Ranking Minnesota’s Top-5 Prospects Drafted From College

[Cody Christie]

College baseball’s season got underway over the last couple of weeks, and there are plenty of Twins prospects with collegiate ties. Here are the organization’s top-five prospects drafted from college. 

 

After a last-place finish, Minnesota has a top-eight draft pick in 2022. There’s certainly a chance the Twins look to the college ranks for their first-round selection, so it is essential to keep an eye on college action this spring. The organization has drafted players with college experience in recent years, but the top players on this list were acquired via trade.  

5. Matt Wallner, OF
TD Top Prospect Rank: 13
Minnesota selected Wallner, a Minnesota native, with the 39th overall pick in 2019. During his three seasons at Southern Mississippi, he crushed the ball as he became the school’s career home run leader. He ended his collegiate career with a 1.113 OPS and a 153 to 141 strikeout to walk ratio. Since turning pro, his strikeout rate has increased significantly, which has evaluators wondering if he can make consistent contact as he moves up the ladder. Last season, he posted an .854 OPS in 68 games, but he struck out 100 times. Also, he’s on the 40-man roster, so he won’t be able to play until the lockout ends. 

4. Josh Winder, RHP
TD Top Prospect Rank: 10
Winder spent three years at the Virginia Military Institute before the Twins took him with a seventh-round pick in 2018. His college numbers weren’t awe-inspiring as he posted a 4.52 ERA, including a 5.40 ERA during his junior season. Minnesota saw some positive signs in him, and the organization worked with him on some changes after he signed. He led the Midwest League in ERA and WHIP during his first full professional season. During the 2020 shutdown, he made vast improvements to his physical make-up, and those results showed on the mound in 2021. He dominated Double-A with a sub-2.00 ERA and 10.7 SO/9. A shoulder injury was likely the only thing that kept him from debuting last season. 

3. Matt Canterino, RHP
TD Top Prospect Rank: 6
Back in 2019, the Twins took Canterino with their second-round pick from Rice University. His ERA, WHIP, and HR/9 dropped in each collegiate season. Rice had been known for pumping out top pitching prospects, but that has changed in recent years. Many Rice pitching products have struggled to stay healthy in their professional careers due to overuse during their college tenure. Canterino has been limited to 48 professional innings since being drafted, but he has been dominant when on the mound with a 1.13 ERA and 76 strikeouts. Can he buck the trend associated with Rice pitchers?

2. Joe Ryan, RHP
TD Top Prospect Rank: 5
Ryan’s path to Minnesota’s rotation is unique, which fits his overall personality. He wasn’t selected in the MLB Draft during his junior season because he dealt with some muscle and shoulder injuries. He transferred to Cal State Stanislaus, a Division II school, for his senior year. In 98 1/3 innings, he posted a 1.65 ERA with a 0.83 WHIP and 127 strikeouts. The Rays selected him in the seventh round in 2018, and he rose to Double-A in his first full professional season. Minnesota received Ryan along with Drew Strotman as the return for Nelson Cruz’s expiring contract. His unique arm-angle on his fastball makes him an intriguing arm that projects to be in Minnesota’s rotation for the majority of the next decade. 

1. Austin Martin, SS/OF
TD Top Prospect Rank: 1
Martin was arguably the best collegiate player in the 2020 MLB Draft. His sophomore season at Vanderbilt firmly established him as a top draft prospect. During the 2018 season, he hit .392/.486/.605 (1.091) with 33 extra-base hits in 65 games. His first professional games came in 2021 as he spent the entire year at Double-A with a .796 OPS. One of his biggest concerns has been his power production, but he was tweaking his swing last season while also dealing with a hand/wrist injury. Since he isn’t on the 40-man roster, Martin is in Fort Myers working with Twins coaches, which may set him up for better success in 2022 and beyond. 

How would you rank these former college players? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

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[DocBauer]

I think Wallner has the stuff to make it and make a difference if he can maintain his current numbers. In other words, the SO are OK as long as he keeps doing everything else at the same level as he has been so far. But he's probably the only question mark here, health permitting. 

I want all of these guys to do well and believe all can. But the one guy that I am enamored with and want so badly to do well is Canterino. 

[old nurse]

It says something about the drafting when the top drafted prospects were drafted by other teams

[TwinsDr2021]

When did the Twins put Matt Wallner on the 40 man? (was this meant for winder? )

Maybe the site should keep the list of the Twins 40 man roster since so many times people are confused of who is on it and not on it.

 

[RJA]

I agree with the top 4, but after that it gets murky in my mind as Wallner's swing and miss problem is significant as it typically gets worse as you climb the ladder.  But, if he can find ways to make more contact and keep the power, he could be a real asset.  The same could be said about Sabato and he is two years younger than Wallner so he would be in the mix for the 5th spot, as well as Soularie and maybe Encarnacion-Strand.  On the pitching side, Varland would be in the mix along with Sands and Hajjar.  After you get out of the top 19 prospects, it is somewhat of a crap shoot.