Fansided

MLB rumors: 5 prospects who can help the Twins in 2019

By Brad Berreman

FORT MYERS, FL- MARCH 04: Alex Kirilloff #76 of the Minnesota Twins bats during a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles on March 4, 2019 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FL- MARCH 04: Alex Kirilloff #76 of the Minnesota Twins bats during a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles on March 4, 2019 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Mandatory Credit: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

4. OF Alex Kirilloff

If the Twins didn’t seem set in the outfield, with Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton and Max Kepler in left, center and right respectively and Jake Cave in place as a functional extra outfielder, Alex Kirilloff would be higher on this list. As it is, he may make it hard to ignore him when promotion options inevitably land on the radar.

Kirilloff lost the entire 2017 season to Tommy John surgery, but between A and High-A ball last year he hit .348 with 20 home runs,101 RBI, 44 doubles, 296 total bases and a .970 OPS over 570 plate appearances. He’s starting this season at Double-A Pensacola, and on the injured list with a minor wrist issue that has him expected to return sometime in April. But the 21-year old is proverbially “one phone call away” from the big leagues, if he’s healthy and able to hit well with his move up a level.

Kirilloff is No. 9 on MLB.com’s Top 100 prospects entering this season, and Baseball America has him at No. 15 on their own list. He has mostly played right field in two minor-league seasons, but there is thought he could play first base and offer position flexibility. No matter what, if Kirilloff rakes in Double-A there stands to be a place for him somewhere on the Twins’ roster this season.

Home/Minnesota Twins