The Minnesota Twins went from picking 13th to fifth in the draft lottery, making the largest jump in MLB’s inaugural draft lottery last December. Moving up was a great benefit, but the Twins were also one of a few teams that had not one, nor two, but three picks on the first day of the event.
The Twins did not miss on their selections with their three Day 1 picks, grabbing the last of the undisputed best five players in the draft. They also took an enthusiastic young pitcher who was at the festivities in Seattle and a college middle infielder who has the potential to be the right-handed hitting version of Edouard Julien.
But who are these players, and what will they bring to the Twins’ farm system?
Walker Jenkins
Jenkins was one of the undisputed top-five prospects in this year’s draft class. Many draft experts had argued these top five guys all could have gone No. 1 overall in any other year, including Jenkins.
Scouts and pundits consider Jenkins the best prep outfielder from South Brunswick, North Carolina in a draft class since Josh Hamilton in 1999. Jenkins brings a smooth left-handed swing, great speed on the base paths, and strong leadership skills that have earned him the nickname “Captain America” from his Team USA 18 and under teammates, coach, head coach and former Twin, Michael Cuddyer.
The praise from a Twins Hall of Famer like Cuddyer shows how high a ceiling Jenkins has set for himself. He battled a hamate injury in 2021 while playing with Team USA. However, he still made himself a strong leader in the clubhouse and on the practice field, according to his newest Twins system teammate, Charlee Soto.
“[Jenkins] got injured, went to the hospital, and the next day, he was back at the field to support us,” Soto told MLB Network after the Twins drafted Jenkins. “He was always a leader. He was always getting us up in the dugout. He’s just a very, very humble kid.”
Jenkins revitalized himself from his injuries the last two years, earning Gatorade prep player of the year for North Carolina the last two seasons.
He’s only 18 years old but has shown the maturity of a veteran player. The Twins farm system has been lacking in strong outfield prospects outside of Emmanuel Rodriguez and Matt Wallner, who’s soon-to-graduate off prospect lists.
Jenkins will rival Brooks Lee for the No. 1 spot in Minnesota’s farm system. Both talented young men will be bringing great debate about the future of the Twins for the remainder of the year. One will be apart of the farm system for at least the next two seasons and provide a lot of upside, while the other may find himself making his Triple-A debut within the next month.
Charlee Soto
Soto is a 17-year-old out of Reborn Christian Academy in the Orlando suburbs. The 6’5” righty has made himself known on the travel ball circuit by reaching an average of 98 mph on his fastball.
Soto’s main development will need to be commanded with his heat. He will be turning 18 at the end of August, so he has time to develop himself in the Twins system.
Fortunately, with age on his side and health not deteriorating his young arm yet, Soto has avoided the dangers of injuring himself while building up his fastball velocity. As it has become very common for younger pitchers to throw out their arms as the grow into their bodies and go down with Tommy John surgery before they graduate high school.
Soto will not land as high as Jenkins possibly will in the Twins system once he signs. Jenkins could start his minor league career at High-A Cedar Rapids, but Soto is more likely to begin at the Twins Florida Complex League in Fort Myers.
The benefit of drafting both these players is that their commodity has already been built by their time on Team USA’s eighteen-and-under team. Soto will be an intriguing arm to watch develop over the years. He has the chance to possibly be the first Twins starter to average 100 mph on his fastball.
Luke Keaschall
Arizona State’s Keaschall is the first Twins pick in this year’s draft out of college. He’s played in the middle infield, but he primarily played second base in Tempe.
Keaschall’s hitting is his greatest upside. He’s a patient hitter who doesn’t change his approach when he’s in pitcher’s counts. He can hit the ball for contact and power. His approach is similar to Edouard Julien’s, just from the other side of the plate.
Also, like Julien, his throwing arm strength isn’t quite there to make him a comfortable fit on the left side of the infield. Therefore, he will likely start with the Mighty Mussels. There Keaschall will also have easier access to Minnesota’s complex facility.
Keashcall has the upside to turn himself into a right-handed version of Julien. However, he will have to develop his throwing arm to stay at second base. Otherwise, the Twins may shift him to the outfield.
All three players the Twins drafted on Day 1 have the opportunity to break into the mid-season top 20 or 30 prospects lists. Their skills will help replenish Minnesota’s farm system, which has multiple players graduating off these lists and making an impact in the majors.
