Marco Raya News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/marco-raya/ Minnesota sports, but different Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:43:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-cropped-MSF-favicon-1.jpg Marco Raya News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/marco-raya/ 32 32 MN Twins Tab Two Veterans for Key 2026 Starting Roles https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/ryan-jeffers-kody-clemens-key-starting-roles/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:26:58 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=73184 Last summer the Minnesota Twins went scorched earth at the trade deadline. Ownership ordered a selloff of massive proportions, and it left Rocco Baldelli with a skeleton of a roster.

Now, the organization is headed towards a payroll shy of $100 million for the first time since 2014 and they’re looking for all the bargain bin deals they can find, both from inside and outside the organization. In other words, the expectation for “open” roster spots in 2026 is little more than a warm body.

Of course, Ryan Jeffers clears that by quite a bit, especially off an impressive 2025. Kody Clemens, on the other hand, does not. Either way, it appears both are ticketed for serious playing time this season, under new manager Derek Shelton.

Ryan Jeffers to get more time behind Minnesota Twins dish

When the MN Twins season ended back in September, Christian Vazquez saw his three-year, $30 million deal come to an end. To fill his backup role to Jeffers, president Derek Falvey traded for veteran catcher, Alex Jackson.

Jeffers started 80, 81 and 73 games behind the plate the past three seasons, splitting time evenly with Vázquez. Presumably, the 2026 plan is for Jeffers to start 100-plus games, with Jackson — projected to make $1.8 million via arbitration — taking the remaining 50 or so. Jeffers could also be a trade candidate ahead of his walk year.

Aaron Gleeman – The Athletic

During the recent general managers’ meetings, Twins president Derek Falvey made it clear Jeffers would handle the bulk of the catching duties: “We’ll intend for him to take down a lot of the games,” a message the veteran said is music to his ears.

Dan Hayes – The Athletic

Asking Ryan Jeffers to play 100-plus games behind the dish is a big jump from what he is used to. He has played in 119 and 122 games the past two seasons respectively, but only 80 and 81 of those games came as the starting catcher.

Minnesota remained relatively steadfast that splitting time, despite Vazquez owning just a 57 OPS+, was the most straightforward way to keep Jeffers’ production up.

He batted .266/.356/.397 last season, and the .490 slugging percentage from 2023 was nowhere to be seen. It remains questionable if a larger workload won’t simply sap his output even further.

Cody Clemens is (probably) your 2026 MN Twins first baseman

Unfortunately, the answers at first base aren’t as obvious, after the Twins traded Gold Glove winning first baseman Ty France and lack funds to find a suitable replacement.

Cody Clemens was a waiver claim after being dumped by the Philadelphia Phillies. His 91 OPS+ in 112 games was a career high. However, he had just a .482 OPS lefties with a .782 OPS against righties wasn’t exactly earth-shattering either.

Dan Hayes and Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic believe Shelton already has his first baseman on the 40-man roster, in Clemens, even after his lackluster performance at the plate in 2025, when given regular playing time.

My assumption coming into the offseason was that adding a good veteran bat at first base would be a priority, but instead, Falvey has indicated the job might be Clemens’ to lose…If the Twins aren’t even going to be in the market for a mid-tier free-agent first baseman — along the lines of, say, Carlos Santana two years ago — then that’s a pretty strong indication they’re not serious about investing in the roster. 

Aaron Gleeman – The Athletic

It’s a relative assumption that the MN Twins aren’t interested in putting their best foot forward this season. Using Clemens as an every day first baseman would be completely indicative of that. Also, Edouard Julien is a lefty as well, negating any platoon option there.

Bullpen could see young faces round out roles

There is next to nothing left for the Minnesota Twins bullpen after the trade deadline. It’s the most important and necessary place for Derek Falvey to rebuild this offseason.

Thankfully for him, it’s also a relatively cheap area to make additions. That doesn’t stop either Hayes or Gleeman from opining that young arms may fill key roles.

Prielipp and Raya were identified by Falvey as bullpen options earlier this month, and you can see the upside, but both will face big learning curves.

Dan Hayes – The Athletic

It makes sense for both Prielipp and Raya to be involved in the Twins bullpen this season. The former has struggled to stay healthy, but turned in 82 2/3 innings this season and had 98 strikeouts.

Raya flopped in a massive way this season and his starting prospects could be all but gone. Despite being at Triple-A, he owned a 6.02 ERA and had 57 walks to his 102 strikeouts.

Both players realistically look like upside plays in the bullpen. If things settle in right, they could eventually move their way back into starting plans.

What all of these situations add up to though, is a franchise looking to cut the closest corners for the cheapest figure imaginable.

