The biggest questions that the Minnesota Twins have about their 2024 outfield unit include. Can Byron Buxton stay healthy? Will Matt Wallner avoid a “sophomore slump.” Has Max Kepler come full circle on his amazing comeback? And will Manuel Margot morph into the versatile fourth outfielder that they have been missing?
Twins Have High Hopes for These Prospects
Time will tell if these hopes turn into realities. But while that is of immediate concern, it is also worth tracking the prospects who could comprise the Twins’ outfield of the future. There are high hopes for Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Gabriel Gonzalez as they matriculate through the team’s farm system.
As with all prospects, there are no guarantees. But the potential for this trio to become a long-term, dynamic, and productive unit is captivating. Let’s take a closer look at these three rising stars that have Twins’ management and fans so excited.
Walker Jenkins
Walker Jenkins looks like he just walked out of the sports pages. The 6-3, 215-pound left-handed batter has all of the earmarks of a fast-rising star. After being the Twins number five pick in last year’s Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, the 19-year-old quickly made his presence felt. In 26 at-bats between rookie league and Single-A Fort Myers, Jenkins slammed three home runs, drove in 22 runs, and had a slash line of .362/.417/.571.
This five-tool phenom will start the 2024 season back in the Florida State League. But if he continues to produce, expect his stop there to be short one. There is a strong belief that a promotion to Double-A by season’s end is not out of the question. And many observers believe he could arrive in the big leagues sometime during the 2025 season.
Twins Centerpiece
Currently a center fielder, many baseball observers believe that Jenkins will eventually make the move to right field. But I think there is strong evidence that the Twins would like him to stay in the middle as the centerpiece of their future outfield. He is already the Twins’ number one rated prospect, and the 10th ranked prospect overall. Experts are saying that he could become the number one prospect in all of baseball by season’s end.
Emmanuel Rodriguez
Emmanuel Rodriguez signed with the Twins in 2019, and he has continued a steady climb up the team’s minor league ladder. Rodriquez who is 21, has bashed 35 home runs, stolen 40 bases, and driven in 103 runs since his rookie league debut in 2021. Excellent bat speed and a keen eye at the plate are big contributors to his successful pro start.
Twins Love His Athletic Ability
Although he generally doesn’t swing at bad pitches, his miss rate is still too high. He will have to curb this tendency to reach his full potential. While he has started his pro career as a center fielder, he projects as a major league right fielder with pronounced athleticism and a strong arm.
Rodriguez is currently the Twins third rated prospect and the 42nd ranked prospect in all of baseball. Expect him to move up this ladder if he continues his assault on the baseball. He will start the 2024 season at Double-A Wichita.
Gabriel Gonzalez
Gabriel Gonzalez came to the Twins as part of the package of players received in the Jorge Polanco trade. Although he just arrived, he is already the Twins fourth rated prospect and 79th overall ranked prospect according to Major League Baseball. In his two Single-A stops last season, his stats included 18 home runs, 84 RBIs, with a slash line of .298/.361/.478.
Although he possesses a strong arm, defensively, he will be limited to corner outfield duty. Strikeouts are still an issue, but he has tremendous raw power. He sports elite hand-eye coordination, and his home run totals should progress as he matures. Gonzalez is just 20 years old and will start the season at High Single-A Cedar Rapids.
The Twins have high hopes for this exciting trio of outfielders. It will be fun to watch as they rise through the team’s system. Anything is possible, but for now, the sky’s the limit for these three young and talented prospects.
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