How Have the Twins' Top Prospects from 2018 panned out in 2022?

[Theo Tollefson]

In this continuing series, we look back on MLB.com’s Top 30 Twins’ Prospects from 2018 to see how they panned out in 2022.

Image courtesy of Neville E. Guard, USA Today Sports

2018 was the first season that Derek Falvey and Thad Levine began to see prospects whom their regime drafted the year before land on MLB.com’s top 30 prospect list. Going into the 2018 season, Baseball America ranked the Twins' farm system as the 12th best in baseball, jumping nine spots up from their 2017 ranking. 

We’ll look at the 30 prospects by breaking them into four groups, based on where they were at the end of 2022, starting with those that made it to the majors.

On Active Rosters for end of 2022
4. Nick Gordon
Gordon was bumped down to fourth overall in the Twins farm system from 2017 to 18. That still didn’t discount the value he had with the Twins in 2022 during a breakout sophomore season. 

2022 Stat Line with Twins: 138 G, 405 AB, 45 R, 110 H, 28 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR, 50 RBI, 19 BB, 105 K, 6 SB, 4 CS, .272 BA, .316 OBP, .427 SLG, .743 OPS

See Gordon's and other Top 30 2017 Prospects here.

7. Brusdar Graterol 
The only new prospect to crack the Twins' top 30 in 2018 and finish the season in the majors this year, the once-fastest throwing pitcher in the Twins system finished his 2022 season on the winningest team in baseball that found themselves eliminated by their division rival in the NLDS.

Traded to the Dodgers in 2020 for Kenta Maeda, Graterol’s 2022 season was his best season yet, as he posted a 3.26 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, .215 opponents BA, in 46 relief appearances and 49.2 innings of work. 

Graterol’s success in 2022 is a rebound from a not-so-smooth 2021 season when he had an ERA of 4.59 in 34 relief appearances. Having only turned 24 this last August, Graterol still has a bright future ahead of him in the Dodgers bullpen. The question now is if he’s someone they’ll turn into a closer or keep as a high-leverage set up man.
 

10. Lewin Diaz 
Once a thriving prospect with the Twins in 2018, Lewin Diaz was traded away as part in 2019 to the Marlins as part of them acquiring Sergio Romo. He struggled to hit lefties mightly this season and saw much less playing time this year compared to last. .

2022 Stat Line with Marlins: 58 G, 160 AB, 12 R, 27 H, 4 2B, 0 3B, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 11 BB, 54 K, 1 SB, 0 CS, .169 BA, .224 OBP, .288 SLG, .512 OPS

11. Akil Baddoo 
2018 was Baddoo’s first 100-plus game season in the Minors playing in 113 games all with High-A Cedar Rapid at 19 years old. He was chosen by the Tigers in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft, He saw substantially less playing time in 2022 compared to his breakthrough 2021 rookie year, posting just a 558 OPS. 

2022 Stat Line with Tigers: 73 G, 201 AB, 30 R, 41 H, 3 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 24 BB, 64 K, 9 SB 6 CS, .204 BA, .289 OBP, .269 SLG, .558 OPS

13. LaMonte Wade Jr. 
Traded t the Giants prior to the 2021 season for Shaun Anderson, Wade regressed significantly in his second year there, batting .207 (665 OPS). 

2022 Stat Line with Giants: 77 G, 217 AB, 29 R, 45 H, 7 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 26 RBI, 26 BB, 51 K, 1 SB, 0 CS, .207 BA, .305 OBP, .359 SLG, .664 OPS

15. Zack Littell 
Acquired from the Yankees when the Twins flipped pitcher-for-a-day Jamie Garcia, Zack Littell spent parts of three seasons in the Twins bullpen from 2018-20. After a dismal 2020 season when Littell posted a 9.95 ERA in six relief appearances with the Twins, he signed with the San Francisco Giants early in the next offseason. 

Littell was a force to be reckoned with in the Giants 2021 bullpen posting a 2.92 ERA in 63 games but did not repeat that success this season. He struggled mightily and did better on the road than he did at Oracle Park in San Francisco. 

The most memorable part of Littell’s season unfortunately was his last game where he allowed three hits and two runs against the Braves. His exit from the game was not without comment to his manager Gabe Kapler, and ended his season early for talking back to his manager when removed from the game.

As of now, Littell remains on the Giants 40-man roster but his future with the team is in question with how his season ended. He is only 27 entering 2023, so there is still promise to his career if he can find a way to repeat his success of 2021.