]]> Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:43:47 +0000 Minnesota Twins Minnesota Twins Make First Round of Spring Training Cuts https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-news/first-round-spring-training-roster-cuts-cory-lewis/ Sun, 09 Mar 2025 21:44:47 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=61110 Spring Training is now multiple weeks old for the Minnesota Twins. They have played to a 6-6 record up to this point and are now gearing up for Opening Day. As roster battles continue to take shape, there is a need to get the regulars more consistent playing time.

Rocco Baldelli must trim down the group of men on the roster, and tighten up his clubhouse. After a game against the Baltimore Orioles today (Mar 9), Minnesota began the process of whittling down their options.

Nine players optioned to minor league camp for Minnesota Twins

There are a handful of Minnesota Twins players that were never going to make the major league club. Invited to big league spring training for a myriad of reasons, their time to be optioned was always going to come. A handful of veterans and minor league prospects are now among the group sent to the back fields.

NamePositionHighest Level
Cory LewisRHPTriple-A
Randy DobnakRHPMLB
Erasmo RamirezRHPMLB
Alex IsolaCTriple-A
Yunior SeverinoINFTriple-A
Emmanuel Rodriguez*OFTriple-A
Travis Adams*RHPTriple-A
Marco Raya*RHPTriple-A
Matt Canterino*RHPDouble-A
* Denotes 40-man roster

Most notable of the cuts would be Cory Lewis. He looked sharp in two innings of Grapefruit League action and picked up a pair of strikeouts. His knuckleball pitch may be a record-breaking offering in speed at the big league level. He’ll be part of a talented rotation at Triple-A St. Paul, and should appear at Target Field at some point this season.

Related: Minnesota Twins Provide a Bunch of Injury Updates

Last season, Randy Dobnak made his way back up to the big leagues, and finished with a 5.59 ERA over 9.2 innings, for the Twins. Mot recently, he pitched six scoreless innings, including a three-inning outing on Sunday. Dobnak picked up seven strikeouts in the outing. No longer on the 40-man roster, Dobnak is in the final year of a five-year extension worth $9.25 million.

Minnesota brought Erasmo Ramirez in as a late addition to compete for a bullpen spot. He was an easy choice to option after suffering a significant tear that could threaten his season as a whole.

Related: Minnesota Twins Bullpen Harboring Dark Horse Stud Nobody is Talking About

Both Alex Isola and Yunior Severino are Triple-A depth pieces. The former will rotate time at catcher alongside Jair Camargo, and the recently acquired Diego Cartaya. The latter was previously on the 40-man roster but his .254/.342/.434 slash line at Triple-A across 128 games last year played himself out of the picture.

MN Twins 40-man talent headed to St. Paul

The Saints rotation should have plenty of talent in it this year, and they will all be depth pieces that the Minnesota Twins can rely on. Marco Raya and Travis Adams were added to the 40-man roster this offseason. Now, each is looking for the opportunity to make their big league debut.

Marco Raya, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Chris Tilley-Imagn Images

Emmanuel Rodriguez hit Triple-A last season despite an injury-plagued campaign. He had thumb surgery this offseason, and was already behind schedule after suffering an ankle injury. But, he should be running this week and will get in minor league action before the season kicks off.

Matt Canterino also is among the 40-man group that was optioned. He is dealing with a shoulder injury that will sideline him for months, after making just one Spring Training appearance. It’s a tough blow for a prospect that needs to make it work this season. His injury may make it difficult for the Twins to keep him on the 40-man over others over the course of the year.

After trimming down the group by nine spots, the Minnesota Twins still have 48 players in big league camp. They have 17 days to make the final 22 roster moves.

]]> Sun, 09 Mar 2025 19:04:04 +0000 Minnesota Twins News Minnesota Twins Minnesota Twins Top Prospects Sidelined at Spring Training https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-news/marco-raya-emmanuel-rodriguez-walker-jenkins-injury-updates/ Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:18:48 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=60823 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
Credit: Chris Tilley-Imagn Images

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.

Related: Minnesota Twins Hiding Plans for Louis Varland, Who Did Not Change His Name

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.

Related: Multiple Minnesota Twins Players Rattled After Near Death Experience

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.

]]> Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:12:41 +0000 Minnesota Twins News Minnesota Twins When We Could See Top Minnesota Twins Prospects Debut in 2025 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/2025-prospect-debut-timelines/ Fri, 24 Jan 2025 13:25:26 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=59580 This offseason has been a huge nothing-burger for the Minnesota Twins, so far. The sale of the team has done what many thought was impossible. It’s made the Pohlads even cheaper. Despite the Twins’ budgetary restrictions, manager Rocco Baldelli should have plenty of talent to work with — at least for now.

The Twins’ core of Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Pablo Lopez gives the roster a good starting point in all three corners of the clubhouse. But with Carlos Santana, Max Kepler and other veterans no longer on the team, Minnesota will have to rely even more this season on it organizational depth.

