Jamie Cameron

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 75 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie dig into the trade that brought Quinn Priester to the Brewers in exchange for Yophery Rodriguez, a PTBNL, and the 33rd pick in the 2025 MLB draft. The guys go on to dig into the hot starts of several Twins MiLB prospects. The talk velocity gains for Zebby Matthews and Andrew Morris before digging in on Charlee Soto, Dasan Hill, and improved plate discipline for Billy Amick. The guys then complete a 16 pick mini mock draft leveraging 2025 eligible prospects. With alternating picks, Jeremy and Jamie have to select a team of 8 players, with at least one pitcher and at least two prep picks. Weigh in on who selected the best squad. 0:00 Intro 1:20 Brewers Make Trade 8:57 Zebby and Morris and velo 16:23 Charlee Soto and Dasan Hill 21:15 Billy Amick and other notes 24:24 Mini Mock Draft - Jeremy and Jamie alternate taking picks, each making eight selection. They each have to take one pitcher (or more) and two or more prep players. 56:30 Listener Question You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 74 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie dig into the Twins uneven start to the 2025 season. They talk through surprising player performances and whether there’s cause for concern for the Twins rotation. The guys then move onto an exciting St. Paul Saints roster, digging in on their starting pitchers and the velocity gains made by Zebby Matthews in the early going. The guys then dig into each MiLB roster in turn, moving through St. Paul, Wichita, Cedar Rapids, and Fort Myers. For each, they talk through notable prospects and dig into which players have something to prove and which are likely to impress. Finally they end with some draft chatter. 0:00 Intro 5:30 Housekeeping 6:18 Twins Start 14:20 Zebby Matthews 22:58 St Paul Saints Roster Preview 35:20 Wichita Wind Surge Roster Preview 47:37 Cedar Rapids Kernels 57:48 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 1:10:58 Update on Draft You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

