However, the Twins’ president Derek Falvey just swooped in and stole a top-50 international prospect from the Los Angeles Dodgers, after they put him on the backburner while waiting for international phenom Roki Sasaki makes them, the Padres and the Blue Jays wait on his decision.

Minnesota Twins surprisingly land coveted prospect

Up until Wednesday, Teilon Serrano from the Dominican Republic, was expected to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But according to Ben Badler (Baseball America) the 16-year-old got tired of waiting on the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes, and has now officially signed with the Minnesota Twins (Serrano’s Instagram).

The Minnesota Twins sign Dominican outfielder Teilon Serrano. Previously expected to be part of the Dodgers class.https://t.co/aCRAKA5LSP pic.twitter.com/WCXvFiM0pG

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 15, 2025

Serrano’s skillset and future

Although incredibly young, Teilon Serrano is a top-50 prospect for a reason and could be a key piece of the Twins franchise in the future. Ben Badler, from Baseball America, had good things to say about Serrano.

Previously set to sign with the Dodgers, Serrano now looks like he will get more money from the Twins after he opted not to wait for the Dodgers to find out whether they would sign Roki Sasaki. At 6-foot-1, Serrano is a high-contact hitter with good bat speed from the left side, a strong offensive profile to go with his athleticism. Serrano had been training as a shortstop initially, so there’s still a learning curve for him in the outfield, but he has the plus speed to give him a chance to stay there. 

Ben Badler, Baseball America

Whenever a player is a high contact hitter with good bat speed, it is usually a recipe for success. Serrano is a highly versatile prospect as well. He has the ability to play shortstop and in the outfield – a massive advantage for players and teams in MLB. Based on his skill set, it easy to see why the Twins believe in this top-50 prospect.

Related: MLB ZiPS Projection are Luke Warm on 2025 Minnesota Twins

Although fans desired a busier offseason for the Twins, signing Serrano is a great move for the future. Now the Twins must trust their minor league system and developmental coaches to bring the best out of Serrano for years to come.

MLB Pipeline continues to share their polling of current MLB executives, and those outside of the Twins organization stay heaping praise.

Drafting is a bonus for the Minnesota Twins

The most straightforward way for the Minnesota Twins to replenish their roster is through development. Identifying talent that can compete at the highest level, and then getting them there, is a key component for the building process. Jonathan Mayo shared that the opposition sees them as capable of doing so.

Minnesota isn’t the premier drafting team, but they are seen in a positive light. Los Angeles continues to succeed because they spend and acquire talent at a ridiculous pace. The Dodgers are able to part with prospects and sign the best free agents. The Twins don’t have that same formula, but they work well with what they have.

Last season the Twins saw a handful of top prospects graduate at the big league level. Their system remains one chock full of intriguing prospects. It got underrated praise from the same executives voting on their drafting prowess.

Arguably the most notable praise heaped upon the Twins organization is their ability to develop sleeper prospects. Last season Zebby Matthews made a meteoric rise to the big leagues despite being an 8th round pick.

August 25, 2024.@ZebbyMatthews against Cardinals.

5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K#MNTwins lose 3-2.

FACT: Zebby Matthews had a 2.70 ERA against National League opponents in 2024 (10.0 IP and 3 ER vs STL and SD). pic.twitter.com/ke3iL9dJgL

— Twins Gems (@TwinsGems) November 21, 2024

That’s not new for the organization. Bailey Ober was a 12th round selection and is now a mainstay in the rotation. Joe Ryan was acquired for the ghost of Nelson Cruz. Randy Dobnak started a playoff game out of nowhere. Multiple arms of the same ilk are on their way as well.

Related: Minnesota Twins Reach Arbitration Deals with Multiple Young Contributors

If a team is going to operate on the fringes like the Twins are forced to do, then developing internal talent is a must. Derek Falvey has constructed a very strong infrastructure across the organization, and it continues to pay dividends.

Otherwise, we’d have to go back to the M&M days when Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau were tearing the cover off the ball. Maybe Francisco Liriano, though he too was just a flash in the pan.

