Minnesota Twins 2025 International Class Scouting Report
With the MLB international signing period opening today, teams can officially begin to sign players in their 2025 class.
For Baseball America subscribers, we have scouting reports and player notes on the classes for all 30 teams, providing information on the big names to know in each class, as well as deeper cut players to watch.
The Twins’ class is heavy on position players, though they also have one of the better pitching prospects in Latin America for this year. One of their top signings this year is Venezuelan shortstop Santiago Leon, a player the Twins have known forever as the son of longtime Twins scout Jose Leon. On the younger side of the 2025 class, Leon’s hitting ability and high baseball IQ stand out. He’s a high-contact hitter who tracks pitches well, stays within the strike zone and regularly strings together quality at-bats with a line-drive, all-fields approach at gap power. At 6 feet, 172 pounds, there’s some more physical upside remaining, but he doesn’t project to ever be a huge power threat. He’s an average runner whose defensive game is more about instincts and quick-twitch athleticism or actions. Leon should get a chance to develop at shortstop, but he could move elsewhere in the infield as he moves up.
Dominican outfielder Carlos Taveras is 6-foot-1, 213 pounds, a physically mature build for his age whose calling card is his lefthanded power. He can light it up in batting practice and crush fastballs with what should end up being plus or better raw power. Scouts highest on him thought Taveras showed some feel to maneuver the barrel to cover different portions of the strike zone, but he will have to make adjustments to make sure he makes enough contact in games and against soft stuff. Taveras runs surprisingly well for his size with above-average speed underway, but he’s built more like a corner outfielder and likely ends up on a wing long term.
Venezuelan shortstop Haritzon Castillo is a switch-hitter with good bat-to-ball skills from a compact swing and a good offensive approach for his age, spreading line drives around the field with gap power. At 6 feet, 175 pounds, Castillo is an offensive-oriented infielder with more skills than raw tools. It’s not the typical quick-twitch athleticism teams typically look for at shortstop, so he could end up bouncing around to different infield spots between shortstop, second and third base.
One player who looks like a late addition to Minnesota’s class is Dominican outfielder Teilon Serrano. Previously set to sign with the Dodgers, Serrano now looks like he will get more money from the Twins after he opted not to wait for the Dodgers to find out whether they would sign Roki Sasaki. At 6-foot-1, Serrano is a high-contact hitter with good bat speed from the left side, a strong offensive profile to go with his athleticism. Serrano had been training as a shortstop initially, so there’s still a learning curve for him in the outfield, but he has the plus speed to give him a chance to stay there.
Venezuelan righthander Santiago Castellanos has been a significant up-arrow pitcher. He’s a 6-foot righthander whose stuff has taken off over the past year to where he has become one of the best pitchers in the class. He’s 16 with outstanding arm speed and already reaching 97 mph with a lively fastball. He shows feel to spin a hard curveball with good depth and will flash an occasional changeup.
Venezuelan shortstop Jose Barrios has good footwork, hands and quickness at shortstop. He’s a slender 5-foot-11 switch-hitter with a quick bat and doubles power. Dominican outfielder Joyner Perez is a righthanded-hitting outfielder whose bat is his best trait. He’s 5-foot-11 without huge physical upside but he has a knack for barreling the ball and should slot into an outfield corner. Another Dominican outfielder, Jhomnardo Reyes is a 6-foot-1, lefthanded power bat. It’s a power-over-hit profile with a still wiry frame to fill out and enhance his power even more.
