Scouting Report

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

Severino initially signed with the Braves for $1.9 million at the start of the 2016-17 international signing period but was declared a free agent after making his pro debut in 2017 as part of the penalty for Atlanta’s international signing violations. He joined the Twins for $2.5 million and has moved very methodically up the ladder. His profile has changed considerably since he started his pro career, finding his power as he physically matured as he hit 24 homers in 2022 and then tied for the Minor League lead in home runs (35) in 2023 to earn a spot on the 40-man roster.

Once upon a time, Severino posted very high groundball rates. Now he has an unbelievable knack for lifting the ball off the ground and the switch-hitter can elevate from both sides of the plate. He’ll draw some walks, but his strikeout rate jumped to 32.8 percent in 2023. He recorded an overall miss rate of 39 percent last year, with work to be done on both his in-zone miss and chase rates. He’s always going to strikeout, but if he can refine his swing decisions just a little, he’ll have a better chance of tapping into that power in the big leagues.

Once a middle infielder who still played some games at second last year, it’s looking more and more that Severino’s defensive home will be at an infield corner. He played a lot of third, and his arm works well from the hot corner, but he’ll start getting more reps at first, both because of defensive limitations and to provide different possibilities of getting that power bat into the lineup.

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

One of the top international prospects in the 2016-17 signing class, Severino first signed with the Braves for $1.9 million and made his pro debut in 2017. He was part of the group of prospects declared free agents as Major League Baseball penalized the Braves for international signing violations. Since signing with the Twins for $2.5 million, he’s moved up the ladder slowly, missing most of his full-season debut in 2019 due to injury and having to wait until 2021 to try again because of the pandemic. There were signs of life that year offensively and even more in 2022, none of which seemed like a sign he’d mash 24 homers in 84 Double-A games to earn a promotion to Triple-A in 2023.

As he’s physically matured, Severino has shown an ability to really impact the baseball from both sides of the plate. He has continued to register plus exit velocities, using his bat speed to great effect to get to his raw power in games. There are still concerns about his approach at the plate as well as his swing-and-miss, but he’s managed to not let the strikeout rate increase too much as he’s moved to the higher levels.

While there’s now confidence Severino will one day get a chance to hit in the big leagues, there are questions about what position he’ll play while doing so. He had played mostly second base and continues to see time there, but he’s had more time at third of late, where his strong arm does profile well. His best position may be the batter’s box, with a future as an offensive-minded infielder who plays multiple spots to get his power bat in the lineup.

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

Severino began his professional career with the Atlanta Braves, initially singing for $1.9 million as one of the best international prospects in the 2016-17 signing class. He made his debut in 2017, but was part of the group of prospects declared free agents as Major League Baseball penalized the Braves for international signing violations. The Twins inked Severino to a $2.5 million bonus, but a solid Appalachian League showing in 2018 led to an injury-shortened campaign in full-season ball the following year. He went back to Low-A ball, this time the Florida State League, to begin the 2021 season after the 2020 shutdown.

While he’s yet to put it together, there is some offensive upside with this switch-hitter. He can impact the baseball and drive the ball with good bat speed at times and if he can learn to incorporate his added strength more, there could be power to unlock. His overall approach has held him back, with poor pitch recognition and high strikeout rates, though he's doing a better job of drawing walks in 2021.

Severino has played second base much more than any other position during his pro career, a position he’s long wanted to play because of his desire to emulate Robinson Canó. The Twins started mixing in third base this season and he does have enough arm for the left side of the infield. There’s time for Severino to figure things out offensively and profile well at one position long-term, but it is looking more likely that a future at multiple spots is more realistic.

Severino was on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 international prospects list as the 2016-17 signing period began and initially signed with the Atlanta Braves for $1.9 million. He made his professional debut in that organization in 2017, largely in the Gulf Coast League. When he was made a free agent as part of the penalty levied against the Braves for international signing violations, the Twins swooped in and inked him for $2.5 million. After he played well in the Appalachian League in 2018, his 2019 season never really got off the ground as a thumb fracture suffered in April cost him more than three months of the season.

Severino still has the chance to be an impact hitter who plays up the middle defensively. He’s already shown the ability to drive the ball from both sides of the plate in the past, with excellent bat speed, and he’s gotten bigger and stronger, so there could eventually be more power in his game. That will only happen if he can improve his approach at the plate and his pitch recognition, allowing him to cut down on the strikeouts. 

Severino has primarily been a second baseman throughout his young career, but the Twins did have him play some shortstop in 2018 because of his above-average arm and good hands. That experiment appears to be over and he should stick at second full-time now, just like his idol Robinson Cano. The 2020 season is all about hitting the reset button, with the Twins hoping he and Wander Javier can finally team up as a middle infield combination.

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

Severino began his career with the Braves after signing for $1.9 million in July 2016. After one year in the organization, he was declared a free agent in the wake of the Braves' international signing violations and the Twins signed him just a few weeks later for $2.5 million. He had a solid organizational debut in 2018 in the rookie-level Appalachian League, getting a chance to join full-season Cedar Rapids during their Midwest League playoff run to close out his season.

While Severino's numbers look better facing right-handed pitching thus far, the Twins think the switch-hitter's right-handed swing is underrated and should catch up in time. He's still figuring things out at the plate and needs to refine his approach and pitch recognition, which should allow him to tap into surprising raw power. Right now, Severino is an average runner, but speed isn't a part of his game.

