Promoted before first pitch
Minnesota called Emmanuel Rodriguez up from Triple-A St. Paul earlier today, hours before hosting the Cleveland Guardians. The outfielder has waited seven years for this. He signed with the organisation in 2019 for a $2.5 million bonus and has carried a prospect label ever since.
Infielder Ben Ross went the other way, optioned back to Triple-A. Ross, 25, played three games for the Twins this season after Minnesota took him in the fifth round of the 2022 draft.
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A thumb injury cost him three months
Rodriguez tore the UCL in his left thumb and missed three months of the season. He still put up numbers that rank among the better ones in the minor leagues: 49 games with the Saints, a .262 average, a .414 on-base percentage, a .500 slugging mark, 11 home runs, 33 runs batted in and seven stolen bases.
The on-base figure is the number that stands out. Rodriguez walks. Since 12 August he has drawn 18 walks in a stretch that also produced a .289 average, a .928 OPS, nine extra-base hits and 15 RBIs. He hit for the cycle on 1 September.
MLB Pipeline ranks him fifth among Minnesota prospects. He turns 24 soon and arrives with nothing to prove to Triple-A pitching.
Low stakes, which helps
The Twins sit five and a half games out of the final American League wild card spot with under three weeks left. That maths favours Rodriguez. He gets his first major league at-bats in a September that carries little pressure, against pitching he has never faced, with the organisation watching to see what translates.
Cleveland are the first test.
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