Top 30 Minnesota Twins Prospects To Target In Dynasty Leagues

As we move along in our Organizational Top 30 Prospects Rankings, we kick off the AL Central with the Minnesota Twins top 30 prospects for dynasty. This is a system that has produced several big-name prospects that have contributed to the Twins as well as other clubs. Names like Christian Encarnacion Strand and Spencer Steer in Cincinnati have stood out recently. Overall this is a system that has some big names at the top then fades as you go on, but make no mistake there are some hidden gems mid-way through this list. For now, let us dive into the top 10 prospects of the Minnesota Twins.

Top 10 Twins Prospects

Brooks Lee, SS

(125 GP, .275/.347/.461, 16 HR, 83 R, 84 RBI, 7 SB)

The Twins’ eighth overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft was Brooks Lee who hit the ground running. In his first taste of pro ball, Lee climbed three levels finishing in Double-A. This season the Twins started Brooks Lee back in Double-A where he slashed .292/.365/.476 with 11 home runs, 63 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 87 games. As we saw the year prior, Lee had a 10.3% walk rate paired with an excellent 15.8% strikeout rate across 399 plate appearances.

The Twins promoted Lee to Triple-A St Paul where he took a small step back, slashing just .237/.304/.428 in 38 games. Lee’s BABIP was low for him at .258 indicating he might have been a bit unlucky after the call to Triple-A. It would not surprise me if Lee is in the running to break camp out of spring training or at least get his opportunity to debut before the All-Star break. Brooks Lee is a high-floor prospect who could be a DJ LeMahieu-style player who anchors down the Twins infield for years to come.

Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF

(99 GP, .240/.400/.463, 16 HR, 87 R, 55 RBI, 20 SB)

It was good to Emmanuel Rodriguez back out on the field after having his 2022 season cut short due to injury. Rodriguez made the most of it, playing all 99 games in High-A slashing .240/.400/.463 with 16 home runs, 87 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases. The average might have been a bit low and the strike-out rate a bit high for the 20-year-old Rodriguez. Regardless he showed excellent on-base skills as well as the ability to draw walks 20.2% of the time.

Long term this is a prospect that could give you a potential 30-30 season with excellent OBP numbers in a corner outfield spot. I would expect the Twins to start Emmanuel Rodriguez out in Double-A to start the 2024 season and could push for a late-season call-up if all things break right.

Walker Jenkins, OF

(26 GP, .362/.417/.571, 3 HR, 16 R, 22 RBI, 6 SB)

Coming into the 2023 MLB draft the two top high school prep bats were Walker Jenkins and Max Clark. Walker Jenkins is a big imposing figure standing at 6’3” and is built to drive the ball a long way. Walker split his 26 total games played between the complex league and Low-A after the draft. While in the complex league, Jenkins slashed .333/.390/.537 with two home runs, 12 RBIs, and four stolen bases in 14 games played. The advanced eye at the plate was obvious with Jenkins walking 8.5% and only striking out 13.6% of the time.

💪💣 OF Walker Jenkins has serious raw power from the left side that has excellent bat to ball skills. There are some rumors that the Nationals have been heavily scouting the H.S. Slugger from NC. @WalkerJenkins6 @Fantrax @WeeklyStreamer https://t.co/OReSGvZNnT

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 19, 2023

The Twins promoted Walker Jenkins to Low-A to finish out the season and the 18-year-old performed well. In 12 games played Jenkins slashed .392/.446/.608 with one home run, 10 RBIs, and two stolen bases while maintaining a 7.1% walk rate and a stellar 10.7% strikeout rate. For dynasty managers, this is a guy you can build a franchise around and it won’t surprise me if he is aggressively pushed through the Twins system if he continues to hit with ease.

