Now that the Minnesota Twins season is over, it’s time to look at every aspect of the organization, including the minor league system. We’re going to dive into the five most disappointing prospects this season, and in the coming days, we’ll take a look at the five most impressive.

1. Keoni Cavaco, SS – Low-A

Keoni Cavaco was drafted in the first round by the Twins in 2019. Still just 20 years old, the infielder hasn’t performed well, but he was always viewed as a project.

There’s no denying how talented he is, but to see how poorly he’s played since being drafted is underwhelming. In 2019 (rookie ball), he hit .172, with one home run and six RBIs. His on-base percentage that year was .217… disgusting.

This year with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, he hit .233, with two home runs and 24 RBIs. His on-base percentage improved, but it wasn’t good (.296).

He has a lot of raw talent, but this season was ugly. Cavaco was largely viewed as a long-term solution at shortstop or third base – he even drew some Manny Machado comparisons.

The biggest question mark will be where does he go from here? That’s unknown. On Sept. 9, he was placed on the temporarily inactive list, but the last time he appeared in a game was Sept. 1. There was no explanation, but it might be time to hit the panic button.

2. Aaron Sabato, 1B – High-A

Minnesota selected Aaron Sabato with the 27th pick in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft. The first baseman played two seasons at the University of North Carolina and was a prolific hitter. His biggest asset out of college was his ability to hit for power, smashing 25 home runs over two years. His OPS during his freshman year was 1.149, and 1.185 during his sophomore season.

After missing out on a 2020 season, Sabato was able to get his feet wet this year in pro-ball but didn’t have much success. He started the season out with the Mighty Mussels and was eventually called up to the Cedar Rapids Kernels. The decision to call him up was rather confusing because he didn’t prove anything to warrant the move.

• Single-A: 286 AB, .189/.365/.357, 11 HR, 42 RBI, 117 SO, 73 BB

• High-A: 75 AB, .253/.402/.613, 8 HR, 15 RBI, 32 SO, 19 BB

If you’re looking for any sort of optimism, his OPS in 22 games for the Kernels was 1.015. His batting average also improved, but his strikeout numbers are too high.

If Sabato wants to play in the majors, he will need to take better at-bats (strikeout less, more hits). Sounds obvious, but his defense isn’t great. If he’s below average on offense and defense, then his career will be cut pretty quick.

3. Misael Urbina, OF – Low-A

It’s hard to fault Misael Urbina for having a disappointing season, yet here we are. At 19 years old, his ceiling is very high, but also a low floor. In 2018, the Twins signed him to a minor league contract, and is now the organization’s No. 12 prospect.

This season he hit .191, with five home runs, 52 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

Urbina has a good eye at the plate and can draw plenty of walks. In 2019 (rookie ball), he finished with 23 walks and 14 strikeouts. This year he struck out 82 times but walked 54 times. He’s also a plus defender, which will carry him through the minors while he works on his batting.

As long as he can increase his batting average and get on-base more (.299 OBP), he should develop into a good player. There’s a lot to like from this young player, but it’s likely he won’t make it to the big leagues until at least 2024.

4. Drew Strotman, SP – Triple-A

When the Twins traded fan-favorite Nelson Cruz, they received Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman. Ryan was the headliner in the trade, and he proved that almost every time he took the mound. Strotman didn’t garner much attention, but there’s a lot to like from him.

Strotman recovered from Tommy John surgery in 2018 and returned to the mound in 2019. 2020 was a lost season due to COVID-19, so he’s missed quite a bit of time.

Strotman will either be a part of the Twins starting rotation for years to come or will be a key member out of the bullpen.

• Before the Trade: 13 G, 7-2, 58.1 IP, 3.39 ERA, 50 H, 33 BB, 62 SO, .235 AVG

• After the Trade: 12 G, 3-3, 54.0 IP, 7.33 ERA, 65 H, 30 BB, 42 SO, .298 AVG

Regardless of the injury and an absent 2020 season, Strotman severely regressed after the trade. Maybe it’s the change of scenery, and he’s having difficulties adjusting, but it’s rather odd. Hopefully, this can be fixed next season, and if it does, there’s reason to believe he can help the Twins out next year.

5. Chris Vallimont, SP – Double-A

Chris Vallimont was and still is one of the more intriguing prospects in the Twins’ system. This season he started in Low-A for one game and then made the jump to Double-A.

In 2019, he finished with a record of 8-9 and an ERA of 3.24. However, in 2021, he finished with a 10-5 record but an ERA of 5.29. Yes, his win-loss record looks good, but his ERA wasn’t. His numbers can be a little deceiving because he had a great month of May and July.

• May: 4-0, 2.45 ERA, .215 BA
• June: 1-2, 6.75 ERA, .268 BA
• July: 2-0, 2.45 ERA, .219 BA
• August: 0-1, 6.85 ERA, .301 BA
• September: 3-1, 6.84 ERA, .305 BA
• October: 0-1, 27.00 ERA, .400 BA

His stats each month are way too inconsistent if he wants to have any future in the big leagues. The former fourth-round pick is only 24 years old, but this 2021 season was eye-opening.