Minnesota Twins Top Prospects Sidelined at Spring Training

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Spring Training is well under way around Major League Baseball. The Minnesota Twins have already played six games. Entering Saturday’s game vs the Boston Red Sox, starter Bailey Ober was the only projected Opening Day rotation starter who had yet to throw an exhibition pitch this Spring.

It was around time last year that the injury bug first started hitting the Minnesota Twins 2024 roster. Last March was when they first lost Jhoan Duran and Brooks Lee, who eventually returned to the lineup. Justin Topa and Anthony DeSclafani also went down while the team was down in Fort Myers a year ago.

Emmanuel Rodriguez - Minnesota Twins
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We’d later find out those early injury issues were only the start of a narrative that would eventually derail what looked like another playoff-bound season, during the first half. Outside of some underreported top prospect injuries from February, health hasn’t been a huge concern for the 2025 MN Twins, so far.

But on Saturday, a slew of injury updates painted a worrisome picture regarding the health of multiple top prospects in the organization. Two of the three involved the most exciting non-pitching prospects in the Twins’ system, both top 10 in the MLB, depending on where you look.

Walker Jenkins out for Minnesota Twins

The first involves the youngest of the Twins’ top talent, 20-year-old Walker Jenkins. The 2023 No. 5 overall draft pick is being slowed to start minor league Spring Training, yet again, this time due to an ankle sprain he suffered upon his arrival to MiLB camp last weekend.

Unlike last March, when back spasms caused him to miss the start of the minor league regular season, this injury is not expected to be a problem when regular season games begin across the organization. This, according to a report from The Athletic’s Dan Hayes.

When camp breaks, Jenkins should be ticketed for Double-A Wichita, where he played the final six games of his 2024 regular season. Jenkins — who enters the season ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB.com — hit .282/.394/.439 across 82 games last season, including 22 doubles, four triples, and six home runs.

Jenkins combines incredible raw talent, power and speed. He’s a five-tool player who projects as a future masher of baseballs, and an above-average glove in center field, should the Minnesota Twins decide to keep him there.

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If Jenkins can get healthy this spring and start the regular season off on the right foot, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him knocking on the door of the major leagues at some point near the end of the season.

Emmanuel Rodriguez remains sidelined for Twins

As noted above, Emmanuel Rodriguez remains out of action for the Twins. His ankle sprain has kept him off the field and he won’t be in a game for another week and a half. That means Rodriguez will have just over two weeks of game action for Minnesota before starting the regular season.

Emmanuel Rodriguez — who was brought in as an international free agent before the 2021 season — had surgery on his thumb last year, an injury that forced him to miss considerable stretches of the 2024 summer. Given all of the hype surrounding baseball’s No. 37 overall prospect (according to MLB.com), the last thing the Twins want is him entering the season with an injury.

Last year’s injury issues allowed Rodriguez to play in only 47 minor league games last season. He has never played in more than 99 games, as a professional. That was back in 2023, the only season in which he’s topped 50 games played. His .280/.459/.567 slash line from 2024 was exceptional. The Twins just need him to stay healthy and on the field.

Rodriguez earned a promotion to Triple-A St. Paul last season, and that’s where he is expected to immediately made an impact for the Saints in 2025, as long as he can stay healthy. That’s a big “if”. Health-willing, though we should see Emmanuel Rodriguez in a Twins uniform this season, sooner than later.

MN Twins pitching prospect Marco Raya also injured

Another notable absence down in Fort Myers has been that of Twins top pitching prospect, Marco Raya. He was scheduled to pitch last week, but didn’t make his appearance, due to a left quad strain he has been dealing with.

Health has been something that Minnesota has tread carefully with Raya on. He made 25 starts last season, but averaged less than four innings per outing. The former fourth-round pick is just 22 years old, but the organization continues to slow-play his build up.

The quad injury is hopefully minimal and will allow Raya to get back on the mound in short order. He is scheduled to throw a bullpen for the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, with live batting practice expected to take place later in the week.

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Last season, Raya owned a 4.05 ERA across 97 2/3 innings. He struck out 103 but walked 44. There is a lot to like in his profile, but the Twins have to determine whether or not he can hold up as a starter. Raya hit Triple-A St. Paul last season and is projected to be in their rotation. He could be a possibility for the Twins at some point this summer.

Through their first six games of Grapefruit League action the Twins have showcased a few of their top pitching prospects. Cory Lewis and Andrew Morris have both appeared in action.

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