Where are the Twins’ Top 30 Prospects from 2020 for the 2023 season?

[Theo Tollefson]

It's now officially been three years since 2020. Here's where the Twins top 30 prospects of that time, according to MLB.com, may be starting their 2023 seasons. 

Image courtesy of David Banks, USA Today Sports

As the calendar flips into the new year, its time to look at where the Twins top 30 prospects according to MLB.com from 2020 are currently or expected to be for the 2023 season. 

Many  of these 30 players are set to start their 2023 season playing professional baseball. Here’s the outlook for these past or even present Twins prospects 2023 seasons. 

1. Royce Lewis
Lewis' story is well known to Twins Territory. In a recent interview with the Athletic's Dan Hayes, Lewis is well aware of his situation and expects to have limited activity during Spring Training. 

A rehab assignment does not look likely before Memorial Day based off his recovery schedule. Still, there is great optimism that Lewis will be the Twins everyday shortstop upon his return from the IL.

2023 Season Start: IL

2. Alex Kirilloff 
Kirilloff is another story. Fortunately, he is expected to take part in full activities for the start of the Twins 2023 Spring Training. With the free agent acquisition of Joey Gallo on December 16, the expectation for Kirilloff is for him to see more playing time at first base than the outfield for 2023. 

Of course the health of Kirilloff’s wrist will be the major concern next to his everyday performance. As long as his wrist remain heathy, the sky is the limit for what he can do at the plate every day.

2023 Season Start: Twins Opening Day Roster

3. Trevor Larnach
Larnach, compared to his other two teammates, finished the season playing, although he ended the season with the Saints and didn't return to the Twins. 

Still with his core muscle healed, everyday playing opportunities aren’t a guarantee for Larnach right now with a crowded outfield. It is likely that Max Kepler will be traded before Spring Training begins, and with Kirilloff being prioritized at first, the corner spots could come down to him and Joey Gallo. 
2023 Season Start: Twins Opening Day Roster

4. Jordan Balazovic
Balazovic had a season to forget at Triple A in 2022. After missing the first month of the season, Balazovic did not get a start until the first Saturday in May. Every start after then until September was a mess for the Twins top pitching prospect in 2020.

Given the crowded rotation, Balazovic is likely to start his season at Triple A in St. Paul to prove that the flukes of his 2022 season were just a short term ordeal. 

2023 Season Start: Triple A St. Paul Saints

5. Jhoan Duran
There’s no question on where Jhoan Duran will be to start his 2023 season. The best rookie season for an American League reliever since 2006, Duran looks to repeat the success and protect his title of being baseball’s fastest pitching arm.

2023 Season Start: Twins Opening Day Roster

6. Ryan Jeffers 
The promise of Jeffers as a starting catcher hasn’t exactly panned out how the Twins hoped it would have been when he made his MLB debut in 2020. Now, he will be splitting starting time with a defending World Series champion, Christian Vazquez.

Like many others on this list, the question around Jeffers is how well can he play if he can remain healthy. Not having the bulk of catching duties on him should help in preventing further injuries from deteriorating his playing time. 

2023 Season Start: Twins Opening Day Roster 

7. Keoni Cavaco 
Cavaco was drafted out of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, California in 2019. Having missed out on key development in 2020 with no Minor League season, he spent all of the 2022 season at Low A Ft. Myers. 

Cavaco’s numbers didn’t flash off the back of a baseball card in the 99 games in which he played. He was drafted as a shortstop but shifted to third base full time in 2022. Given that Cavaco does not turn 22 until June, his 2023 season will be focusing on getting to higher levels of the Twins farm system.

2023 Season Start: High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels 

8. Wander Javier
Javier once had a lot of promise to be a second coming of Jorge Polanco, now after an under productive season mostly spent in Cedar Rapids, the Twins have let go of Javier. He is now a minor league free agent. 

Javier is still 24 years old but only spent seven games in his career above the High A level. That and having not had a batting average above .225 or OPS above .693 since the 2017 season will make him a hard sign for many teams, even on a minor league deal. 

2023 Season Start: Inactive 

9. Blayne Enlow 
Enlow’s 2022 season was spent recovering from Tommy John surgery that had him shut down for the 2021 season. Aside from a rehab start in Ft. Myers, Enlow spent his entire season at Double A Wichita, where he was used both as a starter and reliever.

