BREAKING: Minnesota Twins Eye Three Key Position Players in the Rule 5 Draft

The Minnesota Twins don’t currently have an open spot on their 40-man roster, but they’re in a position where selecting someone in the Rule 5 Draft could make sense. Which bats could they target?

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Late Tuesday afternoon, organizations had to set their 40-man rosters, forcing club decision-makers to decide which prospects to protect from Rule 5 Draft eligibility. The Minnesota Twins protected six players, bringing their 40-man reserve list to its capacity.

All six players could impact the major-league club in some capacity next season. Yet, Minnesota could add more young, high-upside reinforcements to its roster during the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 10, with hopes of them becoming immediate contributors with the parent club. Minnesota is more likely to select a young pitcher, since the easiest path to the Opening Day roster for a newcomer would be in the bullpen. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t target a position player. Which could they select, if the right chance arises?

Andrew Pintar

One of the many talking points new Twins manager Derek Shelton emphasized in his introductory press conference was that the Twins will prioritize speed and defense. Miami Marlins prospect Andrew Pintar embodies those traits. He’s an above-average defensive center fielder with near-elite speed.

The 24-year-old was serviceable at the plate in Triple A last season, hitting .269/.338/.384 (good for a 99 wRC+) over 384 plate appearances.

He also has some pop in his bat, with a 105.4-MPH 90th-percentile exit velocity. Pintar lacks in-game power, however, as he hit only four home runs last season. His hard-hit balls had an average launch angle of 7°, much lower than the league average, so not all of his exit velocity translated into concrete value. Still, the right-handed hitting prospect is an intriguing gadget outfielder who could provide plus value in the field and on the bases.

Blaze Jordan

Surprisingly, the St. Louis Cardinals elected to leave first base prospect Blaze Jordan unprotected. Jordan has received more accolades and attention than he deserves during his minor-league career, thanks to his cool-sounding name. Still, the former top Boston Red Sox prospect could develop into an above-average major leaguer, making him an intriguing candidate for the first base-deficient Twins.

Traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for left-handed pitcher Steven Matz at last season’s trade deadline, the 22-year-old failed to impress his new organization, hitting .198/.242/.366 with a 53 wRC+ over 186 plate appearances with Triple-A Memphis.

On the other hand, the right-handed bat generated a strong first half with Boston’s Triple-A affiliate, hitting .298/.341/.480 with a 115 wRC+ over 182 plate appearances. Jordan is a solid hitter for contact with superb zone control, who also hits the ball hard. That being the case, Minnesota could be tempted to poach the right-handed hitter, with intentions of turning him into the long-term solution at the position.

T.J. Rumfield

Spending the better part of the past two seasons with the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate, Rumfield has ascended into one of the best pure hitters in the high minors, slashing .289/.372/.454 with a 120 wRC+ over a combined 1,061 plate appearances.

He sported an above-average 11.9% strikeout rate last season. The 25-year-old hits for contact and power, with an above-average maximum exit velocity and near-elite zone swing rates.

The left-handed hitting first baseman pulls the ball in the air a lot, a skillset understandably preached by the Yankees’ hitting development staff.

Still, given how often he makes hard contact, his extreme pull profile would translate well to Target Field. Minnesota is in dire need of young hitting talent. Rumfield is arguably the most talented hitter Minnesota could add to its 40-man roster, while playing a position of need.

The Twins haven’t selected a position player in the Rule 5 Draft since Alejandro Machado in 2006. Yet, Rumfield possesses an intriguing enough skill set that the front office should consider breaking the 19-year trend.