Brandon Winokur is the kind of Twins prospect who can sneak up on people.
Minnesota’s farm system gets most of the attention for names like Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, Emmanuel Rodriguez and now Vahn Lackey, but Winokur deserves a spot on that list of players fans should be watching. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the Twins’ No. 15 overall prospect, and there’s a real path for him to reach the big leagues in the next few years. There’s also a chance he becomes trade bait if the Twins decide they need an established MLB piece to help them win now or in the near future.
The Twins took Winokur in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft, selecting him No. 82 overall out of high school. He’s 21 years old, stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 210 pounds.
What makes him especially interesting is the blend of size, speed and defensive flexibility. Winokur has spent this season all over the diamond, logging 304 1/3 innings at third base, 175 1/3 at shortstop and 207 in center field.
He has also seen time in right and left field during his minor-league career. MLB Pipeline describes him as "an outstanding outfielder" with a "plus arm" that fits at third base and shortstop.
For a player built like that, the running game is part of the package too. Winokur has 70 career stolen bases in 313 minor-league games.
The bat is still developing, but the power is real. His hit tool is graded at 40, which is below average, while his power gets a 60 grade. That’s the skill set that keeps him on the radar.
Minnesota moved Winokur up to Double-A Wichita from High-A Cedar Rapids on July 6. Across 80 games between those two levels this season, he’s hitting .249/.358/.422 with 11 home runs, 44 RBI and 21 stolen bases.
Over his 313-game minor-league career, Winokur has posted a .242/.327/.419 line with 46 home runs, 57 doubles, nine triples and 183 RBI.
His ability to move around the field is a big part of why he could get to the majors within the next few years. MLB Pipeline projects his MLB debut for 2028, but the Twins’ roster picture could always shift before then.
With plenty of promising outfield talent in the system and Kaelen Culpepper and Marek Houston expected by most to become lineup regulars in the next couple of years, Winokur still has a lane if he keeps producing. Injuries happen.
Expectations get missed. And with his defensive versatility, the Twins would have options on where to use him long term.
In Other News...
Cubs Fans Cant Believe What Live TV Caught At Wrigley
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The shirt at the center of the buzz was provocative enough to set off a wave of disbelief and jokes from fans who saw the clip circulate on social media. For a game that already had enough going on between two familiar opponents, the unexpected bit of background theater became the side story people could not stop discussing, and it added another odd chapter to a day that will be remembered for more than just the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Could Cash In On One Breakout Piece At Deadline
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Matt Wallner fits that description neatly after a breakout stretch that has put him on the radar as a possible sell-high piece, and his club control only adds to the appeal for any team looking beyond this season. Spencer Tait is another name to watch if the Twins decide to use their catching depth as leverage, while Luke Keaschall remains more of a longshot unless a truly massive offer changes the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Suddenly Have Another Royce Lewis Concern As Buxton Hope Builds
Royce Lewis was back in the Twins lineup at first base the previous day, but he was out again against the Cubs because of left hamstring soreness, another reminder of how fragile Minnesotas infield picture can get when one of its most dynamic bats is less than 100 percent. The timing matters, too, because the club is still trying to manage Lewis carefully while keeping his offense in the lineup as much as possible.
There was at least a more encouraging sight elsewhere in the organization, with Byron Buxton doing baseball activities as part of his rehab from a right hip strain. Minnesota also has several pitchers working back on rehab assignments, including Cole Sands, Julian Merryweather and Garrett Acton, giving the Twins a few more moving parts to monitor as they wait for healthier days. [Read more 🡒]