5 Biggest Rising Stars for the Minnesota Twins’ AL Central Rivals
By Otto Johnson
Minnesota Twins Rival Rising Star No. 5: Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Kansas City Royals
It may be surprising to see Adalberto Mondesi on this list, but he is very deserving. Mondesi cracked the big leagues for the Kansas City Royals at the age of 19 all the way back in 2015 in the World Series. He was the first player ever to debut in the fall classic, but the former top prospect is just beginning to find his stride.
Mondesi struggled in his first two seasons with the Royals, working mostly as a base-runner and utilizing his incredible speed. He started to break out in 2018, with a 75 game season that saw him slash .276/.306/.804 with 3 triples, 14 homers, and 32 stolen bases. That’s on pace for 6 triples, 29 homers, and 66 stolen bases.
He wasn’t quite that dominant in 2019, slashing .263/.291/.715 over 102 games and only hitting 9 homers, but he stole 43 bases and led the league in triples with 10. He’s only got more potential as he’s still just 25.
The only World Series winner on this list, Mondesi has a lot more experience than everyone in front of him, but he’s talented enough and young enough that I still wouldn’t count him out from becoming even better.
Minnesota Twins Rival Rising Star No. 4: Brady Singer, RHP, Kansas City Royals
He has only thrown 255 pitches in the Major Leagues, but for two of his three starts, Brady Singer has looked every bit as good as advertised since he was drafted 18th Overall in 2018. Despite getting just one year in the minors, he’s already the second starter in the Royals rotation.
Last year, Singer went 12-5 with a 2.85 ERA and a 138-39 K-BB at both High-A and Double-AA, making the Royals believe their top pitching prospect (and the No. 65 MLB Prospect) was ready to pitch for their major league team that needed him badly.
In each of his first two starts, he went 5 innings, allowing two runs and striking out a total of 10 batters while walking four. He struggled more in his third start (against a good Cubs team), still going 5 innings, but he allowed four runs. In that third start though, his electric stuff was revealed as he struck out eight.
Singer is just 24, giving him three years to reach his prime as a pitcher. His arrow is pointing straight up, and if the Royals can use their improved prospect group to build around Singer and Mondesi, Kansas City won’t be 100 game losers for very long.