The minor-league season is upon us. Throughout spring training, we published in-depth looks at some of the prospects the Twins selected in the 2024 MLB Draft. Today, we’re looking at players drafted in rounds three through ten. Image courtesy of © Jonah Hinebaugh/The News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Round 3: Khadim Diaw, C, Loyola-Marymount Diaw is an outstanding athlete who, if he pans out, will be a prospect who flew under the radar in draft circles due to significant injuries. In his freshman season, he suffered a back fracture, missing most of the season. After a good sophomore season (.896 OPS), he suffered a broken thumb and a sprained wrist that limited him to 20 games. So, what can you expect? You’re going to see a good approach. Diaw controls the strike zone well. He walked almost as much (11.1%) as he struck out (14.1%) in 2024. Additionally, you’ll see good bat-to-ball skills. Diaw has a direct swing, and there’s raw power there, but he hasn’t tapped into it much in games. He more than held his own in a 24-game debut at Fort Myers (114 wRC+). There’s a lot of development needed behind the plate. His arm strength is fringy, though, and everything is a little raw. The positive is that if he doesn’t work out behind the plate, he could be a viable outfielder, particularly if the power develops. He’ll be half the catching tandem at Cedar Rapids to start the season. Round 4: Jaime Ferrer, OF, Florida State Ferrer was drafted by the Twins in the fourth round, after three solid years of production for Florida State. A converted outfielder (he used to be a catcher), he’s a fascinating development conundrum for the Twins. Ferrer is an aggressive hitter. He swings often, and will expand the zone. In college, he never walked more than 9.2% of the time, and that figure was just 6.5% in his brief pro debut. He makes contact both often and dangerously. Ferrer crushed 22 home runs in his junior year. My guess is the Twins will target swing decisions with him. Currently, he’s a 'tweener profile whose production could take a huge leap if he improves his approach. He’ll start the season at Cedar Rapids. Round 5: Caden Kendle, OF, UC-Irvine It’s right around this point that I expected the Twins to start transitioning to college pitching. After the draft, Sean Johnson shared that the bats on the Twins' board held up a little longer than expected. Kendle was an under-the-radar sleeper pick for this draft from an excellent college program. He was a senior signee with a track record of production and a profile led by an excellent hit tool. In three seasons as a starter at Irvine, he never posted a wRC+ lower than 143. He carried over the strong bat-to-ball skills to his Twins debut, walking 10.5% of the time and striking out just 10.5% of the time in 22 games (118 wRC+). He’ll start the season in the outfield mix at Cedar Rapids. Round 6: Derek Bender, C, Coastal Carolina I don’t have anything to add to the Derek Bender conversation, other than that the whole situation was extremely unfortunate. If you missed the story, you can find it here. The short version is, he gave away the pitches his pitchers were throwing to opposing batters. Bender is no longer with the Twins organization. Round 7: Eli Jones, RHP, South Carolina OK, it’s time for a bold prediction. Eli Jones is a 2025 breakout pick for Twins arms drafted in 2024. The Twins often lean into a more north/south movement profile with their arms, Jones a more east/west profile. Pitching as the Friday night starter for South Carolina in 2024, he managed a 3.51 FIP that outshone his 5.24 ERA, throwing plenty of strikes and generating ground balls at a high clip (58% in 2024). Coming out of the draft, Jones’s primary arsenal was a sinker sitting at 92 mph; a slider; and a changeup. He’s turned heads in spring training, mostly for significant velocity gains. Jones’s fastball now sits at 95 mph and has touched 96 mph. He’ll start the season at Fort Myers, and will be a good follow for the 2025 season. Rounds 8 and 9: Jakob Hall, RHP, Oral Roberts, Jason Doktorcyzk, RHP Nevada The Twins took a pair of right-handed pitchers in rounds 8 and 9, in Jakob Hall out of Oral Roberts and Jason Doktorcyzk out of Nevada. Hall pitched 107 innings in college last year, posting a 3.89 FIP, striking out 24.3% of batters and walking just 4.6%. He’ll rely on a fastball that he’s run up to 94 mph (but will sit 91-93 mph) and an effective slider. Doktorcyzk had a tough debut in the Twins' Spring Breakout game. Coming out of Nevada, he was another effective strike thrower who punched out his fair share of hitters. He relied on a fastball up to 95 mph and an effective sweeper. Both Hall and Doktorcyzk will start 2025 at Fort Myers. Round 10: Peyton Carr, 3B, High Point Carr was a money-saving signing for the Twins as a 10th-round senior. Even so, there’s plenty of intrigue around his profile, albeit a raw one. Carr missed significant time at High Point in his final two seasons through persistent injuries. When he played, he mashed. The calling card is plus raw power. In 27 games in 2024, he hit 13 home runs (214 wRC+), walking close to 15% of the time. Carr hasn’t seen a ton of pitching of the highest caliber or quality, so it’ll be interesting to see how he adjusts to his first full season at Fort Myers in 2025. View full article

