At different points throughout the year outlets update their prospect ratings. After the Major League Baseball Draft recently completed, MLB .com is the latest to update their MLB Pipeline rankings, where the Minnesota Twins have been on the rise for a while now.
Minnesota Twins dominate MLB Pipeline top 100
There are three major top 100 lists. Baseball America , Baseball Prospectus , and MLB Pipeline each house one. Each typically undergoes a re-rank following the draft and halfway through the major league season. MLB Pipeline is the most visible and the Minnesota Twins landed six players on the top 100.
Of the six players the Twins landed on the MLB Pipeline top 100, three of them are in the top 25. The other three weren’t in the group to start the season, and Luke Keaschall (67) nearly cracked the top 50.
Walker Jenkins (4) is seen as a legitimate superstar . He earned a promotion to Cedar Rapids despite missing time to start the year at Fort Myers. Brooks Lee (16) is in the big leagues , and Emmanuel Rodriguez (22) has a ceiling that is immeasurable.
The Twins pitching pipeline has also been the focus for Derek Falvey. He has generated big league arms in the form of Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, Louie Varland, and others. David Festa (89) and Zebby Matthews (87) have also now joined the big league ranks. Minnesota landing such a solid presence in the top 100 is impressive, but the depth is the real story.
Related: Exclusive: Twins Top Prospect Opens Up About Torn UCL That Eventually Ended His Season
Minnesota Twins top 30 highlights from MLB Pipeline
Of course the top prospects are the ones that draw the greatest interest. A system is only as good as it’s depth though. That’s where the Minnesota Twins really shine. Kaelen Culpepper was picked in the first round of the 2024 draft, and he checks in as the seventh best prospect. By next season, or this time next year, he will likely appear in the top 100.
It’s not just Culpepper either. Minnesota put a total of five of their 2024 draft picks within their top 30. Kyle DeBarge(12), Dasan Hill(13), Billy Amick(14), and Khadim Diaw(30) have drawn early praise. All of them, aside from Hill (who was a prep pitcher) have already made their professional debuts. As they compete for Fort Myers, the Mighty Mussels are currently positioned to make the playoffs.
There are also several returning standouts. Marco Raya(8) was seen as synonymous, or above Festa coming into the season. Andrew Morris(9) just made his Triple-A debut, and has been on par with Matthews. Gabriel Gonzalez(10) was the key return in the Jorge Polanco trade . Charlee Soto(11) was a 2023 first round pick that was throwing 100 out of high school. Both C.J. Culpepper(15) and Cory Lewis(16) would rank in some top 10s across the sport.
Falvey and the Minnesota Twins have to feel like they are in a great place with their prospects. If money is going to be tight at the top, then having cost-controlled assets is huge. If the Twins wanted to swing a massive trade, there are few players across Major League Baseball that their system couldn’t net. As the big league club needs an infusion of talent, Rocco Baldelli should feel good about looking within.
Related: Minnesota Twins New Top Prospect Puts System in Rarefied Air
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