When we could see Minnesota Twins top prospects in 2025

Connor Prielipp at the University of Alabama - Minnesota Twins pitching prospect
Credit: Gary Cosby Jr. via Imagn Content Services, LLC

And being we are knocking on the door to February, here we go again with my list of one prospect call up for every month of the upcoming MLB season. Three prospects from last year’s projection — Austin Martin, Brooks Lee and David Festa — did receive a call up in 2024 and all three will have a chance to make a difference in 2024, too. Which Minnesota Twins prospects can we expect to get the call during the 2025 season, and when?

April – Connor Prielipp LHP

There’s a real chance that April is too late for Connor Prielipp. The former second round pick has an enormous amount of talent and an immensely high ceiling. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed Prielipp’s career thus far, throwing just 30 innings since being drafted in 2022.

But while his MiLB resume may be short, the small sample size of results are quite impressive. In the back half of las season, after spending the entire first half out with an injury, Preilipp was dominant for High-A Cedar Rapids. After a few short rehab starts in Low-A, the Alabama Crimson Tide struck out 32 of the 91 batters he faced with the Kernels… in 19 1/3 innings.

Maybe it’s too aggressive to include him in the Opening Day bullpen, so I won’t. I will make him an April call up instead. But seriously, the stuff is that good. As of now, Minnesota lacks immediate left-handed answers in the bullpen.

If Prielipp — who posted a 2.70 ERA , 0.900 WHIP and absurd 15.81 SO/9 ratio in 23.1 total minor league innings last season — proves he can stay healthy for a month of spring training and looks as good as advertised on the hill training, why let him waste innings in the minors? Let’s see what the kid can do in the big leagues while he is still healthy.

Related: Four Minnesota Twins Prospects Make Coveted Top 100 List

Worst case scenario should see Prielipp kicking off the year at Double-A, and quickly advancing to Triple-A. It’s going to take longer if he works as a starter, but that’s also risking his health. Matt Canterino, who was featured in last year’s version of this article, has a very similar outlook as Prielipp.

May – Emmanuel Rodriguez

If Rodriguez was right-handed there’s a decent chance he’d make the Opening Day roster. He’s a corner outfielder that would be stretched in centerfield, but despite time missed, he’s ready for the big leagues.

Rodriguez will be the first man up when either Matt Wallner or Trevor Larnach struggle. He has elite plate discipline and big time power. He’s not a slow runner either and is going to be an asset in either corner at Target Field.

Last season Rodriguez played just 47 games after dealing with a pair of thumb injuries. In 37 games at Double-A Wichita he slashed .298/.479/.621 with eight home runs and a near-even strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Related: New Minnesota Twins President Has His Eye on One Almost Ready Prospect

Rodriguez is coming into Spring Training healthy having had surgery on his thumb. He debuted at Triple-A to end the season. He’s going to be an impact player quickly and is among the best prospects in baseball.

June – Luke Keaschall

There is no prospect that has risen the ranks more in the past year for Minnesota than Keaschall. As a second round selection he was obviously highly regarded. Still, his .903 OPS last season was only going to vault him forward.

Keaschall dealt with a torn UCL last year and underwent Tommy John surgery late in the season. He still posted a .303/.420/.483 slash line in 102 games. He hit 15 home runs and had 21 doubles. The profile here is just easy power, and he’s a fine defender.

How his arm responds to the surgery remains to be seen, but there’s no reason he can’t stick at second base. Arguably the most intriguing option is for Keaschall to learn first and become a mainstay there.

Related: Exclusive: Twins Top Prospect Opens Up About Torn UCL That Eventually Ended His Season

The Twins had Keaschall play 13 games at first base for Double-A Wichita at the end of last season. He could be an early option there in 2025 should the Jose Miranda experience flop.

July – Andrew Morris

Last season the Minnesota Twins used 10 different starting pitchers. Zebby Matthews and David Festa were the two prospects that found themselves featured prominently. With a similar group this year, it should be expected that Baldelli will need depth again.

Andrew Morris may not have the ceiling of traditional top prospects, but his floor is exciting. The former forth round pick owned a 2.37 ERA across 133 innings last year. He took seven turns at Triple-A St. Paul, and although the strikeouts faded, he was still plenty successful.

Morris should be viewed as an ideal candidate to provide depth for the Twins. He’s not likely to earn a promotion and light up the opposition, but he shouldn’t be blown up on a regular basis either.

Related: 2025 Minnesota Twins Minor League Coaching Staff Revealed

A midseason addition to the group makes a good deal of sense. Maybe he sticks, or maybe he shuttles back and forth from St. Paul. Either way, he can help the big league staff.

August – Marco Raya

Last season there was plenty of talk about whether it was David Festa or Marco Raya who deserved the top Twins pitching prospect honors. The former wound up making his big league debut while the latter had quite a confusing year.

