Minnesota Twins: 2022 Midseason Top 50 Prospects, No. 50-21

Minnesota Twins Top Prospects: No. 30-No. 21

No. 30-SS Jermaine Palacios (PR: No. 48): After a solid 2021 season, Jermaine Palacios has followed up with a very similar 2022 season that included his MLB debut. All of the same issues he had to start the year are still problems, but I believe now that he has the floor of an low-tier MLB shortstop with some untapped potential remaining. That helped bring him up those 18 spots in these rankings.

No. 29-OF Yasser Mercedes (PR: Not Ranked): Yasser Mercedes has gotten his first taste of pro action and has crushed it, slashing .344/.411/.538 with 11 XBH (3 HR), and 16 steals in 25 games. The only reason he enters the list at such a low spot is the same reason I entered Emmanuel Rodriguez so low: his age.

Mercedes is still just 17 and playing in the Dominican Summer League, but he’s got good tools and has shown he has some potential. Depending on how this season and the next season finish, Mercedes could become a star.

No. 28-SS Tanner Schobel (PR: Not Ranked): The Minnesota Twins 3rd Round Pick in the 2022 Draft may not be oozing with potential, but Tanner Schobel does everything solidly, and will be given a chance to stay at short in the pros. He’s not going to be an All-Star, but he’s got the potential to be a solid big league regular.

No. 27-RHP Ronny Henriquez (PR: Not Ranked): Added on to the Mitch Garver-IKF trade, Ronny Henriquez has three really good pitches and solid control, but his command is his big issue. He earns good strikeout numbers for a starter and doesn’t walk a lot of batters, but he’s gotten hit hard ever since he got here. He has real upside, but he needs to actually prove he can hit his spots.

No. 26-1B Aaron Sabato (PR: No. 18): Sliding down the prospect rankings again this season, 2020 1st Round Pick Aaron Sabato is still struggling to reach his potential. His .217/.332/.406 slashline, 95 strikeouts, and 12 HR explain him well. He’s got to limit strikeouts and hit the ball more, while still taking walks and not losing his power. Will he figure it out? Who knows, but for now he slides again.

No. 25-RHP Sawyer Gibson-Long (PR: No. 29): I interviewed Sawyer Gipson-Long, and there are few guys I’ve talked to that are more down to earth as he is. It’s exciting to see him use his stuff and improve, and while he’s struggling a little bit at AA, he’s moving smoothly through the system with his excellent K-BB numbers.

No. 24-RHP Sean Mooney (PR: No. 35): With a good four pitch mix, Sean Mooney uses sneaky good stuff to keep hitters off-balance and rack up strikeouts, and this year he’s shown real improvement in limiting hits as well.

He’s 24 and struggles with walks from time to time which dampens his prospect stock, but Mooney looks like a very good back of the rotation arm if his development continues. He’s definitely one to watch.

No. 23-SS Danny De Andrade (PR: No. 38): Another teenager, Danny De Andrade was a Top 20 International Signing in 2021 and looked very solid in his first 81 games of Rookie ball between the past two years, slashing .260/.341/.366. He should gain a little more power as he grows, but his mature approach offers a lot of promise for the future.

No. 22-RHP Brent Headrick (PR: Not Ranked): I really liked what I saw from Brent Headrick in 2021, and if he could limit his walks this year he’d jump up my list. Well, the 9th Round Pick in 2019 has done just that.

This year, Headrick has posted a stellar 8-2 record, 2.34 ERA, 0.888 WHIP, 10.6 K/9, and 1.8 BB/9 over 15 starts. He was just promoted to AA and it’s beginning to look like Headrick might have a real future in Minnesota.

No. 21-RHP David Festa (PR: Not Ranked): A 13th Round Pick in the 2021 Draft, David Festa has also jumped into the Top 25 with a stellar 2022 campaign. His numbers aren’t quite as good as Headrick’s but he has a much better fastball and a potential plus slider. If he can keep improving his control, Festa has the potential to land in the Minnesota Twins rotation.