throw in Eldridge, whose a two way guy). That's 6 out of the first 30 ~20%. Now take 1-2 years off the age of those prospects and you have the guys they are trying to project in the world of international prospecting. These are boys, and that really shows up in pitching evaluations.

The window to sign international free agent prospects opens on January 15th. Check out the prospects whom the Twins will add to their farm system, and where they stack up in the top 50 prospects in this class. Image courtesy of © Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports The international amateur free agent signing period kicks off on Jan. 15, and runs through Dec. 15, 2024. The signing period is now hard-capped, so organizations may no longer exceed their bonus pool by any amount. Players signed to an amount of $10,000 or less do not count against a team's bonus pool. The Twins fall into signing pool A--confusingly, the second-highest cap amount behind bonus pool B. The pools are based on teams' market size, revenue, and adjustments around spending on players with qualifying offers attached to them or money spent in excess of the competitive-balance tax thresholds. The Twins will rotate back into the highest tier of spending allowance next season. Their 2024 spend can be up to $6,520,000. This class will be of particular significance for the Twins, as it will be overseen by new personnel. The team parted ways with director of Latin American scouting Fred Guerrero in 2023 (now with the Royals). Guerrero’s role was filled by Roman Barinas, an external hire. Barinas is a well-respected name, formerly with the Dodgers. He had a hand in bringing Yordan Alvarez, Diego Cartaya, and several other top prospects into the organization. In recent seasons, the Twins' tendency with international prospects has been to headline their class with two or three players from the ‘middle class’ of prospects. These prospects typically occupy spots between 13-35 in a given top-50 list, and command bonuses in the $1-3 million range. The class is supplemented by additional players who have lower bonuses. International free agent prospects are fun to follow, and incredibly difficult to accurately assess, given that most are 16 or 17 years old at the time of signing. Here’s a look at whom the Twins snagged in the top 50 for the 2024 class. Daibel De Los Santos, SS, Dominican Republic 17 years old, 6’1", 160 lbs, R/R Per Baseball America, De Los Santos will command the 13th-largest bonus in the 2024 class. He’s currently ranked as the eighth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline. If you were a fan of the Twins' 2023 draft class, headlined by toolsy high schoolers Walker Jenkins, Charlee Soto, and Brandon Winokur, De Los Santos is a prospect for you. Plus raw power and a plus arm underpin an outstanding athletic profile that make evaluators increasingly confident he can become a good defender at shortstop. At the plate, De Los Santos has good bat speed. Currently displaying gap power in games, this will likely translate to more raw power as he develops. The question will likely be the hit tool, as De Los Santos is aggressive at the plate, and (like most prospects his age) needs to refine his approach and pitch recognition. Based on his athletic profile, center field could be a viable option for De Los Santos, if he eventually moves off shortstop. Eduardo Beltre, OF, D.R. 17 years old, 6’0", 170 lbs, R/R Per Baseball America, Beltre will receive the 25th-largest bonus in the 2024 class. He’s currently ranked as the 39th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline. Beltre is an athletic outfield prospect, currently playing center. He has an intriguing platform of tools that include power, speed, and a strong defensive skill set. Good bat speed and an ability to manipulate the barrel allow him to make consistent hard contact, with a chance to develop above-average power. There’s swing-and-miss to his offensive profile, but that's not surprising for a young prospect. Defensively, Beltre is a plus runner with an above-average arm. Add in his ability to run effective outfield routes and there’s a good chance to stick in center field. If Beltre does move off the position, his tools should allow him to be a strong right fielder. His speed also adds another dimension to his game, as a threat on the base paths. Monitoring the lesser-known names the Twins sign will be as fun and rewarding as the headliners. Luis Arráez was once an international prospect who commanded a measly $40,000 signing bonus. As more names are added to the Twins' international prospect class, we'll cover them at Twins Daily. What are your thoughts on the first names in the organization's 2024 international class? View full article

Corey, thanks for the kind words and the note. Can you share what platform you used? Really appreciate you passing it along.