Minnesota allowed Raya to throw 97 2/3 innings, but that was split between 25 starts. He’s still working as a starter, but with an average of four innings per outing, it’s clear the kid gloves are fully engaged.

Raya owned a mediocre 4.05 ERA but struck out 103 batters. He allowed just eight home runs but issued 44 free passes. He still needs to hone command in a bit further, and then there are questions of durability. This offseason the Twins added him to the 40-man roster.

Related: Minnesota Twins Reveal Broadcast Team for First Season on MLB TV

It makes some sense that Raya could be a future reliever. He hit Triple-A last season, and should work in the starting rotation to begin the year. If Minnesota needs bullpen help down the stretch, Raya profiles as a guy who could play up and also stay more healthy in that role.

September – Cory Lewis

If there’s a late-season starter that makes sense for Minnesota it might be Cory Lewis. C.J. Culpepper could have value here too, but Lewis brings a unique repertoire.

Lewis is a former ninth round pick that would follow in the footsteps of a developmental success story like Bailey Ober. Injuries capped his innings total to just 79 last season, but the Twins prospect posted a 2.51 ERA with 92 strikeouts.

The California native has a very intriguing pitch mix. He throws a knuckleball but is hardly a soft-tosser. His ability to blow a fastball by the opposition is real, and his offspeed stuff keeps them guessing.

Related: Minnesota Twins Trying to Trade Veteran Catcher for Major Rotation Upgrade

Last season Lewis made a single start at Triple-A. He’ll begin there in 2025, and plenty of seasoning should be expected. If he can hold things down for manager Toby Gardenhire, then a late season promotion as either a depth or necessary option makes sense.

]]> Fri, 24 Jan 2025 07:25:29 +0000 Minnesota Twins Minnesota Twins Protect Two Rule 5 Prospects in 40-Man Moves https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-news/rule-5-prospects-added-40-man-marco-raya-travis-adams/ Tue, 19 Nov 2024 23:05:09 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=57455 Tuesday represented a notable day on the Major League Baseball offseason calendar. Teams are required to have their 40-man roster set prior to the 6pm CT deadline. That means adding Rule 5 Draft eligible players or risk them being selected during the draft that takes place in December. The Twins had a handful of candidates to consider and made a straightforward move as well as a surprising one.

Marco Raya added to the Minnesota Twins 40-man

The 2020 Major League Baseball Draft was a weird one. It took place during the pandemic and was shortened to just five rounds. Marco Raya was Minnesota’s fourth round pick, and he has become the best prospect of the bunch. The guaranteed lock to make his debut on the 40-man roster became the first announcement on Tuesday.

Raya reached Triple-A to end the season and made a single start. He went five innings and struck out four in a scoreless appearance. It was a very nice bow to put on an otherwise interesting season. The Twins consistently handled him with kid gloves, and his 24 starts at Double-A shake out to just over three innings per outing.

Related: Former Minnesota Twins Prospect Wins Rookie of the Year

There was debate as to whether it was Raya or rookie David Festa that held the title of best Twins pitching prospect. Festa made it to the big leagues first, but Raya could join him with a strong start in 2025.

Related: Former Minnesota Twins Closer Makes BBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot

Of note, Aaron Sabato was Minnesota’s first round pick in 2020. He has been a bust, went unprotected, and is eligible to be drafted by another organization this winter.

Twins add Travis Adams to 40-man as well

Raya was the lone addition to the 40-man from the 2020 Draft. That means prospect Kala’i Rosario will be surprisingly unprotected during the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. MLB Pipeline called him the toughest decision, but they definitely didn’t see Travis Adams being the alternative. Adams was a sixth round selection in 2021, and took the 37th spot on Minnesota’s 40-man roster.

Last season Adams spent the majority of his time at Double-A Wichita. He pitched 19 innings at Triple-A for the Saints but had limited success. With the Wind Surge, Adams posted a 3.67 ERA across 108 innings. His 9.1 K/9 was impressive, and he adds pitching depth at the highest level of the farm system.

Related: Minnesota Twins Insist They Aren’t Interested in Trading Star Players

It seems straightforward to suggest that Adams may have somewhat of a limited ceiling. However, he has remained consistent at each stop since the Twins took him out of Sacramento State. The California native will be 25 years old in 2026.

Related: Griffin Jax Floated as a Possible Minnesota Twins Starter Again

Some of the biggest names the Twins could lose during the Rule 5 Draft include the aforementioned Rosario as well as Ricardo Olivar, Christian MacLeod, and Jovani Moran. Minnesota’s 40-man roster currently sits at 37 players. They will have multiple arbitration decisions to make this week as well. More surprises could be in store.

