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It would be great if every prospect in a farm system were coming off a breakout season so their stock could continue to rise. However, that isn't always the case, and the players below have plenty to prove in 2022.
Royce Lewis, SS/CF
Seth's 2022 Prospect Rank: 1
All three major national rankings (Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and MLB.com) considered Lewis a top-35 prospect entering last season. Unfortunately, Lewis missed all of the 2021 season following ACL surgery, and now he must stay healthy in 2022. He won't turn 23 until the beginning of June, so he has development time even with two lost seasons. All of his rehab reports were positive, so he should be on track to start next season at Double- or Triple-A.
Seth recently ranked the top-30 hitting and pitching prospects, and he continues to have Lewis as the organization's top prospect. Many national outlets are dropping Lewis out of their top-100 prospects or placing him near the end of their rankings. It is clear that Lewis has seen his stock drop, and this is tied to his lost development time in his early 20s that can be critical for long-term success. Lewis is a tremendous athlete with tools that should help him return to his previous form.
Blayne Enlow, RHP
Seth's 2022 Prospect Rank: 17
Enlow wasn't considered a top-100 prospect, but many considered him a top-10 prospect in the Twins organization. Minnesota drafted him out of high school in the 3rd round back in 2017. He ranked as the fifth-best high school pitcher, and the Twins had to sign him for an above slot deal to keep him from his commitment to LSU. He moved rapidly through the Twins system in his first three professional seasons as he was nearly two years younger than the competition at each stop. Last season, he made three starts in Cedar Rapids before having Tommy John surgery in June. This means he should be able to return in 2022.
Since the end of the 2019 season, Enlow has pitched fewer than 15 professional innings, which is significant development time lost in his early 20s. At the same time, the Twins have added some higher-level prospects that rank higher than him. Luckily, he should be on pace to head to the upper minors when he returns from injury. His fastball has added velocity and movement in recent years. Enlow's second-best pitch is his curveball, which improved during his pro career. Many believe he can develop into a mid-rotation starter when mixing in a slider and a change-up.
Keoni Cavaco, SS
Seth's 2022 Prospect Rank: 30
Cavaco was Minnesota's first-round pick in 2019, and many evaluators viewed him as a stretch as the 13th overall pick. He struggled in his first taste of pro ball as he hit .172/.217/.253 (.470) with 35 strikeouts in 25 games. During the 2020 season, Cavaco worked with his swing to keep it in the zone longer to cut down on his swing-and-miss tendency. He has also been able to work on his physical make-up, which may help him in the long run.
During the 2021 season, he played the majority of the season at Low-A, where he was over a year younger than the competition. In 63 games, he hit .233/.296/.302 (.598) with 95 strikeouts and 11 extra-base hits. His strikeout totals were still too high, and he hasn't shown the ability to make contact consistently. This winter, he will drop on many Twins' top prospect lists, and he has a lot to prove in 2022.
Which player's stock has fallen the most? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.
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