His numbers on the mound did not jump off the board as he posted at 4.50 ERA as a reliever in 14 games and 4.86 ERA in 11 starts and 37 innings pitched. Enlow is currently on the 40-man roster for the Twins, but given his need to reinvent himself as a pitcher from a bad recovery year, it is likely he will start the season back in Wichita. 

2023 Season Start: Double A Wichita Wind Surge

10. Lewis Thorpe
After being cut by the Saints following his one and only start in the Twins system, Thorpe went to play for the Independent League Kansas City Monarchs. His season was mediocre there at best, and following the Monarchs season, Thorpe returned to his home country of Australia. 

He is not currently playing in the Australian Baseball League, though their season is underway. Given that he is back home and inactive, it is hard to say if he’ll make the return to the States and play professional here for the 2023 season. 

2023 Season Start: Inactive

11. Matt Canterino 
Canterino showed a lot of promise during his 2022 season, so much that many anticipated he’d be making his MLB debut with the Twins to help the broken bullpen. Unfortunately, that never happened as he was shut down for Tommy John surgery in August.

With that, Canterino is not expected to return to pitching until mid to late-August, as the 25-year-old will not likely make his MLB debut until 2024 at the earliest. Fortunately for him, he is on the Twins current 40-man roster and will be alongside Lewis as he moves to the 60-day IL as early as possible. 

2023 Season Start: IL 

12. Brent Rooker
Rooker was traded to the Padres along with Taylor Rogers the day before 2022's Opening Day, and spent the year with San Diego and Kansas City, mainly playing at both their Triple A affiliates. 2023 could be the best season for everyday playing time for Rooker as he was claimed off waivers from the Royals to the Oakland A’s earlier this offseason.

Oakland’s 40-man roster is a mess and not too many players are guaranteed to be on the Opening Day roster, especially on the offense side. If he has a strong spring training, Rooker has a good chance to be on Oakland’s Opening Day roster. 

2023 Season Start: Athletics Opening Day Roster

13. Akil Baddo
Baddo’s disappointing 2022 season has been hashed on over, and over again. Fortunately for him, he is currently one of only four listed outfielders on the Tigers 40-man roster, meaning there’s a good chance he stays on the 26-man roster for Opening Day. 

Still, Baddo will have to prove his sophomore slump to be just that in Spring Training if he wants to bank on his chances of being on the road in Tampa for the Tigers’ opening series against the Rays. 

2023 Season Start: Tigers Opening Day Roster 

14. Matt Wallner
The Forest Lake native had an impressive end to his 2022 season coming home to play in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. Wallner’s MLB debut was a bit rushed as the Twins outfield became completely depleted by September. 

With the addition of Gallo, the Twins left-handed hitting outfielders count is at six. Wallner is likely to start his 2023 season in St. Paul for a few weeks before returning to the Twins for more playing time.

2023 Season Start: Triple A St. Paul Saints

15. Gilberto Celestino
Celestino logged 119 games in the outfield for the Twins in 2022, but with a lackluster performance at the plate all season, it’s likely the Twins will send him to Triple A to start the season. 

Celestino struggled on the field defensively as the 2022 season winded down as well. Having time with the Saints to have less pressure on his role as he did in 2022 with the Twins could help develop Celestino into a strong fourth outfielder again. 

2023 Season Start: Triple A St. Paul Saints

16. Edwar Colina 
Colina had a cup of coffee with the Twins in 2020 making his MLB debut out of the bullpen for the final series of a 60-game season. Unfortunately, Colina has not pitched a professional game since then due to elbow issues.

The Texas Rangers claimed Colina off waivers from the Twins on October 6, 2021, and has remained with the organization on a minor league deal. He turns 26 on May 3 and still could become an effective reliever out of their bullpen.

2023 Season Start: Triple A Round Rock Express 

17. Nick Gordon 
Nick Gordon had a fantastic 2022 season amongst all the woes for the Twins last year. There is no doubt that he and Kyle Farmer are going to play heavy utility roles for the Twins in 2023. 

The main questions surrounding Gordon for 2023 are where he’ll receive the most playing time on the field and how often he’ll be in the lineup. The outfield is crowded for the Twins, especially in left field, plus Kyle Farmer and Jorge Polanco will be playing up the middle of the infield daily as they are better defenders at second and short. This is a good problem to have for Gordon as he will still contribute well to this Twins team.

