Minnesota Twins Organization Discussion

by John Sickels on Oct 3, 2025 10:35 AM EDT

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire makes a mental note to stock up on migraine medicine. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

I am starting work on the Minor League Ball Top 20 Prospects lists and the 2012 Baseball Prospect Book this week. We are now taking pre-orders, and the book will be available in electronic format from the beginning this year.

For those of you who are new, the first three teams I do every year are the Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, and Kansas City Royals, in that order. The rest of the order varies from year to year, but the next two on my list for this season are the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers. I post a Top 20 Organization Prospects list when a team is done. Before we get to that point, we begin with an organization discussion, followed by a preliminary prospect list.

So we'll start the process today with the Minnesota Twins discussion thread. What do you think of this organization? Any sleepers you like? I can tell already there are going to be some tough grades/rankings with this system....Max Kepler and Alex Wimmers are two that come to mind immediately.

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Comments

Niko Goodrum

curious to see what you think of him, except for one bad month he had a really good year if I remember right…

by notsukao on Oct 3, 2025 11:06 AM EDT reply actions

goodrum

he made substantial progress with the bat but I’m not sure he will hold out at SS.

by John Sickels on Oct 3, 2025 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Lesser known outfielders

Interested to see where Rosario & Arcia rank against better known outfielders like Hicks or Bensen.

On a side note, does anyone know a good place to check when a player needs to be added to the 40-man?

by horst_04 on Oct 3, 2025 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

40 man

I can get you a list of 40 man guys… in my mind, the easy choices are Carlos Gutierrez and Oswaldo Arcia. Then there is a group of Angel Morales, Tom Stuifbergen, Yangervis Solarte, Tyler Robertson, Bruce Pugh that have to be considered. Then you’ve got guys like Jairo Perez, Manuel Soliman, James Beresford and a few others that either are too far away or something to likely be selected.

If I did my Top 50 Twins prospects today, I think I’d have Arcia 2, Rosario 4, Benson 5 and Hicks 7.

by SethSpeaks on Oct 4, 2025 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Just one more thing Horst

You can check in with Twinkie Town (another SBNation blog) in early November because all teams refresh the 40-man after the World Series, and the Twins are no exception. For the record, if you are looking for a list of top prospects, Twinkie Town is also your place. Each winter, the entire community votes for the top 50 prospects in the Twins organization and that list is posted all year long as a sidebar.

I'm a proud fan of the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys!
"Life is precious and time is a key element. Let’s make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." – Harmon Killebrew
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by Jessy S on Oct 4, 2025 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

My opinion

is that Rosario and Arcia will surpass Hicks and Bensen this year.

by JoelGuzman'sScout on Oct 4, 2025 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Roberts

He was one of your breakout candidates to begin the year - what did you think of his performance in 2011? Pretty lofty BABIP again this year, but maybe he’s one of those guys who just does that yearly (Matt Kemp being one example).

by dbreer23 on Oct 3, 2025 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

roberts

He performed well but got injured when he could have been moved up to High-A. Not sure if the power will develop the way I’d hoped, but he does get on base at a good clip

by John Sickels on Oct 3, 2025 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

In part...

based on getting hit by 29 pitches really helped the OBP. Not sure how repeatable that is. If that number drops to 10, he still has a good (but much more normal) Isolated Discipline.

by SethSpeaks on Oct 4, 2025 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

IIRC

He got hit by pitches a lot in college too. This may be something that he’s just “good at”.

by John Sickels on Oct 4, 2025 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

thats a pretty cool skill to have

I’ve heard hitting for an abnormally high BABIP can actually be considered a skill.
Revere?

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Oct 6, 2025 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Alex Wimmers ... well i'd say its a safe bet his "B+" is probably in line to come down

Its not like we can say as a player he’s regressed a whole bunch though, and throwing that no-hitter in his final game(7 innings) is definately an optimistic finish. Its almost too bad the season had to end when it did for him, he really could of used another 4-5 starts after that no-hit game. I’m thinking a “B-” for Wimmers but at the high end, I wouldn’t be suprised if he was a “B”

Looking at the BA FSL top 20 that just came out Wimmers did not make it and likely wasn’t all that close. Even Arcia (15) and Hicks (18) were both a little lower than i expected.

