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Two Minnesota Twins Prospects Projected to Land AFL Spots

Originally posted on Minnesota Sports Fan
By Ted Schwerzler | Last updated Aug 22, 2024 1:37 PM ET

We are quickly approaching the end of the 2024 Minnesota Twins regular season. But before that, the minor league season will conclude, a couple of weeks earlier. That’s not totally true, for about 200 top prospects prospects across Major League Baseball, though.

Each MLB organization can designate seven prospects to play in the Arizona Fall League, an offseason developmental league created as a way to extend the season (and development) for top prospects. Participants are typically ranked in the top-30 of their individual organizations.

Arizona Fall League to see best Minnesota Twins prospects

The Minnesota Twins have one of baseball’s best farm systems, so their 2024 AFL designees are sure to be box office. In a rapid fire back-and-forth on the MLB Pipeline Podcast (via MLB.com), minor league experts Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis both expect outfielders Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez to be in Arizona, this Fall.

I got some pushback for having Walker Jenkins as my #1 overall prospect on my post-draft Top 100 prospects list, but after an injury earlier this season he’s had a HUGE month of July and is showing exactly why he’s so highly regarded by the industry:

Last 10 Games:
.371 AVG… pic.twitter.com/ZxgPn2MW0o
— Owen Hurd (@Owen_FBB) July 21, 2024

Jenkins is the fourth ranked prospect across baseball while Rodriguez checks in at 22nd overall. Last season Kalai’ Rosario won the AFL Home Run Derby. He and fellow Twins prospect Aaron Sabato finished tied atop the 2023 AFL leaderboard with seven home runs.

Jenkins and Rodriguez make sense for Minnesota Twins in Arizona Fall League

This season both top Twins prospects have missed time. Walker Jenkins injured his hamstring on Opening Day and was out of action for months. He has since earned a promotion to High-A Cedar Rapids. His continued game action will help development. Jenkins has warmed up lately with the Kernels, and Arizona Fall League action may follow a playoff run.

RoboScout dropped a new dynasty Top 100 this weekend.

The No. 1 prospect?

Twins outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez.

( @Twins)

pic.twitter.com/PSrAivQioN
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) August 19, 2024

Emmanuel Rodriguez has played just 37 games after dealing with a hand issue. He owns a 1.100 OPS at Double-A, but Arizona Fall League action would get him more action. Injuries have been part of Rodriguez’s career thus far, and only last year at High-A did he play more than 50 games (99) for the first time in his professional career.

Both Jenkins and Rodriguez will benefit from additional at bats this fall. If Minnesota can get both to come out of the gate hot in 2025, there’s no telling how far they could rise.

This article first appeared on Minnesota Sports Fan and was syndicated with permission.

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