Unheralded Twins Prospects to Watch

[Lucas Seehafer PT]

The Minnesota Twins farm system is replete with talent. But even so, some names haven't gotten the attention they deserve. Here are a few such names. 

Jair Camargo, C
High-A Cedar Rapids stats: 28 PA, .333/.357/.741, 3 HR, 2 2B, .407 iso, .429 BABIP, 32.1% K-BB%

Camargo is a stocky catching prospect who was originally obtained by the Twins in February 2020 along with Kenta Maeda as part of the deal that sent Brusdar Graterol to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Seen as simply a throw-in at the time, he has grown from a light-hitting teenager to a 22-year-old with legitimate pop.

Prior to joining the Twins system, Camargo smacked 18 doubles in 79 games with the Dodgers Single-A affiliate in 2019, suggesting he had some power to unlock with appropriate tweaks to his swing. Well, unlock some power he has as 16 of his 27 career minor league home runs have come over his last 78 games, including three in his first seven games this season. (Note: Camargo, like all minor league athletes, did not play games during the 2020 season due to the pandemic.) His numbers are bolstered at the moment by small sample sizes and an unsustainably high BABIP, but the evolution he has displayed since joining the Twins is encouraging and suggestive of changes that will stick. 

However, Camargo’s game is not without its faults. His 35.7% strikeout rate is exceedingly high for the low minor leagues and his microscopic 3.6% walk rate is not only suggestive of poor discipline overall but has also prevented him from ever posting an OPS over .719. Additionally, he provides little to write home about defensively behind the plate.

But among the Twins’ catching prospects, Camargo’s bat is perhaps the most exciting.

Cedar Rapids Starting Pitchers

• LHP Aaron Rozek: 10 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 13 K
• LHP Cade Povich: 9 2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 17 K
• RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long: 9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 14 K
• LHP Brent Headrick: 9 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 16 K

The Kernels starting rotation has eviscerated opponents through each of their first two starts this season. They own a combined 1.19 ERA with a 15:1 K:BB ratio and have surrendered only a single home run. And only one of them—former Nebraska Cornhusker and 2021 third round pick Cade Povich—is universally considered a top prospect.

At this time last season, Rozek was pitching in Indy ball. Headrick was selected in the ninth round in 2019 out of Illinois State. Gipson-Long—who, full disclosure, I voted as the TwinsDaily preseason Minor League Pitcher of the Year—was taken in the sixth round of the same draft.

The Twins minor league coaching staff has developed all four into legitimate threats to appear at Target Field one day, which is a great accomplishment for all parties involved.

John Stankiewicz, RHP
Low-A Fort Myers stats: 11 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 19 K

Stankiewicz signed with the Twins as an undrafted free agent during the summer of 2020 and all he has done since is strike batters out. In 36 1/3 minor league innings, the former Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year has struck out 49 batters—he has a 47.5% K rate through his first two starts this spring—and owns a 2.48 ERA. 

According to Eric Longenhagen at FanGraphs, Stankiewicz owns two pitches that could play at the MLB-level. His fastball sits in the low-90s while his slider is, get this, considered a plus offering. For an undrafted free agent, Stankiewicz has already exceeded expectations. Though, if he continues to progress at his current pace, he may just blow them out of the water.

Anthony Prato, INF
High-A Cedar Rapids stats: 47 PA, .351/.468/.514, 1 HR, 1 2B, 1 3B, .162 iso, .480 BABIP, 6.4 K-BB%

Prato’s bat doesn’t have pop. Defensively, he doesn’t necessarily do anything that stands out. However, what the 2019 7th round pick does exceptionally well is get on base and steal bases. Since beginning his minor league career, Prato has never posted an OBP below .370 and has successfully stolen 15 bases in 19 attempts. 

In a sense, Prato is the free version of Edouard Julien, a fellow 2019 Twins draftee who rocketed up prospect boards last summer due to his uncanny ability to reach base. Julien has more power—18 home runs and 28 doubles in his career compared to Prato’s three and 14, respectively—is a more prolific base stealer (35 steals in 40 attempts), and is a sounder glove in the field. However, Prato could act as a capable facsimile in the right situation.

What are your thoughts on these unheralded prospects. Are there other Twins minor leaguers who are not getting as much attention as they should? Leave your COMMENTS below. 

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[olepancoast]

Big fan of Sawyer Gipson-Long. Fun to see some depth in the Twins pitching prospects now. Goes to show that you can't judge a new front office in the first three years.

[Dman]

Camargo's K rate is problematic but anything he hits seems to go for extra bases.  I am starting to wonder if approaches like that lead to generally higher BABIP's with the extra K's offsetting that approach.  At any rate I think he needs to take more walks to be successful.  Being overly aggressive only takes you so far.

I like call out on the Cedar Rapids staff and honestly Mooney and Legumina could be added to that list.  SGL has been good at getting K's but always had trouble giving up runs as well.  If that issue is better resolved he looks like a good prospect to me. I expect him to be in the top 30 this year.  

Headrick is probably the biggest surprise for me on your list.  He was very hittable last year and gave up plenty of walks as well.  If he keeps this K rate up and WHIP down he looks like a good lefty reliever to me.  Possibly he could start but I am not sure the velocity is there.  At any rate he moves from bust to possibility now in my book.

 Povich is too good to be at High A, but it is what it is.

I always wondered how Stankiewicz would do as an after thought in the 2020 draft.  He bet on himself coming out that year and it looks like that is going to pay off.  I don't know a ton about him and I hope they allow him to be a fast mover. Especially if he continues to dominate like he has.  He could be sneaky good but will just have to wait and see.

Prato is a nice underdog pick.  I think if he can hit he makes it.  If not with the Twins then somewhere else as a utility option. He has a good eye, good speed and a solid glove.  Just needs to prove he can continue hit on his way up because he lacks "special" skills and is more average except for Onbase skills which could be above average if he keep the batting average up.

[adorduan]

Maybe Povich can turn into a poor mans Randy Johnson. That would be nice!