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Minnesota Twins Top 100 Prospects: 61-80

By Benjamin Chase

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 05: A view of baseball gloves prior to the game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Minnesota Twins on Opening Day at Angel Stadium on April 5, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 05: A view of baseball gloves prior to the game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Minnesota Twins on Opening Day at Angel Stadium on April 5, 2010 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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75. Bryan Sammons, LHP, Elizabethton/Cedar Rapids

Born: 4/27/1995
2017 Stats: 50 1/3 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 18/66 BB/K
Info: A senior sign type, there were not heavy expectations for Sammons coming into his time with Elizabethton, but he posted a 1.46 ERA at that level before moving up to Cedar Rapids. Sammons saw his fastball tick up a touch as a pro to sitting more 90-92, touching 93-94, and his cutter really played up well in pro ball. Sammons work with a change as well that had flashes of above-average. He could push his way up in a hurry, though, with a sturdy 6’4″, 230-pound build on the mound from the left side, something that profiles very well in the back of the rotation or as a swing type in the bullpen.

74. Ariel Montesino, IF, Elizabethton/Cedar Rapids/Fort Myers

Born: 9/21/1995
2017 Stats: .219/.300/.320, 3 HR, 5 SB, 33/59 BB/K
Info: Montesino may seem like an odd choice this high, but I’m going based on a very positive scouting report plus a couple of very good views I had myself. Montesino has been in the Twins system for some time, signing in 2012 out of the Dominican Republic. He has good gap power, though he’s got the build and batting practice power that shows enough to possibly add more HR power. He has quick twitch speed, but his top end speed is just above-average. However, Montesino was described to me as a younger, switch-hitting version of Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar. His ability to handle 2B/3B/SS at a reasonable level is an asset that will be encouraged as he pushes forward. Yes, he’s primarily a utility guy, but as Eduardo Nunez and Escobar have shown in recent years, those types of guys can have very high value to a team.

73. D.J. Baxendale, RHP, Chattanooga/Rochester

Born: 12/8/1990
2017 Stats: 75 2/3 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 19/57 BB/K
Info: Baxendale was a 10th round pick in 2012 out of Arkansas, and he’s been considered among top prospects after working his way up slowly through the system. Baxendale transitioned to a swing man role this season. He has seen his fastball tick up a touch this season, working around 90-92, touching 93-84, with a solid mid-70s breaker. He generates excellent weak contact in a 2-inning role, and may have found his way onto the Twins roster down the road, though his stuff really works best as AAAA filler, but that sort of profile in the bullpen has worked well before in a long-man role.

72. Carson Crites, 2B, Elizabethton

Born: 1/18/1995
2017 Stats: .300/.349/.453, 4 HR, 4 SB, 10/28 BB/K
Info: A 25th round selection out of Southeast Louisiana this June, Crites has been part of a very successful run at SLU. He’s an incredibly gritty competitor that has that middle infield grinder profile down well, but he’s also seen his bat take off in the last year, adding double-digit home run power in his senior year of college, and seeing it translate into 11 doubles and 4 home runs in just 150 at bats with Elizabethton. Crites isn’t a guy who’s likely going to suddenly develop 30-home run power or turn into a defensive whiz at second, but he’s consistent, makes good contact, and has a good idea of the ins and outs of the game. He very well could end up standing when the dust clears with his profile.

71. Matt Albanese, OF, Elizabethton

Born: 7/26/1995
2017 Stats: .296/.352/.401, 3 HR, 2 SB, 12/40 BB/K
Info: Drafted in the 7th round by the Twins in 2016, Albanese was really a steal of a pick, as he would have been as high as a 3rd round pick before a broken hand ended his season and caused him to miss all of his pro time in his draft season. He came out this season and flashed some excellent skills, though he did show being raw from the time off. Albanese is a guy with plus raw power that could pass in center, but he is an excellent corner defender. With the raw power he has and the bat speed within the zone, if the Twins can help him clean up his lead in and follow through on his swing, he could really be a monster player. I’m a big believer in his raw skills, but the injury certainly left him behind other college players in his same draft class.

Next: #66-70

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