Don’t miss a word of Brandon Warne’s 2018 Minnesota Twins Guide.
SEASON OVERVIEW
2017 PLAYER GRADES
2017 IN REVIEW
2018 OPENING DAY ROSTER/LINEUP
OLD FRIENDS
SEASON PREDICTION
What evaluators are saying about Twins prospects (and where they’re ranking them):
Shortstop Royce Lewis (Twins No. 1 prospect on MLB.com)
- Baseball Prospectus – No. 27 – “…exciting tools across the board, and his broad-shouldered, high-waisted frame is straight from the Projectability Factory.”
- Fangraphs – No. 38 – “…scouts still largely think (his) tools play best in center field long-term…”
- Baseball America – No. 24 – “…had no problem making the necessary adjustments for a smooth transition to pro ball…”
- ESPN (Keith Law) – No. 25 – “…if he stays at shortstop, he has superstar upside with his speed and on-base skills…”
- MLB Pipeline – No. 20 – “…watching his full-season encore should be a treat.”
- Fake Teams – No. 22 – “…bring plus speed, an advanced approach and developing power…”
- The Dynasty Guru – No. 26 – N/A
- Razzball – No. 21 – “…brings five tools to the table at a premium position.”
- KATOH – No. 23 – projected for 7.6 career fWAR
- CBS Sports – No. 21 – “…uncommon plate discipline for a teenager.”
Right-handed pitcher Fernando Romero (Twins No. 2 prospect on MLB.com)
- Baseball Prospectus – No. 97 – “…power sinker with late life…sits in the mid-90s and occasionally flirts with triple digits.”
- Fangraphs – Just Missed – N/A
- ESPN (Keith Law) – No. 47 – “…upside here is exciting, and he doesn’t have a ton of ground to cover to be at least a mid-rotation starter in the majors.”
- MLB Pipeline – No. 68 – “…could eventually pitch near the top of a rotation.”
- The Dynasty Guru – No. 111 – N/A
Left-handed pitcher Stephen Gonsalves (Twins No. 3 prospect on MLB.com)
- Fangraphs – Just Missed – N/A
- Baseball America – No. 97 – “…reads hitters well and works effectively at the top of the zone.”
- MLB Pipeline – No. 78 – “…has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter.”
- Fake Teams – No. 96 – “…features one of the best changeups in the minors.”
- The Dynasty Guru – No. 110 – N/A
- KATOH – No. 66 – projected for 4.7 fWAR in years 1-6 of MLB career
- CBS Sports – No. 77 – “…scouts have always been less than enamored with him and his middling velocity.”
Shortstop Nick Gordon (Twins No. 4 prospect on MLB.com)
- Baseball Prospectus – No. 35 – “…does a lot of things well, but there is no elite skill.”
- Fangraphs – No. 77 – “…it’s a card full of grade 5 tools on the 2-8 scale…”
- Baseball America – No. 93 – “…shows advanced barrel awareness to go with sound plate discipline and a line drive swing that produces gap power.”
- ESPN (Keith Law) – No. 37 – “…compact swing with very good hand-eye coordination. …more upside if he becomes the .300 AVG/.400 OBP player he has the skills to be.”
- MLB Pipeline – No. 80 – “…knocking on the big league door. …solid everyday big leaguer…on either side of second base.”
- Fake Teams – No. 56 – “…might be more of a back of the order hitter than the dynamic leadoff hitter he was touted as on draft day.”
- The Dynasty Guru – No. 43 – N/A
- Razzball – No. 80 – “…strong all-around player who should be fantasy relevant but never a superstar.”
- CBS Sports – No. 73 – “…has yet to develop a standout tool.”
Shortstop Wander Javier (Twins No. 5 prospect on MLB.com)
- Baseball Prospectus – Just Missed – “…potential five-tool shortstop, and the bat will play even if he eventually has to slide to third.”
- Baseball America – No. 95 – “…shows gap-to-gap power with a willingness to stay up the middle with authority.”
- The Dynasty Guru – No. 115 – N/A
- Razzball – No. 75 – “…toolsy shortstop with advanced offensive skills and likelihood to stick in the middle of the infield.”
Outfielder Alex Kirilloff (Twins No. 6 prospect on MLB.com)
- Fangraphs – No. 99 – “…most think he’ll be able to tap into what projects as plus raw power.”
- The Dynasty Guru – Just Missed – N/A
Outfielder Brent Rooker (Twins No. 8 prospect on MLB.com)
- Baseball America – No. 92 – “projects as a middle-of-the-order weapon with power as his carrying tool.”
- Fake Teams – No. 99 – “…should face a tougher challenge in 2018 in the upper minors where he will have to answer whether the power in his bat is for real.”
- The Dynasty Guru – No. 89 – N/A
- Razzball – No. 70 – “arguably the most impressive showing of any player entering pro ball in 2017.”
First baseman Lewin Diaz (Twins No. 10 prospect on MLB.com)
- Razzball – No. 83 – “…pairs 70-grade raw power with feel to hit.”
Outfielder Lamonte Wade (Twins No. 13 prospect on MLB.com)
- KATOH – No. 40 – projected for 5.7 fWAR in years 1-6 of MLB career
Right-handed pitcher Zack Littell (Twins No. 15 prospect on MLB.com)
- KATOH – No. 96 – projected for 4.1 fWAR in years 1-6 of MLB career
Left-handed pitcher Tyler Jay (Twins No. 16 prospect on MLB.com)
- The Dynasty Guru – Just Missed – N/A
Catcher Mitch Garver (Twins No. 19 prospect on MLB.com)
- KATOH – No. 32 – projected for 6.7 career fWAR
Outfielder Zack Granite (Twins No. 27 prospect on MLB.com)
- KATOH – No. 6 – projected for 10.4 career fWAR
Links to all prospect lists mentioned:
Baseball Prospectus
- Lewis
- Gordon
- Romero
- Gonsalves
- Javier
- Graterol
- Baddoo
- Lamonte Wade (OF)
- Rooker
- Enlow
Baseball America
- Lewis
- Javier
- Kirilloff
- Gonsalves
- Graterol
- Romero
- Rooker
- Gordon
- Enlow
- Tyler Jay (LHRP)
ESPN (Keith Law)
- Lewis
- Gordon
- Romero
- Baddoo
- Rooker
- Gonsalves
- Kirilloff
- Javier
- Travis Blankenhorn
- Graterol
MLB
- Lewis
- Romero
- Gonsalves
- Gordon
- Javier
- Kirilloff
- Graterol
- Rooker
- Enlow
- Lewin Diaz
Minor League Ball (John Sickels)
- Lewis
- Gordon
- Rooker
- Gonsalves
- Romero
- Javier
- Kirilloff
- Zack Littell
- Diaz
- Baddoo
Check out the rest of Brandon Warne’s 2018 Minnesota Twins Guide.
SEASON OVERVIEW
2017 PLAYER GRADES
2017 IN REVIEW
2018 OPENING DAY ROSTER/LINEUP
OLD FRIENDS
SEASON PREDICTION
