Payton Eeles
2B | Bats/Throws: L/R | 5' 5" 180LBS | Age: 25
MLB Pipeline Rank
TWINS: No. 30 |
PA AB R H HR SB AVG OBP SLG OPS
2024 260 214 43 64 8 20 .299 .419 .500 .919
Career Minors 469 372 87 114 12 41 .306 .435 .497 .932
AVG HR SB OPS
2024 .299 8 20 .919
Career Minors .306 12 41 .932
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Standard Minor League Batting Statistics

SeasonTmLGLGPAABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSOSBCSHBPAVGOBPSLGOPS
2024 3 Teams Minors 111 469 372 87 114 19 8 12 60 67 68 41 10 23 .306 .435 .497 .932
2024 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels FSL A 34 154 118 32 39 7 3 3 26 23 27 13 4 7 .331 .448 .517 .965
2024 Cedar Rapids Kernels MID A+ 13 55 40 12 11 1 1 1 4 11 3 8 3 4 .275 .473 .425 .898
2024 St. Paul Saints INT AAA 64 260 214 43 64 11 4 8 30 33 38 20 3 12 .299 .419 .500 .919
St. Paul Saints INT AAA 64 260 214 43 64 11 4 8 30 33 38 20 3 12 .299 .419 .500 .919
Cedar Rapids Kernels MID A+ 13 55 40 12 11 1 1 1 4 11 3 8 3 4 .275 .473 .425 .898
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels FSL A 34 154 118 32 39 7 3 3 26 23 27 13 4 7 .331 .448 .517 .965

Scouting Report

2024

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 45 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

After four years at Division II Cedarville University in Ohio, Eeles used his extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic to play as a “super senior” at Coastal Carolina. The diminutive infielder posted a .992 OPS but because of his age (23 at the time) and his size (5-foot-5) there was no interest among the 30 MLB clubs. So Eeles headed to Indy ball, the American Association that summer and then the Atlantic League to start the 2024 season when the Twins signed him as a free agent for just $500 in May. He then hit his way all the way to Triple-A, finishing the year as the regular leadoff hitter for the St. Paul Saints and finishing the year with a .932 OPS, 12 homers and 41 steals.

A left-handed hitter, Eeles used his fantastic strike zone knowledge to hit at all three levels he reached in 2024, walking nearly as often as he struck out and routinely finding the barrel. He can drive the ball to all fields and while it’s a hit-first profile, he did slug .500 in Triple-A and could run into 10-12 homers annually after topping the organization in ISO and finishing second in wRC+. While he’s not a burner, he’s an aggressive and smart baserunner who managed to lead the organization stolen bases.

A solid athlete, Eeles is best suited to play second base should he be able to settle in at one position, but he’s shown he can handle shortstop, albeit without the arm to profile there on a regular basis, and he can also play the outfield. That points to a likely future as a utility type, but the fact he’s on the big league radar at all is one of the biggest 2024 surprises in the organization.


Transactions

Team Date Transaction
07/04/2024 2B Payton Eeles assigned to St. Paul Saints from Cedar Rapids Kernels.
06/17/2024 2B Payton Eeles assigned to Cedar Rapids Kernels from Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
05/07/2024 2B Payton Eeles assigned to Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
05/07/2024 Minnesota Twins signed free agent 2B Payton Eeles to a minor league contract.
03/04/2024 2B Payton Eeles assigned to Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
03/04/2024 Payton Eeles assigned to Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.