The Minnesota Twins have trended back towards a clean bill of health at the major league level. Royce Lewis has been back for a while now, and both Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa returned from their collision. Matt Wallner became the latest to rejoin Rocco Baldelli's 31-27 squad over the weekend.
Unfortunately the top prospect health has not been as great on the farm. Walker Jenkins has played just two games this season after dealing with an ankle injury that stems from Spring Training . Emmanuel Rodriguez also suffered an ankle injury around the same time but has been available.
That is until now. Rodriguez has had a relatively consistent career of injuries , and his latest lands him on the St. Paul Saints injured list.
Emmanuel Rodriguez injured at Triple-A for Minnesota Twins
If there are three things synonymous with Emmanuel Rodriguez they are patience, power, and injuries. The Minnesota Twins star prospect has constantly been tied to all three during his professional career. A new injury, this time his right hip, lands him on the Triple-A injured list.
Some Twins minor league news for the @StPaulSaints , and there's a bad update:
Mike Ford has been released
Payton Eeles reinstated from the IL
Emmanuel Rodriguez placed on the IL (right hip)
Yunior Severino placed on the IL (left oblique)— Ted (@tlschwerz) June 2, 2025
Rodriguez last played on May 30 for St. Paul. He was lifted for Jeferson Morales and then missed each of the Saints last two games. Minnesota responded by placing him on the injured list with a right hip issue.
Last season Rodriguez played in just 47 games after dealing with a thumb injury that ultimately required season-ending surgery. He got 99 games in with Cedar Rapids during 2023, but it's the only season of his five-year career in which he has played more than 47 games.
This year, his first full season at Triple-A, Rodriguez has performed to his offensive track record. He owns a .232/.400/.392 slash line. The outfielder has posted six doubles, a triple, and four home runs with a 56/32 K/BB ratio.
You want more long balls, we'll give you more. How about a 2-run blast from a Top 100 prospect. Emmanuel Rodriguez goes yard over the right-center field wall, his third of the season, ties the game at seven in the 4th. This game is wild pic.twitter.com/4ZbDZNWgH0
— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) May 17, 2025
Rodriguez is a capable centerfielder that is more likely destined for a corner spot. His patience at the plate can be to his detriment, and is a reason the average sags. He does have legitimate plus-power and is considered a consensus top 25 prospect across baseball.
Amidst the roster shuffling for St. Paul, they do get Payton Eeles back. He is an independent baseball success story that has climbed the Twins minor league ranks. The 25-year-old made it from Single-A to Triple-A last season and owned a .299/.419/.500 line with St. Paul across 64 games. It wouldn't be a shock to see the utility infielder debut with Minnesota this season.
How long will the Twins miss E-Rod this time?
Each year an injury seems to befall Rodriguez and the Minnesota Twins prospect misses a sizable chunk of time. The severity of this hip injury has not yet been reported, but the timing isn't great. Rodriguez is on the 40-man and would be a candidate to make his big league debut. ESPN Insider Kiley McDaniel recently noted this exact scenario for Rodriguez.
"Rodriguez gets hurt a lot but is at Triple-A doing his usual thing: low average, crazy-high walk rate, power and solid center-field defense."
McDaniel called Rodriguez the Twins "next to debut" but this certainly throws water on that. Carson McCusker got a promotion only after a rash of injuries. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was optioned after Matt Wallner returned, and his .109/.136/.156 line won't earn him a return all too soon.
Theoretically Rodriguez could have been next in line if Minnesota needed a regular outfielder. The 22 year old's latest injury puts a wrench in the plan though. The hope should be that this injury doesn't cost him significant time, but that's never been a reality for the Dominican Republic native.
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