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Minnesota Twins 2018 minor league awards

By Benjamin Chase

MINNEAPOLIS, MN-SEPTEMBER 07: Mitch Garver #23 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Kansas City Royals on September 7, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Royals 10-6. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN-SEPTEMBER 07: Mitch Garver #23 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Kansas City Royals on September 7, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Royals 10-6. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Twins
TAMPA, FL – JUNE 27: 2016 Twins first round pick Alex Kirillloff of the Miracle at bat during the Florida State League game between the Ft. Myers Miracle and the Tampa Tarpons on June 27, 2018, at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Minnesota Twins Minor League Hitter of the Year: Alex Kirilloff

Level(s): low-A Cedar Rapids, high-A Fort Myers
Stats: .348/.392/.578, 130 G, 561 PA, 44 2B, 7 3B, 20 HR, 101 RBI, 38/86 BB/K

After winning the Appalachian League player of the year in his draft season in 2016, Alex Kirilloff missed all of 2017 due to Tommy John surgery, but he came back in 2018 with a vengeance.

Kirilloff was the easy choice here, in spite of some very, very good seasons throughout the Minnesota Twins farm system. He could put together a legitimate argument for the best numbers season in all of the minor leagues!

Kirilloff has one of the most perfect swings you’ll ever see from the left side, with the ability to drive the ball for power while also hitting for a high average. He could start 2019 in AA and possibly see the major leagues as early as September of next season, but he certainly should debut by the end of 2020.

Runners-up

The Minnesota Twins surprised many when they selected North Carolina catcher Ryan Jeffers in the second round this past June, but after crushing the ball for both Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids, those doubts have been erased. Overall, he hit .344/444/.502 with 17 doubles and 7 home runs.

Only playing 3 games in 2017 before injury ended his season, Luis Arraez was known for his supreme contact abilities, though he doesn’t have a ton of power or speed to go along with that high average, though with a very good defensive ability at second base and a good batting average, he could have a long major league career with just those two skills. Between high-A and AA in 2018, Arraez hit .310/.361/.397 with 20 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, and 4 stolen bases.

The #1 overall pick in 2017 by the Minnesota Twins, Royce Lewis was the highest-ranked Twins prospect coming into the season, and though he may be passed by Kirilloff in rankings now, it was not due to a poor season by Lewis. Between low-A and high-A, Lewis hit .292/.352/.451 with 29 doubles, 14 home runs, and 28 stolen bases while playing a high-quality shortstop.

A late signee out of Venezuela, likely due to his small stature, and in his first year with the Minnesota Twins organization, Morales played catcher in the Dominican Summer League and hit very well, with a .303/.466/.472 line with 17 stolen bases and a 41/29 BB/K ratio. He’ll likely be headed stateside in 2019.

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