]]> Tue, 19 Nov 2024 17:12:41 +0000 Minnesota Twins News Minnesota Twins Minnesota Twins Prospects That Still Need to be Added to the 40-Man Roster This Week https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-news/40-man-additions-rule-5-non-tender/ Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:30:42 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=57386 Major League Baseball’s 2024-25 offseason is underway. Predictably, it has been a relatively slow burn, to this point. While the Minnesota Twins need to add talent, they weren’t ever going to come out of the gate throwing cash around.

Tuesday (5 PM CST) is the deadline to set the 40-man roster for 2025, and that means adding eligible prospects that they don’t want to lose in December’s Rule 5 Draft. There are a considerable amount of players eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter. The Minnesota Twins won’t protect all of them, but three should be considered a lock.

Prospects the Minnesota Twins will likely add to 40-man roster by deadline

Kala’i Rosario put up another strong Arizona Fall League season that resulted in his team winning a championship. His .813 OPS was nearly a match to the .816 OPS he posted last fall. The 2020 5th round pick could play the bulk of his 2025 season at Triple-A St. Paul. In all likelihood, he will be added to the 40-man roster in the next 24 hours.

Both (RHP) Marco Raya and (C) Ricardo Olivar are likely to join Rosario on the 40-man roster. The former may be the next best pitching prospect in Minnesota’s system. The latter gives the Twins another catching option, although his defensive abilities leave plenty to be desired. It would be pretty surprising if we don’t see all three (Rosario, Raya and Olivar) added to the 40-man roster before tomorrow’s 5 PM deadline.

Related: 3 Prospects Minnesota Twins MUST Add to 40-Man Roster Before Rule 5 Draft Deadline

Minnesota’s 40-man status and next decisions coming

Minnesota’s 40-man roster currently has 35 spots accounted for. Kyle Farmer and Manuel Margot are bother free agents. Alex Kirilloff has since retired. Thus, they have plenty of room to maneuver, but it’s unlikely they fill it with Rule 5 eligible players, but they have that option.

After Tuesday’s deadline, the next date to be aware of on the MLB offseason calendar is the November 22, 2024 non-tender deadline. Minnesota has 11 candidates eligible for arbitration-based raises. Among them, three are legitimate non-tender candidates.

It’s possible that neither Michael Tonkin or Justin Topa return to Minnesota’s bullpen, even at nominal financial figures. Willi Castro is the most intriguing name here, and it’s unlikely he will be non-tendered. The Twins do appear intent on trading him though, as it seems his modest salary of more than $6 million may be too rich for their projected 2025 budget.

Related: Griffin Jax Floated as a Possible Minnesota Twins Starter Again

As the fall turns into winter, the offseason moves will begin in earnest. Derek Falvey is probably looking to trade multiple veterans, and he’ll need to free up money in order to spend any.

]]> Mon, 18 Nov 2024 13:32:41 +0000 Minnesota Twins News Minnesota Twins 3 Prospects Minnesota Twins MUST Add to 40-Man Roster Before Rule 5 Draft Deadline https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/40-man-roster-candidates-rule-5-draft-2024/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:39:24 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=56793 The Minnesota Twins season has been over for a month now and the World Series ended Wednesday night, with a Dodgers sweep after the Yankees imploded in game 4. So we are here, the MLB offseason. What’s first up? The the Twins must set their 40-man roster, before the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

What is the Major League Baseball ‘Rule 5 Draft’?

Any 18+ y/o minor league veteran with 4-5 years of pro experience, who is not on their current team’s 40-man roster by November 19, is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. These days, the Rule 5 Draft is used to stop teams from burying players in their minor league systems. But its mention dates back to 1941, its use all the way back to 1892.

Those eligible, as defined by Major League Baseball, include: “Players signed at age 18 or younger need to be added to their club’s 40-Man roster within five seasons or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Players who signed at age 19 or older need to be protected within four seasons.”

Eligible players not on their organization’s 40-man roster become available for other MLB teams to “draft”. The catch: Anyone selected must remain on his new team’s MLB roster (26-man) for the entire season, or they go back to their original team.

Three Minnesota Twins prospects who MUST be added to 40-man roster

Rocco Baldelli, Minnesota Twins
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Twins have more than a handful of players who are worthy of being selected through the Rule 5 Draft, which takes place during the MLB Winter Meetings, in December. But there are THREE Twins minor leaguers who absolutely must be added to the team’s 40-man roster in the next two weeks, or they won’t be here anymore.

Kala’i Rosario, OF – 22 years old

Minnesota picked Rosario out of high school, in the fifth round of the 2020 draft. The Hawaiian suffered through a slow start to his professional career, but that’s not surprising, for a teenager. Since, he has bulked up, which has somewhat transformed him into a legitimate home run threat.