Related: Rocco Baldelli May Have Talked Twins Front Office Out of Trading Max Kepler

But the Twins have some dudes in their system right now, including two in the MLB.com top-20 prospects for 2024. Most have already heard of Brooks Lee, who Twins fans will see at Target Field sooner, rather than later.

It’s their youngest top prospect, though, 2023 No. 5 overall pick Walker Jenkins, who ranks highest of any Twins’ minor leaguer, coming in at No. 10 at MLB.com. He’s only played 26 minor league games so far in his professional career but everyone who sees this kid up close believes he has superstar written all over him.

Walker Jenkins Draws Comparison to Bryce Harper From ESPN

The latest praise comes from ESPN’s MLB insider Kiley McDaniel, who recently published top-100 MLB prospects for 2024 piece in which he ranks Jenkins 14th overall.

But the more interesting part was where he tossed out a few player comparisons for the 18-year-old power-hitting outfielder. First up, he said Jenkins reminds him of Houston Astros two-time All-Star Kyle Tucker. Then, McDaniel tossed out even bigger names that Jenkins may compare to.

Related: 4 Big Name Scott Boras Free Agents That Fit Exactly What Minnesota Twins Still Need

“In his draft spring, Jenkins’ power exploded to 70-grade and he was still showing solid-average speed with a similar physique to MLB outfielder Hunter Renfroe while putting on batting practice displays that had scouts mentioning the name Bryce Harper in hushed tones. Jenkins went No. 5 to the Twins as one of two high school players in the consensus top-five prospects in last summer’s historic top of the draft.

People I talked to who had spent time with Jenkins ahead of the draft have said that he might have the best makeup of any player they’ve been around, and that makes me inclined to take the over on most of his projections — especially because I was already inclined to do that just from watching him on the field. I’ll leave you with this swing that I captured last spring.”

ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel on Walker Jenkins’ talent

Here’s the swing McDaniel referred to, and it’s a gem:

South Brunswick HS (NC) OF @WalkerJenkins6 (UNC commit) is the consensus best prep prospect in the '23 draft. The best combination of hit/approach/power from a HS prospect in recent memory, comes with years of summer performance. Here's a HR from 3/28: pic.twitter.com/l2wxmx6IxD

— Kiley McDaniel (@kileymcd) April 10, 2023

Reading between the lines of McDaniel’s write-up, it’s clear MLB scouts didn’t want to rush to a conclusion by calling Jenkins the next Bryce Harper or anything like that. Yet, at the same time, for the two-time MVP’s name to even be mentioned in the same breath as Jenkins’s is something Twins fans should be excited about for years to come.

The Twins will start Jenkins at Single-A Fort Myers, with the Mighty Mussels, where he will be one of the youngest players in the league. Projections currently suggest Jenkins won’t make his MLB debut until 2026. Yet, if he can keep driving in nearly a run per game, as he has in the minor leagues thus far (22 RBI in 26 games), we could see Jenkins in a Minnesota Twins uniform sooner than anyone anticipates.

It's Fina-Lee Happening: #MNTwins Number One Prospect @brookslee22 Promoted To St. Paul

Story: https://t.co/xgjjqaO5Rt pic.twitter.com/bQ3PfXHynh

— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) August 3, 2023

Dominating every level

Brooks Lee, who’s the #17 best prospect in the MLB according to The Athletic, has been on the minor league fast track since joining the Twins organization last summer. But that’s because he has dominated every level he has played at over the last year. He started at rookie ball (FCL Twins), where he played just 4 games before Twins brass (.353/.353/.454) had seen enough.

Lee spent most of his first professional summer at Single-A with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, where he boosted his OPS to .848 with a .289/.395/.454 slash line in 24 games. Then, just 28 games into his professional career, the Cal Poly State phenom was called-up to Double-A Wichita, where he went 3-for-8 in just two games before their season ended.