The Cedar Rapids Kernels start their season on Friday, April 4th, in a three-game set at the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Let’s take a look at an exciting 2025 Kernels roster. Image courtesy of © Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images Coaching Staff: The Cedar Rapids Kernels coaching staff for 2025 includes both returning and familiar faces. Manager Brian Meyer will be with the Kernels for his first season there, replacing Brian Dinkelman, who managed them for the past five seasons. Joining him are newcomers at pitching coach (Hunter Townsend), hitting and development coach (Julian Gonzalez), lead athletic trainer (Taylor Carpenter), assistant athletic trainer (Morgan Leichtenberger) and baseball technology fellow (Marcus Hill). Pitching coach Argenis (AJ) Angulo and hitting coach CJ Baker return for their second seasons in Cedar Rapids, while strength and conditioning coach Blake Kretovics is back for his third campaign. Pitchers: Spencer Bengard, Ross Dunn, Tanner Hall, Alejandro Hidalgo, Ty Langenberg, Jeremy Lee, Juan Mendez, Juan Mercedes, Jack Noble, Jose Olivares, Paulshawn Pasqualotto, Samuel Perez, Wilker Reyes, Charlee Soto, Jacob Wosinski, Gabriel Yanez. There’s plenty of talented pitching on the Kernels' roster. The rotation will be composed of Charlee Soto, Alejandro Hidalgo, Tanner Hall, Jose Olivares, Ty Langenberg and Ross Dunn. Of that crop, Soto will garner the most attention. He’s a fringe top-100 prospect now, and touched 100 mph in spring training after a solid debut season in Fort Myers. Langenberg went to the post consistently in 2024. In 108 innings across Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids, he managed a 3.28 FIP, an 18.9 K-BB% and added velocity across his arsenal. Dunn and Hall will look to take a step forward after peaks and valleys in 2024, while Olivares, just 22, performed well in Fort Myers in 2024, striking out 23.2% of hitters while managing a 2.82 FIP in 46 innings. Catchers: Nate Baez, Khadim Diaw Diaw is the headliner for the Kernels catching crop. The Twins' third-round selection from the 2024 MLB Draft, he got off to a solid start for Fort Myers at the end of last season, managing a 114 wRC+ and walking almost as much as he struck out in a 24-game professional debut. Baez will return to Cedar Rapids after finishing the 2024 season with the Kernels. The Twins' 2022 12th-rounder hit well in 2024, managing a 117 wRC+ in 82 games at High A in a more slug-reliant offensive profile. Infielders: Billy Amick, Kaelen Culpepper, Danny De Andrade, Kyle DeBarge, Rayne Doncon, Brandon Winokur On paper, the infield group is undoubtedly the strength of the Kernels roster. The Twins' first three picks from the 2024 draft are represented, in Kaelen Culpepper, Kyle DeBarge, and Billy Amick. Culpepper demolished pitching at Fort Myers before slowing down in a brief Midwest League debut in 2024. DeBarge showed signs of a good approach at the plate, but suffered from an elevated ground ball rate in the early going at Fort Myers. Amick started slowly, but heated up over the final two weeks of the season, finishing with a 121 wRC+ and showing an impressive 15.6% walk rate. Doncon returns to Cedar Rapids after 56 games there in 2024. He held his own in his first stint at High A, managing a .730 OPS and showing solid defense at third base, while looking a little limited at shortstop. De Andrade played just 29 games due to injury in 2024. One of the better defensive shortstops in the Twins system, he’ll be looking to make up for lost time. Finally, one of the prospects who excited Twins fans the most this spring, Brandon Winokur, will likely split time between shortstop and the outfield in 2025. A gifted athlete, he managed a 116 wRC+ in a full 94-game season at Fort Myers as a 19-year-old, mashing 14 home runs on the way. He’ll remain one of the most fun Twins prospects to follow in 2025, due to the massive upside his profile provides. Outfielders: Jaime Ferrer, Gabriel Gonzalez, Kyle Hess, Caden Kendle, Misael Urbina. The Kernels outfield features a pair of 2024 draftees, in Jaime Ferrer and Caden Kendle. Ferrer looked strong in his debut at Fort Myers, managing a .748 OPS and 122 wRC+ in a 24-game sample, while Kendle quietly demonstrated excellent bat-to-ball skills, striking out just 10.5% of the time. Gonzalez will be looking for a bounce-back season in 2025. Acquired in the Jorge Polanco trade, he was limited to just 82 games in 2024 through injury. Injured List: Miguelangel Boadas (60 Day IL), Matt Gabbert (7 Day IL), Xander Hamilton (60 Day IL), Rafael Marcano (7 Day IL), Nolan Santos (60 Day IL), Jose Salas, INF (7 Day IL). The Cedar Rapids roster will be a fun follow in 2025. A particularly talented infield composed primarily of the top of the Twins' 2024 draft class is supplemented by high-upside prospects in Soto and Winokur. I’ll be interested to see which pitchers from this group take a step forward in 2025. I’d expect Langenberg and Dunn to pitch effectively, based on reports from Twins spring training. Who are you most excited to see in Cedar Rapids in 2025? Who's being overrated? Weigh in by leaving a comment. View full article

The Twins signed left-handed pitcher Michael Carpenter in the 11th round of the 2024 MLB Draft to an over slot deal. Reports from spring training indicate he's added velocity and diversified his arsenal. He's an under-the-radar breakout pitching prospect in the Twins system for 2025. View full video

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 73 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie catch up on the latest from the Twins messy sale process. They ask if the Twins are an attractive asset for a potential buyer, and how the ownership situation impacts the long term future of the organization. The guys move on to talking through the final Twins roster spots won by Mickey Gasper, DaShawn Keirsey, and Randy Dobnak. The guys then dig into the first draft overview of the 2025 cycle and the case for 1:1. They start with pre-season favorites Ethan Holliday and Jace Laviolette, before digging into college and prep candidates that might be a threat to be picked first overall in a messy, murky class. Finally, the guys dig into some of the Twins draft preferences for hitters and pitchers from a pair of listener questions. 0:00 Intro 1:58 Attendance and optimism 4:55 Twins Ownership? 19:08 Twins Opening Day Roster 31:46 2025 MLB Draft 34:37 The Preseason Favorites 41:57 The Pitchers 47:49 The Other Pitchers 50:40 Other Prep Players 57:00 One More College Name 1:00:04 Listener Questions 1:07:41 Outro You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

