Minnesota Twins

TRACK RECORD: Sands was drafted by the Twins in the fifth round in 2018 after posting career bests in his strikeout and walk rates at Florida State. He didn't pitch in pro ball that season after dealing with biceps tendonitis, but he had a strong pro debut in 2019 when he posted a 2.68 ERA across three levels and reached Double-A Pensacola.

SCOUTING REPORT: Sands has a strong three-pitch mix including a fastball, curveball and changeup. After sitting around 93 mph in 2019, Sands saw his velo climb and averaged 95 mph in 2020. He delivers the ball from a low three-quarters arm slot that gets on hitters fast. Sands was previously most comfortable with a changeup that flashed plus, but he's made progress with a big, sweeping breaking ball. The pitch averages 2,800 revolutions per minute and could turn into a weapon if he can spot it down and in the zone more frequently. Sands walked a tick too many batters in college, but his control has been above-average in pro ball.

THE FUTURE: With improved fastball velocity and a better curveball, Sands has a path to being more than just a back-end starter. He'll spend 2021 in the upper levels and could make his major league debut.

TRACK RECORD: The Twins drafted Rooker with the 35th overall pick in 2017 after he won Southeastern Conference Player of the Year at Mississippi State. After homering at a steady clip in the minors for three seasons, Rooker made his big league debut in 2020 and continued to show impressive power.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rooker has massive raw power and the ability to hit 25-30 home runs per season. That plus power comes with plenty of strikeouts, however, and his whiff rate eclipsed 34% in 2019 at Triple-A Rochester. The Twins believe Rooker controls the strike zone better than he gets credit for. He does see a decent amount of pitches and has the potential to walk at a solid clip that could offset a low batting average. Rooker's contributions will primarily be on the offensive side of the ball. He's a belowaverage defender in left field and at first base.

THE FUTURE: Rooker's power should allow him to be a contributor in 2021. He may be a hitter who cycles through first base, DH and the bench as opposed to an everyday player.

TRACK RECORD: Urbina was one of the top Venezuelan prospects in the 2018 international class and signed with the Twins for $2.75 million. He lived up to his billing with a strong 2019 season in the Dominican Summer League, showing solid bat-to-ball skills and batting .279/.382/.443.

SCOUTING REPORT: Urbina has exciting potential, but he is still a fairly raw teenager and needs as many game reps as possible. He has a chance to be an above-average or better hitter thanks to his natural feel for the barrel, but the Twins want him to get less rotational in his swing. The goal is to sync his lower and upper halves to spread the ball around the field better. Urbina doesn't project as a huge power threat, but the canceled 2020 minor league season allowed him to focus on strength gains, and he is in better shape than he was a year ago. Urbina has upside defensively as a plus runner who could stick in center field, but he needs to focus on the details of outfield defense to shore up some rough edges. Urbina has an upbeat personality and an advanced, instinctual baseball mind for his age

THE FUTURE: Urbina possesses some of the most exciting potential in the lower levels of Minnesota's system. He is set to make his stateside debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Astros signed Alacala as an 18-year-old in 2014 and helped him gain nearly 10 mph on his fastball before flipping him to the Twins in a trade for Ryan Pressly in 2018. After struggling as a starter, Alcala transitioned to the bullpen in late 2019 and he posted a 2.64 ERA over 24 innings in the majors in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Alcala threw four pitches as a starter but now primarily works with two pitches. His plus-plus fastball averages 97 mph and touches 100 mph, while his firm, upper-80s slider generates frequent swings and misses and is a plus pitch. Alcala occasionally throws a firm changeup that has less drop and more armside running action than average changeups, but he only uses it around 10% of the time. Alcala has plenty of athleticism on the mound, but his body control and overall strike-throwing are questionable and erratic.

THE FUTURE: Alcala has the pure stuff to be a closer. He'll need to refine his control to be consistently trusted in high-leverage situations.

TRACK RECORD: A Venezuelan shortstop who trained in the Dominican Republic as an amateur, De Andrade was one of the early standouts in the 2020-21 international class, joining the Twins when the signing period opened on Jan. 15.

SCOUTING REPORT: De Andrade performed well in games before signing, showing a short, fast swing with an advanced approach for his age to use the whole field. As he's gotten stronger, his power has trended up from more of a line-drive hitter with doubles pop to now being able to hit the ball out of the park in games, with a chance for above-average power as he continues his physical maturity. A below-average runner, De Andrade reads the ball well off the bat at shortstop, where he has quick actions, good body awareness and plays under control. He has the arm strength for the left side of the infield, though some scouts think he might outgrow shortstop and end up at third base.