Now, Brooks Lee will face his toughest challenge yet. But if his pro career so far is any indication of what’s to come, Lee will be even better in St. Paul than he was in Wichita. That’s right, if you haven’t been paying close attention to the numbers in this blog, Lee’s stats have improved every level of the Twins’ system he has climbed.

When will we see Brooks Lee in a Twins uniform?

Without a doubt, Brooks Lee is a huge part of the Minnesota Twins’ future plans. He has played shortstop for 107 of his 111 minor league appearances and that will continue to be his main position in St. Paul for the rest of this summer.

I’d imagine he does get more reps at other infield positions, however, in an effort to prepare him to play elsewhere once he gets to the big leagues. For the foreseeable future, Carlos Correa will remain the Twins’ shortstop. It would take a series of injuries or a complete end-of-season collapse for Lee to get his big league call up this year.

With Jorge Polanco now back from injury and Royce Lewis expected to return this month, Lee will most likely have to wait until next summer before taking a big league field in a Twins uniform.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Twins season is already well-underway but that’s not the case for its minor league affiliates. Their seasons will start this week but before these affiliates play any games, they need players. All four of the Twins’ minor league teams (A, A, AA, AAA) released their Opening Day rosters today. Let’s take a peak at where the Twins’ top prospects (MLB.com) landed.

Remember, the Twins’ top prospect, Royce Lewis, is out for the season, following knee surgery. Alex Kirilloff, their #2 prospect, is already with the big league club.

Low-A: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

The Mighty Mussels announced their Opening Day roster, including former first-round pick Keoni Cavaco, among others: pic.twitter.com/w2H03ZtlBL

— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) May 1, 2021

High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels

Here is the opening day roster for Cedar Rapids: pic.twitter.com/xs3m68bPEp

— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) May 1, 2021

AA: Wichita Wind Surge

Double-A Wichita also released its roster today.

Notables:

Dakota Chalmers
Tom Hackimer
Cole Sands
Austin Schulfer
Josh Winder
Jose Miranda
Gilberto Celestino pic.twitter.com/nAEk9dS0ej

— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) May 1, 2021

AAA: St. Paul Saints

Here’s the roster for the St Paul Saints: pic.twitter.com/AqzoiQqL0I

— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) May 1, 2021

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

With the Minnesota Twins season about to begin and everyone bracing themselves for a 60-game sprint, it is the perfect time to review the top prospects for the organization. The Minnesota Twins have a deep and high quality farm system to work with. Thanks, in large part, to a slew of abysmal years in the 2010s which landed them high draft picks. But also in part due to their revamp in player development and coaching under the new regime. Thanks Falvey and Levine!

A traditional ranking of prospects focuses on the potential each player could achieve. This ranking is based off each player’s ability and likelihood to contribute to the team in 2020.

It isn’t perfect. There are quite a few options to slot in at nearly every rank. Also, it is up to interpretation with what one considers a prospect. Hopefully though, this will give you a sense of who you could see gracing the diamond in the coming months.

#10 – RYAN JEFFERS (C)

Kicking off the list is the future catcher for the Minnesota Twins. At least at the moment. Although Jeffers had an atrocious spring, batting a horrific .067 with seven strikeouts, he has performed well in the minors.

Hitting 10 dingers and 40 RBI with a .256/.330/.402 slash in Double-A action last year. Far from MLB-ready, he is still the best option the team has at catcher if the worst case scenario happens to Garver, Avila, Telis, and Astudillo.

Ryan Jeffers bomba off Tyler Clippard! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/g1r84YXDfr

— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) July 16, 2020

#9 – AARON WHITEFIELD (OF)

Honestly, I was temped to leave Whitefield off this list entirely. But, he makes it solely due to his positioning on the 30-man roster. Which came as a surprise. His bat is nothing to write home about, but his speed puts him on the roster. He was often used as a pinch runner during the Summer Camp scrimmages. If he is going to make an impact in 2020, it’ll be on the base paths.

How fast is Aaron Whitefield?

Our cameras could barely keep up with him as he stole EVERY base in this clip.