The Twins' 26-man roster took a significant step toward clarity on Sunday morning. Their Rule 5 draftee was informed that he won't make the club, while two key contributors will start on the injured list. Let’s dig into some implications for the Twins infield and bullpen as spring training draws to a close. Image courtesy of © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images We still have to wonder about who will occupy a couple of the final roster spots for the Twins come Thursday, but after a report from The Athletic's Dan Hayes Sunday, we know for sure about a few players who won't make the trip north. Eiberson Castellano, whom the team selected in the Rule 5 Draft in December from the Phillies, will not make the team (and thus, will not stay in the organization), while reliever Brock Stewart and infielder Brooks Lee will each begin the season on the injured list. Brooks Lee and the Infield Alignment Lee was scratched from Thursday’s spring training lineup with what was described by the team as back tightness. While we can’t be sure of his prognosis, this likely feels ominous to Twins fans. Lee missed the first two months of the 2024 season with a herniated disc in his back. Lee’s injury, combined with that of Royce Lewis, significantly weakens the team's infield defense. After Lewis’s hamstring strain last week, Lee seemed the logical defensive replacement at third base, with the Twins seemingly more confident in his glove than that of Jose Miranda. Despite the uneven offensive production he’s shown in the infancy of his big-league career, he offers defensive stability across second base and third base. This figures to leave Edouard Julien, Miranda, and Willi Castro covering second and third base defensively—hardly an inspiring group. Mickey Gasper is likely winning a job as a bench bat. The final roster spot seemingly comes down to Austin Martin versus DaShawn Keirsey. Keirsey is by far the better defender, but Martin is right-handed, and therefore a better matchup fit for this team's bench. Brock Stewart, Eiberson Castellano, and Bullpen Implications Stewart being down to start the season is hardly a surprise, as he reportedly came into camp behind other arms. While it’s perilous to speculate on health, this seems like more of a building-up priority as opposed to a long-term concern given that Stewart pitched in a minor-league game on Saturday. Castellano walked 19.2% of the hitters he faced this spring in 10 2/3 innings, typically throwing strikes at a 50-55% clip. Not good enough. It remains to be seen what his future holds. With Castellano cut and Tonkin on the IL, the Twins need a rubber-armed reliever who can pitch multiple innings and/or back-to-back days. Scott Blewett seems a possible internal pick. He’s managed a 3.39 FIP this spring. He’s shown the Twins he can be, at the very least, a serviceable bullpen arm for the major-league team. There's every chance, though, that the team will scoop up one or more players who shake loose from other rosters in the coming days. [Ed. note: Manuel Margot was released by the Brewers, but signed quickly with the Tigers. So, you're safe, for now.] View full article

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 72 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie reflect on spring training. After catching up on Jamie’s trip to Fort Myers, they walk through Twins injuries, including the latest for Royce Lewis and a season ender for Matt Canterino. The guys preview who they think will earn the majority of the playing time at third base and the implications for other roster battles. The guys then dig into a mailbag. They talk through Twins prospects outside the top 30 on most industry lists who are likely to feature in the near future and when Twins fans could expect to see Emmanuel Rodriguez in Minneapolis. Finally, they dig into 2025 draft content for the first time, talking through some pitching options around the Twins pick at 16, in addition to a prospect previously drafted by the organization who is having an amazing college season. 0:00 Intro/recap of where we've been 6:34 Housekeeping 7:45 Player Updates -- Matt Canterino, Royce Lewis, Bullpen 27:23 Mailbag 28:02 Minor League Questions 45:21 Draft Questions You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 71 of Destination: The Show, Jamie, and Theo are joined by Twins right-handed pitching prospect Ty Langenberg. After a successful first full professional season in which he say time at Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids, Ty reflects on his development and what made his 2024 successful. The guys dig into his draft experience, his strengths and opportunities as a pitcher, and what he hopes to accomplish in 2025. You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

I agree, don't think I anointed him as a success though. Merely discussed what would constitute success.

