Jordan Balazovic

Balazovic was seen as one of Minnesota's top pitching prospects entering the 2022 season, but took a major step back amid an ugly performance at Triple-A. Balazovic's season didn't begin until May due to a strained left knee and never got on track. He had a 7.39 ERA at Triple-A with a 4.5 BB/9. His strikeout rate at least held up at 9.7 K/9, but not at high higher prior minor league levels. It's possible his knee injury was a factor all season, but he was seen as healthy in the second half. He'll need to bounce back at Triple-A in the first half of the season if he's to remain in Minnesota's long-term plans.

Balazovic suffered a back injury in spring training last year that delayed the start to his 2021 season to June. He then had a solid season at Double-A with a 3.62 ERA and 9.46 K/9 and 3.53 BB/9 in 20 starts. However, his season was a step back in that his strikeout rate declined and his walks increased. He's still seen as one of Minnesota's top pitching prospects and and at 6-foot-4 and roughly 220 pounds, he has a prototypical starter's frame. If he can stay healthy and develop better off-speed pitches, Balazovic has a chance to join the Minnesota rotation early in the season.

Balazovic was a late arrival to the alternate training site, but he was able to spend the summer adding good weight and velocity to his fastball. His heater already played above its velocity (sat in the low-90s in 2019) due to extension and deception, and it was reportedly sitting in the mid-90s during the fall instructional league. Balazovic utilizes modern fastball philosophy, locating the high-spin offering up in the zone to get whiffs. He has excelled at throwing strikes in the lower levels, and at 6-foot-4 and roughly 220 pounds, he has a prototypical starter's frame. We've seen pitchers hold their own with a fastball like his and no plus secondary offerings, but it would help if one of his changeup or curveball took a step forward. That will be his top priority in his age-22 season. He should open the year at Double-A and could finish the year at Triple-A or in the majors, if he forces the issue.

Balazovic made good on his sleeper status coming into the year, performing as one of the best starters at Low-A and High-A in his age-20 season. An athletic 6-foot-5, 215-pound righty from Ontario, Balazovic commands a plus mid-90s fastball with late movement that could end up being a plus-plus pitch thanks to the extension he gets from his long levers. His plus curveball is his top secondary offering, while his changeup is still a work in progress. It is always noteworthy when a big pitcher his age logs K-BB rates over 25% at multiple levels, and Balazovic did exactly that (34.9 K-BB% at Low-A, 25.2 K-BB% at High-A). Even when bigger pitchers with electric stuff throw strikes in the lower levels, control can start to look like a weakness at Double-A and Triple-A. Continuing to limit free passes while improving his changeup will be Balazovic's top goals at Double-A. His ETA is 2021.

A 6-foot-4 righty from Ontario, Balazovic can touch the upper-90s with his fastball and his slider and changeup should be at least average pitches. He has as much upside as any pitcher in the Twins' farm system other than Brusdar Graterol, and could have a breakout year, likely splitting time between Low-A and High-A.