Track Record: Despite a broken hamate bone that cost him two months last season, Whitefield remains one of the more intriguing prospects in the system. Signed out of Australia for $70,000 late in the 2014-15 international signing period, Whitefield is the product of professional softball-playing parents and focused on softball into his mid-teens.
Scouting Report: A true center fielder who rates as the best defensive outfielder in the system, the sturdy Aussie roams both gaps with plus range. Although his arm is just average, he is an above-average runner who has clocked sub-4.0 times to first from the right side. Still somewhat raw due to his background, Whitefield hit just .163 in his first 32 games after returning from the hamate injury before stabilizing in August. Intense, coachable and able to make adjustments quickly, his raw power remains and that should carry over into games more once he improves his contact rate (23.5 percent strikeout rate in 2018).
The Future: Whitefield was a top performer at the Twins’ fall minicamp and was expected to recoup some of his lost at-bats while playing for Team Australia at the Pan Am Games qualifier as well as in the Australian League. Whitefield figures to open 2019 back in the Florida State League.
Signed out of Australia for $70,000, Whitefield comes from a family of athletes and continues to impress with his athleticism and production. Already among the best defensive outfielders in the system, the big-bodied Whitefield is remarkably light on his feet as he covers ground with plus range in center. His arm is just average. He is an above-average runner who has been timed at sub-4.0 seconds to first from the right side. Still fairly raw after focusing on softball into his mid-teens, he squared up a drastically open stance early last year with the help of low Class A hitting coach Brian Dinkelman. That helped Whitefield with his pitch recognition during a standout first half, although he tailed off in August and struggled overall against lefties. Whitefield projects to add another 20 pounds of muscle, which should only add to his above-average raw power as he improves his contact rate. Coachable and intense, he figures to open 2018 in the Florida State League.
Best Tools List
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Minnesota Twins in 2019
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Minnesota Twins in 2018
Career Transactions
Melbourne Aces reassigned 1B Aaron Whitefield to the minor leagues.
Rocket City Trash Pandas released 1B Aaron Whitefield.
Rocket City Trash Pandas activated 1B Aaron Whitefield.
Rocket City Trash Pandas transferred 1B Aaron Whitefield to the Development List.
Los Angeles Angels invited non-roster 1B Aaron Whitefield to spring training.
1B Aaron Whitefield roster status changed by Los Angeles Angels.
Australia activated 1B Aaron Whitefield.
Melbourne Aces activated 1B Aaron Whitefield from the reserve list.
Melbourne Aces activated 1B Aaron Whitefield from the reserve list.
Melbourne Aces placed 1B Aaron Whitefield on the reserve list.
1B Aaron Whitefield assigned to Melbourne Aces.
Rocket City Trash Pandas activated 1B Aaron Whitefield from the 7-day injured list.
Rocket City Trash Pandas placed 1B Aaron Whitefield on the 7-day injured list.
Rocket City Trash Pandas activated 1B Aaron Whitefield.
Los Angeles Angels designated 1B Aaron Whitefield for assignment.
1B Aaron Whitefield assigned to Rocket City Trash Pandas.
1B Aaron Whitefield roster status changed by Los Angeles Angels.
1B Aaron Whitefield assigned to Los Angeles Angels.
1B Aaron Whitefield elected free agency.
1B Aaron Whitefield and assigned to Criollos de Caguas.
sent CF Aaron Whitefield outright to Wichita Wind Surge.
sent CF Aaron Whitefield outright to Wichita Wind Surge.
sent CF Aaron Whitefield outright to Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Minnesota Twins sent CF Aaron Whitefield outright to Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Minnesota Twins optioned CF Aaron Whitefield to Twins Alternate Training Site.
Minnesota Twins selected the contract of Aaron Whitefield from Twins Alternate Training Site.
Minnesota Twins invited non-roster OF Aaron Whitefield to spring training.
CF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Twins Alternate Training Site from Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
OF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Minnesota Twins.
CF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Fort Myers Miracle from Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
CF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Pensacola Blue Wahoos from Fort Myers Miracle.
CF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Minnesota Twins.
OF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Adelaide Bite.
Fort Myers Miracle activated CF Aaron Whitefield from the 7-day injured list.
Fort Myers Miracle sent OF Aaron Whitefield on a rehab assignment to GCL Twins.
Fort Myers Miracle placed CF Aaron Whitefield on the 7-day disabled list.
CF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Fort Myers Miracle from Cedar Rapids Kernels.
CF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Minnesota Twins.
Brisbane Bandits activated OF Aaron Whitefield.
Brisbane Bandits reassigned OF Aaron Whitefield to the minor leagues.
OF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Team Australia.
CF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Team Australia.
Cedar Rapids Kernels activated CF Aaron Whitefield from the 7-day disabled list.
Cedar Rapids Kernels placed CF Aaron Whitefield on the 7-day disabled list. Right shoulder bursitis.
CF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Cedar Rapids Kernels from Elizabethton Twins.
OF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Team Australia.
CF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Elizabethton Twins from GCL Twins.
OF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Australia.
Brisbane Bandits activated OF Aaron Whitefield.
Brisbane Bandits placed OF Aaron Whitefield on the reserve list.
OF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Team Australia.
Brisbane Bandits activated OF Aaron Whitefield.
Brisbane Bandits reassigned OF Aaron Whitefield to the minor leagues.
Brisbane Bandits placed OF Aaron Whitefield on the reserve list.
Brisbane Bandits activated OF Aaron Whitefield.
Brisbane Bandits placed OF Aaron Whitefield on the reserve list.
OF Aaron Whitefield assigned to Brisbane Bandits.
GCL Twins activated CF Aaron Whitefield from the restricted list.
GCL Twins placed OF Aaron Whitefield on the restricted list.
OF Aaron Whitefield assigned to GCL Twins.
Minnesota Twins signed free agent CF Aaron Whitefield to a minor league contract.
Los Angeles Angels sent 1B Aaron Whitefield outright to Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Los Angeles Angels selected the contract of 1B Aaron Whitefield from Rocket City Trash Pandas.
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