Congrats to the fastest Blue Wahoo on his call-up to the Major Leagues! pic.twitter.com/O9h7YMxofS

— Pensacola Blue Wahoos (@BlueWahoosBBall) July 23, 2020

#8 – TREVOR LARNACH (RF)

Larnach could’ve been higher on this list if Blankenhorn didn’t place so high and we needed outfield depth. But, expect great things from Larnach in the future. Although Alex Kirilloff rightfully gets most of the hype for outfield prospects, Larnach has quietly gone under the radar as one of the best outfield prospects in the game…at least in my opinion.

He was a consistent force at the plate since his time at Oregon State, where he won a national championship. 2019 was a breakout year for him in the minors. He hit .309 at both high-A and double-A ball. This lead him to totals of 13 bombs and driving in 66 runs. His OPS is pretty admirable too at .842. The strikeouts are something he will need to work on, but with him not on the roster, that is doable.

!!!!! @trevorlarnach’s home run: dugout reaction ?#GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/URUO1g3ndy

— The Beavs (@BeaverAthletics) June 28, 2018

He even had a good Spring Training, going 8 for 24 in 13 games while hitting three more homers. He could become a cornerstone in the outfield for years to come.

#7 – CODY STASHAK (RHP)

Stashak could also have placed higher on this list, but I have to draw a line somewhere. Last year we saw glimpses of what we could see from him out of the bullpen. Throwing 25 innings and striking out 25, posting an ERA of 3.24 in 18 games.

Although currently used as a bullpen arm, Stashak has been used as an opener in the past. If Baldelli wants to mess around a bit, Stashak could be the man he goes with.

The strikeout. ?
The reaction. ?

What a debut for Cody Stashak! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/5ZEphAZS66

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) July 24, 2019

#6 – LEWIS THORPE (LHP)

Thorpe was a tricky player to slot into this list. With good upside, he has the potential to become a back of the rotation guy in the coming years. But he has yet to show it on a consistent basis. His numbers weren’t eye-popping in 2019 for the Minnesota Twins, going 3-2 with a 6.18 ERA in 12 games (27.2 IP). He also allowed 19 runs and ten walks and having a sub-par 75 ERA+.

Lewis Thorpe fed up w/ these strike zones too.. pic.twitter.com/XjerkMrUvI

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) August 20, 2019

However, he has the tools. Striking out 31 batters in his brief 2019 stint. Yet it never really took hold entering 2020, as he was cut from Spring Training in one of the first rounds of cuts. While he hopefully was able to settle into a groove during the hiatus, he will likely be utilized solely as a reliever this year. He may even come and go as the season goes on.

#5 – DEVIN SMELTZER (LHP)

The second of the three-headed rookie-pitcher dragon, Smeltzer is typically a starting pitcher. While that should be his long-term outlook with the team, 2020 will mostly bring long-relief work. Though, he may find a few spot starts potentially sprinkled in.

Smeltzer isn’t quite at the point Dobnak is, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t valuable. He posted a 0.8 WAR in 11 games in 2019, going 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 49.0 innings. He is also the first of the three starters to reach rookie eligibility.

His home run rate is a bit worrisome, giving up eight last year, while also giving up three long balls in only 9.1 innings in Spring Training. But pitching coach Wes Johnson wouldn’t have suggested adding him to the 30-man roster if he couldn’t perform out of the pen. Luckily, he has shown spurts of consistency in Summer Camp.

Unofficial final line on Devin Smeltzer:

3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K
37 pitches, 26 strikes

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) July 20, 2020

#4 – LAMONTE WADE JR. (OF)

Probably the most well-known name on this list, outside of Dobnak, is Wade. He has become the outfield depth player-of-choice for Baldelli. Wade appeared in 26 games in 2019.

He only has 69 plate appearances (nice) and has yet to prove himself offensively (.196/.348/.375 in 2019). Impressively, he did draw 11 walks last year and saw an uptick in his progression during Spring Training, where he hit .286/.423/.381 in 11 games. He even showed some pop in his bat, something we all know has become the M.O. of the Minnesota Twins.

