Twins' trio highlights top 100 with latest MLB Pipeline prospect list

On Thursday night, MLB Pipeline published updates to their top 30 prospects for each organization and the top 100 prospects in the sport. Heading into the night, the Twins had two top 100 prospcets in Brooks Lee and Emmanuel Rodriguez, but that was surely going to change.

Walker Jenkins, who the Twins took with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, has exploded onto the scene since suiting up for the Florida Complex League (FCL) Twins. In six games with the FCL Twins, Jenkins is slashing .385/.407/.654 with two doubles, one triple, one home run, eight RBI, one walk and four strikeouts.

Although its a small sample size, the results have been outstanding from Jenkins. Most notably, he had a 2-5 performance with a double, grand slam and four RBI against the FCL Rays on Aug. 7. His first professional home run came in a big way.

Checking in as the 17th overall prospect in the sport is Jenkins, who joins Lee (18th overall) and Rodriguez (53rd overall) as the three representatives from the Twins on MLB Pipeline's new top 100 list.

Jenkins takes over as the organization's top prospect, while Lee slid down just one spot and Rodriguez moved up three spots in the latest top 100 prospect update by MLB Pipeline

In addition to the top 100 being updated, there were updates to the Twins' top 30 list as well.

Minnesota Twins Top Prospects

Aside from Jenkins, there are a handful of Twins draftees from the 2023 class that found themselves ranked as top 30 prospects. Fireballer Charlee Soto checks in as the 5th best prospect in the system and has yet to see game action since being drafted.

Outfielder Brandon Winokur is slotted in as the 8th best prospect and has spent time with the FCL Twins. In 11 games, Winokur is slashing .267/.327/.511 with two doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI, four walks and 18 strikeouts.

Luke Keaschall is ranked as the 11th best prospect by MLB Pipeline and the 20-year-old has been spending time with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. In seven games there, Keaschall is slashing .346/.471/.423 with nine hits (two doubles), one RBI, five walks, seven strikeouts and two stolen bases.

Lastly, right-hander Tanner Hall out of Souther Miss slots in at 15th overall on the Twins' top 30 and has yet to appear in a game. The 2023 draft class saw the Twins nab five of their top 15 prospects with the new update.

Biggest Risers

The team over at MLB Pipeline mentioned who would be one of the biggest risers in the system and that was right-handed pitcher Cory Lewis. In their previous rankings, Lewis slotted in at 28 in the organization and he made the jump to 13.

As a 9th round selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, Lewis made his professional debut this year, splitting time between Fort Myers and the Cedar Rapids Kernels, with the latter as his current assignment. Between both affiliates, Lewis has made 17 starts and owns a 2.39 ERA while giving up 50 hits (four home runs), 25 walks and piling up 91 strikeouts.

In his most recent start, Lewis tossed six innings and allowed one run on three hits with one walks and five strikeouts.

Two other big risers in the system are infielder Tanner Schobel (13 to 7) and right-handed pitcher C.J. Culpepper (24 to 14).

Schobel has spent time with Cedar Rapids and was recently promoted to Wichita. The 22-year-old is slashing a combined .266/.357/.447 with 12 doubles, 15 home runs, 68 RBI, 51 walks, 81 strikeouts and has swiped 11 bags in a total of 96 games between both stops.

Culpepper has spent time with two affiliates as well, throwing for both Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids. In a combined 16 starts between both stops, Culpepper has thrown 67.2 innings and owns a 2.53 ERA with 23 walks and 70 strikeouts.

Biggest Fallers

With multiple risers and a new wave of prospects making their way into the system come a handful of prospects who have fallen down the publication's prospect rankings.

Simeon Woods-Richardson (5 to 16), Austin Martin (8 to 20), Yasser Mercedes (11 to 23) and Noah Miller (10 to 24) are among those who found themselves sliding with MLB Pipeline's newest update.

There were a pair of newcomers on the top 30 list, with Yunior Severino (29th overall) and Noah Cardenas (30th overall) moving into the top 30 nearing the final months of the minor league season.