Credit: Chris Tilley-Imagn Images
While Major League Baseball is currently in its offseason following a thrilling World Series, players are still getting time on the diamond elsewhere. Multiple Minnesota Twins players are competing in various winter leagues, and it provides an opportunity to keep honing skills during the downtime.
Last year prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez spent the majority of his season at Triple-A St. Paul. Although injuries have held him back at times, he is still considered a consensus top-100 prospect. Nothing he did during the Dominican Winter League will slow the hype train either.
Emmanuel Rodriguez stock continues to soar
Among winter league action, the Dominican circuit is largely viewed as the top option. Emmanuel Rodriguez is 22 years old from Santiago, and competed for the first time in his career. To say he showed out would be putting it lightly.
Emmanuel Rodriguez is done playing in the Dominican Winter League.
His stats in 18 games: .292/.417/.646 (1.063 OPS) with 4 HR, 11 RBI, 10 R and 3 SB. He was also the MVP in an all-star game at Citi Field. pic.twitter.com/GR0gYNG6T7
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) November 19, 2025
In 65 games last year, Rodriguez batted .269/.431/.409. He has immense power and an extremely patient approach. There is a bit of a concerning whiff rate that could be exploited at the next level, but when he uncorks and makes contact, the ball often flies.
Rodriguez saw plenty of current and former big league talent during Dominican Winter League action. That’s a positive considering he has an outside chance to make Derek Shelton’s Opening Day roster in 2026. Byron Buxton is cemented as the starting center fielder, but players like Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach don’t have the same guarantees.
Emmanuel Rodriguez with a 112.1 MPH rocket at Citi Field in LIDOM action 🚀💣#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/jrwV5rBFSS
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) November 15, 2025
If Rodriguez can put together a healthy spring, and produce, he could force the issue. It’s unlikely that Rodriguez will celebrate the same as he did during the winter league, that won’t stop him from producing worthy moments though.
Former Twins slugger Miguel Sano shines too
It wasn’t just Rodriguez that tore up the Dominican Winter League this offseason. Former Minnesota Twins infielder Miguel Sano didn’t play in the big leagues last season, but he certainly tore up the winter circuit again.
¡Cañonazo número 7 de Miguel Sanó! 💥#LIDOM #CopaBanreservas pic.twitter.com/bNBfypr57X
— LIDOM (@LIDOMRD) November 5, 2025
In 15 games for Estrellas, Sano batted .353/.433/.804. He had seven home runs and 19 RBI with a respectable 11/7 K/BB. Sano is still just 32 years old and is is laughable to think he couldn’t still contribute at the big league level.
It remains to be seen if a major league team will give Sano a deal this offseason. He too would need to decide that playing stateside is worth his time. If that’s the case though, it could be a cool bounceback story.
Mentioned in this article: Emmanuel Rodriguez Miguel Sano
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