After leading the Arizona Fall League in dingers last year, he returned in 2024, after participating in just 69 regular season games between Single and Double A. There is a lot of swing and miss to Rosario’s game, which can prove frustrating, but his short sting performances at Double-A, late this summer, and now at the AFL, Rosario has shown a lot of scouts that he can play at the highest levels.

Related: Byron Buxton is Still One of the Minnesota Twins Most Valuable Players

It’s a small sample, which is always the case in the Arizona Fall League. In 14 AFL games this season, Rosario is batting .320 for the Salt River Rafters, which includes a pair of homers and 10 RBI, in just 14 games.

He’s the perfect type of power-hitting prospect that teams like to take fliers on, during the Rule 5 Draft. As long as the Minnesota Twins doe the right thing, Kala’i Rosario will start his 2025 season at Double-A Wichita.

Marco Raya, SP – 22 years old

Taken one round ahead of Rosario, in the 2020 MLB Draft, Raya entered this summer competing with David Festa, as the Minnesota Twins top pitching prospect. Raya scuffled early, at Double-A, but recovered nicely, and worked his way to Triple-A St. Paul, to end the year.

Once a top-100 prospect, Raya’s minor league stock has taken a hit, in recent years, in part because the Twins have played it so carefully with his development (only 3.9 innings per start in 2024). Marco’s 4.27 ERA this summer wasn’t dazzling, but his talent is undeniable, and he undoubtedly got better as the year went on.

In his final 7 starts (34.1 innings), which included a 5-inning shutout appearance for the Saints, Marco Raya finished strong, with a 1.31 ERA, to go with an opponent batting average of just .192 (.515 OPS).

Related: Former MLB GM Lists 10 Free Agent Fits for the Minnesota Twins

There’s a reason why the Twins have babied Raya, throughout his professional career. He has triple-digit stuff and there’s a good chance he would be among the first Rule 5 prospects taken, if left unprotected. No matter where he plays next year, I expect Marco to make his major league debut in 2025.

Ricardo Olivar, C/OF – 23 years old

You don’t often see a catcher play centerfield, but Olivar did that three times in 2023. He’s more of a corner outfielder if not behind the plate, but he predominantly settled in at catcher this season.

The bat certainly plays there as he posted an .823 OPS while displaying a nice power and on-base combination. He’s still a work in progress defensively and a career 12% caught stealing rate is laughable. The catching position is not an offensively flush role at the highest level.

Related: Ranking: 10 Most Likely Minnesota Twins to be Traded This Offseason

Olivar made it to Double-A last season, and there would be an organization willing to take a chance on him making the jump. Minnesota has just three catchers on the 40-man, and Christian Vazquez is a prime candidate to be dealt. Ryan Jeffers, Jair Camargo, and Olivar present plenty of questions for the position though.

The best of the rest for Rule 5 Eligible Minnesota Twins prospects

There are substantially more players that the Twins could opt to protect if they so choose. Spots on the 40-man roster are limited though, and the shuffle has to be worth betting on a young prospect. Infielder Rubel Cespedes played 110 games at High-A Cedar Rapids, but he’s 23 and owned just a .777 OPS.

Travis Adams put in good work at Double-A, but he looked overmatched in brief action for the Saints. Anthony Prato had a .990 OPS in 72 games last year for the Saints, but went undrafted. He won’t be protected this time around either.

Related: Minnesota Twins Plan to Shop at Least One Young Infielder This Offseason

Most of the fringe players have replicas throughout other organizations. Beyond Minnesota’s top three, it seems relatively unlikely that anyone else is added. The Twins are likely to be active on the trade market, and those results could have a bearing on their decision making here as well.

We are now just days away from the offseason getting underway. The Twins need to turn the page in the most desperate way, and their opportunity to do so begins soon.

]]> Thu, 31 Oct 2024 08:39:27 +0000 Minnesota Twins MLB Analyst Keith Law Rips the Minnesota Twins 2020 Draft https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/mlb-analyst-keith-law-rips-the-minnesota-twins-2020-draft/ https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/mlb-analyst-keith-law-rips-the-minnesota-twins-2020-draft/#respond Sun, 14 Jun 2020 00:49:37 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=25664

The Minnesota Twins wrapped up their 2020 MLB Draft, late Thursday. It seemed like a successful and very productive two night virtual outing. They drafted Aaron Sabato (North Carolina – 1B) with the 27th overall pick on night one, and went into night two with just three picks for four rounds.

The Twins started and ended day two, like so many things they do these days… with more hitting! Alerick Soularie (Tennessee – OF) got a “TC” hat first, at pick 59 (2), then they took their only pitcher of the night, Marco Raya (United South H.S.[TX] – RHP) with the 128 (4) overall pick, and then eventually finished the night with Kala’i Rosario (Waiakea H.S. [HI] – OF/1B) at pick 158 (5).

