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Minnesota Twins Preseason 2022 Top 50 Prospects: Top 5 and Full Recap

By Otto Johnson |
Royce Lewis of the Minnesota Twins bats in the first inning of a Grapefruit League game. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Royce Lewis of the Minnesota Twins bats in the first inning of a Grapefruit League game. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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The Minnesota Twins major league season may or may not be coming any time in the immediate future, but that doesn’t mean the minor league season will be slowing down at all. With Triple-AAA baseball still expected to arrive on April 5th, it’s time to take a look at the long list of potential big leaguers within the MiLB ranks.

We ranked these top fifty prospects off of a combination of talent, production, and positional value, but with such an expansive group, we’ll break it down starting in chunks of ten and continuing until we reach our top five later this week. Check out our full breakdowns of the first forty-five prospects on the list here:

We ranked the Top 50 Minnesota Twins prospects, wrapping up our list with the Top 5.

As we noted the past few days, we didn’t include include Yasser Mercedes, Yilber Herrera, or Bryan Acuna, all of whom have yet to appear in a pro game yet, though when they do, expect to see them here soon.

We wrap up our list today with a brief recap of the team’s Top 50 prospects and the five best in our system. These five prospects are the best of the best, with real All-Star potential should they be able to reach it. Let’s move through the first forty-five to round out the list.

Pitcher Chris Vallimont of the Wichita Wind Surge pitches during the game against the Amarillo Sod Poodles. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Pitcher Chris Vallimont of the Wichita Wind Surge pitches during the game against the Amarillo Sod Poodles. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Twins Top Prospects: 50-36

  • Prospect No. 50: Austin Schulfer, RHP
  • Prospect No. 49: Cody Laweryson, RHP
  • Prospect No. 48: Jermaine Palacios, SS
  • Prospect No. 47: Samuel Perez, LHP
  • Prospect No. 46: Zach Featherstone, LHP

Schulfler, Laweryson, Palacios, Perez, and Featherstone are all in a similar boat, in that each player is an older prospect with with an outside shot at reaching the majors, with Schulfer, Laweryson, Perez, and Featherstone’s best shot coming as relievers and Palacios trying to break through and the Twins’ biggest need: shortstop.

  • Prospect No. 45: Christian MacLeod, LHP
  • Prospect No. 44: Andrew Bechtold, 3B/1B
  • Prospect No. 43: Will Holland, SS
  • Prospect No. 42: Jair Camargo, C
  • Prospect No. 41: Ben Rortvedt, C

Will Holland and Jair Camargo are both in their early 20s and have high ceilings, but both need good years in 2022 to prove their potential. Christian MacLeod also has potential, we’ll see how much when he pitches in his first full season this year.

Bechtold doesn’t have that same potential, but he could be a good bench bat at the major league level if he can prove his power and defense improvements are real. Rortvedt is exactly who we thought he was, a good defender with some power, but nothing more than a backup catcher. If he’s a solid enough backup catcher though, that’s good enough for a spot on this list.

  • Prospect No. 40: Jeferson Morales, C
  • Prospect No. 39: Yennier Cano, RHP
  • Prospect No. 38: Danny De Andrade, SS
  • Prospect No. 37: Casey Legumina, RHP
  • Prospect No. 36: Chris Vallimont, RHP

Jeferson Morales is the top catching prospect in the system, but he needs to improve his defense to stick behind the dish, but his bat is strong. Yennier Cano is about to turn 28, but he should be a major league reliever within the year. Danny De Andrade is still very raw, but he should move quickly up these rankings as he progresses as he gets older.

Casey Legumina has the floor of a big league reliever, but if he can keep building up into a full-time starter, he has a pretty high ceiling. He is 25 though, so he needs to have a successful year in 2022. As for Chris Vallimont, he’s been a fringe Top 30 prospect since he arrived with the Minnesota Twins, but he too needs a big year to prove he can make it as a big league starter.

