TD Midseason Top 20 Twins Prospect Rankings 20-16 (Plus Honorable Mentions)

[Matt Braun]

It is once again a great time for the good folks at Twins Daily (and myself) to re-evaluate our prospect lists. The minor league season often surprises just as much as its major-league counterpart and this calls for prospects to rise and fall accordingly. The Twins may be in all sorts of disarray but the farm system continues to breed bountiful harvests. Some of the riper prospects (Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Ryan Jeffers, Nick Gordon, and Ben Rortvedt) are no longer considered eligible for this list, so do not expect to see them anytime over the next few days. With all that being said, this author will reveal our 20-16 rankings along with a handful of honorable mentions who just narrowly missed the cut.

Honorable Mentions:

Louie Varland

Varland turned heads in the off-season when he started to throw absolute heat. He owns a K rate of 37% over 36 ⅓ innings at Fort Myers.

Seth Gray 

Gray was a 4th round pick out of Wright State in the 2019 draft who possesses 60 raw power according to Fangraphs. He has since flipped a successful 2019 campaign into a respectable 112 wRC+ with Cedar Rapids.

Jermaine Palacios

Palacios was previously a long-time Twins prospect before he was dealt to Tampa Bay for Jake Odorizzi in 2018. The Rays surprisingly did not turn him into a perennial All-Star, and he re-joined the Twins this past offseason. He has a .376 OBP over 210 plate appearances with Wichita.

Jovani Moran

Moran has been fighting for a shot in the majors for a while now, and his 2021 effort has been impressive so far. Armed with a 70 grade changeup, Moran has dominated AA hitters to the tune of a 1.88 ERA over 28 2/3 innings.

Edouard Julien

I’ll be blunt here. Julien has been absolutely incredible in 2021. He reached base at a .490 clip with Fort Myers before recently receiving the call to pester pitchers with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. 

Now, onto the list.

 

20. Chris Vallimont - RHSP

Age: 24

ETA: 2023

2021 Stats (A/AA): 34 1/3 IP, 3.41 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 2.64 FIP, 38.2 K%, 9.0 BB%

2021 Ranking: n/a

Vallimont was acquired by the Twins almost as an afterthought in the same trade that brought the electric and eclectic Sergio Romo to the franchise. He should no longer be seen in this context. Vallimont has not only performed well since joining the organization, but his background as a modern arm that trains along the Driveline method of thinking reflects a pitcher who is both effective and methodical. Outside of a bad start on the 1st of June, Vallimont has struck out at least six hitters in every start he has made in 2021. He stands to be an arm that never receives the proper attention he deserves for whatever reason. You, the good reader, should not make this mistake. 

19. Edwar Colina - RHSP

Age: 24

ETA: n/a

2021 Stats: n/a (IL)

2021 Ranking: 16

Moving from one arm to another, it is now time to talk about Colina. He sits in the mid-to-high 90s with the hot stuff before wiping the hitter away with a short but effectively-commanded slider. He may have been able to stick as a starter but the Twins moved him to the bullpen midway through August in 2019. Perhaps that was an anticipatory move as the bullpen at the time was looking shady but questions always persist when talking about whether a pitching prospect can stick as a starter. Colina also already owns the makeup most teams currently covet when it comes to young relievers. It was looking like 2021 would be the year for Colina to truly prove himself after he netted just a single out in his major league debut in 2020 but it has not gone that way so far. A right elbow injury (had surgery to remove bone chips) has sidelined Colina but recent chatter points to him beginning a throwing program soon. At any rate, young arms that can throw hard with command will always hang around and Colina will most certainly carve out some sort of major league role when he is eventually healthy.

18. Alerick Soularie - 2B/OF

Age: 21

ETA: 2024

2021 Stats: n/a

2021 Ranking: 18

I suppose it seems appropriate that Soularie stayed put in the ranking considering the fact that he has not yet played a minor league game. This is not because he is in the doghouse but merely a result of a foot injury. Soularie might arguably be the best pure athlete in the Twins system which is what drew the team to draft him in the 2nd round in 2020. His unusual combination of raw power, speed, and on-base ability puts him in a rarified category of prospect that can really break the game. Soularie has played a number of different positions, but it appears that the Twins are interested in him at 2nd base to start with. Whether he fulfills this destiny is yet to be seen but Soularie is undoubtedly talented. 