Yasser Mercedes, OF

(25 GP, .196/.248/.381, 4 HR, 14 R, 17 RBI, 6 SB)

This time last season you could not trade for Yasser Mercedes, right now might be the time to buy in after a dreadful season. The upside of Yasser Mercedes was obvious after the 2022 season in the DSL where the then 17-year Mercedes slashed .355/.420/.555 with four home runs, 34 runs, and 30 stolen bases in just 41 games played. Mercedes was impressed with his 10.2% walk rate and a solid 19.9% strikeout rate in 176 plate appearances.

Unfortunately, this season was nowhere close as Mercedes played only 25 games at the complex level slashing just .196/.248/.381. The speed was not as impressive as the year prior as Mercedes only swiped six bags in seven attempts. Amongst the bad statistics there could be some bright spots, Yasser Mercedes maintained a 21.9% strikeout rate and matched his home run output in 2022 in 16 fewer games. On top of this, the BABIP was extremely low at just .211 the year prior he was at .432. For me, this is the time to buy into Mercedes because if he gets back to what he did in 2022 he will no doubt be a top 100 prospect by season’s end.

Marco Raya, RHP

(22 GS, 62 IP, 65 K, 4.02 ERA)

Young arms with upside is a target for most in deeper dynasty leagues and Marco Raya definitely has some upside. Raya played at two levels in 2023 starting at High-A where he struck out 39 batters in 33.2 innings pitched (10.43 K/9) with a .189 average against and finished with a 2.94 ERA across 11 starts. Marco Raya did a great job limiting the walks to the tune of a 2.14 BB/9 while in High-A.

After Raya was promoted to Double-A though he began to struggle, in 11 starts Raya had an 8.07 K/9 with an increased walk rate of 4.34 BB/9 and finished the season with a 5.28 ERA. With three potential plus offerings in his fastball, slider, and curveball Raya has the tools to be an effective starting pitcher long term. The change-up is a pitch Raya is currently working on as he did not use his change-up prior to being drafted out of high school in 2020. For dynasty owners Marco Raya profiles as an SP3 starter if everything clicks if not he could be an effective high-leverage reliever.

Jose Rodriguez, OF

(49 GP, .262/.325/.412, 6 HR, 28 R, 23 RBI)

Getting in on the ground floor on prospects is key to getting the best value, in Jose Rodriguez’s case the window of opportunity might be closing. In 2022 Jose Rodriguez was in the DSL where he slashed .289/.361/.605 with 13 HR, 49 RBIs, and five stolen bases in 55 games played with a 9.6% walk rate and a 23.7% strikeout rate. Fast forward to 2023 and in 49 games played at the complex Jose Rodriguez slashed .262/.325/.412 with six home runs, and 23 RBIs. The eye at the plate was solid with an 8.6% walk rate and brought the strikeout rate down to 19.6%.

🤫 If you don’t know Twins outfield slugger Jose Rodriguez.. You should. In the DSL Rodriguez slashed .289/.361/.605 with a league leading 13 HR and 49 RBIs in 55 games. He’s one of my main stashes this season. #MNTwins @Twins @ProspectsTwins pic.twitter.com/j8Yln93ut0

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 5, 2023

Standing at 6’2” at only 18 years old it’s easy to dream on plus power and a solid approach at the plate for Rodriguez. Hopefully, in 2024 he will start moving up the ladder and further up the rankings.

Connor Prielipp, LHP

(2 GS, 6.2 IP, 7 K, 8.10 ERA)

Connor Prielipp’s first taste of professional ball did not go the way either the Twins or himself would have wanted it to go. Prielipp went down with a torn UCL after just 6.2 innings pitched across two games started in 2023. The sample size is so small for Prielipp to evaluate and if you go back to his time at the University of Alabama there really isn’t much more to go off of. In 2020 and 2021 combined Prielipp only pitched 28 combined innings striking out 47 batters across seven starts.

When healthy Prielipp features a three-pitch mix in a fastball, slider, and change-up with the slider grading out a potential double plus pitch. The upside is big with Prielipp but the lack of experience is a bit concerning for dynasty managers to target for long-term gains.

