Minnesota Twins Top 20 Prospects: #11 Adam Brett Walker II
Walker’s power may help him find spot with Twins, but when?
Honorable Mentions
#20: Travis Blankenhorn #19: Wander Javier #18: Stuart Turner
#17: Jermaine Palacios #16: Mason Melatokis #15: Jake Reed
#14: Taylor Rogers #13: Lewis Thorpe #12: J.T Chargois
In many ways, the fate of outfielder Adam Brett Walker II – our choice for the No. 11 prospect in the Minnesota Twins organization – may be the Twins’ biggest mystery heading into Spring Training.
Walker had a strong run in the Arizona Fall League, capping off league play with a two hits and three RBI’s in the championship game and helping Scottsdale take home the AFL title.
Name: Adam Brett Walker II
Position: OF Age: 24
Height: 6’4’’ Weight: 225
Throws: R Bats: R
Acquired: 2012, 3rd Rd (97th Overall)
Aside from his Fall League play though, Walker’s prospects as an everyday player in the big leagues remains as uncertain as ever, despite being one of the players added to the 40-man roster.
The 24-year old outfielder proved he is more than capable of being a power hitting as well as a run-producing machine after leading the Double-A Southern League in home runs (31) and RBI’s (106) by a large margin.
So Walker should be a lock to make the big league roster and help the Twins form a scary lineup of power hitters with the likes of Miguel Sano and Trevor Plouffe, right?
Well, Walker also led the league in another category; strikeouts.
One hundred and ninety-five of them to be exact.
Last season’s 195 strikeouts set a new career high for Walker. An unfortunate trend for the 24-year old as his strikeouts have increased every season since joining the Twins.
Walker’s batting average and on-base percentage also were unimpressive as he hit .239 with a .309 OBP, especially when compared to fellow outfielder Max Kepler who slugged .322 with a .416 OBP.
And with the Twins already carrying a likely outfield of Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton, Sano and a fourth outfield spot competition consisting of Kepler, Oswaldo Arcia and newly signed Carlos Quentin, Walker’s road to Target Field doesn’t look to be any easier.
But still, his power is something the Twins will have a hard time ignoring as that is what makes him truly special. The question is just where will he play? The Twins’ Top-30 prospect list on MLB.com also has questions regarding Walker’s defense and with the Designated Hitter spot being taken by South Korean import Byung-ho Park, that too looks to be out of the question.
So unless a major trade occurs, it looks as though Walker may be stuck for now. Though if he continues to hit for the power he has shown so far in Double-A ball, Walker may find himself being one of the first called up if there is an injury to any of the outfielders, Plouffe or Park.