Over the next few days, like any good fan, I went looking for more information and more “expert opinions”… on my favorite team’s draft. I quickly remembered, however, why local coverage is always better than national. Two MLB writers from the same outlet, Keith Law and Aaron Gleeman (The Athletic) both wrote about the Twins draft… but the outlook was a bit different.

One is national and has to write something about 30 other teams (some of which his readers care much more about than others) and the other is local, and will pour over hours… (ok days) of research surrounding any major maneuvers the Minnesota Twins make. Let’s compare.

AARON SABATO

UNC first baseman Aaron Sabato (1) is a draft-eligible sophomore who got himself into the first round with huge exit velocities and a brief track record of patience and power. He’s a below-average defender at first base, and there’s a good chance he ends up at DH, but he should have the bat to be valuable there.

Keith Law – The Athletic

Sabato joins Brent Rooker (No. 35 in 2017), Trevor Larnach (No. 20 in 2018) and Matt Wallner (No. 39 in 2019) in a farm system overflowing with former college superstars boasting huge power potential and limited defensive chops.

Unlike the previous regime, Falvey, Levine and scouting director Sean Johnson repeatedly target polished college hitters with excellent production facing high-level competition. Old-school scouting still plays a big part, but the increased availability of advanced data on college players enables teams like the Twins to crunch numbers like never before.

Aaron Gleeman – The Athletic

Keith’s take on Sabato, who hits absolute piss missiles and is possibly one of the most MLB-ready power hitters in this draft, is underwhelming and generic. He seems… disappointed with the pick.

Meanwhile, Aaron Gleeman compares Sabato’s stats to #1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson, and his place in the Twins system, up there with with the organizations best hitters. It would be preposterous, at this time, to say Sabato is a better prospect than Torkelson or any of the guys Gleeman lists in the excerpt above. He definitely deserves more respect than Law is giving him, though. Law’s criticism gets worse, though.

ALERICK SOULARIE

Alerick Soularie (2) is a young junior at Tennessee, turning 21 next month, who’s had success in the SEC despite an awkward swing that sees his back side collapse. He can’t play center and doesn’t project to the power for a corner. 

Keith Law – The Athletic
[Scouting Director] Johnson expects Soularie to be a corner outfielder, but said he’ll also get some looks in center field and at second base. While not a great athlete, he’s seen as at least average defensively in the outfield, with decent speed. But make no mistake, like the majority of the college position players taken by Falvey and Levine, he was drafted for his hitting. They keep stockpiling big bats.

Aaron Gleeman – The Athletic

Keith Law isn’t the only MLB analyst doubting Alerick Soularie. He doesn’t have the prettiest swing, strongest arm or fastest legs, but Soularie has been a staple of consistency vs the best collegiate competition in the country (SEC).

Soulaire was a JUCO product, right out of high school at San Jacinto College in Houston. There, he impressed scouts and received an offer to play for the University of Tennessee. In his first full season as a Volunteer, Soularie posted a .357 avg, 11 HR, 48 RBI and 8 stolen bases. He’s plays with a chip on his and now has another doubter (Law) to prove wrong.

Sean Johnson (Scouting Director) says the Twins plan on using Soularie, not only in the outfield, but at second base as well. There is a lot of negativity surrounding his defense, so that’s an interesting comment.

MARCO RAYA

Marco Raya (4) is an undersized right-hander from Laredo, Texas, with average velocity from a high slot and a max-effort delivery.

Keith Law – The Athletic

Raya is worth just one sentence to Keith Law, apparently. The Twins only had FOUR draft picks to talk about and one sentence full of disappointment is all he can muster… If there is anything that current Twins pitchers Sergio Romo (5-11, 185 lbs) and Cody Stashak (6-2, 169 lbs) have taught us, it’s that size doesn’t matter (as an MLB pitcher). Sorry to get your hopes up fellas.

Also Raya throws mid-90’s and has a higher spin rate than Jose Berrios. If that’s “average velocity” then Average is ok by me…

Raya is only 17 years old and has a very long path to the majors, so wtf does Keith Law know about where he will be as an MLB pitcher? Let’s just throw away all of the research the Twins have done, with this one shitty generic sentence. Numbers don’t lie and, despite his lack of size, Raya jumps off the page statistically and has a very promising outlook.

Kala’i Rosario

The Twins finished off the draft by selecting Kala’i Rosario, a young power hitter from Hawaii. Keith Law, surprisingly, had nothing negative to say about Rosario and actually believes he can become a regular on the Twins roster.

Because Law couldn’t get a shot in on Rosario, he had to finish his Twins section with one last shot at the entire 4-player draft.

Kala’i Rosario (5), a high school outfielder from Hilo, Hawai’i, has big raw power and impressive bat speed, driving the ball well in spite of a very early stride and weight transfer, and if he hits enough to get to that power in games he’ll have a chance to be a regular in an outfield corner. Sabato could come up very quickly, but there doesn’t seem to be a ton of upside here [for the Twins’ draft as a whole].

