REPORT NEWS: Unexpected Twins' prospect could make his Major League debut this season

The Minnesota Twins were dealt some discouraging news on Monday when it was revealed that one of the team’s top prospects, outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez, was headed to the Triple-A injured list with what the team was calling a “right hip injury”.

The timing of Rodriguez’s injury came on the same day that ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel listed the outfield prospect as the next prospect up for the Twins. Ironically, McDaniel offered an assessment of Rodriguez that was immediately proved true.

“Rodriguez gets hurt a lot but is at Triple-A doing his usual thing: low average, crazy-high walk rate, power and solid center-field defense,” McDaniel wrote for ESPN.

Assuming Rodriguez’s injury isn’t an injury that lingers for the remainder of the season, there remains a chance that Twins fans see him at the Major League level before the end of the season.

However, Rodriguez wasn’t the only prospect whom McDaniel mentioned as being the next up for the Twins. The ESPN prospect expert wouldn’t be shocked if Connor Prielipp gets a look at the Major League level with the Twins this season.

Top Twins’ pitching prospect could get a look at the Major League level

Since being drafted by the Twins in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Prielipp has emerged as the No. 5 prospect in the Twins’ system.

One of the main reasons why McDaniel sees Prielipp getting a cup of coffee at the Major League level this season is that the Twins do need to add him to the 40-man roster this offseason.

Depending on the moves the Twins make at the deadline, Prielipp could be an option for a spot start or two during the closing months of the season.

Prielipp has yet to reach the Triple-A level but isn’t far off. With the Twins’ Double-A affiliate this season, Prielipp has posted a 3.67 ERA in 9 starts.

More impressive is the fact that he is striking out over 32% of the batters faced this season, while walking under 6% of the batters faced.

It’s pitchers like Prielipp who are the reason why the Twins might still look to move a pitcher such as Chris Paddack at the Trade Deadline.