2023 Season Start: Twins Opening Day Roster

18. Travis Blankenhorn
Blankenhorn, like Colina, had a quick cup of coffee with the Twins in 2020 playing in just one game against the White Sox in mid-September. He played one more game with the Twins in 2021 before being claimed off waivers not once, but three times and landing on the Mets.

This off-season, Blankehorn signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals. He is not on their 40-man roster but with a depleted roster from their World Series win just a few years ago, there’s a good chance he can land some playing time in Rochester during this season.

2023 Season Start: Triple A Rochester Red Wings

19. Cole Sands
Sands had an iffy 2022 season between his time with the Twins and Saints. He had an ERA north of 5.00 at both levels, demonstrating a need for development either as a starter or reliever in St. Paul for 2023. 

Sands will certainly not be in the Twins starting rotation for Opening Day and as long as the rotation stays healthy. He may end up as a bullpen piece when he’s up for the Twins throughout the 2023 season. 

2023 Season Start: Triple A St. Paul Saints

20. Will Holland 
Holland was the Twins fifth overall pick in the 2019 Amateur Draft and spent his 2022 season between Cedar Rapids and Wichita. Holland’s numbers as a hitter have never been eye popping since being drafted. 

His Minor League career triple slash in three seasons sits at .217/.331/.380 with a .711 OPS. Fortunately, Holland’s versatility as a defender is his strength as he can play at each position up the middle of the field. 

2023 Season Start: Double A Wichita Wind Surge 

21. Misael Urbina 
Urbina had a decent year between the Mighty Mussels and Florida Complex League, totaling 60 games between the two levels in 2022. Urbina is still a ways out from becoming an impact player in the Major Leagues, though.

He still needs to establish himself as an everyday outfielder between both A-level affiliates and even then, there’s the biggest jumpfrom High A to Double A. Urbina turns 21 in April, so age is on his side for making big jumps for the 2023 season.

2023 Season Start: Low-A Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels

22. Jose Miranda
Miranda fluctuate up and down on Twins prospect lists through the years. Now he’s become the Twins everyday third baseman for the 2023 season.

While Miranda had a strong rookie performance for the Twins in 2022. Many believe he will improve greatly both defensively at third and at the plate knowing he won’t move around the infield as often in 2023.

2023 Season Start: Twins Opening Day Roster

23. Dakota Chalmers 
Chalmers has not been in the Twins organization since the beginning of 2021. He was moved over to the Cubs that season and spent a brief amount of the time with the Dodgers Triple A affiliate in 2022.

Chalmers ended up leaving the Oklahoma City Dodgers mid season to join the Atlantic League’s Gastonia Honey Hunters. It is likely he will keep pitching in independent baseball to start 2023 and hope to find his way back into pro ball before the season is over.

2023 Season Start: Atlantic League 

24. Yunior Severino 
Severino is another player who has slowly but surely worked his way up the Twins system in recent years. He had a solid season between Cedar Rapids and Wichita posting a .278/.370/.536 triple slash and .907 OPS between the two levels. 

Severino will most likely start in Wichita for 2023 but he is certainly a sleeper pick for Twins fans to keep an eye on once he gets the call up to St. Paul.

2023 Season Start: Double A Wichita Wind Surge

25. Jorge Alcala
Both the Twins bullpen and fans missed Alcala dearly last season with his injury that kept him out almost all year. That being said, expectations for Alcala’s return are high going into the 2023 season.

The Twins desperately need their bullpen to be much better than it was in 2022, but there is no telling as of now if Alcala will be the same pitcher as he was prior to his surgery on his right elbow for arthroscopic debridement. Alcala has had no setbacks in recovery and is still expected to be good to go for Spring Training. 

2023 Season Start: Twins Opening Day Roster

26. Emmanuel Rodriguez
Next to Brooks Lee, Emmanuel Rodriguez is the Twins prospect with the most hype and promise for what he can achieve for future Twins teams. Rodriguez only played in 47 games with the Mighty Mussles in 2022 as he battled injuries throughout the year.

This season he’ll likely start in Ft. Myers again but all eyes will be on the soon to be 20-year-old's health and progression as a hitter. We'll see if he can make the jump from Ft. Myers to Cedar Rapids, and maybe even Wichita, before the 2023 season is over.

