Minnesota Twins minor league players

David Clemente Banuelos (born October 1, 1996) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Banuelos attended Damien High School in La Verne, California, graduating in 2014.[1] As a senior, he batted .395 with four home runs and 24 RBIs.[2] Undrafted out of high school in the 2014 MLB draft, he enrolled at California State University, Long Beach, and played college baseball for the Long Beach State Dirtbags. He became the Dirtbags' starting catcher as a sophomore in 2016.[3] During the summer of 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Bellingham Bells of the West Coast League.[4] In 2017, he batted .289 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs and was named a First-Team All-American by Baseball America[5] and one of three finalists for the Johnny Bench Award.[6]

The Seattle Mariners selected Banuelos in the fifth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[1] He signed with the Mariners, receiving a $300,000 signing bonus,[7] and made his professional debut with the Everett AquaSox, where he spent his first professional season, posting a .236 batting average with four home runs and 26 RBIs in 36 games.[8]

On December 6, 2017, in an attempt to sign Shohei Ohtani during the 2017–18 offseason, the Mariners traded Banuelos to the Minnesota Twins for $1 million in international signing bonus money.[9] He spent the 2018 season with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, batting .220 with two home runs and 22 RBIs in 73 games.[10]

Banuelos begin 2019 with Cedar Rapids[11] before being promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle in May. Over 63 games, he slashed .177/.232/.263 with two home runs and twenty RBIs.

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Keoni Cavaco
Minnesota Twins
Shortstop
Born: (2001-06-02) June 2, 2001 Chula Vista, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right

Keoni Kealakekua Cavaco (born June 2, 2001) is an American professional baseball shortstop in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Cavaco attended Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, California. In 2019, his senior year, he hit .433 with eight home runs and 16 steals along with pitching to a 0.67 ERA.[12] He committed to play college baseball at San Diego State University.[13]

Cavaco was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the first round (13th overall) of the 2019 MLB draft.[14][15] He signed for $4.05 million.[16] After signing, he was assigned to the Gulf Coast League Twins,[17] with whom he spent the remainder of the season with. Over 25 games, he hit .172 with one home run and six RBIs.

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Dakota Reid Chalmers (born October 8, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins organization.

Chalmers attended Lakeview Academy in Gainesville, Georgia, for his first two years of high school[18] before transferring to North Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia.[19] The Oakland Athletics selected Chalmers in the third round of the 2015 MLB draft, and signed for a $1.2 million signing bonus.[20] He signed with Oakland, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at the University of Georgia.[21]

After signing, Chalmers made his professional debut for the Arizona League Athletics where he posted a 0–1 record with a 2.66 ERA in 11 starts. He spent 2016 with the Vermont Lake Monsters, going 5–4 with a 4.70 ERA in 15 games (13 starts), and 2017 with the Beloit Snappers, pitching to a 2–2 record and a 4.34 ERA in ten games (five starts).[22] He returned to Beloit to begin 2018, but only pitched in two games due to injury.[23]

On August 9, 2018, the Athletics traded Chalmers to the Minnesota Twins for Fernando Rodney.[24] He did not pitch after being traded. In 2019, he began the year rehabbing before being assigned to the Fort Myers Miracle, with whom he started five games, pitching to a 1-1 record with a 3.38 ERA.

Chalmers was added to the Twins 40-man roster on November 20, 2019.[25]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Jhoan Manuel Durán (born January 8, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Durán signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent in December 2014. He made his professional debut in 2015 with the Dominican Summer League Diamondbacks. He played 2016 with the Arizona League Diamondbacks and Missoula Osprey and 2017 with the Arizona League Diamondbacks and Hillsboro Hops. He started 2018 with the Kane County Cougars. On July 27, 2018 the Diamondbacks traded Durán, Gabriel Maciel and Ernie De La Trinidad to the Minnesota Twins for Eduardo Escobar.[26][27]

Durán started his Twins career with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.[28] He started 2019 with the Fort Myers Miracle.

Durán was added to the Twins 40-man roster on November 20, 2019.[29]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)

William Christopher Holland (born April 18, 1998) is an American professional baseball shortstop in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Holland graduated from Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia.[30] As a senior, he hit .436 with two home runs and 13 stolen bases.[31] Undrafted out of high school in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at Auburn University to play college baseball for the Auburn Tigers.