It's been a topic of conversation for years: Where should Royce Lewis play defensively? I think there was some agreement... on DTS anyway. View full video

Draft tandem JD Cameron and Jeremy Nygaard team up for a new podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo The boys are back to recap the slow Winter Meetings. There's a detailed breakdown of the Draft Lottery including winners and losers, revenue sharing comp picks, a summary of first day picks and bonus pools for the Brewers, Cubs, and Twins, and how MLB could make the draft lottery broadcast better. Jeremy and JD also dig into the Rule 5 draft, recapping players gained and lost for each org in the MiLB portion, before ending with some listener questions. You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, leaving us a positive review and five star rating at I-Tunes or Spotify, retweeting show related content on Twitter, and subscribing to the Twins Daily YouTube page. You can follow us @DTS_POD1, @J_D_Cameron, @Jeremynygaard, and @TheodoreTollef1 on Twitter. Send us your prospect and draft related questions for our next episode. 0:00 Intro - Winter Meetings, Chourio Extension, Twins lose coach to Red Sox 8:14 Draft Content (Overview, Comp picks) 24:10 Bonus pools 25:00 Twins 25:40 Brewers 26:20 Cubs 27:00 Lots of other draft talk 39:18 Rule 5 Draft 47:50 Listener Questions 55:30 Preview for next week View full article

Sonny Gray is reportedly heading to St. Louis on a three-year, $75-million deal with the Cardinals. What is the impact on the Twins' 2024 Draft bonus pool? Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker, USA Today Sports The St. Louis Cardinals are expected to finalize a deal with free agent right-hander Sonny Gray today, according to several prominent national reports. Per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, it's a three-year pact worth $75 million. While Gray’s departure leaves a significant void in the Twins' 2024 rotation, it also has implications for the 2024 MLB draft. Let’s dig in. All MLB organizations are entitled to a compensatory pick if a player who received and rejected the qualifying offer signs elsewhere. If the team losing the player is a revenue sharing recipient (the Twins are) and the player signs for more than $50 million, the comp pick awarded falls between the end of the first round and Competitive Balance Round A. The upshot for the Twins will be an additional pick in the 30-40 range, worth anywhere from $2.2-2.7 million. The pick is likely to be 33rd overall, worth approximately $2.5 million in 2023. This may seem like a relatively small financial boon for the Twins, but it is significant. In 2023, Minnesota had the fifth-largest draft pool, at $14.3 million. In 2024, the Twins will have a significantly smaller figure to play with (although they will receive an additional Competitive Balance pick in either Round A or Round B, situated just before the second or the third round). It’s likely that the additional dollars received from Gray departing for St. Louis will add 15-20 percent to their 2024 bonus pool--all the more significant in a weaker draft class than 2023's. Additionally, the Gray compensation pick allows the Twins greater flexibility this offseason with self-imposed payroll limits in mind. Having secured a pick just outside the first round, Minnesota could look to include their Competitive Balance pick in a trade for rotation help. Although such moves remain unusual, they're allowed under the rules, and one or two of those picks typically changes hands each year. A comp pick has value far beyond the dollar amount tied to it, and could sweeten any potential trade as the Twins look to replace Gray's production. There are a number of as-yet undetermined factors that will finalize the 2024 draft order, including Prospect Promotion Incentive picks, other qualifying-offer comp picks, and teams falling in the draft due to surpassing the third luxury tax threshold. After several strong drafts in recent seasons, the Twins' acquisition of Gray has proven particularly savvy. His impact on the field was significant. His value to the organization will outlive his time in it. View full article

While teams were busy adjusting their rosters, a division rival DFA'd a pitcher whom the Twins were fans of coming out of the draft. Should they consider making a move to acquire Cal Quantrill? View full video

