Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

The 2019-20 international signing period might best be known for Yankees phenom Jasson Domínguez, but he was far from the only exciting bat to come from that class. Rodriguez was ranked highly on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 international prospect list and the Twins signed him for $2.5 million. He’s shown tremendous potential at every stop, making his pro debut stateside in 2021 and moving a rung at a time, with only injuries -- a knee in 2022 and an abdominal strain in 2023 -- slowing him down.

The left-handed-hitting outfielder has a very exciting combination of raw power, bat speed and plate discipline that has evaluators bullish on his future potential. There’s a little too much swing-and-miss in his game, but his ability to draw walks (20.2 percent walk rate in 2023) helps mitigate that. He registers high exit velocities and can drive the ball to all fields with plus power in his future. After a very slow start post-injury in 2023, he posted a .927 OPS from June 1 through the remainder of the season.

Rodriguez will play all of the 2024 season at age 21 and he’s still an above-average runner who can steal a base. He’s continued to show an ability to stick in center field, but if he slows down a tick, his plus arm will play just fine in right. His power profile would work there as well, with the first order of business being turning in a full, healthy season.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

One of the top international prospects when the 2019-20 signing period began, Rodriguez topped the Twins’ haul with a bonus of $2.5 million. He wasn’t able to make his official pro debut until 2021 and quickly announced that his power might play by homering 10 times in 37 Florida Complex League games. He made the jump to full-season ball at age 19 look easy in 2022, posting a 1.044 OPS over 47 games in the Florida State League before a torn meniscus ended his season in June.

Rodriguez’s best tool continues to be his tremendous raw power, with a combination of bat speed and plate discipline allowing him to tap into it fairly consistently already. The left-handed hitter has worked to keep his bat in the zone longer, and while there’s still work to be done, he didn’t swing through strikes as much as he did in his pro debut. His reduced chasing led to a lower strikeout rate in 2022, when he walked more than he whiffed. He makes a ton of hard contact and should continue to show the ability to drive the ball as he moves up the organizational ladder.

In the early stages of his career, Rodriguez has shown he has the ability to play a solid center field with above-average speed. There’s a chance he’ll slow down as he matures, and his plus arm, not to mention his power profile, will fit very well into right field if and when a move is necessary.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Rodriguez was a top 10 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 international prospects list for 2019-20 when the signing period opened up in July of 2019. The Twins were all in, giving the toolsy outfielder $2.75 million to sign, then had to wait a bit to see what he could do in a real competitive setting. He participated in instructs the fall after he signed and rehabbed a hand injury there a year later. When he finally made his pro debut, it was stateside, and he showed off his raw power by hitting 10 homers in 37 games in the Florida Complex League. He was making another big step forward during his full-season debut in 2022 when a torn meniscus required surgery and ended his season in June.

There aren’t many in the Twins organization who have more raw power than Rodriguez does and he has the chance to be an impact left-handed hitter with bat speed. His swing can get a little funky, with a tendency to get a little steep. For him to get to his power, he has to catch the ball out front, so it’s mostly shown up to the pull side thus far, and the Twins have worked with him to get his bat in the zone a little longer to reduce the swing-and-miss that showed up during his debut. He tends not to miss strikes, but does chase a good amount, though a willingness to draw walks is a foundation for a solid approach.

Rodriguez has good speed and solid instincts in the outfield, but it’s unclear if he’ll be able to stick in center field long-term. The good news is he has a plus arm that would work well in right field and there’s confidence he’ll make the adjustments to have the power profile teams covet from a corner spot.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Ranked No. 8 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 international prospects list at the start of the 2019-20, Rodriguez’s $2.5 million bonus tied him for eighth-highest in that year’s signing class. He participated in instructional league play in 2019 and came to instructs again in 2020, but spent most of it rehabbing a hand injury.

A left-handed hitter, Rodriguez has a smooth swing and has displayed an advanced approach at the plate, with excellent strike zone knowledge, especially given his age and experience. He can drive the ball to all fields and naturally creates backspin, with power to come as he continues to add strength.

Rodriguez’s natural instincts and feel for the game not only show up with his knowledge of the strike zone, but also on the defensive end. He has a chance to stick in center field with a tick above-average speed, but if physical maturation necessitates it, he could easily handle a corner. He’ll get his career started in earnest in 2021.

2020 Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40

Rodriguez was one of six outfielders in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 international prospects list for the 2019-20 signing period. He turned out to be the headliner of the Twins’ haul on the market, with his $2.5 million topping a group of seven teenagers who received six figures or better last July. Now it’s time for him to go out and show what he can do.

Athletic with a strong body and medium frame, Rodriguez has shown a solid hitting approach and advanced knowledge of the strike zone for a player his age. He has an efficient swing that creates lots of backspin and generates power to all fields. He also has a real feel and natural instincts for the game and, specifically, hitting.