THE FUTURE: De Andrade is one of the Twins' most promising infield prospects at the lower levels, though he's still years away from the big leagues. He will make his pro debut in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Cavaco was far from a household name in the leadup to the 2019 draft but rocketed up draft boards after showing big raw tools his senior year at San Diego-area power Eastlake High. The Twins drafted him 13th overall and signed him for $4.05 million. Cavaco made his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and struggled mightily, batting .172 with one home run and 35 strikeouts in 92 plate appearances. His only 2020 action came at instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: Cavaco has a lot of work to do. He has significant swing-and-miss concerns, particularly against velocity, and the Twins have made a wholesale effort to improve his swing path and approach. Cavaco struggles to land square and keep his hips in line, a basic tenet of hitting that is concerning he hasn't mastered yet. Cavaco has plus bat speed and plus raw power, but he needs massive refinement to get to the point where they are usable in games. Cavaco was drafted as a shortstop and played there in his pro debut, but he projects to move off the position and be an above-average third baseman with a plus arm.

THE FUTURE: The canceled 2020 minor league season hurts, but being able to focus on foundational elements in a low-pressure environment could prove beneficial for Cavaco. He may see low Class A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: The Cardinals drafted Soularie out of San Jacinto (Texas) JC in the 29th round in 2018, but he instead opted to transfer to Tennessee. He upped his draft stock by becoming one of the Volunteers' most reliable hitters in two seasons in Knoxville and finished with a career .336/.448/.586 slash line. The Twins drafted him 59th overall in 2020 and signed him for $900,000.

SCOUTING REPORT: A bit of a throwback player, Soularie has an old-school setup at the plate with a hunched and closed-off stance. His hands do most of the work in his swing and he has demonstrated the bat-to-ball skills to be an average hitter. The Twins want to help him try and access his average raw power, which he didn't do much in college. Primarily a left fielder at Tennessee, Soularie spent most of his time at second base in instructional league after being drafted. He is a solid runner and has the tools to be an adequate infielder, although it's still a work in progress.

THE FUTURE: Soularie is a well-rounded player who can do a little bit of everything. How his power and infield defense develop will determine if he reaches his everyday potential.

TRACK RECORD: One of the most decorated players in Southern Mississippi history, Wallner set the program's career record with 58 home runs and was drafted 39th overall by the Twins in 2019. He climbed to low Class A in his pro debut, but his feast or famine approach was exposed against pro pitching.

SCOUTING REPORT: Wallner has prototypical right field tools with a large physical frame, plus-plus raw power from the left side and massive arm strength, but that comes with significant swing-and-miss concerns. Wallner struck out 27 percent of the time in his pro debut despite playing largely younger competition. He projects as a below-average hitter who will be almost entirely dependent on his home run production to be an offensive contributor. A fringy runner and athlete, Wallner won't track down many tough balls in the gaps in right field, but he does have a cannon for an arm.

THE FUTURE: Wallner will need to show an improved hit tool to project as a regular. He'll see high Class A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: After a strong sophomore season at Virginia Military Institute, Winder slipped during his junior year when his stuff backed up and he got hit around more. The Twins still liked him enough to draft him in the seventh round. Winder rewarded the organization by leading the low Class A Midwest League with a 2.65 ERA in 2019. He followed up by standing out as one of the most improved prospects in the system during 2020 instructional league.

SCOUTING REPORT: An intense worker, Winder took advantage of the time allotted by the coronavirus shutdown to improve. He arrived at instructional league with improved physicality and a better pitch mix across the board. After previously sitting in the low-90s with his fastball, Winder sat 96-97 mph in camp and also improved his slider to above-average. Combined with his average changeup and curveball, he now has the stuff to profile as a major league starter. Winder has a long track record of above-average control. He has a good feel for sequencing and mixing his stuff.

THE FUTURE: Winder's improvements were highly encouraging. He'll try to carry them over into 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Stashak was drafted in the 13th round by the Twins in 2015 and signed for $100,000. He spent his first three seasons as a starter before converting to the bullpen in 2018 and shot up the system as a reliever. Stashak made his major league debut in 2019 and returned to the majors in 2020, settling in as a reliable reliever with an unorthodox pitch mix.

SCOUTING REPORT: In an era where relievers are expected to throw in the mid-90s, Stashak has found success sitting 91-92 mph. His slider also has below-average velocity in the 81-83 mph range. Yet, both pitches miss bats. His fastball has elite vertical movement and good carry up in the strike zone, while his slider has solid depth and above-average horizontal movement. He also has a changeup he will occasionally throw. Stashak has standout control of his stuff and makes the most of the movement he has. His walk rate is the second-lowest lowest of any reliever who has thrown at least 30 innings since in 2019.

