Minnesota Twins Preseason 2022 Top 50 Prospects: No. 50-41

Minnesota Twins Top 50 Prospects: 50-46

Prospect No. 50: Austin Schulfer, RHP

Our list starts off with undersized right-hander Austin Schulfer, the 6’2″, 175 lb starting pitcher out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He put up solid numbers at UW-Milwaukee, finishing his college career with solid enough numbers to be the Twins’ 19th Round Selection in 2018.

Since he arrived, he’s steadily risen through the organizational ranks, posting more solid numbers (9.6 K/9 is very good for a starter), but giving up way too many hits and walks. He just turned 26, and he’s probably not a starter in the majors, but he’s a good pitcher to watch with a solid low-nineties fastball and good curveball.

Prospect No. 49: Cody Laweryson, RHP

Cody Laweryson is similar to Schulfer in a couple ways, as he’s a middle round pick (14th Round in 2019) who impressed in college, and gets lots of strikeouts, but he’s got a couple differences as well. Laweryson was a reliever-turned-starter at Maine, and the Twins have kept him there, and he’s had some success.

He’s big, at 6’4″, 205 lbs, but he still has some more projectability in his frame. He limits walks, but he struggled to miss bats last year, giving up lots of hits at High A. He was very solid in Fall League though, and at just 23, he will continue to rise up the ranks if he can avoid giving up so many hits in 2022.

Prospect No. 48: Jermaine Palacios, SS

Jermaine Palacios is one of the hitters on the lower half of this list with the best chance to see the major leagues within a few seasons because of his ability to play the position where the Twins need the most help: shortstop. The 25 year old has a long history with the team too.

Palacios was the centerpiece of the trade that brought back Jake Odorizzi in 2018, and after struggling in Tampa, he signed here again as an MiLB free agent. He has some solid power (19 HR in 110 games at AA last year), but he needs to have another strong season to prove he’s ready for his long-awaited MLB shot.

Prospect No. 47: Samuel Perez, LHP

Yes, Samuel Perez is a 22 year old still playing rookie ball, but the young lefty could move quickly through the system. His small frame (5’11) hides how well he delivers the ball, and the Twins could see him move quickly through the minors. Expect him to pitch well in the lower levels and e tested by the Double-AA and Triple-AAA batters.

Prospect No. 46: Zach Featherstone, LHP

Zach Featherstone is another left-handed reliever, but he comes with a little more of a resume than Perez. The 12th Round pick from 2016 out of Tallahassee Community College played just 15 games from 2017-2020, but he broke out in 2021 with 93 strikeouts in 55 innings and a sparkling 2.13 ERA.

He needs to prove himself in 2022, as he has a tendency to walk a lot of batters, but if he comes out hot again, he has an outside shot at joining the Twins bullpen in 2023. If he doesn’t, his time on this list will be very short-lived.