Right now, Rodriguez profiles as a center fielder, though there’s a chance he could end up at a corner as he continues to physically mature. His above-average arm would play fine in right, though he covers enough ground in center to stay there for the time being. He reminds some of a young Eddie Rosario, a Twins homegrown player drafted back in 2010.

2019 Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

The Twins have long been active on the international amateur player market and the 2019-20 signing period has proven to be no different. The organization handed out seven six-figures or better bonuses at the start of the new signing period, a group topped by Rodriguez. The talented outfielder was ranked No. 8 on MLB Pipeline's Top 30 international prospects list and got $2.5 million to sign.

Rodriguez has the potential to have above-average tools across the board, profiling as a center fielder right now, but he could end up at one of the corner outfield spots in the future. Athletic with a strong body and medium frame, Rodriguez has shown a solid hitting approach and advanced knowledge of the strike zone for a player his age. He has an efficient swing that creates lots of backspin and generates power to all fields. He also has a real feel and natural instincts for the game and specifically, hitting.

Rodriguez can cover some ground in the outfield. He has a strong arm with excellent actions that could make him a plus defender in the future. He also runs the timed 60-yard run in 6.5 seconds and is a smart baserunner. Overall, he's reminded some of a young Eddie Rosario, who was drafted by the Twins out of Puerto Rico back in 2010.

Awards

Baseball America Double-A All-Star

Year	Team
2024

TEX Player of the Week

Week	Team
05/26/2024
04/14/2024

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023

MID Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

FSL Player of the Week

Week	Team
06/05/2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/01/2024	Minnesota Twins recalled CF Emmanuel Rodriguez from St. Paul Saints.
	09/02/2024	CF Emmanuel Rodriguez assigned to St. Paul Saints from Wichita Wind Surge.
	09/02/2024	St. Paul Saints placed CF Emmanuel Rodriguez on the 7-day injured list. Right thumb sprain.
	08/29/2024	Wichita Wind Surge sent CF Emmanuel Rodriguez on a rehab assignment to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
	08/29/2024	CF Emmanuel Rodriguez assigned to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
	08/29/2024	sent CF Emmanuel Rodriguez on a rehab assignment to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
	07/06/2024	Wichita Wind Surge sent CF Emmanuel Rodriguez on a rehab assignment to FCL Twins.
	07/06/2024	Wichita Wind Surge sent CF Emmanuel Rodriguez on a rehab assignment to FCL Twins.
	06/07/2024	Wichita Wind Surge placed CF Emmanuel Rodriguez on the 7-day injured list.
	03/12/2024	Minnesota Twins optioned CF Emmanuel Rodriguez to Wichita Wind Surge.
	03/12/2024	Wichita Wind Surge activated CF Emmanuel Rodriguez.
	03/07/2024	Minnesota Twins Prospects activated CF Emmanuel Rodriguez.
	11/14/2023	Minnesota Twins selected the contract of CF Emmanuel Rodriguez from Cedar Rapids Kernels.
	11/14/2023	Minnesota Twins activated CF Emmanuel Rodriguez.
	05/06/2023	Cedar Rapids Kernels activated CF Emmanuel Rodriguez from the 7-day injured list.
	04/18/2023	Cedar Rapids Kernels placed CF Emmanuel Rodriguez on the 7-day injured list. Left abdomen strain.
	04/03/2023	CF Emmanuel Rodriguez assigned to Cedar Rapids Kernels.
	03/09/2023	CF Emmanuel Rodriguez assigned to Minnesota Twins.
	03/09/2023	CF Emmanuel Rodriguez roster status changed by Minnesota Twins.
	11/10/2022	Fort Myers Mighty Mussels activated CF Emmanuel Rodriguez from the 60-day injured list.
	07/23/2022	Fort Myers Mighty Mussels transferred CF Emmanuel Rodriguez from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	06/09/2022	Fort Myers Mighty Mussels placed CF Emmanuel Rodriguez on the 7-day injured list. Left knee sprain.
	06/09/2022	Fort Myers Mighty Mussels placed CF Emmanuel Rodriguez on the 7-day injured list.
	04/05/2022	CF Emmanuel Rodriguez assigned to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels from FCL Twins.
	04/04/2022	CF Emmanuel Rodriguez and assigned to Minnesota Twins.
	10/07/2021	CF Emmanuel Rodriguez assigned to Twins Organization.
	10/07/2021	CF Emmanuel Rodriguez assigned to Twins Organization.
	06/28/2021	RHP Miguel Gomez assigned to FCL Nationals from DSL Nationals.
	02/14/2020	OF Emmanuel Rodriguez assigned to DSL Twins.
	07/02/2019	Minnesota Twins signed free agent OF Emmanuel Rodriguez to a minor league contract.