Draft tandem JD Cameron and Jeremy Nygaard team up for a new podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo It's awards season for MLB. Jeremy and JD break down ROY awards in the AL and NL and talk through prospect promotion incentive draft picks, highlighting players from the Brewers, Cubs, and Twins most likely to earn their organization one in 2024. The guys dig into prospects added to 40 man rosters for each org to protect them from Rule 5 selection, in addition to highlighting a possible low cost pitching add for the Twins who was a 40-man roster casualty. You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, leaving us a positive review and five star rating at I-Tunes or Spotify, retweeting show related content on Twitter, and subscribing to the Twins Daily YouTube page. You can follow us @DTS_POD1, @J_D_Cameron, @Jeremynygaard, and @TheodoreTollef1 on Twitter. Send us your prospect and draft related questions for our next episode. 0:00 Intro 2:15 Sonny Gray Rejection 7:43 AL/NL Rookie of the Year 13:06 Prospect Promotion Incentive 25:35 Rule 5 Protection Day 30:09 Twins Additions 35:50 Brewers Additions 37:30 Cal Quantrill Pitch Usage 46:08 Cubs Additions 52:30 Questions View full article

Draft tandem JD Cameron and Jeremy Nygaard team up for a new podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo The World Series concluded while we were recording. What better time to reflect on each organizations top prospects? As we get ready to enter the offseason, JD and Jeremy break down the Just Baseball Top 100 Prospects list in depth, digging into 2023 numbers for Emmanuel Rodriguez, Brooks Lee, and Walker Jenkins. You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, leaving us a positive review and five star rating at I-Tunes or Spotify, retweeting show related content on Twitter, and subscribing to the Twins Daily YouTube page. You can follow us @DTS_POD1, @J_D_Cameron, @Jeremynygaard, and @TheodoreTollef1 on Twitter. Send us your prospect and draft related questions for our next episode. 0:00 Intro - Halloween, Bremer, AFL 12:28 Top 100 Prospects 17:32 Tyler Black 25:19 Luis Lara 29:32 Matt Shaw 33:30 - Jacob Misiorowski 39:53 - Kevin Alcantara 44:00 - Emmanuel Rodriguez 50:12 - Owen Caissie 54:13 - Brooks Lee 1:00:00 - Jeferson Quero 1:02:58 - Cade Horton 1:07:35 - Pete Crow-Armstrong 1:09:32 - Walker Jenkins 1:13:00 - Jackson Chourio View full article

Kernels co-pitching coach Jonas Lovin discusses C.J. Culpepper, who is steadily climbing up the Top 30 prospect rankings. View full video

Draft tandem JD Cameron and Jeremy Nygaard team up for a new podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In our first ever mailbag episode, Jeremy, JD and Theo discuss Kim Ng stepping down as the GM of the Marlins and talk through Twins, Brewers and Cubs prospects in the AFL. Jeremy and JD banter about the new Just Baseball top 100 prospects lists before answering questions on Ben Ross and Jorel Ortega, Noah Miller, which Twins prospects are the most likely candidates to be MLB starters, which position player prospects other organizations would be the most interested in, and under the radar Twins prospects in the lower levels of the system You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, leaving us a positive review and five star rating at I-Tunes or Spotify, retweeting show related content on Twitter, and subscribing to the Twins Daily YouTube page. You can follow us @DTS_POD1, @J_D_Cameron, @Jeremynygaard, and @TheodoreTollef1 on Twitter. Send us your prospect and draft related questions for our next episode. 2:25 Kim Ng out as Marlins GM 8:32 AFL Updates 9:10 Twins in the AFL 14:21 Brewers in the AFL 17:09 Cubs in the AFL 21:10 Just Baseball Top 100 Prospects 31:45 (Twins-heavy) Listener Questions 32:22 Ben Ross/Jorel Ortega question 40:01 Upcoming International Free Agency 41:32 Noah Miller question 45:52 Which prospects to send to Driveline? 49:08 Which pitching prospects could be an MLB starter in the next two years? 55:05 Uncertainty in the infield 58:30 Buy/Sell prospects in the future 59:04 Which position players outside the top three would other teams be most interested in 1:02:10 Which prospects outside the Top 20 have a potential to break out in 2024 View full article

Will the Twins make a play for the big arm in free agency? View full video