Last spring, after spring training began, the Twins signed Donovan Solano to fill a bench spot. He proved helpful to the 2023 team. A Twins prospect can perform a similar position in the 2024 season.
Donovan Solano was a late addition to the Twins roster last spring, signing a one-year, $2 million contract. His worth to Minnesota was far greater, as he appeared in a career-high 134 games, hitting.282/.369/.391 with 26 doubles, one triple, and five home runs. During his age-35 season, he compiled 1.7 rWAR, and FanGraphs valued him at around $10 million. Earlier this winter, reports circulated that Solano wanted to return to the Twins, but this is unlikely to happen. Instead, the Twins could already have a younger version of Solano on their 40-man roster, ready to take the next step.
Yunior Severino was regarded as one of the top foreign prospects during the 2016-17 signing period. He signed with the Braves for over $2 million at the time, and he made his professional debut in 2017 with their minor league teams. Following the season, he was one of a few prospects declared free agents by Major League Baseball due to the Braves’ violation of rules governing foreign free agent recruitment and signing. Minnesota swooped in and gave Severino a $2.5 million bonus. Since then, his success with the organization has been uneven.
Severino has steadily risen through the organization’s ranks, particularly since the minor-league season was lost due to the epidemic. In 2021, he played in both Low-A and High-A, hitting.273/.372/.430 with 29 doubles and eight home runs in 98 games. His power increased dramatically in 2022, while playing for Cedar Rapids and Wichita. He hit 19 home runs in 83 games and had a career-high OPS of.907. Unfortunately, injuries limited him to fewer than 100 games in consecutive seasons, but his bat showed signs of life, impressing scouts.
Severino’s true breakout season came in 2023. He started the year at Double-A, hitting.287/.365/.560 with 15 doubles and 24 home runs in 84 games. He was subsequently promoted to Triple-A in the second half, where he continued to hammer the ball, finishing with an.832 OPS and 11 more home runs for the season. The switch-hitter hit 35 home runs, tied for the most in the minors. No Twins minor leaguer has hit more than 35 home runs in a season since 2000. After the season, Twins Daily named him the organization’s 2023 Minor League Hitter of the Year.
The front office rewarded Severino’s excellence by adding him to the 40-man roster this winter, which was a more significant decision than it appears, given his age and closeness. Brooks Lee and Austin Martin have earned a lot of attention for their prospective roles with the Twins in 2023, but Severino should not be overlooked. Severino’s splits from both sides of the plate have been nearly identical, because to his incredible bat speed and high exit velocity. During his brief stint in Triple-A, he hit six balls at least 101.9 mph from the right side (facing lefties) and ten at least that hard from the left. He generated some lift from both sides.
Like any power hitter, there are questions about his strikeout rate, which was 173 in 120 games last season. However, he was relatively young for both levels last season, facing older pitchers in roughly 84% of his plate appearances.
So, how can Severino fill Solano’s job for the Twins? Both players have some defensive versatility, but they are not considered excellent defenders in any position. In 2023, Severino started 64 games at third base, more than any other position. He also played more than 125 innings at second and first base. Solano played all three positions for the Twins in 2023. Obviously, their attacking profiles are somewhat different. Solano has a.711 OPS in MLB, whereas Severino’s.832 OPS throughout his whole professional career includes just minor-league figures to date. Severino will not hit for average or get on base as much as Solano, but he does have significantly more power in his bat.
Severino is unlikely to open the season with the Twins, but it doesn’t diminish his potential long-term importance to the franchise. His power is legitimate, and he can continue to improve at Triple-A. His strikeout rate was high last year, but returning to his familiar level may help him learn to be more selective at the plate. Defensively, he must demonstrate that he will not be a liability at whatever position the Twins require him to play if he is called up. “Donnie Barrels” was crucial for Minnesota last season, and Severino can play a similar role in the coming years.
Like any power hitter, there are questions about his strikeout rate, which was 173 in 120 games last season. However, he was relatively young for both levels last season, facing older pitchers in roughly 84% of his plate appearances.
So, how can Severino fill Solano’s job for the Twins? Both players have some defensive versatility, but they are not considered excellent defenders in any position. In 2023, Severino started 64 games at third base, more than any other position. He also played more than 125 innings at second and first base. Solano played all three positions for the Twins in 2023. Obviously, their attacking profiles are somewhat different. Solano has a.711 OPS in MLB, whereas Severino’s.832 OPS throughout his whole professional career includes just minor-league figures to date. Severino will not hit for average or get on base as much as Solano, but he does have significantly more power in his bat.
Severino is unlikely to open the season with the Twins, but it doesn’t diminish his potential long-term importance to the franchise. His power is legitimate, and he can continue to improve at Triple-A. His strikeout rate was high last year, but returning to his familiar level may help him learn to be more selective at the plate. Defensively, he must demonstrate that he will not be a liability at whatever position the Twins require him to play if he is called up. “Donnie Barrels” was crucial for Minnesota last season, and Severino can play a similar role in the coming years.
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