Which Twins prospects are shining in Winter League?
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The Arizona Fall League season is past its halfway point, and Winter League baseball is under way, so here’s a look at how some Twins prospects and players are faring this offseason.
Emmanuel Rodriguez: The Twins’ No. 4 prospect, No. 69 in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, is playing regularly for Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League in right field. He’s off to a 2-for-15 start with a home run, but the mere fact that he’s getting at-bats is the key. Rodriguez has lost a great deal of time due to injury over the past two years.
Mickey Gasper: Playing in the Dominican League, Gasper is doing two things he’s always done throughout the Minor Leagues: hitting and bouncing around. He’s gotten starts at first base, second base and catcher for Toros, and he sports a .333/.524/.600 line through five games.
Hendry Mendez: The organization’s No. 25 prospect, Mendez had to leave the Fall League in order to tend to a personal matter. In five games for Peoria, all in the outfield, he hit .300/.391/.500 with a home run, three walks and two strikeouts. He did not appear in any games at first base.
Brandon Winokur: Winokur has split time between third base and shortstop for Peoria in the AFL, though he has not played any outfield for the Javelinas as he did in High-A this year. He’s off to a .192/.271/.327 start to his Fall League campaign, though he does have a pair of home runs. His second one came Tuesday, when he flashed his easy opposite-field power.
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Billy Amick: It’s been a rough start to the Fall League at the plate for Amick, the Twins’ No. 16 prospect. He’s played mostly first base with a little bit of third, and is 0-for-22 with six walks and a run scored in eight games.
Zander Sechrist: An unranked prospect who signed with the Twins as an undrafted free agent last year, Sechrist has kept up the strong start to his professional career. After posting a 3.00 ERA for Single-A Fort Myers in 69 innings (36 appearances), Sechrist has allowed two runs on four hits in five innings (four appearances) for Peoria in the famously hitter-friendly AFL.