One thing that's unclear is where Severino will play defensively long-term. He patterns his game after Robinson Cano, including wanting to play second base. The Twins think he has the hands and arm to handle shortstop, and he did see some time on the left side of the infield in 2018. That should continue for the time being, with the Twins knowing that if he slows down more as he matures, he profiles well at Cano's spot.

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

Severino signed with the Braves in 2016, when he was MLB Pipeline's No. 26 prospect on the Ttop 30 International Prospects list, for $1.9 million. He had a solid pro debut, which saw him get pushed stateside to the Gulf Coast League, but then was made a free agent as part of the penalty levied against the Braves for violation of baseball's rules on signing international amateur free agents. The Twins swooped in and signed Severino for $2.5 million.

The Braves moved Severino to second base immediately upon the start of his career, and the Twins have largely left him there, even though they feel his above-average arm and good hands could play at short.

There is a long way to go before the Twins know exactly which kind of player Severino ends up being. Either way, the organization feels it's added a dynamic offensive performer who will play up the middle defensively.

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

Severino was ranked No. 26 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 30 international prospects list at the start of the 2016-17 signing period and was signed by the Braves on July 2 for $1.9 million. After initially making his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, he moved to the United States and showed some of his offensive potential in the Gulf Coast League. One of the prospects declared a free agent by Major League Baseball as a penalty for Atlanta's international rules violations, Severino signed with the Twins for $2.5 million in December.

An offensive-minded middle infielder, Severino is a switch-hitter with excellent bat speed and an aggressive approach at the plate. He was much better from the left side of the plate during his pro debut, but he shows the ability to make hard contact from both sides of the plate at times. He's deceptively strong with more raw power than you'd think. He'll have to refine that approach to tap into it more consistently as there was a lot of swing-and-miss to his game during his debut. A shortstop when he signed, he was moved to second by the Braves mostly because of his below-average speed, though he has the chance to be a capable defender there.

It's his bat that gives him the chance to be special, and why teams were willing to spend to sign him. It might take time for him to find a consistent, mature approach, but when he does, his raw offensive tools might really shine.

Awards

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023

TEX Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2023

TEX Player of the Month

Month	Team
07/2023

TEX Player of the Week

Week	Team
07/30/2023
05/14/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/01/2024	Minnesota Twins recalled 1B Yunior Severino from St. Paul Saints.
	03/12/2024	Minnesota Twins optioned SS Yunior Severino to St. Paul Saints.
	03/12/2024	St. Paul Saints activated SS Yunior Severino.
	03/07/2024	Minnesota Twins Prospects activated SS Yunior Severino.
	11/06/2023	Minnesota Twins selected the contract of SS Yunior Severino from St. Paul Saints.
	11/06/2023	Minnesota Twins activated SS Yunior Severino.
	10/26/2023	SS Yunior Severino assigned to Tigres del Licey.
	08/03/2023	SS Yunior Severino assigned to St. Paul Saints from Wichita Wind Surge.
	02/25/2023	SS Yunior Severino and assigned to Minnesota Twins.
	08/04/2022	SS Yunior Severino assigned to Wichita Wind Surge from Cedar Rapids Kernels.
	06/01/2022	Cedar Rapids Kernels activated SS Yunior Severino from the 7-day injured list.
	04/12/2022	Cedar Rapids Kernels placed SS Yunior Severino on the 7-day injured list. Left thumb contusion.
	04/02/2022	SS Yunior Severino and assigned to Minnesota Twins.
	07/26/2021	SS Yunior Severino assigned to Cedar Rapids Kernels from Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.
	02/12/2021	Fort Myers Mighty Mussels activated SS Yunior Severino.
	02/12/2021	Fort Myers Mighty Mussels activated 2B Yunior Severino.
	02/12/2021	Fort Myers Mighty Mussels activated 2B Yunior Severino.
	02/12/2021	Fort Myers Mighty Mussels activated SS Yunior Severino.
	02/12/2021	Fort Myers Mighty Mussels activated SS Yunior Severino.
	02/26/2020	2B Yunior Severino assigned to Minnesota Twins.
	09/16/2019	Cedar Rapids Kernels activated 2B Yunior Severino from the 7-day injured list.
	09/16/2019	Cedar Rapids Kernels activated 2B Yunior Severino from the 7-day injured list.
	08/23/2019	Cedar Rapids Kernels placed 2B Yunior Severino on the 7-day injured list retroactive to August 22, 2019. Left thigh strain.
	08/03/2019	Cedar Rapids Kernels activated 2B Yunior Severino from the 7-day injured list.
	07/27/2019	Cedar Rapids Kernels sent 2B Yunior Severino on a rehab assignment to GCL Twins.
	04/12/2019	Cedar Rapids Kernels placed 2B Yunior Severino on the 7-day injured list.
	09/08/2018	2B Yunior Severino assigned to Cedar Rapids Kernels from Elizabethton Twins.
	06/18/2018	2B Yunior Severino assigned to Elizabethton Twins.
	12/08/2017	Minnesota Twins signed free agent 2B Yunior Severino to a minor league contract.
	11/21/2017	2B Yunior Severino elected free agency.
	06/26/2017	2B Yunior Severino assigned to GCL Braves from DSL Braves.
	06/08/2017	SS Yunior Severino assigned to DSL Braves.
	07/02/2016	Atlanta Braves signed free agent SS Yunior Severino to a minor league contract.