Organization ranking: 3
I've ranked every farm system, as well as the top 100 MLB prospects of 2016. Below, I've ranked at least the top 10 Twins prospects, plus an overview of the system and any other names of note beyond the top 10. I also discuss any prospects who might help the big league club in 2016, prospects whose stock has taken a big hit in the past year and a sleeper prospect (or two) I think can jump into the main Top 100 list for 2017.
A few quick notes: 1) Just as in my other prospect files, I use the 20 to 80 grading scale when scouting these prospects; and 2) If the prospect is in the Top 100, clicking on his ranking will take you to the page his scouting profile is on.
Non-Insider subscribers: Check out the free Baltimore Orioles top-10 prospects report to see what these entail.
Top 10 prospects (Top 100 rank in parentheses)
1. Byron Buxton, CF (2)
2. Jose Berrios, RHP (26)
3. Max Kepler, OF (33)
4. Kohl Stewart, RHP (53)
5. Tyler Jay, LHP (61)
6. Jorge Polanco, INF (66)
7. Nick Gordon, SS (98)
8. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP
9. Nick Burdi, RHP
10. Alex Meyer, RHP
Overview
Minnesota's system remains one of the strongest in the game, with seven guys on the top 100 this year, several of whom are ready to contribute in the big leagues if needed. Beyond those players, Gonsalves seems to be a highly probable starter, with his average fastball, plus changeup and generally good control, although he started nibbling when he got to high-A. He has never had anything close to an average curveball, so the Twins switched him to a slider in 2015, with results still to be determined. Minnesota's system is loaded with power bullpen arms, with Burdi up to 101 with a 90-plus mph slider; Meyer also up to 100 with great sink and a plus slider, but lacking command and control; Jake Reed (11) mostly 93-95 mph with plus life; Michael Cederoth up to 100 as well, although he missed two-thirds of 2015 dealing with an illness; Johan Quezada (16), who hit 100 in the GCL last year at age 20; and Mason Melotakis (19), up to 97 and back this year from Tommy John surgery.
Australian southpaw Lewis Thorpe (12) is also due back from the same operation this spring but projects as a starter for now and should be able to spend most of the summer in high-A. Yorman Landa (13) was a surprise add to the Twins' 40-man roster out of the Midwest League, but after a strong finish in the Midwest League he was a potential loss in the Rule 5 draft who had to be protected. When healthy, he has a heavy, hard fastball that he can throw for strikes, with a slurvy breaking ball that he can get over the plate but doesn't really command. He's a pure reliever but could move quickly because of how well the fastball plays. Right-hander Dereck Rodriguez (14) is a converted outfielder who became a full-time pitcher in 2014. While the Twins originally assumed he'd be a reliever, there's a chance he'll be able to start, with two promising (but not yet average) offspeed pitches in the slider and change, good athleticism, and the ability to throw strikes already. Amaurys Minier (15) has the physical ability to hit for power and average, and he did get his body in better shape last year, but he's still very raw at the plate. Trey Cabbage (17) and Travis Blankenhorn (18) were both in the 2015 draft class, and are both good athletes who are raw hitters but have some power.
And while he's not a top 20 prospect at all, right-hander Vadim Balan is worth mentioning because I'm pretty sure he's the first minor leaguer ever to come from Moldova, a totally not-made-up country between Romania and Ukraine. He's been up to 94 with some sink but not a whole lot else to go with it.
2016 impact
Buxton, Kepler and Berrios should all spend most of the year with the big club, and Polanco could, too. Burdi and/or Reed could help out of the pen for a good chunk of the year. Jay would be a useful late-season add as a bullpen lefty, although he's going to work as a starter during the minor-league season.
The fallen
Meyer was a prospect as a starter for a few years but never could get his 6-foot-9 frame coordinated enough for command or find an average changeup to get left-handed hitters out. He's in the bullpen now and his first trial there didn't go as well as hoped.
Sleeper
Thorpe should be back on a mound during extended spring training, and if he's fully recovered, he has as high a ceiling as anyone in the system, a three-pitch guy with a good body and impressive feel for pitching for a kid from Australia.