The Twins are staring at an unusual question with Emmanuel Rodriguez, and it’s not about whether he can hit. It’s about whether they’ll still have a practical way to keep him around.
Rodriguez has long been one of the organization’s most intriguing names, and he still carries that kind of profile. He ranks third in the Twins system and 31st overall on Keith Law’s top-prospect list released July 23.
He’s also been as high as No. 37 on MLB Pipeline’s rankings. But the path from elite prospect to everyday big leaguer has been tangled by injuries, and that’s where the real concern starts.
Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com pointed to the pressure building around Rodriguez, noting that his clock is tightening because of both health and roster rules.
“Rodriguez played just 25 games for [Triple-A St. Paul] before the injury, his fourth year in a row with substantial missed time and development,” Gleeman explained. “And because he’ll be out of minor-league options next spring, and must make the Opening Day roster to stay in the organization, it’s absolutely crucial for Rodriguez to stay healthy now.”
That matters even more because Rodriguez is just back from a troublesome thumb injury, and the Twins may be forced into a decision that once seemed unthinkable: what if the future of this prospect is somewhere else?
The talent is obvious. In six seasons in the Twins organization, Rodriguez has hit .256/.425/.488 with 56 homers, 182 RBI and 62 stolen bases on 84 attempts in 329 games. He reached Triple-A for the first time this season and produced .247/.417/.506 with six homers, 18 RBI and three stolen bases in five attempts before landing on the injured list with a UCL tear in his left thumb on May 19.
But the injuries have piled up. Rodriguez has never played 100 games in a season, and his history includes hip, oblique, abdomen, knee, hand and thumb issues. That’s turned what looked like a straightforward rise into a much messier evaluation for Minnesota.
And the roster around him isn’t exactly clearing a lane. Trevor Larnach is in the middle of a career year.
Byron Buxton is a fixture unless he waives his no-trade clause. Right field has been handled by Austin Martin and Alan Roden, with the possibility that Walker Jenkins eventually takes that spot.
That leaves Rodriguez having to fight through a crowded outfield picture just to get a shot.
There’s also the matter of options. If Rodriguez had another minor-league option left, the Twins could simply keep him developing.
Instead, Gleeman noted that he’s unlikely to be granted an extra option, which is sometimes given to prospects with heavy injury histories. That leaves Minnesota facing a far tougher choice next spring.
The next month could help shape the answer. If the Twins trade Larnach - something they reportedly tried to do at this year’s trade deadline - that would open a path. Martin and Roden have minor-league options remaining, but Rodriguez would still have to beat out Jenkins, Hendry Mendez and Gabriel Gonzalez for a major league job.
Even then, there’s a real question about readiness. Rodriguez has logged just 1,092 at-bats in his professional career, and Gleeman suggested the Twins could carry him in a limited role similar to a “Rule 5” prospect. That would come with its own problems, including a thinner bench and a hit to Rodriguez’s trade value if Minnesota ultimately decides to move him.
That’s where this gets surprising. A player once viewed as a lock for the Twins’ young core is suddenly part of a complicated roster puzzle.
Minnesota could also trade him, though that might mean selling for pennies on the dollar. Still, if general manager Jeremy Zoll and owner Tom Pohlad are willing to stay aggressive after the trade deadline, moving a top prospect could be part of the equation if it brings back a major piece.
For now, there’s no clean answer. Rodriguez still has time to change the conversation, but the pressure is real, and the Twins may have a decision on their hands that no one saw coming.
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