23. Luis Arraez 
Just as his Major League career has been, Arraez slowly but surely rose through the ranks in the Minors in 2018 and begin his journey as the best contact hitter in the American League. He was the American League Batting Champion in 2022 hitting .316.

2022 Stat Line with Twins: 144 G, 547 AB, 88 R, 173 H, 31 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 49 RBI, 50 BB, 43 K, 4 SB, 4 CS, .316 AVG, .375 OBP, .420 SLG, .795 OPS

24. JT Chargois
Chargois never pitched after this in the Twins organization outside of spring training in 2018 as he was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers on February 23 of that year. He's appeared as a reliever in 137 games since, including posting a 2.42 ERA in 21 appearances with the Rays this year.

2022 Stat Line with Rays: 2.42 ERA, 21 G, 3 GS, 0 SV/SVO, 22.1 IP, 16 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 HR, 2 HB, 5 BB, 17 K, 0.94 WHIP, .203 OPAVG

28. Jose Miranda
Did not end up as the Twins Diamond Award Rookie of the Year this year, but Jose Miranda undoubtedly was the biggest rookie hitter the Twins had in 2022, securing his role as an everyday player in the lineup for 2023.

2022 Stat Line with Twins: 125 G, 444 AB, 45 R, 119 H, 25 2B, 0 3B, 15 HR, 66RBI, 28 BB, 91 K, 1 SB, 1 CS, .268 BA, .325 OBP, .426 SLG, .751 OPS

Played in 2022 but were mainly hurt
1. Royce Lewis
Quite arguably the biggest loss to the Twins lineup this season, Royce Lewis was playing his best baseball ever before he re-torn his knee on a Sunday afternoon at Target Field in late May. 

Lewis played for a combined 45 games between the Twins and Triple AAA St. Paul before his injury. He will undoubtedly be a key part of the Twins' second half in 2023, it will only be a matter of where he plays every day once he returns from rehab assignment.

6. Alex Kirilloff
In 2018, Alex Kirilloff started his second season in the minors as he missed all of 2017 with Tommy John surgery that March. 2018 has been the only season in his professional career that he has played in over 100 games, with 130 that season between Low and High A. This year he had continued wrist issues from 2021 that reemerged and ended in surgery in August. He's expected to be back for 2023.

2022 Stat Line with Twins: 45 G, 144 AB, 14 R, 36 H, 7 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 5 BB, 36 K, 0 SB, 0 CS, .250 BA, .290 OBP, .361 SLG, .651 OPS

19. Mitch Garver
Mitch Garver graduated from prospect status in 2018 with 102 games played with the Twins and became a more common name to fans that season as he became the everyday catcher,. He was traded to the Rangers this offseason for Isiah Kiner-Falefa and his season was cut short with a forearm injury. Texas can offer him arbitration for one more year in 2023 if they desire. 

2022 Stat Line with Rangers: 54 G, 188 AB, 23 R, 39 H, 7 2B, 0 3B, 10 HR, 24 RBI, 23 BB, 53 K, 1 SB, 1 CS, .207 BA, .298 OBP, .404 SLG, .702 OPS

Played in 2022, mostly in the Minors or Indy Ball
2. Fernando Romero 
Romero made it to the majors with the Twins, pitching as a starter in 2018 and a reliever in 2019, but after missing the 2020 season with visa issues, he left the organization and pitched in Japan. 

2022 Stat Line in Japan: 4.49 ERA, 28 G, n/a GS, 118.1 IP, 126 H, 73 R, 59 ER, 12 HR, 51 BB, 76 K, 12 HBP, 1.496 WHIP

3. Stephen Gonsalves
Gonsalves made it to the majors with the Twins in 2018, starting four games. Elbow problems kept him in the minors in 2019 and he has traveled through the Mets and Red Sox, and this year he was in the Cubs organization, posting a 4.26 ERA over 12.2 innings in AAA. 

2022 Stat Line with Iowa Cubs: 4.26 ERA, 8 G, 0 SV, 12.2 IP, 9 R, 6 ER, 6 HR, 2 BB. 11 K, 3 BB, 1.579 WHIP

5. Wander Javier
A torn labrum led to Javier missing the 2018 season completely, and he’s struggled in the Twins minor league system ever since. After posting a 635 OPS in Cedar Rapids in 2022, it’s expected that the 24-year-old will become a minor league free agent. 