I think its clear Benson is now a “B-” prospect up from C+ the previous two seasons, and in a chat somewhere I remember John saying he likely just makes that upgrade.

Max Kepler held his own in the Appy League did he not? Wow i’m actually pretty impressed with his performance all things equal. Sure the power hasn’t emerged yet, nor has he gotten on base at a high % yet. But I thought he’d begin the year at GCL back in the early summer, instead he was right there with the big buys, Sano, Rosario, Goodrum, JD Williams to begin the E-Town season. Probably still a “C+” guy but could be higher? He is probably the toughest rank.

There weren’t a whole lot of breakout seasons. Rosario is an easy one, and Brian Dozier is probably the other big one, Chris Parmelee i guess would be in line as well considering what he accomplished in SSS in MLB.
But Sano, Arcia, Benson, Salcedo, Lanigan, Gibson/ Hendriks were more or less expected to do what they did.

I think Brian Dozier SS, as easily surpassed some people in this system, he’s easily a “C+” grade now and John, i’d be interesed in what you think on him? could be a B- or even B ? not that the letter is everything either..

When you get Jim Hoey, Brett Jacobsen, Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra, Cole Nelson, Lester Oliveros, Matt Capps, Jason Pridie, Brendan Harris, and 20,000 dollars for a half dozen key intrical parts to you're organization eveybody hurts.
And you're fan base begins to revolt. Why does Bill Smith evaluate talent? He would be much better served as the teams ball boy.

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Oct 3, 2025 1:45 PM EDT reply actions

grades

Wimmers….B- or C+, depending. That will be a tough call.

Dozier….B- or C+, depending, but for opposite reasons from Wimmers.

by John Sickels on Oct 3, 2025 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

If anyone get's a chance to see Dozier in the AFL...

I’d like to know how he looks at short. How far is his D from being MLB ready?

"I couldn't do that. Could you do that? Why can they do it? Who are those guys?"

by maxisagod on Oct 3, 2025 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Intersting.. okay John

thank you, yeah Wimmers’ command is certainly in question and hopefully he can answer that too bad he is not pitching in the AFL (instead Aaron Hicks gets the nod)

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Oct 3, 2025 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Hicks/Wimmers

actually have pretty much nothing to do with each other as far as who went to the AFL.

by SethSpeaks on Oct 4, 2025 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

haven't gotten to the Twins yet in my rankings, but

Wimmers is a no doubt C+ in my mind. While his stuff is solid, his command is what distinguished him. He didn’t exactly show he had it back even after returning. The book is hardly closed on him, but I’m not all that optimistic.

Kepler is probably a C+. I wonder if expectations have just been a little too much for a player with his circumstances, but he’s still an intriguing talent.

by mrkupe on Oct 3, 2025 3:42 PM EDT reply actions

Who would you rather have for the future

Wimmers or Hendriks?

by cookiedabookie on Oct 3, 2025 4:13 PM EDT reply actions

next couple of years Hendriks for sure

but in 2-3 years time, i’d have to say Wimmers because he has a higher cieling and a greater chance to be special, or at least more special…. no doubt what Hendriks did the last year and a half was pretty darn impressive, and if he could remain a minor leaguer for EVER he would likely post dominate numbers, but in the MLB game most seem sure his game translates to only a back end type of starter, though he could be a fine inning eater.

Wimmers obviously, has potential to be more of an mid-rotation type the walk rate is really the only thing that is discouraging for me.

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Oct 3, 2025 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Kepler...

I think the real question is how do you grade Auzzies,Europeans, or any player with lack of strong competition going into their pro carrers. You can rate Kepler based off his tools, but if the skills are to come it gong to take longer for him to produce. I’d go with the same grade as last year.

"I couldn't do that. Could you do that? Why can they do it? Who are those guys?"

by maxisagod on Oct 3, 2025 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

yeah i'd probably agree Max

Its tough not knowing how exactly one adapts to the U.S. game with much greater competition Vs. what the results may have been in Europe for someone like Kepler where the best possilbe types of pitchers hes gonna face are the Loek Van MIl’s of the world.

I mean a year from know we’ll have a lot more data of Kepler in pro AB’s to go off of, even now its just too small sample size, but i LOVE is ARL.