Edouard Julien rounds third after he hit a homerun against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. (Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
Edouard Julien rounds third after he hit a homerun against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. (Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin) /

Minnesota Twins Top Prospects: 35-21

  • Prospect No. 35: Sean Mooney, RHP
  • Prospect No. 34: Wander Javier, SS
  • Prospect No. 33: Eduoard Julien, 1B/2B/3B/LF
  • Prospect No. 32: Yunior Severino, 2B/3B
  • Prospect No. 31: Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 3B/1B

Sean Mooney, Eduoard Julien, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand could be fast risers in the system, with Encarnacion-Strand in particular holding high potential (though Julien had an excellent breakout year in 2021). Yunior Severino had a good year and could develop into a solid utility player. Lastly, Wander Javier’s potential is still real, but 2022 may be his last chance to realize it.

  • Prospect No. 30: Jordan Gore, RHP
  • Prospect No. 29: Sawyer Gipson-Long, RHP
  • Prospect No. 28: Jovani Moran, LHP
  • Prospect No. 27: Alerick Soularie, 2B/OF
  • Prospect No. 26: Kala’i Rosario, OF

Jordan Gore and Jovani Moran both should be making appearances in the major league bullpen within the year, so neither of them will last much longer on this prospect list. Sawyer Gipson-Long and Alerick Soularie may not have had perfect years, but they should raise quickly through the system along with Kala’i Rosario (and his impressive power).

  • Prospect No. 25: Steve Hajjar, RHP
  • Prospect No. 24: Drew Strotman, RHP
  • Prospect No. 23: Spencer Steer, 3B/2B/SS
  • Prospect No. 22: Cade Povich, LHP
  • Prospect No. 21: Misael Urbina, OF

Steve Hajjar and Cade Povich are both college arms with possible untapped potential that 2022 will hopefully display, while Drew Strotman needs to prove he can still be a member of a big league rotation with a bounceback year.

Spencer Steer had another strong year as he gets closer to the big leagues. Misael Urbina has the most potential of this group, but similar to Strotman and multiple other prospects on this list, Urbina needs a big year to prove he has a chance to reach that lofty ceiling.

Minnesota Twins drafted prospect Noah Miller watches his home run leave the park.
Minnesota Twins drafted prospect Noah Miller watches his home run leave the park. /

Minnesota Twins Top Prospects: 20-6

  • Prospect No. 20: Marco Raya, RHP
  • Prospect No. 19: Keoni Cavaco, SS
  • Prospect No. 18: Aaron Sabato, 1B
  • Prospect No. 17: Gilberto Celestino, OF
  • Prospect No. 16: Matt Wallner, OF

This group of five prospects couldn’t be more different, though one thing is the same for all of them: with a good season, all five could shoot up the rankings. I think Marco Raya will fly up the lists if he’s as good as advertised. Matt Wallner is finally healthy, and he has the skills to move quickly.

Aaron Sabato finished last year on a tear, so if he can repeat that success, he can move back into the Top 10 range. If Keoni Cavaco can finally turn all his tools into success this year, he’ll do the same. Gilberto Celestino’s year ended a high note at Triple-AAA, but if he continues at that rate, he could jump up the board too.

  • Prospect No. 15: Cole Sands, RHP
  • Prospect No. 14: Blayne Enlow, RHP
  • Prospect No. 13: Noah Miller, SS
  • Prospect No. 12: Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF
  • Prospect No. 11: Louie Varland, RHP

Noah Miller may not have the highest ceiling in the system, but he has a high floor, helping him land this high. Cole Sands needs to stay healthy to prove he can be a starter, and even if Blayne Enlow doesn’t make an appearance this year, his ceiling is still high enough to remain in the Top 15.

As for Emmanuel Rodriguez, if he continues to mature along his current path, he likely could end up as the Minnesota Twins’ No. 1 prospect within the next few years, while Louie Varland’s meteoric rise will continue even further if he has another good year like last year.