2022 Stat Line in Minors: 116 G, 412 AB, 49 R, 84 H, 14 2B, 5 3B, 13 HR, 62 RBI, 33 BB, 5 SB, 3 CS, 142 K, .204 BA, .271 OBP, .357 SLG, .628 OPS

8. Brent Rooker 
Brent Rooker looked to be a part the Twins' 40-man roster until the day before Opening Day. He was traded alongside Taylor Rogers for Chris Paddack and Emilio Pagan. Rooker’s time with the Padres was short-lived, as he played in two games in the majors with them. 

He was traded on August 2 to the Royals for Cam Gallagher and played 14 games with the Royals in the Majors. The 27-year-old remains on the Royals’ 40-man roster, and his future with the team could grow in 2023.

9. Blayne Enlow 
Coming back from Tommy John surgery in June of 2021, Blayne Enlow split time as a starter and reliever at Double AA Wichita. He returned from TJ in mid-May and struggled for parts of the season, finishing with a 4.73 ERA. Enlow can still be a valuable reliever for the Twins in the future, as he will turn 24 in March and looks to rebound from a less-than-fruitful 2022. 

12. Lewis Thorpe 
Thorpe came from the Land Down Under and looked to have a more promised career that would have eclipsed the last Australian on the Twins, Liam Hendricks. That never came to fruition as Thorpe was let go by the St. Paul Saints after one start this year. 

2022 Stat Line in Indy Ball: 4.96 ERA, 16 G, 16 GS, 81.2 IP, 88 H, 50 R, 45 ER, 13 HR, 24 BB, 75 K, 1 HBP, 1.371 WHIP

14. Travis Blankenhorn 
Designated for assignment in May of 2021 by the Twins, Blankenhorn has bounced around three different teams until finally settling with the Mets late last year. He played just one game in the majors this season, but Blankenhorn revitalized himself at Triple AAA in 91 games. 

2022 Stat Line in Triple AAA: 91 G, 329 AB, 44 R, 88 H, 20 2B, 0 3B, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 32 BB,10 SB, 1 CS, 88 K, .268 BA, .342 OBP, .465 SLG, .807 OPS

16. Tyler Jay
The Twins traded Tyler Jay to the Reds in June of 2019 for cash considerations. Since that time, he had been out of affiliated baseball but played independent baseball this season for the Joliet Slammers in Illinois. 

2022 Stat Line in Indy Ball: 1.64 ERA, 22 G, 8 SV, 22.0 IP, 16 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB 24 K, 0.864 WHIP

20. Andrew Bechtold 
Having been in the Twins system since 2017, Andrew Bechtold had finally made his way to Triple AAA this season, splitting time between the Saints and Wind Surge. The 26-year-old catcher and corner infielder played in 123 games this season, hitting 19 home runs and driving in 59 runse. His age is working against him having an impact on the Twins next season. 

21. Tyler Watson 
Watson is the pitcher the Twins received in return from the Washington Nationals for Brandon Kintzler at the 2017 Trade Deadline. Watson had been in the Twins system until this year. He pitched in only one game in 2022 with the Oakland A’s Low A affiliate and has not been seen in pro ball since. 

22. John Curtiss 
Was out with Tommy John surgery this season. Currently in the Mets organization. 

25. Ben Rortvedt 
Ben Rortvedt became a more noticeable prospect for the Twins farm system in 2018, but since then he has struggled to play more than 90 games in a season. He was traded last spring to the Yankees in the Josh Donaldson trade. He missed the first half of the season with a knee injury.

2022 Stat Line in Minors: 48 G, 170 AB, 25 R, 37 H, 9 2B, 0 3B, 7 HR, 21 RBI, 22 BB, 64 K, .218 AVG, .311 OBP, .394 SLG, .705 OPS

26. Jacob Pearson 
Jacob Pearson spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons in the Twins system never getting above High A Cedar Rapids. He has spent the last two seasons in the Atlanta Braves system splitting time between their High A and Double AA affiliates. With a plethora of prospects with high talent, it’s hard to say if Pearson will have his MLB debut with the Braves. 

30. Yunior Severino 
The player who was the 30th best prospect for the Twins in 2018 remains in their system to this day. Yunior Severino arguably had his best season split between Cedar Rapids and Wichita playing in 83 games while hit .278 BA with a .907 OPS. Severino just turned 23 on October 3 and if he continues to progress through the system, can still pan out as a future Twin. 

Out of Baseball by 2022
17. Felix Jorge (Hasn’t pitched since 2018)
18. Kohl Stewart (Hasn’t pitched since 2021)
27. Zack Granite (Hasn’t played since 2021)
29. Lachlan Wells (Hasn’t pitched since 2019)

Here are the totals for where the Twins top 30 prospects of 2018 ended up with their careers in 2022. 

