Amaurys Minier

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #30 prospect in 2016
  It's all about the raw power with Minier, who received a $1.4 million bonus in 2012. But he struggled to make enough contact last season in his first venture above the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. His strikeout rate was 34.6 percent in the Rookie-level Appalachian League, and his problems were even more pronounced from the left side (.265 on-base percentage). Signed as a shortstop, he spent a year at third base in 2013, tried left field in 2014 and settled at first base in the wake of 2014 surgery to repair a torn right labrum. Minier shows below-average hands and footwork at first. He's also a below-average runner with poor instincts whose progress will be determined by his bat. With power potential from both sides of the plate, Minier at his best recalls a young Kendrys Morales, producing line drives to all fields with natural backspin. He figures to get another look at Elizabethton before being sent up the organizational ladder.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #26 prospect in 2015
  The burly Dominican received a $1.4 million bonus to highlight the Twins' 2012 international class. Originally signed as a shortstop, Minier spent a year at third base in 2013 before making the switch to left field and first base in 2014. Slowed early on by surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder and later by a hamstring injury, Minier remains a below-average defender who will only go as far as his bat takes him. He famously sent a low laser over the wall in 2013 only to be stopped at second with a groundrule double by a disbelieving umpire. The switch-hitting Minier is a bigger threat from the left side of the plate at this point, but he has power potential from both sides, producing line drives to all fields with natural backspin. Having added nearly 20 pounds since signing, his build recalls that of Miguel Sano at a similar stage. Minier has a strong arm but must improve his accuracy and routes. His hands and footwork are below-average at first. Poor instincts and baseball awareness leave him below-average as a runner, but some of that can be remedied with more repetition.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #24 prospect in 2014
  The jewel of the Twins' 2012 international signings, Minier signed for $1.4 million and wasted little time showing why. Reporting to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League for the first time in 2013, the switch-hitter flashed some of the best raw power in the organization. Witnesses are still buzzing about the low laser he sent over the wall in left field only to have the disbelieving umpire rule it a ground-rule double due to its odd trajectory. Minier's overall hitting approach still needs work from both sides, and he doesn't make nearly enough contact at this point, as shown by his 26 percent strikeout rate. However, his batting-practice swing features a crispness that produces line drives to all fields and natural backspin. Listed at 6-foot-2, 217 pounds, he already has added nearly 20 pounds since signing. His build is reminiscent of Miguel Sano's at a similar stage. Like Sano, Minier didn't last long at shortstop, and he still has room to pack on more muscle as he eventually settles in at a corner infield spot or even right field, where his strong arm would play well. He remains extremely raw and has poor instincts in the field and on the bases, where he is a below-average runner. Minier will try to play catch-up in 2014 in extended spring training, then move up to the Rookie-level Appalachian League.