THE FUTURE: Stashak has proven his ability to keep his team in games despite below-average velocity. He will remain a part of the Twins bullpen plans in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Colina was an older international signee out of Venezuela who received just an $8,000 signing bonus. After starting for four years and working his way up to Triple-A, Colina moved to relief in 2020 and made his major league debut on Sept. 25 against the Reds.

SCOUTING REPORT: Colina has a short but large frame and throws two pitches out of a simple delivery and short arm action. He attacks east-west with a hard, running sinker in the 95-99 mph range and a mid-80s slider with lots of horizontal movement. His slider moves hard and late and he has a better feel to command it than his sinker. Colina has below-average command overall and is susceptible to lefthanded hitters, which got exposed when he gave up three hits, four runs and two walks in his debut.

THE FUTURE: Colina will need to improve his fastball command to be effective in a middle relief role. That will be his primary goal in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Vallimont posted a 2.54 ERA over three years at Division II Mercyhurst (Pa.) and struck out 147 batters in 80.1 innings as a junior. The Marlins drafted him in the fifth round in 2018 and signed him for $300,000. The Twins acquired Vallimont with Sergio Romo from Miami in a 2019 trade for Lewin Diaz. He showed well at high Class A Fort Myers in his first stint in the organization and was brought to instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Vallimont has a solid build for a starting pitcher and an intriguing pitch mix. He throws his fastball in the 90-92 mph range with elite carry and can reach back for 95-96 mph. He shows good feel to spin both a slider and curveball that flash average, while his changeup has flashed average but has never been consistent. Vallimont has an advanced feel for pitching and will throw any of his four pitches at any time. He throws everything for strikes with average control.

THE FUTURE: Vallimont has back-of-the-rotation potential with his varied arsenal and advanced feel for pitching. He'll try to show his stuff plays against upper-level hitters in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: Rodriguez was the Twins' top target in the 2019 international class and signed for $2.5 million. His expected pro debut in 2020 was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic and canceled minor league season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rodriguez stands out for his low-maintenance swing, direct bat path and plus raw power. He has improved his ability to use the entire field in recent years and the Twins believe he has a chance to become a plus hitter. A hand injury has limited Rodriguez, but he spent time doing throwing drills and long-toss work after struggling with his throwing accuracy and arm stroke during the spring. He has plus arm strength when he's right and is currently a solid-average runner in center field. He projects to slow down as he fills out and may move to right field.

THE FUTURE: Rodriguez is set to make his pro debut in 2021. He has plenty of tools to dream on but is a long ways away.

TRACK RECORD: Chalmers signed an over-slot $1.2 million deal with the Athletics as a third-round pick in 2015, but he struggled to throw strikes for three seasons before having Tommy John surgery in 2018. The Twins acquired him for Fernando Rodney that year while he was rehabbing. Chalmers returned to the mound with high Class A Fort Myers at the end of 2019 and spent 2020 at the alternate training site.

SCOUTING REPORT: Chalmers' stuff is undeniable. His fastball is a high-spin 93-96 mph pitch that has touched 100 mph in the past. He complements it with a high-spin curveball that reaches 2,800 revolutions per minute with impressive depth in the low 80s. Both pitches are plus and he also has a fringy changeup. Control is the ultimate question with Chalmers. He has walked 6.6 batters per nine innings in his minor league career and frequently misses the strike zone with all of his pitches.

THE FUTURE: The Twins have confidence Chalmers can improve his control enough to start. His pure stuff profiles nicely in the bullpen as a fallback.

TRACK RECORD: A standout three-sport athlete in high school, Blankenhorn signed with the Twins for $800,000 as a third-round pick in 2015. After reaching Double-A in a solid 2019 season, Blankenhorn made his major league debut in 2020 and went 1-for-3 with a double in his lone game.

SCOUTING REPORT: Blankenhorn doesn't have any plus tools, but he does a lot of things well. He's a functional hitter who could be fringe-average with average power. He puts together solid at-bats but has never walked much, which limits his ability to get on base. Defensively, Blankenhorn can handle a number of positions adequately including first base, second base, third base and the outfield corners. He has average speed but is an efficient basestealer.

THE FUTURE: Blankenhorn's ceiling is limited, but he does enough things well to contribute in a reserve or utility role. He should start 2021 in Triple-A.

