Minnesota Twins Preseason 2022 Top 50 Prospects: No. 40-31
Minnesota Twins Top 50 Prospects: 40-36
Prospect No. 40: Jeferson Morales, C
Of all the young players on this list, Jeferson Morales may be the most surprising rising star in the Twins system. The 5’8″ catcher hits, and hits well. He may not have 20 homer power, but he gets a lot of extra base hits for someone who’s only 170 pounds (partially because he’s got some solid speed).
He struggles with defense behind the dish, so he’ll either need to improve a lot there or just keep hitting to remain successful. His extremely strong eye (.400 OBP) and .847 OPS through four minor league levels suggest he might be able to do that. Still not even 23 yet, Morales is a hitter to watch, wherever the team decides his bat can go.
Prospect No. 39: Yennier Cano, RHP
The now-28 year old Yennier Cano is at the end of his line as a Twins top prospect. He had a solid year as a reliever in Triple-AAA and Double-AA last year, and we’ll likely see his long-awaited MLB debut later this year. He remains on this list for now because he should be a very good reliever, who strikes out a lot of batters and looks imposing with his 6’4″ frame. He’s still got some potential left.
Prospect No. 38: Danny De Andrade, SS
The only reason Danny De Andrade is this low is because he just got his first taste of minor league action. The No. 14 international prospect in 2020, De Andrade has a lot of tools that scouts love to see out of young guy. The ability to hit to all fields, lots of power potential, a strong arm, and solid fielding that could see him stick at short (or move to third).
In his first fifty games in Rookie ball, De Andrade slashed a solid .264/.340/.348 line, and while he didn’t hit any homers, he managed to flash his athleticism and baseball smarts to snag six bases. He’s very raw, but expect De Andrade to move up these rankings quickly as he progresses.
Prospect No. 37: Casey Legumina, RHP
A closer-turned starter from Gonzaga, Casey Legumina was the Minnesota Twins’ eighth-round pick in 2019. He’s got a good fastball that sits in the mid nineties and has a solid four pitch mix that he uses well.
In his first year in the minors, Legumina was excellent at Low-A, posting a 56-14 K-BB ratio and a 3.02 ERA over 14 games (8 starts). If he can manage to remain healthy (because durability is a big issue here), he could rise quickly through the system. At the very least, you’re looking at a solid reliever.
Prospect No. 36: Chris Vallimont, RHP
A top 30 prospect for the Twins since he arrived in the Sergio Romo trade, Chris Vallimont came over as a big starter with a good four pitch mix. In 2019, he was extremely good in High-A, but when he came back in 2021, he struggled at Double-AA for the Twins.
He has a lengthy history of success in the minors, so it’s easier to give Vallimont the benefit of the doubt, despite a tough season. He still strikes out a lot of batters and though he gave up a lot of hits and walks, he still profiles as a major league starter. He’s now 25, so the clock is really ticking to prove himself,
Minnesota Twins Top 50 Prospects: 35-31
Prospect No. 35: Sean Mooney, RHP
Sean Mooney, drafted in the 12th Round in 2019, is yet another quick rising prospect in this range of prospects. He’s 6’1″, 200 lbs, and while he’s struggled with control at some times (4.9 BB/9), he’s looked really good with his upped velocity. He’s just 24 and struck out 15.2 batters per nine innings, so he’ll be worth keeping an eye on.
Prospect No. 34: Wander Javier, SS
Wander Javier has long been one of my favorite prospects, as his potential has been considered amongst the best in the system. He’s flashed some serious power and athleticism, and his first fifty games made him look like an All-Star.
Since then, he’s dealt with injuries and ineffectiveness, and the Twins have been thinking about his potential and hoping that he’ll return to the player we’ve been hoping for. He’s 23 now though, so similar to Chris Vallimont, this may be his last chance.
Prospect No. 33: Eduoard Julien, 1B/2B/3B/LF
Looking for a player who made an incredible first impression in a minor league system? Look no further than Eduoard Julien. In his first season in the pros, Julien slashed .267/.434/.480, hit 18 homers, and stole 34 bases in 112 games.
On top of this, Julien walked 110 (!!!) times in 112 games, showing an incredible ability to get on base. There’s some question about where he’ll play defensively, but if he can put together a similar season in 2022, Julien’s stock will skyrocket even higher.
Prospect No. 32: Yunior Severino, 2B/3B
Yunior Severino is similar to Wander Javier in that he has always been billed as an extremely high-potential prospect, but last year, Severino delivered. At High-A last year, Severino played 35 games and slashed .321/.414/.493.
He doesn’t have a lot of power, but that was never his strength and he knocked in 70 RBI in 98 games. He’s likely to be a solid utility player if he can keep this up (a la Luis Arraez)., but he’s got to prove he can repeat his performance next year.
Prospect No. 31: Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B/3B
When Christian Encarnacion-Strand was drafted, I said right away that he put up excellent numbers in college despite a hitch in his swing and could use his strong arm to make up for some defensive shortcomings to become a really good player.
In his first 22 games, he’s done exactly that, and proved me right, slashing .391/.424/.598 and hitting four homers in 22 games. Though it’s just Low-A ball and it was a short time period, Encarnacion-Strand will have to face tougher competition to prove he’s really this player (which is why he’s only in the 31st spot). Encarnacion-Strand could rise quickly if he backs it up.
Next. Minnesota Twins: Three Reasons Jorge Polanco Should be on the Move. dark