Minnesota Twins Farm System Among MLB’s Most Improved
Not a lot went right for the Minnesota Twins last season. The lack of spending started the year on a sour note, and the implosion down the stretch put an ugly bow on it all. If you’re looking for silver linings though, the future is as bright as ever.
Farm system more than just Minnesota Twins graduations
Rocco Baldelli’s team went through a myriad of different injuries last season. The lack of consistent stars remaining on the field meant putting together a lineup card changed on a daily basis. That also brought plenty of rookie debuts along the way.
Fans saw Brooks Lee, David Festa, Zebby Matthews, and others all take the field at Target Field for the first time. Despite graduating multiple projects from their farm system, the group is still well stocked. MLB Pipeline’s Sam Dykstra called the group one of the most improved across baseball.
“Despite an early hamstring strain, 2023 fifth overall pick Walker Jenkins solidified his place as one of the game’s best hitting prospects with his climb to Double-A Wichita, and he gives the Twins a potential superstar in the making at the top of the pyramid. Below him, Luke Keaschall, David Festa and Zebby Matthews (the latter two have since graduated) all pushed their way onto the Top 100 with breakout seasons. Marco Raya‘s career-high 97 2/3 innings certainly helped the top of the pitching group as it stands now. At the time of our midseason farm system rankings, Minnesota boasted six Top 100 talents and placed second. The graduations will probably cause them to slip, but there’s no ignoring Jenkins up top alongside the toolsy Emmanuel Rodriguez.”
Sam Dykstra on the Minnesota Twins system (MLB Pipeline)
There’s a pretty solid chance that Walker Jenkins winds up being baseball’s top prospect before making his big league debut. He made it to Double-A last season and played in 82 games across all levels. His .282/.394/.439 slash line was impressive and the six home runs with 17 steals showed off the power and speed combination.
Walker Jenkins last game of the season was his best game at Double-A, recording his first XBH and RBI
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) September 16, 2024
2-for-5
2B (110 mph)
RBI
R
The 19-year-old started the season at Low-A and is currently ranked the No. 2 prospect in MLB by @MLBPipeline🌟#MNTwins
pic.twitter.com/ZzcbvHA8Ek
Emmanuel Rodriguez could be the first prospect called upon by Minnesota with questions in the corners. He hit .280 with a 1.026 OPS and blasted nine home runs in 47 games. It’s too bad he isn’t right-handed from a roster construction standpoint, but even as a left the Twins are already considering his timeline.
Related: New Minnesota Twins President Has His Eye on One Almost Ready Prospect
It isn’t just the best of the system that is notable for Minnesota either. Luke Keaschall went from top-10 depth to top-100 talent. Kyle DeBarge is a notable name from the 2024 draft and arms like C.J. Culpepper and Cory Lewis being around 15th in the organization is crazy.
C.J. Culpepper (@Twins' No. 8 prospect) ties his career high with eight strikeouts through six perfect innings for the High-A @CRKernels. pic.twitter.com/9WTsOBjqeA
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 24, 2024
Related: Why Can’t the Minnesota Twins Beat Good Teams?
There’s no reason to believe that Minnesota will avoid injuries this season. Last year they used 21 position players and 32 pitchers toed the rubber. That means utilizing the farm system will again be a must, especially considering a lack of free agent spending. It’s great to have a unit that is truly an asset.
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