Minnesota Twins: Rounding out the Top-10 prospects

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The Minnesota Twins Minor League system has produced more Major League players than most through the years. From Joe Mauer to Brian Dozier to Byron Buxton, the system keeps chugging along.

The Minnesota Twins have a Top-15 ranked Minor League system in Major League baseball. Puckett’s pond is here to break down the MLB.com top-30. Last week we covered the top-5, today we will take a look at numbers 6-10.

With the success that the Twins are producing Major League talent, the future is extremely bright. Every season Minnesota seems to graduate an impact player to the Majors who ends up playing a big role on the team. Before we jump into this list, let’s take a look at a player currently making waves in the big leagues.

Jose Berrios

Jose Berrios was drafted in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft and quickly proved to be worth it. He surrendered only four earned runs over his first 30 2/3 innings pitched in the system. Berrios also showed his ability to throw strikes, walking only four batters while striking out 49 in Rookie ball.

Berrios followed that up with a 3.99 ERA in 103 2/3 innings the next season playing in Single-A Cedar Rapids. Although the ERA was high in 2013, he did strike out 100 batters while only walking 40 and looked like a future star.

There was little doubt that Berrios was going to be a big piece in the Minnesota Twins rotation in the future. In 2014 and 2015, Berrios only proved more that he was destined for the Major Leagues. During the 2016 season, he pitched well enough to finally earn his first call-up to Majors Leagues.

However, when he received his opportunity in The Show during the ’16 season, it was uninspiring. That season went about as poorly as any season can go for a pitcher. He started 14 games that season and had an 8.02 ERA while pitching 58 1/3 innings for the Twins. He had a mind-blowing 35 walks with only 48 strikeouts during his debut season and looked nothing like the pitcher he was in the Minors.

However, luckily for Minnesota that was just a minor blip on the radar. Last season, Berrios bounced back and proved he belonged in the Major Leagues. He had 3.89 ERA while making 25 starts while striking out 139 batters with only 48 walks across 145 2/3 innings pitched.

The Minnesota Twins will need Berrios to continue to improve if they are going to be serious contenders in the American League. Another player to keep an eye on is the Twins number six ranked prospect Alex Kirilloff.

6- Alex Kirilloff OF

The Minnesota Twins used the 15th overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft on Alex Kirilloff. He quickly showed scouts why he was worthy of such a high selection.

Playing for Elizabethtown in ’16, Kirilloff wowed everybody who saw him play. He played 55 games and hit .306 in 232 plate appearances during his debut season in the Twins Minor League system. Kirilloff hit 7 home runs with 33 runs batted in, showing his future potential with the bat.

However, in March of 2017, it was announced that Kirilloff needed Tommy John surgery and he subsequently missed the entire ’17 season. That is not nearly enough to knock him out of the Minnesota Twins Top-10 prospects as Kirilloff looks like a future star.

What Kirilloff brings to the table

While Kirilloff doesn’t have any one tool rated as exceptional, he does everything at a high level. He played centerfield, and pitched, in high school and has the athleticism to play anywhere in the outfield. However, he profiles best in right field offensively and could make an impact within a couple of years for the Twins.

He has also played a little bit of first base and that could prove to be a path to the Major Leagues for him. Joe Mauer is not getting any younger and there is no clear-cut replacement within the system for him and Kirilloff has enough bat to handle the position.

This season will be a big season for Kirilloff and the Minnesota Twins. He isn’t expected to be in the Major Leagues until maybe 2020. However, if Kirilloff can show the Twins what he did in ’16 again this season Twins fans may know his name even sooner.

The Twins outfield is currently young at the Major League level and Kirilloff will have ample time to hone his skills in the Minors. However, players emerge from out of nowhere every season and Kirilloff’s time will be coming.

2018 is not the season to expect Kirilloff to make any sort of impact for Minnesota. He will first need to show that he’s healthy and capable of getting through a full season in the Minors. However, if Kirilloff can stay healthy in ’18 he could be in play for the 2019 season.

Kirilloff has a bright future and Minnesota should take the cautious approach with him. However, he will make an impact in the Twin Cities before long. Another name to keep an eye on for the Minnesota Twins is

7- Brusdar Graterol RHP

We’ve already covered two pitchers who are on the cusp of contributing to the Minnesota Twins. The Twins third-ranked pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol may just be the best of the bunch.

Graterol throws his fastball in the mid-upper 90’s and can touch triple digits. According to scouts he also throws an average curveball, but his slider could be his biggest weapon in the future. Graterol also throws a change-up that should develop into a decent fourth offering in the Majors.

He pitched 11 innings, at the age of 16, during the 2015 Dominican Summer League in 2015. Graterol showed the Twins everything they thought they were getting when they signed him and looked ready to take the next step in the States.

Unfortunately, Graterol missed the entire 2016 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. That was a blow to Minnesota’s plans, but Graterol worked hard to come back healthy last season and he did not disappoint.

Graterol had a 2.70 ERA in 40 innings pitched across two levels of Rookie League action for the Twins in 2017. He dominated his way to 45 strikeouts with only 13 walks and he coughed up on two home runs. Graterol definitely proved to the organization that he was back from his injury, and 2018 will be a crucial season in his development.

What the future holds for Graterol?

Graterol should be ticketed for Single-A Cedar Rapids to open up the ’18 season. He doesn’t turn 20 until the end of August and this will be his first full season of Minor League baseball. This season also serves as Graterol’s first opportunity to show his immense potential for the future of the Twins.