LaMonte Wade Jr. jumps on the first pitch and sends it waaaaaaay up into the 2nd deck! #MNTwins

?: https://t.co/NgKqSmvviN pic.twitter.com/74GBz6kaZ1

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) September 22, 2019

His selection to the 30-man roster seems to be linked to his success earlier this year, and being a known entity to Baldelli. He should come in handy in providing off days to Rosario, Kepler, or Buxton (or if he is injured…again).

#3 – TRAVIS BLANKENHORN (2B)

This may make me look crazy. Placing a guy in the top three who didn’t even make the 30-man roster, let alone the taxi squad. But the talent is there and Summer Camp proved it. Reaching base a ridiculous amount against the Minnesota Twins’ big leaguers in their intrasquad games.

Trevor Larnach has reached in 5 of his last 6 plate appearances: single, single, strikeout, walk, single, hit-by-pitch

Travis Blankenhorn has reached in each of his last 4 PAs: double, walk, walk, walk

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) July 17, 2020

Blankenhorn likely would have made the roster or taxi squad if it weren’t for Aaron Whitefield’s blazing speed that Baldelli will utilize in pinch runner situations. Even though Whitefield got the nod over him, I would anticipate him being next in line for a call up to bolster the infield depth.

He will also bring something to the table offensively. Blankenhorn hit 18 bombas and drove in 51 runs with a .278/.312/.474 slash at Double-A last year. He likely will become a fixture in the lineup sooner than later.

#2 – JORGE ALCALA (RHP)

Although it was a shock when we saw Alcala‘s name make the taxi squad, it actually makes sense when we dive deeper. The near-25-year old from the Dominican Republic has the goods to be a shutdown reliever in the bigs.

With a four-seam fastball that registered in the mid-90s in 2019 and a nasty slider, Alcala has only gotten better during the pandemic-induced hiatus. He lit up the radar gun with a 99 mph fastball in Wednesday’s exhibition game against the Cubs.

? Jorge Alcala 99 mph swinging strikeout #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/I57fUvHi2f

— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) July 23, 2020

This progress was not seen during Spring Training in February and March. he threw only five innings in five games and gave up four earned runs, a 7.20 ERA and 2.0 WHIP. The progression under pitching coach Wes Johnson has elevated Alcala to a prospect that will likely see time in relief in 2020. This possibility is more likely considering Baldelli’s desire to keep his bullpen arms rested.

While we have only seen him throw 1.2 innings in the big leagues, the moxie he showed on Wednesday and through Summer Camp shot him up this list. He likely wasn’t even going to crack the top-five for me prior.

Some of the biggest positives in the #MNTwins final tune up tonight:

Caleb Thielbar
Jorge Alcala
Miguel Sano at 1B

— Ted (@tlschwerz) July 23, 2020

#1 – RANDY DOBNACK (RHP)

First on this list is Randy Dobnak. The Fu Manchu wielding, goggles-wearing, Uber driver extraordinaire shouldn’t come as a surprise. Dobnak is still technically a prospect/rookie, since he pitched only 28.1 innings in 2019. The league maximum innings to lose a player’s rookie status is 50 innings pitched.

This sits favorably for both the Minnesota Twins and Dobnak. During his brief stint with the team in 2019 he posted some ridiculous numbers. In only nine games, including five starts, he went 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA and a 23-5 strikeout to walk ratio. He even had an absurd 291 ERA+, meaning he rated 191% better than the average pitcher. That should be tempered some due to such a small sample size, but impressive nonetheless.

Even though he was knocked around in Game 2 of the ALDS in Yankee Stadium last year, not many rookies would come out of that unscathed.

.@Dobnak_ bio:

South Park, Pa. native
Uber driver (4.9 rating)
Winning MLB pitcher #MNTwins | #TwinsWin pic.twitter.com/l58JkKaQIl

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 21, 2019

This is still enough to place him atop these rankings. Though it may be tough for him to break into the starting rotation due to the additions of Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda, and Homer Bailey; Dobnak still has a huge role to play. He will likely be utilized as a long-relief option out of the bullpen. He will also likely be the first option as an emergency starter, which will happen the first time through the rotation due to Jake Odorizzi starting the season on the injured list.

