1. Royce Lewis – SS: Lewis might be my favorite prospect in baseball. Considered to be a surprise No. 1 overall pick in 2017, I think they got it right. Lewis is an electric athlete with plus speed and advanced bat to ball skills for a teenager. He should develop at least major league average power as he physically matures. While there was some doubt, Lewis has shown he can handle shortstop early in his pro career. If he can’t, he will still be a potential all-star in center field, though I think he stays in the infield. ETA: 2021
2. Alex Kirilloff – OF: After missing the 2019 season with Tommy John surgery, Kirilloff emerged as one of the best hitters in the minors in 2018, slashing .348/.392/.578 with 20 home runs and 101 RBI between two levels of A-ball. With his throwing arm not what it was before the surgery, Kirilloff may be limited to left field or maybe first base going forward. But regardless, this is a middle of the order impact bat that should form a dynamic duo with Lewis in Minnesota for years to come. ETA: 2020
3. Brusdar Graterol – RHP: Graterol signed with the Twins out of Venezuela in 2014 and missing the 2016 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He burst onto the map in 2017 in the Appalachian League and continued in 2018, posting a 2.74 ERA and striking out 107 batters in 102 innings between two levels of A-ball. Graterol sits in the upper 90s with his fastball and touches triple digits. He throws a slider that shows signs of becoming a plus pitch, a curveball, and a changeup. Graterol has a high ceiling and could emerge as one of the best pitching prospects in baseball in 2019. ETA: 2021
4. Trevor Larnach – OF: One of two first rounders from Oregon State in 2018, Larnach got off to a fast start after winning the College World Series, hitting .303/.390/.500 over 152 at-bats between the Appalachian and Midwest Leagues. Another potential impact bat, Larnach probably also profiles best in left field due to his below average speed, but it’s the bat that is going to get him to Minnesota. ETA: 2021
5. Lewis Thorpe – LHP: Thorpe was signed in 2012 out of Australia and was on a rapid ascent through the minors until he required Tommy John surgery in 2015, missing that entire season and going down with mono the following year while rehabbing. He returned in 2017 and threw well enough to get placed on the 40-man roster, then reached Triple-A in 2018. Thorpe possesses a four-pitch mix: a fastball that sits in the low 90s and plays up because of his command, a plus changeup, a slider, and a curveball. His command continues to improve the further he puts his time on the disabled list behind him. Thorpe figures to sit in the back-end of a rotation relatively soon. ETA: 2019
State of the system: The Twins have an exciting system with two of the best prospects in baseball at the top in Lewis and Kirlioff, and Larnach gives them three potential impact offensive players that could make for an excellent core of players to build around. Graterol has a very high upside and could become a frontline starter if he continues to develop. The Twins have drafted well in recent years, and they are close to reaping those benefits at the major league level.
Johnny Baseball 