As a freshman at Auburn in 2017, Holland batted .209 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in 45 games.[32] He was named the SEC Freshman of the Week for the week of March 13–19 after going 6 for 15 at the plate, hitting one home run with four RBIs and three runs scored.[33] He played in the Perfect Game League that summer.[34] In 2018, as a sophomore, Holland had a breakout year in which he slashed .313/.406/.530 with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs in 66 games.[35][36][37] He was named to the All-SEC Second Team[38] and to the ABCA All-South Region Team.[39] After the season, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks[40] along with playing for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.[41] Prior to the 2019 season, Holland was named a preseason All-American by multiple outlets including Perfect Game and D1Baseball.com.[42][43] He struggled his junior year, finishing the season batting .246 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs over 64 games.[44]

Holland was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft,[45] and he signed for $575,000.[46] He made his professional debut with the Elizabethton Twins, batting .192 with seven home runs, 16 RBIs, and eight stolen bases over 36 games.[47]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Auburn Tigers bio

Griffin Jax
Minnesota Twins
Pitcher
Born: (1994-11-22) November 22, 1994 Englewood, Colorado
Bats: Right Throws: Right

James Griffin Jax (born November 22, 1994) is an American baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Jax attended Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village, Colorado. In 2013, his senior year, he went 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA and was named Colorado's Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year.[48][49] He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 12th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft,[50] but did not sign and instead enrolled at the United States Air Force Academy where he played college baseball for the Air Force Falcons.

Jax struggled during his first two years at the Air Force Academy, pitching to a 5.86 ERA as a freshman and a 5.17 ERA as a sophomore. He broke out a junior in 2016, starting 15 games and going 9-2 with a school-record 2.05 ERA, striking out ninety and walking only ten in ​105 ¹⁄₃ innings,[51] and was named the Mountain West Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year alongside Jimmy Lambert.[52]

After his junior year, Jax was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[53] He signed for $645,000,[54] and made his professional debut with the Elizabethton Twins, pitching 8.2 innings.[55] In 2017, he pitched in only five games before he was required to report Cape Canaveral, Florida for active duty.[56][57][58] In those five starts, he went 2-2 with a 2.61 ERA between Elizabethton and the Cedar Rapids Kernels.[59] In 2018, he was granted membership into the United States military's World Class Athlete Program, allowing him to make Olympic training his full-time responsibility[60] (which counts towards his five years of required active duty)[61] which in turn allowed him to play in the minor leagues full-time. During the season, he pitched for the Fort Myers Miracle, going 3-4 with a 3.70 ERA in 15 games (14 starts).[62][61][63] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.[64] He began 2019 with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos[65] with whom he was named a Southern League All-Star.[66] While with Pensacola, he missed nearly three weeks due to fatigue.[67] In August, Jax was promoted to the Rochester Red Wings, with whom he finished the season.[68] Over 23 starts between the two clubs, Jax pitched to a 5-7 record with a 2.90 ERA, striking out 94 over ​127 ¹⁄₃ innings.

Jax's father, Garth Jax played in the NFL.[69]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)

John Bailey Ober (born July 12, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Ober attended Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, North Carolina and played college baseball at the College of Charleston. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 23rd round round of the 2016 MLB Draft, but did not sign and returned to Charleston.[70] He was then drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 12th round of the 2017 MLB Draft and signed.[71]

The Twins added Ober to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.[72]

Ben Rortvedt
Minnesota Twins
Catcher
Born: (1997-09-25) September 25, 1997 Verona, Wisconsin
Bats: Left Throws: Right

Benjamin Thomas Rortvedt (born September 25, 1997) is an American baseball catcher in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Rortvedt attended Verona Area High School in Verona, Wisconsin.[73] As a senior, he slashed .444/.568/.667.[74] He committed to play college baseball at the University of Arkansas.[75] He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the second round (56th overall) of the 2016 MLB draft.[76] He signed with the Twins for $900,000,[77] forgoing his commitment to the University of Arkansas.

