Minnesota Twins Preseason 2022 Top 50 Prospects: No. 30-21
Minnesota Twins Top 50 Prospects: 30-26
Prospect: No. 30: Jordan Gore, RHP
It’s been a long road for Jordan Gore, originally drafted as a shortstop in the nineteenth round of the 2017 MLB Draft, but he is the first prospect that we’ve covered in these rankings that I expect to see in the major leagues in 2022.
He dominated as a full-time reliever last season at both Double-AA and High-A, but he was particularly effective as the closer in Wichita. He posted a 1.61 ERA over 20 games and earned six saves and a 30-11 K-BB ratio. If he continues this once the Triple-AAA season starts, we could see the 27-year old and his fiery fastball and plus splitter in the bigs very soon.
Prospect No. 29: Sawyer Gipson-Long, RHP
Sawyer Gipson-Long was the Minnesota Twins’ 6th Round Pick in 2019, and immediately struggled in his first three starts. In his next seventeen however, Gipson-Long was one of the top starters in the Twins system, posting an 3.45 ERA and an incredible 123-21 K-BB ratio in 89 innings.
If he develops his changeup (something he talked to us about) well to match his fastball and very strong slider, Gipson-Long could quickly become one of the best pitching prospects in the Twins’ system. The 6’4″ 24-year old is an important player to watch when the minor league season begins next month.
Prospect No. 28: Jovani Moran, LHP
One of just three prospects on my list to have already made his MLB debut, Jovani Moran was absolutely dominant in both Triple-AAA and Double-AA, striking out 14.6 batters per nine innings and posting a 2.41 ERA across the two levels. His MLB debut, however, did not go so smoothly.
Moran has an incredible changeup, but his control has long been his biggest issue, and while his improved fastball helped his minor-league numbers, his ghastly seven walks in eight major league innings are cause for concern. Moran has all the tools to be an elite, closer-level, bullpen arm, but he has to prove he can control his pitches to reach his potential.
Prospect No. 27: Alerick Soularie, 2B/OF
An electric college hitter, it was expected that Alerick Soularie wouldn’t have a defensive home right away due to his poor defensive skills. Unfortunately, broken foot delayed his professional start in 2021, and when he did get started, it wasn’t all that impressive. In 28 games at High-A, Soularie slashed .240/.367/.360 with just 3 homers.
It wasn’t all bad though. His .367 OBP shows his stellar eye, as he earned 19 walks, and going 9-10 in steal attempts in that short span is a huge plus. The Twins remained convinced he has some power potential as well, but he’s almost 23 now, so he needs to show a little more hitting ability this year in order to make up for his defensive issues.
Prospect No. 26: Kala’i Rosario, OF
One of my personal favorite prospects in the Twins system, I’ve been a big fan of Kala’i Rosario‘s massive power ever since the Twins drafted him with a fifth round pick in 2020. When he was drafted, some scouts gave him a 75 for that specific skill, and since then, he’s proved them completely right, slugging .452 in his first taste of pro ball.
Now his defense isn’t great, and he strikes out A LOT (66 times in 51 games), but he showed a solid ability to get on base (.341 OBP), decent hitting ability (.277 BA), and even a little speed (4 SB). He’s just 18, and with his power, he has the ability and the potential to quickly rise up the prospect ranks if he can cut back on the strikeouts.
Minnesota Twins Top 50 Prospects: 25-21
Prospect No. 25: Steve Hajjar, LHP
While I didn’t include the Mercedes, Herrera, or Acuna on the list for their lack of games, I will include Steve Hajjar, as he’s four years older and has made a pretty impressive mark in college baseball, pitching well enough to be a Top 100 draft prospect and the Twins’ 2021 2nd round pick.
Hajjar is 6’5″ and though he’s already got three pitches with plus potential, the 21-year old may have even more in him. He hasn’t always been able to remain healthy, but as it sits now, the Twins are looking at a guy who could become a middle of the rotation arm if he develops right.
Prospect No. 24: Drew Strotman, RHP
The “other” pitcher that came over in the Nelson Cruz deal, Drew Strotman was in the middle of a very productive season for Triple-AAA Durham (Rays). Once he arrived in St. Paul however, he imploded, getting smacked around and missing far fewer bats.
There’s still a lot to like about Strotman: he has a really good pitch mix, solid delivery, and good command. The Twins will clearly need rotation help in 2022. The 25 year-old will have to find his Durham form again in order to prove he deserves a shot at the next level, and that’s going to be tough.
Prospect No. 23: Spencer Steer, 3B/2B/SS
It’s been a process, but Spencer Steer, the team’s third round pick in 2019, has climbed quickly through the minor leagues, by consistently getting on base, playing multiple positions, and this year surprising with a little bit of power.
He’ll never be a superstar, but he could be a very solid utility fielder (he’s basically become what Yunior Severino was supposed to be). He’s probably a year or two away still, but the Twins will be okay with him taking that developmental path.
Prospect No. 22: Cade Povich, LHP
Cade Povich is in a very similar boat to Steve Hajjar. Big Ten college pitcher with a thin college resume, typically lower-90s velocity, a large frame (6’2″ in Povich’s case) with some projectability, and a couple of other pitches that could be built into a solid starter mix.
Povich lands a few spots ahead of Hajjar in these rankings because we got to see him pitch 10 innings in the Twins’ system and post a 19-2 K-BB ratio and allow just one earned run. We’re not ready to call him the next Max Scherzer, but if he has a solid season, he could move quickly in the Twins’ system.
Prospect No. 21: Misael Urbina, OF
If you look at different prospect rankings for the Twins, Misael Urbina is ranked all over the place. Some have him on the edge of the Top 10, some have him just inside their Top 30. We’ve split the difference here, because we really don’t know what Urbina can truly do.
He’s supposed to have a very high ceiling, and was a highly-touted international prospect. He immediately had a great first fifty games of rookie ball in 2019, but he struggled MIGHTILY in 2021, slashing .191/.299/.286. It’s not all bad though.
He’s one of the fastest athletes in the Twins’ system and he’s got excellent baseball knowledge that helps him run the bases well, play fantastic defense in centerfield, and he takes a lot of walks too (it’s why his OBP was over 100 points higher than his average). He turns 20 in the end of April, too, so he’s got lots of time to work on hitting the ball. We’ll be patient.
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