2023 Season Start: Low-A Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels.

27. Gabriel Maciel 
The Twins lost Maciel to the Oakland A’s in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft last offseason. He played decently across 62 games for their High A affiliate, the Lansing Lugnuts, in 2022 but was released by them at season’s end. 

Maciel remains a minor league free agent, currently. He has promise both as a hitter and defender but still has not played above High A baseball and will be turning 24 next week. Maciel’s numbers compared to Javier make him less of a gamble to sign and add to a Double A roster, but only time will tell if that ends up being his case. 

2023 Season Start: Double A team TBD

28. Ben Rortvedt 
Rortvedt’s playing time in 2022 was limited to injuries and the Yankees (who acquired him in the Josh Donaldson trade) were able to maintain a good platoon at catcher between Jose Trevino and Kyle Higashioka. 

As long as both of them are healthy and the Yankees don’t opt to have three catchers on their Opening Day roster, he is most likely to start his 2023 season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at Triple A.

2023 Season Start: Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders

29. Chris Vallimont 
The Twins lost Vallimont last season as the Baltimore Orioles claimed him off waivers and added him to their 40-man roster. While he pitched much better for their Double A team than he did for the Wind Surge, Vallimont still showed he wasn’t quite MLB ready having a 5.38 ERA in 72 innings for the Norfolk Tides.

Vallimont is still seen as a starter by some and will likely be starting his season in Norfolk as long as he remains on the Orioles 40-man roster before spring training cuts happen. 

2023 Season Start: Triple A Norfolk Tides

30. Josh Winder
Winder’s 2022 season started decently as a rookie but he battled injuries and saw struggles as many Twins pitchers did for the season. Winder is still seen as a rotation option going into the 2023 season, but belongs in the same group as Louie Varnland and Simeon Woods Richardson as likely to start the season in St. Paul 

If Winder is to crack a spot on the Twins Opening Day roster, it will likely be in the bullpen. But given his struggles at the MLB level in 2022, the Twins are likely to opt him over to St. Paul to ensure he has regular time as a starter and redevelop himself into a better pitcher for 2023.

2023 Season Start: Triple A St. Paul Saints

Total Prediction Spots for Players 2023 Seasons

On the Twins Opening Day roster: 7
In the Twins System to start 2023: 11
On another MLB team’s Opening Day roster: 2
Starting in the Minor Leagues or Indy Ball: 6
On Injured List: 2
Inactive: 2

Much can still change between now and Opening Day for all of these players but in a perfect world of predictability, these are the most likely of spots for all of these 30 current or former prospects of the Twins to start the 2023 season.

Where do you believe that these players to start their 2023 season? Leave your own predictions below. 
 

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[mikelink45]

Miranda, Alcala, Gordon, Kiriloff, Larnach, Lewis, Duran, Jeffers, Celestino, Wallner, and Rodriguez make this a very good prospect list. 37% is probably as good as any top thirty prospect list.  What we need is for some of these to rise above the good to the star level.  So far Duran is there.  Miranda and Gordon went to very good.  But I hope the Kiriloff, Larnach, Lewis trio goes beyond that and get a real corner stone to build off.  What the list really misses is pitching.  Winder, Canterino, Sands and Balazovic have to step up and if they do this will be a very rich mine of talent.

I do wish Baddoo more success - he is exciting and talented.

Rortvedt's injury really cost him.  He is trapped at AAA unless he can really improve.

The biggest disappointment on the list is Thorpe followed by Javier and Cavaco. 

Last thought - the A's give Rooker his last chance - can he become their Gallo (minus any fielding)?

 

[jorgenswest]

Was the TD list better that the MLB? How did they do with Gordon, Miranda, Rodriguez and Winder? 

Missing from the MLB list are Ober, Jax, Moran, Wells and Wade. Any others missing. Did TD do any better with them?

What would a top 30 of that group look like today?

[old nurse]

2 of the top 10 appear to be busts

2 of the top 10 are heading in that direction

2 of the top 10 who now have MLB experience have direct competition with Joey Gallo

Ouch

[saviking]

We've all been watching and rooting for these kids for a long time. Ho great would it be for this to be the year Krilloff, Larnach, Wallner , Miranda, Lewis, Canterino and Alcala all break through with Gordon and Duran already proven. Winder can play a prominent role but I don't think he will ever bee great. 

Just a little hopeium for the new year ..