The Twins have relied on low-wattage offensive additions in recent seasons. Is playing the waiting game and plucking the diamond from the rough a skill for this front office—or is their success with that model a mirage? Image courtesy of © Chris Tilley-Imagn Images The last few Twins offseason have hardly been flush with excitement. In fact, they've been downright slow. External additions have been few and underwhelming. Twins fans have an increasingly rancorous relationship with an ownership group who want to sell the club, anyway. Curtailed spending has necessitated creativity from the front office in rounding out the roster. While there will always be a focus on roster additions that didn’t work out, the Twins have quietly established a solid track record in a contextually important aspect of roster building; low-cost veteran bats. The Twins are a pitching organization. As the pitching development and performance goes, so go the fortunes of the major-league team. Recent spending constraints necessitated that the Twins hit on some of their offensive additions, most of whom have been acquired at minimal expense. They have! With the Twins projected to have a high-variance lineup in 2025, let’s look at some recent under-the-radar additions who outperformed expectations and provided a strong return on investment, and examine the 2025 candidate to fill this role on the roster. 2023: Michael A Taylor, OF In 2023, the low-wattage addition was Michael A. Taylor, acquired from the Royals in exchange for Evan Sisk and Steven Cruz. Taylor was brought in as a legitimate backup and insurance policy for Byron Buxton. The Twins paid Taylor $4.5 million in 2023, for 2.0 fWAR in 129 games. While the bat was around average (95 wRC+), that came with a career-high 21 home runs, at least putting a dent in the void left by the oft-injured Buxton. Defensively, Taylor was worth 9 Outs Above Average, good for 14th among outfielders that year—and an improvement on the 5 OAA he accrued for the Royals in 2022. 2024: Carlos Santana, 1B Santana is easily the most famous of this group, and has had (easily) the best career. He’ll go into his age-39 season with Cleveland in 2025, for what will be his 15th major-league season. The Twins signed Santana to a one-year, $5.25-million deal for 2024, and it couldn’t have worked out better. Santana accrued 3.0 fWAR in 2024, his most since 2019 with Cleveland (4.8 fWAR) and his third-highest single-season total ever. In 2024, Santana outgained his fWAR from his previous four seasons combined, logging 150 games and a 114 wRC+ in the process. Additionally, he won his first Gold Glove. While that award is hardly a reliable indicator of defensive excellence, consider this: Santana was worth 2 OAA in 2023 (146 games), good for 11th among qualified first basemen. In 2024, he was worth 14 OAA, tops in baseball among first basemen, ahead of Christian Walker. 2025: Ty France, 1B This brings us to this season’s version of this move, Ty France. This feels like the final boss. France was the cheapest of these moves, at just $1 million. Unlike Taylor and Santana, there’s no established track record of defensive excellence. France ranked 40th (out of 40) in OAA in 2024, at -12. Not great, but we know he was playing through a significant heel injury. How about 2023? 16th at -1 OAA; much better. There’s no hiding from the fact that France was bad offensively in 2024. He managed a .670 OPS, good for just a 93 wRC+. We are talking about a hitter who has a track record of significant MLB success. In his previous four seasons, France averaged a 123 wRC+. Is that a reasonable expectation for 2025? I don’t think so. If the Twins got an average bat and an average glove, it would represent a significant win, given the roster-building constraints this offseason and the timing of the move. Not even mentioned, here, is Donovan Solano, who arguably had an impact similar to that of Taylor for the 2023 club. What are the lessons learned here? Is this a beat Derek Falvey has sniffed out exceptionally well? Possibly. I think there’s also credence to the idea that they don’t care to allocate significant resources to first base, at least not given the current context and confines of their payroll. As the pitching goes, so will the Twins go in 2025, but maybe they’ll continue to bubble up some value from unexpected sources. View full article

Third baseman Billy Amick was the Twins second round pick in 2024 coming off a massive season with the National Champion Tennessee Volunteers. What are his strengths and opportunities? What does 2025 have in store for him? View full video

Infielder Kyle DeBarge was the 33rd pick in the 2024 draft. After showcasing a solid approach and good bat-to-ball skills in his pro debut, what does 2025 have in store for him? View full video

Yeah Lewis' knuckleball is an indisputably great pitch. I think the fastball and the rest of the mix is going to determine his future big league role, though.