With the ability to deceive batters with filthy breaking balls, expect him to become a staple in the Twins organization for years to come.

This pitch was just fouled off, but the amount of break Randy Dobnak got on this fastball is bananas.#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/d8e6ht5LJ1

— Tom Froemming (@TFTwins) September 21, 2019

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

It was a different MLB Draft this year. 5 rounds, 160 picks, and Karl Ravech calling out MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. Maybe the weirdest part? The Minnesota Twins only added four new pieces to their (hopefully) very bright future.

Big props to Karl Ravech for putting Manfred on the spot. Enough is enough, pay the players and let’s play ball! pic.twitter.com/kgfRan9jvM

— Marc Luino (@GiraffeNeckMarc) June 12, 2020

Outside of this season, the Twins have had relatively high draft picks, which has obviously helped their farm system. However, according to Bleacher Report, the Twins’ future is not as bright as it seems.

Joel Reuter, a highly-regarded baseball writer for Bleacher Report, ranked the Twins farm system as 15th best in all of baseball.

It’s no shock that Royce Lewis is ranked number one on the list. Then, four other prospects join him in “tier-one”:

• Alex Kirilloff
• Jordan Balazovic
• Trevor Larnach
• Jhoan Duran

I believe that Lewis, Larnach and Kirilloff are three of the best prospects in all of minor league baseball. Lewis brings elite bat speed, with a Byron Buxton like leg-kick approach, which may need to be tweaked.

Although they are similar hitters, Larnach has a little more pop than Kirilloff, but Kirilloff uses all fields, important when playing at Target Field.

Royce Lewis leg kick ? pic.twitter.com/2V6UHy50Cs

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) March 24, 2019

“While the Minnesota Twins have a top-heavy system, their top-tier group is impressive to vault them into the upper half of these rankings, even after they traded hard-throwing right-hander Brusdar Graterol to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Kenta Maeda deal.”

– Joel Reutuer, Bleacher Report

All but one of these players are homegrown talent, Duran being the exception as he came over in a trade back in 2018. Obviously, it’s no secret that the Twins have a “top-heavy” system. But is 15 too low? I think it is.

Why 15 is Too Low

Lewis might be the only five-tool guy in the system. But, one could argue that the Twins have two of the best pure hitters in all of Minor League Baseball with Larnach and Kirilloff.

“The Bomba Squad” nickname could also carry over into the minor leagues. Brent Rooker, Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota native Matt Wallner and 2020 first-round pick Aaron Sabato all have tremendous power, hopefully earning the nickname “The Bomba Squad 2.0” in a few season’s.

On the mound, the Twins have a ton of depth in the minors, but not one true “stud.” Balazovic is the only Twins pitching prospect that is ranked on MLB.com’s Prospect List, where he falls at number 86. He is expected to join the Twins rotation in 2021.

“The best-case scenario for Balazovic this year would seem to be a fully healthy, productive, and convincing summer in the Pensacola rotation, perhaps punctuated by a late promotion to Triple-A cementing his readiness to contend for an MLB job in 2021.”

–Nick Nelson, Twins Daily

Chris Vallimont and Blayne Enlow are two pitching prospects who could also make an impact for the Twins. Vallimont came to the Twins with Sergio Romo, via trade with the Marlins. Enlow, a former third-round pick, was signed in 2017.

Why’d They Put Us at 15 Then?

It could be the fact that Lewis struggled last season, hitting just .231 with two home runs in his 33 games with Double-A Pensacola. But that doesn’t seem like enough to drop us to an average farm system.

A few months ago, ESPN had the Twins system ranked 13th, while highly-regarded Keith Law of The Athletic has them ranked 15th as well, due in large part to Kirilloff and Lewis having down years in 2019.

Still, with the number of high-ceiling guys in the farm system, I would rank the Twins in the top-ten. Being top heavy is not always a bad thing.

Hunter Plante | Minnesota Sports Fan