[jmlease1]

36 minutes ago, saviking said:

We've all been watching and rooting for these kids for a long time. Ho great would it be for this to be the year Krilloff, Larnach, Wallner , Miranda, Lewis, Canterino and Alcala all break through with Gordon and Duran already proven. Winder can play a prominent role but I don't think he will ever bee great. 

Just a little hopeium for the new year ..

I'd argue kirilloff, Larnach, & Alcala have already broken through but have been dinged by significant injury in MLB. Miranda seems to have broken through as well. 

It's an interesting list, shows how much people can shift around on these lists.

[beckmt]

Considering the numbers this group seems to be better than most major league clubs, just no superstars yet, maybe Lewis in time.  A few of the lower ones may still make it, but outside of Rodriquez, none seem top flight.  Twins will go as far as the young pitchers will take them after this year.  

 

One note, I thought Baltimore had DFA'ed Vallimont, but I could be wrong. 

[Brandon]

This is a good way to go back and evaluate our farm system.  It looks to be pretty productive.  

[roger]

Love these look backs.

Although not proven, three of the top five continue to have the potential to be absolute studs with a fourth, Duran, already achieving that status.  Also interesting how one of the two best, Miranda, was way down this list.  Considering that over half (16) have already played for the Twins, in hind sight this group must be considered an excellent group.

[DJL44]

6 hours ago, old nurse said:

2 of the top 10 appear to be busts

2 of the top 10 are heading in that direction

2 of the top 10 who now have MLB experience have direct competition with Joey Gallo

Ouch

80% success rate says very good things about minor league development staff.

[jrod23]

Still blows my mind we blew $4,000,000 on Wander Javier back in 2015 as Juan Soto signs for $1.5, Andres Gimenez signs for $1.2, and Fernando Tatis Jr. signs for $700,000...$700,000 {escalating George Castanza voice}!!!

[old nurse]

6 hours ago, DJL44 said:

80% success rate says very good things about minor league development staff.

100 % are still breathing. That is individual success. What you are calling success to get 80% is a mystery to me.

[tony&rodney]

Enlow may be gone soon.

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, jrod23 said:

Still blows my mind we blew $4,000,000 on Wander Javier back in 2015 as Juan Soto signs for $1.5, Andres Gimenez signs for $1.2, and Fernando Tatis Jr. signs for $700,000...$700,000 {escalating George Castanza voice}!!!

That is the challenge of signing guys at 16 years old and sometimes reaching deals when the players are 14. Injuries. Pandemic. Growth. Maturity. Handling Money. Being away from home. So many factors involved. 

[Seth Stohs]

14 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

Was the TD list better that the MLB? How did they do with Gordon, Miranda, Rodriguez and Winder? 

Missing from the MLB list are Ober, Jax, Moran, Wells and Wade. Any others missing. Did TD do any better with them?

What would a top 30 of that group look like today?

Here are the Top 20: 

Twins Daily's Top 20 Twins Prospects of 2020

20. Jose Miranda, 2B/3B

19. Cole Sands, RHP

18. Travis Blankenhorn, 2B/LF

17. Misael Urbina, OF

16. Edwar Colina, RHP

15. Matt Canterino, RHP

14. Matt Wallner, OF

13. Wander Javier, SS

12. Gilberto Celestino, OF

11. Lewis Thorpe, LHP

10. Blayne Enlow, RHP

9. Brent Rooker, OF

8. Keoni Cavaco, SS

7. Ryan Jeffers, C

6. Jhoan Duran, RHP:

5. Jordan Balazovic, RHP

4: Brusdar Graterol, RHP

3. Trevor Larnach, OF.

2. Alex Kirilloff, OF

1. Royce Lewis, SS:

[DJL44]

12 hours ago, jrod23 said:

Still blows my mind we blew $4,000,000 on Wander Javier back in 2015 as Juan Soto signs for $1.5, Andres Gimenez signs for $1.2, and Fernando Tatis Jr. signs for $700,000...$700,000 {escalating George Castanza voice}!!!

Predicting the future of 16 year olds is hard and prone to error. I noticed you only listed the successful contracts from that year and not the 50 other high priced busts.

You can't measure success in scouting and development on an individual player basis, just like you wouldn't measure success or failure of an investment portfolio based on the movement of one stock in the portfolio. They need to measure their gain in aggregate and in relation to other baseball teams. Are they generating more, less or the same talent as other teams?