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Oct 3, 2025 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions

*a year from now

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Oct 3, 2025 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting Question

Based on him having a good, not great 2011 in Elizabethton, is it possible he gets to repeat that level (he can) and hopefully dominate? Or push him too quickly too Beloit and just hope he isn’t completely overwhelmed?

by SethSpeaks on Oct 4, 2025 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd say Elizabethton Seth

But I know i don’t have as much of a read on it then you do. Sano and Rosario both to Beloit right? but Kepler maybe still in Appy Lg. ?

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Oct 6, 2025 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Angel Morales

He was ranked high on a lot Twins lists, then gets injuried, but comes back and plays well. Do you check, fold, or raise on the guy?

"I couldn't do that. Could you do that? Why can they do it? Who are those guys?"

by maxisagod on Oct 3, 2025 4:41 PM EDT reply actions

Check

by SethSpeaks on Oct 4, 2025 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Quick question...

Why the Twins, Braves, and Royals first? Not attempting to complain, just wondering if there is a link to the past to them for you, John.

by frozendesert on Oct 3, 2025 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

I was wondering the same thing...

I could make a guess for Twins (favorite team) and Royals (geography), but why the Braves?

by DenverBears on Oct 3, 2025 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

tradition

Tradition. When I wrote my first book back in 1996, the first two teams I did were the Twins and Braves. The Royals have moved up into third place because I get to see more of their prospects than anyone else.

by John Sickels on Oct 3, 2025 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Hicks

John, how tough is it grading him/evaluating his performance? He’s the enigma of this organization, imo. Has all the tools, according to scouts, but his numbers except for walks, continue to disappoint. He could also burst into his tool set once out of the pitcher confines of the MWL and FSL.

by BryceHarper on Oct 3, 2025 8:39 PM EDT reply actions

Denard Span

with more power, better CF defense and a much stronger arm.
Not the star many hoped 2 years ago but a guy that hits 260-270 with 70-80 walks and 10-15 homers is pretty valuable

by ScottAZ on Oct 4, 2025 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions

JaDamion Williams

What an incredible season he had at Elizabethton although few noticed thanks to Rosario and Sano. Goodrum was very good the final month as well. But Williams was very impressive.

by SethSpeaks on Oct 4, 2025 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

John Sickels

Don’t you dare forget about Miguel Sano. Based from what I heard from the Twins organization, Sano has had nothing but praise from the minor league coaches. I would at least rate him a B+, but Sano is likely going to be another superstar in the majors, and the best thing is that he will be able to play 81 games at Target Field per season.

by Jessy S on Oct 4, 2025 3:12 PM EDT reply actions

Sano?

How could I forget about him?

by John Sickels on Oct 4, 2025 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Chris Herrmann

You know he’ll be in New Britian next year with a shot at getting to AAA quickly, the Twins are converting him to catcher full time I hear….

Could be interesting sleeper.

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Oct 6, 2025 9:36 AM EDT reply actions

Sleepers/mysteries

Kepler and Goodrum are clear ELZ cases of interest.
Lance Ray, Daniel Ortiz, and Michael Gonzalez moving up to High A will be very telling for the future of their prospect status.
I am going out on a big limb and say that the catching situation in the organization may not be as terrible as some make it to be because of Chris Herrmann (clearly) and . . . . Josmil Pinto. If what is needed is a half-time catcher for Mauer, then within 1.5-3 years, there are two guys who could be very valuable for the Twins. Danny Rams is the third possibility there.
I doubt that Herrmann starts at New Britain. He should be the main catcher at Rochester with Rivera or Lehmann behind him. And he can play the corner outfield positions.

JaDamion Williams will be fun to watch too. One has to wonder which of these OF prospects will be traded for big league players though. I mean . . . EVENTUALLY they have to trade strengths to get weaknesses right!?

by shanewahl on Oct 7, 2025 2:20 AM EDT reply actions

Arcia

I asked this on your blog, Seth . . . I thought that if a player was signed before turning 18 that they had 5 years of time before needing to be added to the 40 man roster. So wouldn’t Arcia have another year?

by shanewahl on Oct 7, 2025 2:25 AM EDT reply actions