  • Prospect No. 10: Jhoan Duran, RHP
  • Prospect No. 9: Matt Canterino, RHP
  • Prospect No. 8: Jose Miranda, 3B/2B/1B
  • Prospect No. 7: Chase Petty, RHP
  • Prospect No. 6: Josh Winder, RHP

Jhoan Duran, Matt Canterino, and Josh Winder are all extremely talented arms who have very big injury question marks that may help them build a great bullpen if things don’t work out. Chase Petty will get a chance to show he’s for real when he takes the mound for his first full season. Miranda should get every chance to prove he’s an everyday player to open the season in 2022.

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan throws a pitch against the Chicago Cubs. (Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan throws a pitch against the Chicago Cubs. (Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports) /

Minnesota Twins Top 5 Prospects

We’ve finally reached the Top 5 prospects in the Minnesota Twins system, the players that have some of the best potential and best production combined with the best chance to make the Major League roster.

Prospect No. 5: Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP

Still just 21 years old, Simeon Woods Richardson had a tough year dealing with control in 2021, walking batters at twice the rate he ever had (though he did up his strikeout numbers to some of the best of his career).  But it’s not hard to believe the Top 100 prospect can bounce back in 2022.

First, Woods Richardson spent the first half of the year with the Toronto system, went to play baseball in the Olympics, then was traded to the Twins. Now, he finally is getting settled, and will have every chance to prove last year was just a fluke. His four pitch mix and high floor make him a strong candidate to reach the majors, even if he doesn’t reach his potential.

Prospect No. 4: Joe Ryan, RHP

Coming into the Twins system from the Nelson Cruz trade as very solid prospect with big league potential, Joe Ryan lit it up in two starts at Triple-AAA. He posted a 17-2 K-BB ratio and allowed two runs over nine innings before he was promoted to the majors. He kept his hot streak going, posting a 30-5 K-BB ratio.

Ryan has a strong four pitch mix, with a solid fastball and three other pitches that allow him to miss a lot of bats. He may give up a lot of homers because he really goes after the zone. He’ll graduate from prospect status by the time the next list comes out, but Ryan could be a Number Two starter if he develops properly.

Prospect No. 3: Jordan Balazovic, RHP

A Top 100 prospect for almost every major prospect list, Jordan Balazovic has all the makings of a big league starter. He’s big (6’5″), has a mid-90s fastball, and two other pitches with the potential to develop into top shelf options.

He rebounded well from back issues that caused him to miss some time, but he put up good numbers at his first stint at Double-AA. He gave up a few more walks and hits then usual, but if those secondary pitches develop properly, Balazvoic has real top of the rotation potential. If not, he’s still fit for a middle of the rotation opening.

Prospect No. 2: Royce Lewis, SS

Now almost 23, we haven’t seen Royce Lewis play in a game since his red-hot Fall League stretch in 2019. After a Torn ACL cost him all of his 2020 season, his 2022 season is going to be a big one for the former No. 1 Overall Pick.

From all accounts, he’s ready to prove he can still reach his lofty potential. We already know he has the tools: elite speed, a strong glove (whether he lands at shortstop or center field), some possible power, and a potentially solid hitting ability, but he needs to prove that he can reach his ceiling with a strong 2022. He might even finally make his MLB debut this year if things go perfectly.

Prospect No.1: Austin Martin, 2B/SS/OF

Brought over in the deal for Jose Berrios with Woods Richardson, Austin Martin was the fifth overall pick in the 2020 Draft. When he was drafted out of Vanderbilt, Martin was viewed as an advanced college hitter who would move quickly through the system and offer some power potential as well.

Because of his advanced abilities, Martin spent the year at Double-AA, and while he didn’t hit particularly well, his on-base abilities and steals were very solid. He needs to make some improvements in 2022 and show some of his power potential in order to truly show his insanely high ceiling. Much like many prospects on this list, 2022 is a big year for him.

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