Final thing Itch stated on him, “Emmanuel Rodriguez made his Triple-A debut this week at age 21, and whereas he hasn’t been my favourite wager to thrive on the highest degree, there’s no denying what he’s placed on movie so far. In 37 Double-A video games, he slashed .298/.479/.621 with eight dwelling runs and 9 steals. That was good for a 202 wRC+ even whereas he was hanging out 27.5 % of the time. If he could make sufficient contact in Triple-A, he’ll be an choice for the key league membership early subsequent season, a a lot faster timeline than I used to be forecasting. Additionally within the forecast is ache for Gray.” I’m sorry, what? That was in September, and some days later Rodriguez sprained his thumb, as a result of, in spite of everything, he’s a Twins prospect. Do you know the Twins scout virtually completely from a listing of sufferers who’re being investigated for insurance coverage fraud as a result of they’ve made too many claims? Talking of twins and hospitals, don’t you suppose they may’ve used the total identify Youngsters’s Hospital of Philadelphia on this headline:
Any hoo! Assuming Emmanuel Rodriguez doesn’t come from the identical inventory of all different Twins prospects (fats likelihood!) and might keep on the sphere, effectively, then we’re in for some gloriousness. He was high 20 general within the Itch’s final high 50 fantasy baseball prospects and that has just a few guys in entrance of him who aren’t due up this 12 months. Out of redraft prospects, he’s the 14th finest prospect on that record, and two guys (Jasson Dominguez and Jordan Lawlar) are due up in 2023. Wait, what 12 months is it? I tease, ETAs are when a man is due or first appeared. So, what can we anticipate from Emmanuel Rodriguez for 2025 fantasy baseball?
Final 12 months, Emmanuel Rodriguez stopped extremely briefly in 4 spots within the minors, ending the 12 months with a 9/9 12 months, which was virtually completely in Double-A (he went 8/9 there), the place he hit .298 with 25.1 BB%, and I simply cackled like a hyena on nitrous. A 25+ stroll price?! Hey, fast query, has Emmanuel Rodriguez ever swung his bat? Let’s see if we are able to discover clips of that:
Emmanuel Rodriguez – Minnesota Twins (1)* pic.twitter.com/UulW6mVclU
— MLB HR Movies (@MLBHRVideos) March 24, 2023
And prolly my favourite clip I’ve proven this complete rookie collection as a result of it exhibits a man’s energy and pace:
Emmanuel Rodriguez with an inside-the-park GRAND SLAM for his first Triple-A HR??#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/UBhAGY7z5A
— Twins Participant Growth (@TwinsPlayerDev) September 8, 2024
A man that walks 20+ % of the time and might steal 30 baggage is fascinating on his personal. Throw within the 30+ homer energy, and, woo boy, we have to coronate my man. He may very well be as dynamic as they arrive if he swings and makes contact. I’m positive I’ve seen this profile earlier than, however I’m attempting to recollect, oh, I do know, Elly De La Cruz! Emmanuel Rodriguez had a 29.5 Okay% in Excessive-A. That’s wonderful. In Advanced League in 2021, he had a 36.6 Okay%. It really tells me two issues: One) He can’t make contact and doesn’t swing. Two) He should be so athletically dynamic to even get drafted as a result of ya know these scouts didn’t really see him swing and make contact. It’s so uncommon! He’s not a three-true-outcome participant. He’s Neo, as a result of he’s The One End result participant. That end result: A stroll. Granted, issues have change into a little bit higher as he’s aged, and *solely* had a 27.5 Okay% in Double-A final 12 months.
Emmanuel Rodriguez could be a fantasy stud if he could make contact and keep wholesome. About that latter level, he missed roughly three months along with his thumb when he slid head-first into second base. Final 12 months was a misplaced 12 months. He conserved power, I conserved keystrokes. Earlier than that, he was principally wholesome in 2023. Will he keep on the sphere in 2025? Eff if I do know. I’m ready on Royce Lewis for 2 years; waited on Buxton for, like, ten years; I waited for Alex Kirilloff for therefore lengthy that he retired. Twins seemingly have a spot for Emmanuel Rodriguez of their lineup, so if he doesn’t hit .170 in Spring Coaching and stays on the sphere? He needs to be good to go! I sound facetious, however that is about as excessive upside and low upside as you get with rookies. He may very well be a high 50 participant general or a less-than-50-at-bat nothingburger. For 2025 fantasy baseball, I’ll give Emmanuel Rodriguez projections of 41/11/38/.231/16 in 324 ABs with an opportunity for rather more or a lot much less.
