The Twins have selected outfielder Emmanuel Rodríguez and utility player Austin Martin to the 40-man roster just ahead of the 5:00 pm CT Rule 5 deadline, the team revealed (as reported by several sources, including Bobby Nightengale of the StarTribune). These moves bring the 40-man roster up to 38 players.
Rodríguez, 20, is highly unlikely to appear in the majors this coming season, but evidently, the Twins believe the promising young outfielder is too talented to leave unprotected. After missing most of the 2022 season with a knee injury, the slugging center fielder came back strong in 2023, hitting 13 doubles, 9 triples, and 16 home runs, good for a 145 wRC+ at High-A. On top of that, he showed off his speed, stealing 20 bases, and his strong arm, recording seven outfield assists.
Martin, 24, is not quite as highly-regarded a prospect as Rodríguez, but he is more likely to contribute at the major league level in 2024, and thus, the team saw reason to protect him from the draft. A versatile defender, Martin is primarily a shortstop but also has experience playing all three outfield positions. He is also a quick runner and a disciplined hitter, as demonstrated by his 19 stolen bases, 39 walks, and only 46 strikeouts last season in 67 games. His offensive ceiling is limited by his lack of power, but he has the skills to contribute off the bench for a big league team.
Earlier this month, the Twins added 24-year-old infielder Yunior Severino and 24-year-old catcher Jair Camargo to the 40-man roster, preventing them from reaching minor league free agency and protecting them from the Rule 5 Draft. Notable names that were not protected include 26-year-old outfielder DaShawn Keirsey, 25-year-old utility player Anthony Prato, and 27-year-old utility player Michael Helman.
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