Jermaine Palacios

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #29 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Palacios signed with the Twins for $70,000 in 2013 and was traded to the Rays in 2018 for righthander Jake Odorizzi. Minnesota reacquired him as a minor league free agent prior to the 2021 season and watched him hit 19 home runs and 17 doubles while playing strong defense at shortstop with Double-A Wichita.
  
  Scouting Report: Palacios has a case as the best defensive shortstop in the system. He has soft hands and impressive actions in the field, with a strong arm from multiple angles and arm slots. His instincts are sound, and he is confident at all infield positions—he logged innings at each—earning plus defensive grades overall. The offensive profile is a bigger question. He hit well in his third stint against Double-A pitching, but skeptics will point to the fact that he was old for the level and a long history of generally underwhelming as a hitter. He posted near league-average exit velocities in 2021 and he does solid damage on contact, though he tends to expand the zone and swing and miss at below-average rates. Some scouts have noted he struggles against secondary offerings.
  
  The Future: Despite his age and questions on the bat, Palacios’ power output and defensive ability make him an intriguing sleeper to keep an eye on.
  
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #31 prospect in 2018
  Signed for $70,000 just days after the minor league season ended in 2013, Palacios doesn't have to be added to the 40-man roster until after 2018. He missed the final seven weeks due to a minor injury in 2016, but he bounced back with a strong first half at low Class A Cedar Rapids last season. An aggressive hitter with advanced barrel awareness and occasional power to the pull side, Palacios needs to improve his strike-zone discipline (6.7 percent career walk rate) to smooth out a streaky nature. He has worked with hitting coordinator Rick Eckstein to create more separation with his hands, which will give him a better chance to improve his pitch recognition. Most of his homers come on mistake breaking balls, but he isn't bothered by top velocity and shows an all-fields approach overall. He has above-average arm strength and moves better to his right, which should allow him to stay at shortstop as he climbs the ladder. An average runner at best, he lacks base-stealing instincts and has been successful on just 64-percent of his attempts. Coachable with a quiet personality, he figures to return to the Florida State League after struggling there in the second half of 2017.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #19 prospect in 2016
  Signed for $70,000 without much fanfare, Palacios burst onto the prospect radar last season with strong offensive showings in both the Rookie-level Gulf Coast and Appalachian Leagues. Rated the No. 17 and No. 3 prospects, respectively, he showed an advanced hitting ability and strike-zone discipline at both stops. A gamer with advanced baseball instincts, Palacios has good barrel awareness and a line-drive stroke. He can hit to all fields and handle top velocity. He doesn't project to hit more than 10-12 homers a season, but his gap power and high-contact approach have opened eyes. Just an average runner at best and similarly limited as a defender, he plays within himself while showing a quick release to go with a plus arm. He has enough arm strength to handle multiple infield spots. Overall, he made 21 errors in 57 games. He figures to open the year in the Midwest League, keeping him one level behind 2014 first-rounder Nick Gordon and two levels behind Engelb Vielma on the shortstop hierarchy.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida Complex League #17 prospect in 2015
  Palacios had a low profile when the Twins signed him for $70,000 out of Venezuela after the 2013 season. After hitting well in the Dominican Summer League in his 2014 debut, he carried that success over to the U.S. in 2015 by quickly hitting his way to Rookie-level Elizabethton of the Appalachian League, where his successful year continued. A gamer with a high baseball IQ, Palacios has a good understanding of the strike zone for his age. He gets a good pitch to hit and puts the barrel to the ball frequently, with a whippy, down-and-through swing that produces a lot of line drives. He's a smart hitter with good bat control who squares up good velocity and hits to all fields. Palacios is mostly a gap hitter with occasional pull-side pop, though he doesn't project to hit more than a dozen home runs per year, with his value more in his on-base skills. Palacios' bat is ahead of his defense, but he makes all the routine plays at shortstop. An average runner, he isn't flashy and usually doesn't try to do too much in the field. He does have a plus arm with a quick release.
• 
  Ranked American League #3 prospect in 2015
  Palacios' explosive U.S. debut started with a 1.061 OPS in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and continued at Elizabethton. According to one scout, he is "right there with (2014 first-rounder) Nick Gordon" in terms of prospect luster, though the two have differing skill sets. Palacios' best tool is his righthanded bat. He has a knack for finding the barrel and generates line drives with his downhill swing. He can pull the ball over the fence when he runs into a pitch, but his offensive value is concentrated in his ability to reach base. He has plus bat speed and takes calm, controlled at-bats. Palacios has shown the ability to hit premium velocity, but he could use more patience as he matures as a hitter. Defensively, Palacios shows sound fundamentals but lacks explosiveness and foot speed. He's an average runner at best, and some scouts rated him below-average. He committed 16 errors in 31 games but has the arm strength for any infield position.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Palacios signed with the Twins for $70,000 in 2013 and was traded to the Rays in 2018 for righthander Jake Odorizzi. Minnesota reacquired him as a minor league free agent prior to the 2021 season and watched him hit 19 home runs and 17 doubles while playing strong defense at shortstop with Double-A Wichita.
  
  Scouting Report: Palacios has a case as the best defensive shortstop in the system. He has soft hands and impressive actions in the field, with a strong arm from multiple angles and arm slots. His instincts are sound, and he is confident at all infield positions—he logged innings at each—earning plus defensive grades overall. The offensive profile is a bigger question. He hit well in his third stint against Double-A pitching, but skeptics will point to the fact that he was old for the level and a long history of generally underwhelming as a hitter. He posted near league-average exit velocities in 2021 and he does solid damage on contact, though he tends to expand the zone and swing and miss at below-average rates. Some scouts have noted he struggles against secondary offerings.
  
  The Future: Despite his age and questions on the bat, Palacios&#39 power output and defensive ability make him an intriguing sleeper to keep an eye on.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Palacios signed with the Twins for $70,000 in 2013 and was traded to the Rays in 2018 for righthander Jake Odorizzi. Minnesota reacquired him as a minor league free agent prior to the 2021 season and watched him hit 19 home runs and 17 doubles while playing strong defense at shortstop with Double-A Wichita.
  
  Scouting Report: Palacios has a case as the best defensive shortstop in the system. He has soft hands and impressive actions in the field, with a strong arm from multiple angles and arm slots. His instincts are sound, and he is confident at all infield positions—he logged innings at each—earning plus defensive grades overall. The offensive profile is a bigger question. He hit well in his third stint against Double-A pitching, but skeptics will point to the fact that he was old for the level and a long history of generally underwhelming as a hitter. He posted near league-average exit velocities in 2021 and he does solid damage on contact, though he tends to expand the zone and swing and miss at below-average rates. Some scouts have noted he struggles against secondary offerings.
  
  The Future: Despite his age and questions on the bat, Palacios’ power output and defensive ability make him an intriguing sleeper to keep an eye on.