Part 3: Seth's Top 30 Twins Hitting Prospects (16-20)

I like the upside on Severino, but the rest don't have a lot of the excitement factor to me. It's good to have catcher depth and guys in the organization that you can go to, but I'm not sure any of these look like they have a breakout potential to me. I hope I'm wrong.

Pitching side of the equation looking a little stronger and deeper at this point in the lists. That said...we're still pretty far down the prospect lists.

Nice summaries as usual, Seth.  It is nice to see three players who wear the "tools of ignorance" on the list.  In some ways, I think catchers are the hardest position players to evaluate as so much depends upon their ability to improve behind the plate.  But, when you start with three who have some skills with the bat, chances are one of them will develop his defensive skills enough to make the majors.  Jeffers was originally in that category after all.  

Very interesting group, Seth.  Perhaps even exciting!

Agree that catching is so important and like all three of these kids.  Will be interesting to see if you have any other catchers included between #16 and #1?  (Rortvedt has enough big league time to not be included in this analysis, right?)

Have liked Soularie since he was drafted and will be looking to follow him closely this summer.  Perhaps the biggest question with Severino is whether or not he has done a good job of investing his $4.5M.  That is what he got if you combine what Atlanta paid him with the amount he signed with the Twins?  To be honest, I don't recall Severino doing as well last summer as his numbers indicate, especially at Cedar Rapids.  Should be interesting to see if he gets thru the Rule 5, I would think so, assuming there is a draft when baseball gets going again.

Thanks for this series, Seth.

Severino is the only one that interests me.  The others are organizational catchers which every minor league system has to have. 

14 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Severino is the only one that interests me.  The others are organizational catchers which every minor league system has to have. 

I think Morales will be done being a sleeper candidate after this season.  Really solid line and having a good eye at the plate just helps a hitter get better pitches to hit or at least get on base.  He is pretty small and looks a little funny at the plate to me but his results speak for themselves and barring injury I expect really good things for him in the future.

Still not sure what to think about Isola.  I was pretty excited when he found his power stroke last year and he too seems to have a pretty good eye at the plate.  He could stand to make a bit more contact IMO but he has a chance.  I will be watching him closely this year.

Camargo has a powerful swing but that K rate is pretty painful.  To be honest I just don't see him making it but he is young and things can change.  To me of the three catchers he is the least likely to get there but hey most MLB catchers don't hit all that well so having a power stroke benefits him as if he gets a hold of a pitch it it likely out of the park.  Agree with OP that he has lot's to work on but he also has time on his side for now.

Too small a sample size to know much about Soularie just yet.  I just hope the bat is as advertised.

Fort Meyers was tough on bats last year with pretty much any hitter making it out of there doing much better at High A in Cedar Rapids. While he has the Hard Hit Rate the Twins FO loves I still don't know if his hit tool is going to be good enough at the higher levels.  He was money at High A though so maybe he is ready to break through hard to say.  I will say I would be very surprised if a team took him in Rule V.  He is no Baddoo IMO.  It feels like he has a ways to go but I hope he makes it.

6 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I agree with this comment. And that's more than fair since the "hitters" list no longer includes the likes of Kirilloff, Larnach, Jeffers, Rortvedt or Gordon. And Rortvedt would rank higher than these three catchers, at least by a little bit. 

Seth, Can you explain this comment about Rortvedt please.  Does this ranking not consider fielding skills? Thank you for your excellent summaries. 

I was in Elizabethton several years ago when Severino was there.  One of the "officials" of the team introduced me to Larnach. Nice guy, especially when I teased him about knocking my Tarheels out of the college World Series.. Later I asked this official who were the other players  currently on the Elizabethton team that have impressed him. He said: "See that light pole in left field?  Severino had hit a ball over that light pole. Watch him"    I have been hoping he would keep progressing toward the Twins. Severino is my minor league hitter/fielder pick to click this year.

1 hour ago, Seth Stohs said:

Rortvedt and the others from that message are no longer "prospects." My definition of prospect (and all the national publications) is that they have Rookie of the Year eligibility. 

These rankings try to encompass the overall player, so while hitting gets a lot of the discussion, defense can play a role. 

Seth, I understand that Rortvedt was not eligible for ranking in this list. I just disagree that he would rank higher than these 3 , "at least by a little bit". My point is that if he were eligible for this list, which I understand he is not, then considering his defensive skills, which are superior to our 2 major league regulars, Rortvedt should rank higher than these 3 catchers on the list by a lot more than just  "by a little bit"...But then I have not seen the next 15 rankings, which I'm sure will blow my feeble argument out of the water. Thanks for your excellent contributions to TD. 

Camargo is the one ranking I'd argue with. It's been my understanding his defense is probably better than Isola or Morales, and he does have some decent power, but seems behind them in hit ability/potential. I appreciate the importance of the catching position and all its many facets, but I think a young catcher(s) with a good bat(s) and OK defense that can be improved/learned on would rank higher IMO that the good defense and questionable bat.

I was disappointed Soularie missed as much time as he did. I'm really interested to see what he can dobgiven a little time. Athletically it seems he has the whole package.

Agree that Severino could be a really fast riser in 2022. Would really be something if we were talking about him this time next year similar to how we have been talking about Miranda.

I found it really interesting how so many hitters fared this past season with the flip of Cedar Rapids and Ft Myers from high and low A ball. Apparently, if you can hit, or at least hold your own at Ft Myers, you're in for a large growth/production uptick once you hit Iowa.

Does anyone know how the other prospects that Atlanta had to let go are doing?  Are any still prospects? 

On 1/7/2022 at 12:17 PM, Brandon said:

Does anyone know how the other prospects that Atlanta had to let go are doing?  Are any still prospects? 

https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/1/15/22227585/where-are-they-now-revisiting-players-the-braves-lost-during-ifa-scandal
article before the 2021 season started. Looks like most are doing poorly 

The other fun prospects to follow was Pearson (the OF we got from the Angels for international signing cap space) and David Banuelos (the C we got from Seattle for the same thing) basically nothing.....   

Banuelos is in AAA must be a good defensive C cause he doesnt hit at all career .570 OPS

anyone know what happened to Pearson?