Rortvedt made his professional debut that same year with the Gulf Coast League Twins before being promoted to the Elizabethton Twins. In 33 games between the two clubs, he batted .222 with ten RBIs.[78] He spent 2017 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels where he compiled a .224 batting average with four home runs and 30 RBIs in 89 games, and 2018 with both Cedar Rapids and the Fort Myers Miracle,[79] slashing a combined .262/.331/.379 with five home runs and 43 RBIs in 90 total games between the two clubs.[80] He returned to Fort Myers to begin the 2019 season,[81] and was promoted to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in May, with whom he finished the year. Over 79 games between the two teams, he hit .238/.334/.379 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs.[82]

The Twins added Rortvedt to their 40-man roster after the 2020 season.[83]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Bryson Cole Sands (born July 17, 1997) is an American baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Sands attended North Florida Christian School in Tallahassee, Florida, where he played baseball.[84] As a senior, he pitched to a 0.32 ERA.[85] Following his senior year, he was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 22nd round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign, and instead enrolled at Florida State University (FSU) where he played college baseball.[86]

In 2016, as a freshman at FSU, Sands appeared in 18 games (17 starts) in which he pitched to a 6-7 record with a 4.13 ERA over ​69 ²⁄₃ innings.[87][88] That summer, he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Falmouth Commodores.[89] As a sophomore at FSU, Sands once again pitched in 18 games (making 17 starts), going 6-4 with a 5.40 ERA.[90] He returned to Falmouth and the Cape Cod League that summer. In 2018, Sand's junior season, he made 14 starts and compilied a 7-4 record with a 4.54 ERA, striking out 88 over 75 innings.[91] After the season, he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.[92][93][94][95] He signed for $500,000.[96]

Sands made his professional debut in 2019 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.[97][98] After eight starts, he was promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle,[99] and, after nine starts with the Miracle, he earned another promotion, this time to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Over 18 starts between the three clubs, Sands went 7-3 with a 2.68 ERA, striking out 108 over ​97 ¹⁄₃ innings.[100]

• Career statistics and player information from ESPN

Chris Ryan Vallimont (born March 18, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Vallimont attended Mercyhurst Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania.[101] He attended Mercyhurst University, where he played college baseball for the Lakers.[102] In 2017, he briefly played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[103] Vallimont was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 5th round, with the 147th overall selection, of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, and signed with the Marlins.[104][105]

Vallimont made his professional debut in 2018 with the Batavia Muckdogs, going 0–2 with a 6.21 ERA in 29 innings.[106][107] He opened the 2019 season with the Clinton LumberKings, going 4–4 with a 2.99 ERA in 69 innings.[107] Vallimont was named to the Midwest League All-Star team.[108] He was promoted to the Jupiter Hammerheads on June 22.[107]

On July 27, 2019, Vallimont was traded, along with Sergio Romo and a PTBNL, to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Lewin Díaz.[109] He was assigned to the Fort Myers Miracle following the trade,[107] and ended the season there. Over 23 starts between Clinton, Jupiter, and Fort Myers, Vallimont pitched to an 8-9 record with a 3.24 ERA, striking out 150 over ​127 ²⁄₃ innings.

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Mercyhurst Lakers bio

Tyler Jaymes Watson (born May 22, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 34th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.

A native of Gilbert, Arizona, Watson attended and played baseball at Perry High School. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 34th round of the 2015 MLB draft and elected to sign for a $400,000 bonus, well above the slot value.[110] After signing, he began his professional career with the GCL Nationals, pitching 13.1 scoreless innings. After posting a 2.64 ERA in 58 inning as a starter across two levels in 2016 (Class A Short Season, with the Auburn Doubledays, and Class A Full Season, with the Hagerstown Suns), Watson was labeled by Baseball America and Minor League Ball as a prospect to watch in the Nationals farm system.[111][112] He began 2017 with Hagerstown and was selected among several Hagerstown players to participate in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game.[113]

On July 31, 2017, Watson was traded to the Minnesota Twins for Brandon Kintzler.[114] Minnesota assigned him to the Cedar Rapids Kernels. In 23 games (22 starts) between Hagerstown and Cedar Rapids, Watson posted a combined 7–7 record with a 4.34 ERA.[115] In 2018, Watson pitched for both Cedar Rapids and the Fort Myers Miracle, compiling a combined 5-8 record with a 4.88 ERA in 22 games (21 starts).[116] He spent the 2019 season with the Miracle, going 1-5 with a 3.62 ERA over 23 games (18 starts), striking out 88 over 112 innings.

Watson is a left-handed pitcher with a low-90s fastball, an above-average curveball, and a developing changeup.[112]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)