If Graterol can stay healthy and continue to develop his secondary pitches, he may not be in Low-A ball very long. Minnesota has some quality starting pitchers in the upper levels of the Minors and that has fans excited about the future.

This season will not be the year Graterol has any impact on the Major League level. However, with his advanced feel for pitching, Graterol is not far from being an impact player for the Minnesota Twins. He has top of the rotation abilities and his future will come much sooner than fans expect.

8- Brent Rooker 1B/OF

The Minnesota Twins will be transitioning away from Joe Mauer at first base in the coming seasons. Brent Rooker is the name Twins fans should keep an eye on.

Rooker was drafted by the Twins in the 38th round in 2016 but chose to go back to school. That decision paid off for him as Minnesota took him 35th overall following another solid season in 2017.

He wasted no time in showing his capabilities during his half season in the Minors last year. Rooker hit 18 home runs in only 62 games and has the look of a legitimate power hitter in MLB.

The Minnesota Twins played Rooker in the outfield last season and that will likely be the case again during the 2018 season. However, he is a below-average defensive player and his future may lie at first base.

Mauer is a free agent after the ’18 season and there is no clear-cut answer at first base on the roster. Rooker has enough power, and will continue to develop more, that he will be more than adequate at the position .

Rooker has all the tools to succeed in Major League Baseball but his 60 grade power definitely stands out above the rest. He’s deceptively athletic so he has the ability to fill a corner outfield spot in a pinch. However, he may do more harm than good in the outfield so his focus should be improving at first defensively for the future.

What the future holds for Rooker

The Twins could transition Miguel Sano over to first base when Mauer’s contract expires. However, Sano has a body type that doesn’t age well in Major League Baseball and a full-time designated hitter role likely lies in his future.

Rooker looks like a first baseman, hits like a first baseman, and his bright future should be at that position. The Minnesota Twins can hide his defensive inefficiencies by putting him at first and his bat will play well anywhere you put him.

He is advanced for his level and that means he should advance quickly through the Twins system. Rooker hit .281 while drawing 27 walks across 261 plate appearances last season. That was only a glimpse into his potential and Twins fans can’t wait to see more.

The future is extremely bright for Rooker and in turn extremely bright for the Minnesota Twins. He likely won’t see time in the big leagues until 2020 and with Minnesota in contending mode there should be no rush with moving him along. However, he will make a huge impact for the Minnesota Twins when he does reach the Majors.

9- Blayne Enlow RHP

Blayne Enlow is another young Minnesota Twins pitcher with a very bright future. Enlow turns only 19 in a little more than a week so his career has only just begun.

Minnesota will always have a need for pitching and Enlow is the fourth pitcher in the Twins Top-10 prospects. For the Twins to build a consistent contender they will need Enlow to reach his potential.

Although it is an extremely small sample size, Enlow was impressive in 2017. He totaled only 20 1/3 innings pitched in six games during his debut ’17 season. However, he already shows a good feel for pitching as evidenced by his 19 strikeouts and only four walks.

The main issue for Enlow is his slight frame. For him to have success in the Majors he will need to add strength in order to maintain his pitches through the course of a start. Enlow doesn’t throw in the high 90’s, however, he does use his low-mid 90’s fastball effectively.

However, his main asset is his devastating curveball. Described as a 12-6 breaking ball, this is the pitch that will determine the fate of Enlow’s career. His aforementioned feel for pitching may help him advance through the system quicker than usual, and that breaking ball will help. However, Enlow first has to prove he can maintain his pitches through the course of a full season.

What the future holds for Enlow

Enlow projects as a back-end of the rotation type of pitcher. That’s not a knock against him, every team needs seven or eight starters to get through any given season. However, Enlow won’t be the impact pitcher that some hope he will be.

As long as he continues to progress he will still provide a lot of value in the future for the Minnesota Twins. Enlow already throws three above-average pitches so he will contribute in some capacity. With his excellent breaking ball, combined with an improved fastball, Enlow could have the biggest impact coming out of the bullpen.

10- Lewin Diaz 1B

Lewin Diaz struggled during his debut season after the Minnesota Twins signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2013. However, it didn’t take him long to show why Minnesota gave him $1.4 million when they signed him.

Diaz hit only .233 across 180 plate appearances during his debut 2015 season and looked overmatched at the plate. However, he rebounded nicely by hitting .310 across 187 plate appearances during the 2016 season.

Diaz projects to hit for power in the future, but he has yet to fully tap into that potential. However, he has shown advanced plate discipline so far in his young career and should only continue to improve.

Last season was a breakout year for Diaz and he has cemented his place among the Twins top prospects. He hit .292 with 12 home runs and 68 runs batted in en route to being named to the Midwest League All-Star team.

What the future holds for Diaz

There is little doubt that as Diaz matures he will begin to tap into his considerable power. He had 57 extra base hits last season, showing that he can consistently drive the baseball. The Minnesota Twins have some question marks at first base in the future, and Diaz could be the answer.

The biggest obstacle in his way will be his below-average defense at first base. Although Diaz should be able to handle the position adequately, his future could be at designated hitter.

He projects to hit for really good power from the left side of the plate and that will benefit the Twins greatly in the future. Minnesota has Brent Rooker as the probable Joe Mauer replacement at first base, but Diaz can play himself into the conversation with a strong 2018 season.

The Minnesota Twins Minor League system has a ton of talent. We’ve only just begun shedding light on a small portion of the talent on the way. The future is bright for baseball in the Twin Cities and it all begins down on the farm with players like Diaz.

Next: What impact will signing Lance Lynn have in 2018?

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