TRACK RECORD: Rortvedt was part of a strong Wisconsin high school class in 2016 that included Gavin Lux. He was drafted 56th overall by the Twins and signed for $900,000. Rortvedt progressed to Double-A Pensacola in 2019 before finishing the year on the injured list with a knee injury. He got back on the field for instructional league in 2020 and was added to the 40-man roster after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Rortvedt has standout defensive skills behind the plate. He is an excellent receiver and blocker and draws high praise for his ability to work with pitchers. He has adapted to Minnesota's one-knee catching philosophy with aplomb and has plus arm strength, allowing him to frequently throw runners out from one knee. Rortvedt's offense is a different story. He has a choppy, top-hand heavy swing and slow bat speed, resulting mostly in ground balls and infield flies. He generally hits the ball the other way, so learning to elevate more frequently to his pull side has been an emphasis.

THE FUTURE: Rortvedt's catch-and-throw ability offers him a path to the majors as a backup. Barring a sudden, significant change, he does not project to hit enough to be more.

TRACK RECORD: A $4 million signee out of the Dominican Republic, Javier was one of the top prospects in the 2015 international class and looked the part in 2016 and 2017. Injuries have dampened his outlook the past few years, along with a tough 2019 season at low Class A Cedar Rapids.

SCOUTING REPORT: By nature a player with a slow heartbeat, Javier has been asked by the Twins to turn up his intensity level and become a more aggressive swinger. He's passive by default, which has allowed him to walk at a solid clip, but also puts him in poor positions to do damage when he decides to swing. Javier had a tendency to lunge on his front side, so he has worked to stay in his back hip. Javier was previously one of the organization's best defensive players with a reliable glove and strong arm at shortstop, but leg injuries have hurt his quick-twitch actions and range.

THE FUTURE: Javier has a lot of work to do to get back on track. He'll be just 22 the entire 2021 season.

TRACK RECORD: Severino originally signed with the Braves in 2016 but was declared a free agent as part of Atlanta's punishment for international signing violations. He then signed with the Twins for $2.5 million. Severino held his own offensively his first few seasons but hit a bump in 2019 at low Class A Cedar Rapids, when his strikeout rate ballooned and a thumb injury cost him several months.

SCOUTING REPORT: Severino fits the mold of an offensive-oriented second baseman who brings power from both sides of the plate. Most of his power comes from the left side, but Severino actually prefers hitting from the right side. The Twins will have him continue as a switch-hitter for now. He'll need to control the strike zone better moving forward to profile as a regular. Severino isn't a great defender with below-average speed and range, but he has a chance to be adequate at second base if he continues to improve his footwork. He has more than enough arm.

THE FUTURE: Severino's strength and power potential give him a chance to rise. He'll open 2021 at one of the Class A levels.

TRACK RECORD: Moran was one of the top pitching prospects out of Puerto Rico in 2015 and signed with the Twins for $275,000 as their seventh-round pick. He worked as a starter in his pro debut but moved quickly to the bullpen and progressed to Double-A Pensacola in 2019. The Twins brought Moran to instructional league in 2020 after the canceled minor league season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Moran racks up strikeouts with his two-pitch combination, but instead of the slider he threw as an amateur, he now relies on a diving changeup to miss bats. His 18.4% swinging-strike ranked fourth in the Southern League in 2019 among pitchers with at least 30 innings. That's because of his changeup, which some scouts have labeled a plus-plus offering. Moran has shown reverse platoon splits throughout his career because his changeup is so effective versus righthanded hitters. His fastball is more of a solid-average pitch, so time will tell how his changeup will fare when advanced hitters don't need to gear up for heat. Moran also has below-average control he needs to improve.

THE FUTURE: Moran's changeup gives him a real weapon in relief. He should open in Triple-A in 2021.

TRACK RECORD: One of the youngest players in the 2020 draft class, Raya's draft stock was trending up before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the high school season. The Twins liked what they saw enough in a small sample to draft him in the fourth round and sign him for $410,000 to forgo a Texas Tech commitment. Raya made his organizational debut in instructional league after the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Raya is undersized but shows a solid four-pitch mix and an advanced ability to spin two breaking balls. His fastball sits 92-93 mph and will touch 95-96 mph, but it's presently flat and will need to add some sort of movement in the future. Raya shows a natural feel to spin the ball. His average curveball is ahead of his fringe-average slider at the moment, but both have room to grow. Raya's changeup also projects fringe-average. Raya's idol is Marcus Stroman as a 6-foot righthander, and scouts think his delivery mirrors Stroman's.

THE FUTURE: Raya has back-of-the-rotation potential if he continues to fill out and add strength. He'll make his pro debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2021.