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Baseball America Top 100: 6 Minnesota Twins prospects that can make an impact in 2020

By Chris Schad

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Alex Kirilloff #19 of the Minnesota Twins and the U.S. Team bats in the second inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 15: Alex Kirilloff #19 of the Minnesota Twins and the U.S. Team bats in the second inning against the World Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 04: Brusdar Graterol #51 of the Minnesota Twins throws a pitch against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning in game one of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 04, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 04: Brusdar Graterol #51 of the Minnesota Twins throws a pitch against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning in game one of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 04, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

Brusdar Graterol

Age: 21
Position: Pitcher
Level: MLB
2019 Stats: 1-1, 4.66 ERA, 9 2/3 IP, 10 K, 2 BB, 1.24 WHIP
Baseball America ranking: 60th

During the middle of last season, there was a buzz around right-handed pitcher Brusdar Graterol. The 21-year old had just gotten off the injured list with a shoulder impingement and was getting ready to make a couple of rehab starts in Gulf Coast League. Nothing to see here, right?

Over the next couple of months, that changed as Graterol used his fastball that topped out at 104 MPH to send his stock all the way to Minnesota, where he spent the month of September and October in the Twins bullpen. While the numbers weren’t perfect, the Twins clearly liked what they saw and recently hinted that Graterol will begin 2020 in the bullpen.

The decision to keep Graterol in the majors could pay off if he can make the full-time adjustment to Major League Baseball. By facing major league hitters, Graterol can gain experience and be stretched out if the Twins’ rotation falls apart in the same fashion it did in 2019.

While Graterol’s immediate future is as a reliever, he does have a spot in the Twins’ rotation of the future and with a steady mix of effective pitches, it’s possible he can have a major impact in 2020.

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