Minnesota Twins Preseason 2022 Top 50 Prospects: No. 20-11

Minnesota Twins Top 50 Prospects: 20-16

Prospect No. 20: Marco Raya, RHP

Just 19 years old and still yet to have thrown in a professional game, Marco Raya is one of the biggest question marks in the Twins system. The 2020 fourth round pick lands differently on prospect lists depending entirely on what you believe he’ll do once he does make an appearance. I have a lot of faith in his upside, and I really liked him when the team drafted him.

He’s got a mid-90s fastball, a curveball, slider, and changeup that could all develop into plus pitches, and good feel for the game. He’s rail thin, and there are questions on his durability, but if Raya can bulk up and transition his success in instruction league to pro games, he has frontline starter potential. He could fly up the rankings with success when he makes his first appearance.

Prospect No. 19: Keoni Cavaco, SS

The 13th Pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, Keoni Cavaco was billed as a super raw, very athletic player who had the potential to develop onto a very talented shortstop. It’s been two years since then, and well, we’re still waiting.

In his first 88 games, Cavaco has slashed .217/.276/.289, hit three homers, and while he played better than he did in 2019, there weren’t any positives to take away from the season. If he can’t show something positive soon, he won’t be a top prospect much longer.

Prospect No. 18: Aaron Sabato, 1B

The Twins’ first round pick in 2020, Aaron Sabato struggled to get adjusted in his first few months of pro ball before seemingly figuring it out in the final two months of the year, slashing .253/.402/.613 after being promoted to High-A. The big question about him is this: Which version will the Twins see in 2022?

Sabato’s strengths are clear: colossal power and a very strong ability to draw walks. Unfortunately, weaknesses are clear too: loads of strikeouts, so-so defense, and struggles with hitting for average. He’s already almost 23 too, so he needs to show this year that his end of year success is closer to the mean than an outlier.

Prospect No. 17: Gilberto Celestino, OF

The second of three minor league prospects to see Major League Action, Gilberto Celestino‘s run in the Majors didn’t go any better than Jovani Moran’s did. He showed a little power, but otherwise he looked overmatched. After getting sent back down to Triple-AAA however, he looked far more like the player they think he can be.

He’s got a good skill set, with excellent defense, solid speed, and the ability to be patient at the plate. He’s got everything a team could want out of a center fielder. He should develop into the perfect backup for Byron Buxton (a job the Twins need to have someone to fill).

Prospect No. 16: Matt Wallner, OF

The Twins’ supplemental first round pick in 2019, Minnesota native Matt Wallner has missed a lot of time over the past three years, whether it be due to injury or COVID wiping out the 2020 season. By all indication though, he’s ready for the season after crushing in the Fall League.

Wallner profiles as a prototype corner outfielder. Big (6’5″, 220 lbs), plenty of power (23 homers in 133 games), and a good eye (.354 OBP). If he stays healthy this year and cuts down on strikeouts, he should be knocking on the MLB door with a possible late season debut if things break right.

Minnesota Twins Top 50 Prospects: 15-11

Prospect No. 15: Cole Sands, RHP

If you’re looking for a pitcher with all the makings of a big league starter, a high ceiling, and a solid floor, look no further than Cole Sands. He’s got all the tools he needs: strong fastball, two plus offspeed pitches, good strikeout numbers, and the ability to miss bats. His control is an issue every once in a while, but that’s nitpicking. It truly does all come down to health.

Sands hasn’t thrown more than 100 innings in a season in either college or pro ball, and despite really good numbers, it won’t matter if he can’t make it to 20 starts in a year. That’s why 2022 is so important for the 24-year old. He must prove that he can stay healthy enough to start, or he’ll find himself as a (very, very good) bullpen arm.

Prospect No 14: Blayne Enlow, RHP

It seems unlikely that we will see Blayne Enlow pitch anytime before late in the 2022 season, if at all, but despite his injury history, he’s done nothing but produce in the pros. He’ll be 23 when he comes back, so he’s running out of time, but his excellent four pitch mix and good stuff means he can’t fall out of the Top 15 until we’ve seen him pitch again.

Prospect No. 13: Noah Miller, SS

A competitive bonus-first round pick in 2021, Noah Miller (brother of Cleveland Guardians infielder Owen Miller) is a very high-floor player, something you don’t often see from a prep shortstop. He’s not very athletic, but he’s got good baseball IQ and instincts, so he could stick at the Twins’ weakest position long term.

The issue with Miller is there’s nothing there to love. He does everything solidly. Good contact skills, could develop average power, solid fielder, fine arm. He’s only 19 though, and his refined skills are impressive. There’s plenty of time for him to prove me wrong, thus the reason he’s still ranked so high here.

Prospect No. 12: Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF

Uber athletic with a gorgeous swing, Emmanuel Rodriguez’s first taste of pro ball was quite impressive for an 18 year-old and confirmed once again the enormous potential the young outfielder has.

In his first 37 games, Rodriguez stole 9 bases, hit 10 homers, earned a .346 OBP, and a .524 slugging percentage. He also hit .214, struck out 56 times, and got caught stealing four times. He needs to refine his swing, and it will be interesting to see him at a higher level, but he’s got all the time in the world to do it (he turned 19 three days ago). Rodriguez could be the Twins’ next top prospect with proper development.

Prospect No. 11: Louie Varland, RHP

Louie Varland was the easy choice to be the Minnesota Twins’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2021, posting a 2.10 ERA and a 142-30 K-BB ratio as well a 1.087 WHIP. With his low draft status, this seems like a one of a kind year. That’s when you realize, he made some very serious strides of his own.

Varland’s fastball lived in the mid-90s most of last year, far faster than it was in college and he has an excellent changeup and slider as well. On top of this, Varland has been slowly building up a curveball as a potential fourth pitch. If Varland proves his changes are for real, he’ll be in the big league rotation within months.