Cameron Thompson | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/mlb-analyst-keith-law-rips-the-minnesota-twins-2020-draft/feed/ 0 Sat, 13 Jun 2020 19:49:42 +0000 Minnesota Twins Minnesota Twins Stack Organization with More Power in 2020 MLB Draft https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-stack-organization-with-more-power-in-2020-mlb-draft/ https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-stack-organization-with-more-power-in-2020-mlb-draft/#respond Fri, 12 Jun 2020 12:03:16 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=25556

A five-round Major League Baseball draft makes easy work for front offices around the league, especially when the non-pandemic season ‘norm’ is 40. The Minnesota Twins only had four selections in this year’s truncated draft. They lost their third-round selection earlier this offseason, when they signed Josh Donaldson and traded their competitive-balance pick (67) and Brusdar Graterol, to the Dodgers, for Kenta Maeda.

With only 4 picks in an already (EXTREMELY) short draft, it was imperative the Twins made quality selections this year. Relying heavily on relatively under-scouted players, the Twins focused on adding power and depth to an already loaded farm system. Let’s take a look at the next generation of baseball in the Twin Cities (hopefully):

AARON SABATO (1B) — 1st ROUND (27th OVERALL)

As our own Cameron Thompson wrote on Wednesday night, Sabato fits right in with the Bomba Squad narrative. The University of North Carolina first baseman finished his collegiate career with a .332 average that included 25 home runs and 81 RBI. The kid can MASH!

Rated as one of the best power hitters in the draft, there is a lot to like about Sabato’s offensive potential, in an already potent lineup. However, he has some deficiencies in his defense, which is why he dropped to pick 27.

The Minnesota Twins are looking to ensure the Bomba Squad isn’t just a one year anomaly. Adding Sabato to a list of prospects that include Brent Rooker, Trevor Larnach, Alex Kirilloff and Matt Wallner, will help make “The Bomba Squad” a long-term moniker.

ALERICK SOULARIE (OF) — 2nd ROUND (59th OVERALL)

One powerful bat wasn’t enough for this Twins’ front office. Alerick Soularie (OF – University of Tennessee), was somewhat of a shock pick among fans. He did NOT rank inside any top-100 lists…

A preseason first-team all-SEC player coming into 2020, he ranked in the top three for AVG, OBP, and SLG in 2019. He hit at a .357 clip, with 11 HR, 46 RBI, and 13 doubles in 2019 and a superb strikeout to walk ratio.

In 2020, he saw a slight dipped a bit, prior to COVID-19 shutting the season down. Soularie batted just .267 in that shortened time, but did hit five dingers while driving in 17 runs. It may not be the selection we thought Derek Falvey and Thad Levine would make, but Soularie’s upsides make it worth the risk.

MARCO RAYA (RHP) — 4th ROUND (128th OVERALL)

At only 17-years old, Raya is a high-ceiling pitching project for the Minnesota Twins. High schoolers are difficult to peg but Raya, a six-foot and 160 pound Texas Tech commit from United South High School in Laredo (TX), has shown signs of greatness throughout his young career.

His shortened senior season saw him go 2-0, with a 0.00 ERA and 36 K, in just 18 IP — yeah, go back and read those stats again — High school hitters never stood a chance, compiling just three hits, a .054 AVG, and .131 OBP. Raya already has a higher spin rate than any of the Twins’ top pitchers.

Raya was committed to Texas Tech it looks like he will forego that commitment, in order to sign with the Twins. He is slotted for $442,900 at pick 128 — *Scoffs from Edina* — but Falvine may have offered more. Either way, we don’t make this pick if there is any doubt he was going pro.

KALA’I ROSARIO (OF) — 5th ROUND (158th OVERALL)

Another masher? Color me surprised!

Rosario, a 6′ 1″ and 205 pound outfielder from Waiakea High School in Hawaii, put himself on the map back in 2019 during the Area Code Games. While there, he slugged 21 home runs in the home run derby.

He played well in his shortened senior year, hitting .343 with five dingers and 11 RBI. With a top exit velocity of 105 MPH (99.8 percentile), this is another kid who can rake. He has even studied hitting under Koten and Kean Wong’s father, Kaha. Talk about a leg up.

If he can hone in on utilizing his plus-plus power, expect another addition to the Bomba Squad sooner, rather than later. He was the perfect ending to the 2020 Minnesota Twins draft… which was really just a hardcore hunt for MORE POWER!

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-twins/minnesota-twins-stack-organization-with-more-power-in-2020-mlb-draft/feed/ 0 Fri, 12 Jun 2020 07:03:20 +0000 Minnesota Twins