Last Sunday I had the excellent opportunity to journey over to St. Paul and take in a Saints game. My mission was to see if there’s some hope for the Minnesota Twins’ future across the river. Having the team so close has certainly been an asset for the team, but it’s also an asset for the fans who want to scout young talent.
There were some familiar names that flashed while I was there watching the game and possibly one hidden gem fans might not know that stood out. In addition, I wanted to shout out outfield prospect Jimmy Kerrigan for taking the time for an autograph and give my nephew a ball just before game time. He has shown some pop this season and hopefully he keeps progressing into 2022.
Quick Takeaways from the Minnesota Twins’ Top Farm Affiliate
Ben Rortvedt: He has an absolute rocket arm that’s hard to see on TV. His defensive skills are above average for a MLB player. If he can develop as a hitter (he’s slashing .294/.342/.544 in Triple-AAA) there’s no question he’ll be catching for the Twins again in the not so distant future. He played really well.
Nick Gordon: He looked very solid at shortstop and hit the ball hard. Nick has shown improvement this year and is looking to build on that going into 2022. Let’s hope there’s a permanent role for him with the big club.
Lewis Thorpe: In his 1st start since coming back from injury, Thorpe showed some nice command and why he’s been in the MLB already. Lewis has a chance next year and maybe a little bit this year, but he still needs to take a step forward.
Keon Broxton: Broxton is a defensive wizard and plays super fast! His power is evident and he’s an absolute blast to watch, but just watching one game it’s clear: his plate discipline remains a concern.
The Minnesota Twins Hidden Gem Prospect who plays for the St. Paul Saints
The standout of the day for me was Yennier Cano. Some guys just show a little more than others and this is the case here. His fastball is absolutely electric. He was consistently between 95-98 with movement. It was impressive! He has a slider, cutter and change to go with it.
This guy could be the surprise of 2021. We’ll see if he gets a late season call up. He’s a curious case as he comes from Cuba but took a couple years off for whatever reason. He’s 27 years old and at 6′-4″ and pushing 200 lbs with a 3/4 arm slot, so he’s quite intimidating out there. I like his chances, and he’s a former top prospect.