At Puckett’s Pond, we put together our Minnesota Twins top 20 prospect list. Here are our picks for numbers 16 through 20 prospects.
As we continue our conversation about Minnesota Twins prospects, we will look at numbers 16 through 20. Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments on the list as it unfolds here at Puckett’s Pond. Our writers got together and each submitted a list of their own top prospects, which was aggregated into the top 20 that you’re reading now. Some of these players were on every list, some where ranked much higher on some lists, some players were not on some lists at all, but it came together to be this grouping for the top 20, and we hope you enjoy!
In case you missed yesterday’s post, go check out who didn’t make the list but still is worth keeping an eye on. Seriously, click on the link and you will get a good look at the Twins farm system from the low minors to high. While not every player mentioned on that post, or even in this top 20 will have a future as a major league starter, there are certainly some guys here who will form the future of the Twins franchise for years to come.
After you are caught up there, we are ready to start the list for today at number 20.
#20 Brusdar Graterol
Brusdar Graterol is an 18-year-old, right handed pitcher from Venezuela who has spent this season playing Rookie Ball in the Gulf Coast League. Signed for $150,000 in 2014, Graterol hasn’t seen much professional action due to undergoing Tommy John surgery 4 games into his 2015 season. This season he has appeared in 3 games, starting one of those games. In 14 innings he has held a 1.29 ERA striking out 16 and walking only 3.
While we don’t have much for numbers, those who have seen Graterol are very impressed by the young Venezuelan. Eric Longenhagen wrote this about Graterol over at Fangraphs:
“Well built and owner of god-like arm acceleration, Graterol sits 93-98 and throws are tight, short-breaking slider in the 84-88 mph range. At times, his fastball lacks plane and his delivery lacks fluidity, but it’s pretty easy to dream on Graterol as a back-end bullpen arm even if those issues are never solved.”
That description, paired with reports that Graterol has hit 100 mph on his fastball, is getting him attention. While he is still young and has a lot of room to grow there is plenty of excitement buzzing about Graterol possibly putting on a Twins’ jersey some day.
#19 Landon Leach
Landon Leach was chosen by the Twins in the 2nd round of this year’s Amateur Draft. That position also made the Pickering High School product the first Canadien drafted in 2017. Leach is another 18-year-old, right-handed pitcher to make the list.
Leach is yet to see any pro baseball experience, but his already 6′ 4″, 220-lb frame has many intrigued by his athleticism. The right handed starter throws a 92-94 mph fastball with sink as well as a curveball and changeup. The Twins saw enough in Leach to draft him and lure him away from his commitment to Texas.
Canada has produced some very good Draft talent on the mound, with first-rounders Adam Loewen and Jeff Francis in 2002 and, more recently, Mike Soroka in 2015. As a big right-hander like Soroka, Leach gets compared to him frequently and while he’s not quite as advanced as his predecessor, there is still a lot to like about him. … Leach’s room to add strength combined with coming from a colder climate add up to a good amount of projection. He’s not likely to join his brethren in the first round, but he has opened up enough eyes to potentially be taken in the top three.
Interestingly, Leach recently played catcher but decided to make the switch to pitcher. Even with the short time as a full-time pitcher, there was enough talent and ability to move the Twins to take him 37th overall. And we have heard enough to make him #19 on our list.
#18 Blayne Enlow
Blayne Enlow is another right-handed pitcher the Minnesota Twins selected in the 2017 Amateur Draft. The Twins selected the 18-year-old pitcher in the 3rd round, a position that was much lower than where he was rated by many scouting websites. MLB Pipeline rated him the No. 29 prospect in the draft. Baseball America and Fangraphs ranked him 33rd.
The Twins had a clear strategy with their draft and had planned to pay over slot to lure Enlow away from Louisiana State University and into the Twins’ minor league system. Scouts were drawn to his 6’4″ 180-pound frame, low 90s fastball which could gain velocity as he matures, and the best-rated curveball of any high school pitcher in the draft with a 2700+ rpm spin rate.
Lance McCullers and others have brought the spotlight back to pitcher’s who rely primarily on a curveball. It would be great if Enlow once he debuts in pro-ball could continue on a trajectory to develop his curveball into an elite pitch while refining the others, and claim a spot in the Twins’ future rotation.
#17 Nick Burdi
As the first non-18-year-old on this list, Nick Burdi comes in at #17. The hope was that the 24-year-old, right handed reliever would be pushing for a spot in the major league bullpen by this point. Injury has delayed that major league debut, as Burdi missed a lot of 2016 with elbow issues. And we found out in late May this season that Burdi would likely need Tommy John surgery.
As long as Burdi can get and stay healthy there is still plenty of optimism around the reliever. There has always been excitement around his fastball that can hit 100 mph. This season at AA Chattanooga Burdi pitched very well in 17 innings pitched. He had only given up one run, striking out 20, and walking 4.
The Twins could really use a healthy Burdi right now to at least try in the bullpen. Instead, the consolation prize is holding down a spot on a prospect list. At least Burdi will have company in recovery as his brother Zack Burdi is also likely slated for Tommy John as well. All kidding aside, hope to see the two brothers recover well and recover their pitching form.
#16 Akil Baddoo
After a brief detour, we are back to a highly talented 18-year old in Akil Baddoo. Baddoo is an outfielder who the Twins drafted out of high school in the 2nd round of the 2016 Amateur Draft. He is spending 2017 in the Gulf Coast League where he is setting the table for guys like Royce Lewis. Baddoo is slashing .279/.372/.471 and has 1 home run, 4 doubles, and 3 triples in 78 plate appearances.
Baddoo is raw and a project. Longenhagen mentions speed and a feel for hitting as Baddoo’s strengths. Those two tools give Baddoo high upside, but also a lot of volatility to what he may actually become. Best case scenario would be for the speedy outfielder to develop enough defensively to stay in center-field where his value would be the highest.
Maybe the best way for Twins fans to understand the type of talent Baddoo possesses is to know that he has drawn comparisons to Torii Hunter. While his body and skills have a long way to go before he resembles who Hunter was in a Twins’ uniform, he is part of an exciting GCL team for the Twins in the present. The team will work with him to see if Baddoo can become the next in a long line of successful high school center fielders to come through the Twins’ system.
That concludes numbers 16-20. How did we do so far? Come back to check out the rest of the list and see who Puckett’s Pond ranked at the top of the organization!