David Festa, RHP

(24 GP, 22 GS, 92.1 IP, 119 K, 4.19 ERA)

The Twins have several interesting arms that have popped up over this season Cory Lewis and David Festa are two that stood out to me. Festa is here based on proximity to the majors though I do implore you to check out Cory Lewis as well. Across 24 games played David Festa had the most at Double-A where he struck out 104 batters in 80 innings pitched which is an 11.70 K/9. The right-hander finished Double-A with a 3.71 BB/9, a .248 average against, and had a 4.39 ERA though the 3.71 FIP says he pitched a bit better than the numbers show.

📝📈MIN RHP Cory Lewis has been putting up 💪 numbers in Low-A. In 6 starts Lewis has 39 Ks in 29.2 IP keeping batters to a .167 AVG and a 2.43 ERA. Keep him on your radar! #MNTwins @MightyMussels @Twins @UCSB_Baseball @Fantrax https://t.co/6DSzxAeOBE

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 19, 2023

Once promoted to Triple-A Festa looked sharp striking out 15 batters in 12.1 innings pitched with a .222 average against and finished with a 2.92 ERA. What stood out the most was the 6.57 BB/9 and the 4.38 FIP he finished with. For dynasty managers, Festa looks like a middle-of-the-rotation arm if the walks are kept under control as the fastball and change-up combo gets solid strikeouts.

Yunior Severino, 2B/3B

(120 GP, .272/.352/.546, 35 HR, 80 R, 84 RBI, 3 SB)

If you are looking for a big upside in a middle or corner infield prospect look no further than Yunior Severino. In 2023 Severino played at both Double-A and Triple-A and crushed a combined 35 home runs. In 84 games played at Double-A Severino slashed .287/.365/.560 with 24 home runs, 56 runs scored, 62 RBIs, and swiped three stolen bases. With big power sometimes comes big strikeouts and Yunior Severino is no exception in Double-A and Triple-A Severino is above a 30% strikeout rate while maintaining a respectable walk percentage of 9.7%.

📣Deep Dive Alert 🚨 Yunior Severino 2B @Twins at A+ he slashed .283/.398/.572 with 11 HR, 40 RBI in 46 GP with a 13.1% BB and 22.5% K. Then promoted to AA slashing.273/.338/.497 with 8 HR, 25 RBI’s great deep league stash. @Fantrax @WeeklyStreamer @YuniorSeverino5 @TWS_Irish pic.twitter.com/gQc1YOzNm1

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) March 17, 2023

Once promoted to Triple-A Severino’s batting average took a hit as he slashed .233/.320/.511. Regardless of the lack of average Severino managed to slug 11 home runs, 24 runs scored, and 22 RBIs in just 36 games played. This was a great prospect to stash in your minor leagues this season when I highlighted him mid-season at little to no cost but now dynasty managers are getting wise. Inquire on Severino in 12-team leagues and up as he is poised to make his debut here in 2024.

Austin Martin, SS/2B

(67 GP, .260/.381/.398, 7 HR, 35 R, 30 RBI, 19 SB)

The hype of Austin Martin far outweighed the production but I wouldn’t write him off just yet. In 2023 Martin played the majority of his games in Triple-A St Paul where he put together some solid numbers. In 59 games played Martin slashed .263/.386/.405 with six home runs, 33 runs scored, 28 RBIs, and swiped 16 bases in 20 attempts. All the while walking at 14.3% and only striking out 17.1% of the time.

Now I am not telling you to rush out there and grab Austin Martin but there is some upside as a prospect that could be a super-utility type of player for the Twins in 2024. Already Martin has been getting time at third, short, and second base with some reps in the outfield in 2023. With solid on-base potential I believe Martin could secure a spot in the lineup I just don’t think he will be the everyday player at one position.

Minnesota Twins Top 30 Prospects Rankings