Totals: 
9 players on Active MLB rosters
3 players who could be on Active Rosters but are hurt
14 players who are in the Minors, Japan, or Indy Ball
4 players completely out of baseball

The 2018 Twins’ top 30 prospects had better luck than 2017 with four fewer players on this list not out of professional baseball completely this season. 

Some of these players still have great chances of long careers in the Majors (Arraez and Gordon) others not so much, and a couple need only to heal from injuries for great success (Lewis and Kirilloff). How do the current career payouts of these 30 players so far look to Twins fans? Leave your thoughts below

 

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[mikelink45]

Rortvedt and Curtiss should be in the injured list making 5 on that list. 

It is not a bad record, but reading the first entrees the pattern was that they regressed this year after a breakout last year - LaMonte Wade, Baddoo, Littell and Diaz.  Why this trend?

Overall it is a positive draft.  

[USNMCPO]

Zack Granite should still be playing just because of his name.

[Rosterman]

It was a pretty positive group of players. So many "on the cusp."

[ashbury]

5 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Overall it is a positive draft.  

Just to be clear, this wasn't a single year's draft, it was a compilation of all the best prospects in the system, whatever way they were acquired, at that snapshot in time.

That list would be a hell of a draft, though.

Maybe it's my incurable optimism, but I think the retrospective on this year's 2022 ranking of prospects will look better than this one, 4 years (or is it more like 5) down the line.  The list of 9 players who populated major league rosters this year is so-so, overall.

We lamented the loss of Wade, Baddoo, etc, but see now that we didn't lose THAT much.  Still, it always bothered me that these players were snapped up by other teams, yet presumably the FO wasn't able to work out trades for something of value before they were exposed.  At least a lottery-ticket arm in low A ball, for instance.

This was mlb.com's ranking.  TD had a ranking too, did it not?  How did TD's do in comparison?  Where the lists differed, was the trend that if TD ranked them higher the player has done better by now?

[mikelink45]

4 hours ago, ashbury said:

Just to be clear, this wasn't a single year's draft, it was a compilation of all the best prospects in the system, whatever way they were acquired, at that snapshot in time.

That list would be a hell of a draft, though.

Maybe it's my incurable optimism, but I think the retrospective on this year's 2022 ranking of prospects will look better than this one, 4 years (or is it more like 5) down the line.  The list of 9 players who populated major league rosters this year is so-so, overall.

We lamented the loss of Wade, Baddoo, etc, but see now that we didn't lose THAT much.  Still, it always bothered me that these players were snapped up by other teams, yet presumably the FO wasn't able to work out trades for something of value before they were exposed.  At least a lottery-ticket arm in low A ball, for instance.

This was mlb.com's ranking.  TD had a ranking too, did it not?  How did TD's do in comparison?  Where the lists differed, was the trend that if TD ranked them higher the player has done better by now?

Not sure I see this years ranking matching this.

[Trov]

11 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Rortvedt and Curtiss should be in the injured list making 5 on that list. 

It is not a bad record, but reading the first entrees the pattern was that they regressed this year after a breakout last year - LaMonte Wade, Baddoo, Littell and Diaz.  Why this trend?

Overall it is a positive draft.  

The regression is normally based on teams getting tape and scouting hitters, and the hitters failing to make adjustments.  Similar pitchers surprising hitters with a particular pitch, then hitters learning how to hit it, or leave it. Baddoo is still young and could continue to develop, but Wade just is who he is a fringe MLB guy.  Diaz too could adjust, but think Littell is also just a fringe guy. 

[Game7-91]

9 hours ago, ashbury said:

That list would be a hell of a draft, though.

Yeah, I had to double-take 1/2 way through the post....having some nostalgia for Graterol, Littel Chargois....hindsight says they would have been nice BP pieces this year. BP guys are so hard to predict year to year. 

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Thanks for the article, I always find these types of lists interesting.

The general discussion always seems to be about how strong a team's system is now.  It would be cool to spend more time on these types of hindsight articles to see how these groups ultimately progress.  Not just for the Twins, but for organizations in general.  Would help to provide a clearer picture of organizational strength.

[Cris E]

In looking at the 2018 minor leaguers we're getting to a place where the missing 20 and 21 seasons are really going to affect these young guys a lot. Someone on the cusp or breaking out in 19 and then sitting for a couple years is not going to develop in a normal fashion, so collapses like those mentioned should be expected. The trick is finding the guys who could handle the gap years and still move up when the games resumed.