17. Wander Javier - SS

Age: 22

ETA: 2022

2021 Stats (A+): .230 BA, .291 OBP, .427 SLG, 92 wRC+

2021 Ranking: n/a

It feels a bit weird to see a 22-year-old on the list and think “man, this guy has been around forever”. Certainly it has been quite the ride for the former top 100 prospect who bottomed out after a poor 2019 season and was left open for the taking in the Rule 5 draft the past two offseasons. He was signed way back in 2015 with the idea that his tools would carry him into becoming a Fernando Tatís Jr.-type of player. Obviously that has not happened yet, but hope is not lost for Javier. 2021 has been somewhat of a resurgence for the 22-year-old. He slashed .260/.324/.510 in the month of June and it is exactly that type of upside that makes Javier impossible to give up on quite yet. 

16. Spencer Steer - 2B/3B

Age: 23

ETA: 2022

2021 Stats (A+/AA): .273 BA, .406 OBP, .511 SLG, 150 wRC+

2021 Ranking: n/a

One of the defining characteristics of the players around this part of the list has been their “rocket potential”. That is not to say that they go off to aid Elon Musk in their free time but instead that they were previously unranked players who have since shot up the list due to great play in 2021. Steer is no exception. The 3rd round pick in 2019 impressed in his first season in the system but has taken his game to a completely different planet in 2021. He walked more than he struck out with the Kernels while slugging over .500. That is terrifying. That sort of ability is unheard of for a second baseman and would put him in company with players like Justin Turner, Alex Bregman, and José Ramírez for third basemen. I do not need to tell you that those names should excite you immensely. Steer, along with some other names, represents a recent crop of infielders throughout the system who all bring an intriguing and dynamic skill set that could very well translate to major league success.

 

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[Wichita Farts]

Ernie DLT on the honorable mention’s honorable mention? He was having a great season. Anyone know where he’s been the last couple weeks? Assuming injured.

[mikelink45]

I like Steer - the rest, not so much.  I prefer many of the almosts to Soularie (prove something before being listed), Colina (I want to see the arm in action before putting you back on the list). 

[roger]

Thanks Matt.  The most exciting result early this season, well one of them for me, is Javier's bat getting back on track so he can again be considered a top prospect.  Gotta believe he has been more disappointed in the last seven or eight years than any of us.  Couldn't be happier for him, and the Twins should he keep it up.

[Seth Stohs]

12 hours ago, Wichita Farts said:

Ernie DLT on the honorable mention’s honorable mention? He was having a great season. Anyone know where he’s been the last couple weeks? Assuming injured.

He has a minor hamstring injury. Sounds like he should be back in the lineup soon. 

[Danchat]

Vallimont is 37th in my rankings - I think he will end up in the pen in the majors. Steer seems properly ranked, I think Colina is too. He is a hard guy to rate because it's easy to rag on him (one bad MLB appearance, elbow issue and hasn't pitched a workload since 2019), but he has electric stuff that can play in the pen. 

[twinstalker]

I'm surprised Julien isn't ranked, but then a guy's gotta show major league pop, and I'm not sure he has it.  I haven't studied him enough.  Taking walks in the low minors is a paradoxical trait.  Good eye, kid, but what happens when you get to pitchers consistently in the strike zone...can you make them pay?

[darwin22]

Having attended 4 Wind Surge games (2 in Springfield---2 in mid June in Wichita), I'm sure I'm biased, but I believe Palacios, Moran and Vallimont all merit a higher ranking.  Nothing against Colina & Soularie---I wish both a speedy recovery from injury list-----but I'd argue that both fall more into the honorable mention list just because they've done nothing this season.  Palacios has been a strong run producer in the middle of Wichita's lineup all season.  Vallimont has very good command and pitched consistently in the mid to low 90s in his effective start vs. Springfield on June 15./16.  The player I absolutely believe has the "stuff" that will play at the MLB level is Moran.  Consistent at 95 with his heater and an changeup that is filthy.  His promotion to Saint Paul is only a matter of time.

[bighat]

Just getting around to watching some of these interviews - great job Seth, these are gold. Thanks so much for doing the work and giving us something different to enjoy away from the big league field.