Ranking the Twins Top 5 Prospects at Instructional Camp

[Cody Christie]

Recently, MLB allowed teams to host instructional camps at their spring training venues in Florida and Arizona. Teams can have up to 50 players come and work with the organization’s coaches for the first time since March. Many of Minnesota’s top prospects just wrapped up their time at the team’s alternate site in St. Paul, so who are the Twins best players at instructional camp?5. RHP Matt Canterino

2019 Stats (Rookie, Low-A): 1.44 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 31 K, 8 BB, 25 IP

After being a three-year starter at Rice, Canterino was the Twins second-round pick in 2019. He saw limited time during his first professional season because of the innings he had accumulated in college. He struck out 11 batters per nine innings and he only allowed earned runs in two of his five appearances after being promoted to Low-A. He controls the strike zone and his college experience could help him to move through the Twins system.

 

4. RHP Blayne Enlow

2019 Stats (Low-A, High-A): 3.82 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 95 K, 38 BB, 110 2/3 IP

Enlow pitched nearly 2/3rds of his innings as a 20-year old in the Florida State League where he was nearly three years younger than the average age of the competition. For players like Enlow, missing the 2020 season was critical to developing towards the big-league level. Next spring, he will turn 22 and he has yet to pitch an inning above High-A and there are no guarantees a minor league season will happen in 2021. He’s the second-best pitching prospect in instructional camp and he should get a lot of work in over the next month.

 

3. 1B Aaron Sabato

2020 Stats (College): .292/.478/.708 (1.185), 7 HR, 6 2B, 16 K, 22 BB, 19 G

Unlike the other players on this list, Sabato got to play a handful of games in 2020 before the pandemic shutdown most of the amateur baseball world. He destroyed the ball during his sophomore year at the University of North Carolina before becoming a draft eligible sophomore. His bat is legit and the biggest knock against him entering the draft was his lack of defensive position. Minnesota’s brass still felt like he was worth of a first-round selection and now the team will get a chance to work with him for the first time.

 

2. SS Keoni Cavaco

2019 Stats (Rookie): .172/.217/.253 (.470), 1 HR, 4 2B, 35 K 4 BB, 25 G

Cavaco was the Twins first round pick back in 2019 and his first taste of professional baseball didn’t go exactly to plan. Teams saw him as late riser entering the draft and the Twins were intrigued by his combination of tools. He had to be chomping at the bit to get back on the field because of those initial struggles and the lack of a 2020 campaign. He’s still only 19-years old and he has a lot of development left to prove the Twins were right to make him the 13th overall pick.

 

1. RHP Jordan Balazovic

2019 Stats (Low-A, High-A): 2.69 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 129 K, 25 BB, 93 2/3 IP

Balazovic has seen his stock consistently rise since joining the Twins organization as a third-round pick back in 2017. Entering the 2020 season, both Baseball America and MLB.com had him ranked in their top-100 prospects. Minnesota didn’t include him in their original 60-man player pool, but he was added to the alternate site near the beginning of September. He’s only pitched 73 innings above Low-A, so it seems unlikely for him to debut in 2021 but working with the Twins coaching staff can only help his stock moving forward.

 

Click here to see who else made the instructional league roster. Which prospects benefit the most from this shortened instructional league setting? Leave a COMMENT and join the discussion.

 

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[rdehring]

When I read the headline, Cody, was hoping that your report would include information of who is doing what down at the Instructional camp. Unfortunately, it is a recap of who some of the Twins top prospects are, or should be.

 

I would be ecstatic to hear some actual news. Something like there is a sign that Cavaco or Javier, two of the Twins most expensive signings over the past 5-6 years, is showing something on the field after their disastrous performances of the past. Would love to hear if Balazovic is doing something better than last time out over a year ago, something that gives us hope he can join the Twins by late next year? It shouldn't just be the teams we are playing that have an exciting young starter on the hill, should it?

 

After having missed all of 2020, don't know how anyone can rank the Top prospects. Talk about them and discuss where they were and what they need to accomplish, certainly. But we really don't have a clue who has improved. I for one cannot tell you how badly I am looking for some first hand reports...damn, its been too bloody long. 

[Linus]

Balazovic is exciting. The rest of that list has me worried.

[mikelink45]

I join Linus is my concern.  Looking at their numbers I am not impressed. Canterino looks like he has real promise.

 

abato really has no numbers other than his draft status so I am not sure how to judge him.  It is good that he is here. 

 

Enlow has been over rated for the last year or more.  I just do not see him advancing for a very long time.

 

And Cavaco has only his draft status to recommend him.  He needs to show more.

So if we eliminate the three above, who takes their places on this list?

[DocBauer]

Makes you realize how important the taxi squad in St Paul was for the prospects there, and just how much of a setback no milb season has been for everyone else. To think Enlow would have seen AA last season, and that's understating it, and would be ready as a 22yr old for Rochester at some point in 2021, but is now looking to begin the season at AA AT BEST is regrettable. It's almost like everyone was injured for a season.

 

Not only is there a chance the missing year could jeopardize someone's development, but I wonder if there could end up being a full year gap for the Twins and all teams in regard to system help.

[Seth Stohs]

 

 Not only is there a chance the missing year could jeopardize someone's development, but I wonder if there could end up being a full year gap for the Twins and all teams in regard to system help.

 

No more a concern for the Twins than anyone else. Everyone is on the same timeline, so it (unfortunately) is what it is. At the same time, the guys who would have been the key pieces in 2020 and 2021 were in St. Paul. They got some work in. Now they're at instructs trying to cram as much as they can into a 4-5 week period and then we'll see what happens next. 

[Shaitan]

If there's a 2021 minor league season it will be interesting to watch innings pitched in comparison to previous years.

[rdehring]

 

No more a concern for the Twins than anyone else. Everyone is on the same timeline, so it (unfortunately) is what it is. At the same time, the guys who would have been the key pieces in 2020 and 2021 were in St. Paul. They got some work in. Now they're at instructs trying to cram as much as they can into a 4-5 week period and then we'll see what happens next. 

Seth, do you know anything about the 18 year old pitcher the Twins signed a week ago, Eduardo Soriano? I can't find anything, other than a tennis player somewhere with the same name.

[Trov]

I think for Sobato and Cavaco this will be important for where they will be thought of in the Twins system.  Neither have a for sure path to majors but both are first round picks so will be given time.  Cavaco was a tool guy that is young and may slide in many places, if he can use his tools and have some hit, my guess they will fit in somewhere.  

 

Sobato on the other hand will need to crush to play.  He would play first or be a statute in outfield and let his bat carry.  Problem is those areas are stacked right now.  He is older so will need to pop quickly to not fall behind others.  He might have to have his bat carry him to majors and take over at DH.  

 

Pitchers will always find a spot just if they will start or not, but that is less of a thing now. 

[4twinsJA]

Yes, anxious for information on prospects. Unfortunately, probably not going to be much given no MiLB and no stats from alternate sites. Looking forward to Prospects Handbook, whatever form it will be, I am sure will read every word.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Seth, do you know anything about the 18 year old pitcher the Twins signed a week ago, Eduardo Soriano? I can't find anything, other than a tennis player somewhere with the same name.

 

All I've seen is that he's 6-1 and 182 pounds... 

[DasBat]

I have more confidence in the pitchers. Ive never thought much of the Cavaco pick and Sabato has to crush to make it.