Top MN Twins Prospect Hurt Again
Chris Tilley-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins made it through Spring Training with a relatively clean bill of health. They needed to do a bit of roster shuffling at the end of Grapefruit League action due to Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee being injured. They are 0-1 in regular season action after losing on Opening Day.
Earlier in camp both Emmanuel Rodriguez and Walker Jenkins were slowed by ankle issues. Rodriguez missed a significant amount of time last year due to a thumb injury that ultimately required surgery.
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Friday night the St. Paul Saints kicked off their season in a cold home opener. Rodriguez was cleared and played in that game. He is now already out of the lineup.
Emmanuel Rodriguez scratched from Minnesota Twins Triple-A lineup
Last season Emmanuel Rodriguez finished the year at Triple-A St. Paul for the Minnesota Twins. He played in just 47 games during the year after suffering a thumb injury. Ultimately it required surgery. Rodriguez went 3-for-4 on Opening Day this year, but now is dealing with a jammed thumb.
The severity of Rodriguez's thumb injury is not known. However, he was originally scheduled to bat third as the designated hitter for St. Paul on Saturday. During the 11-0 victory against Indianapolis, Rodriguez had two singles and a double. He did not steal a base, but did break for second (and slid in head first) before being called back on a foul ball. He did leave the game nor was there any indication of an injury.
Hopefully this is more the Saints being cautious with Rodriguez. He is a consensus top 25 prospect across all of baseball and has the potential to be a difference maker for the Minnesota Twins as early as this season.
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St. Paul wound up postponing their scheduled tilt on Saturday against the Indians. That allows another day for Rodriguez to heal and get back to full strength. It's possible Sunday's game sees the same fate, and that would keep Rodriguez on the shelf until Tuesday in Columbus at least.
Across 231 minor league games, Rodriguez has an incredible .457 on-base percentage. He has hit 44 home runs and stolen 49 bases. There is a significant amount of speed to his game, but given the continued issues with his thumb, Minnesota should think about mandating he slide feet first.
Rodriguez being back in the lineup quickly would certainly be a positive development. For such an outstanding talent, he can't continue to be unavailable due to injuries.
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