Predicting the Twins' Top 5 Prospects in 2026

[Cody Christie]

Trying to predict the future with a team’s top prospects can be an exercise in futility. However, looking into the crystal ball can provide a glimpse into the organization’s future. Here are the prospects that will sit at the top five of the team’s prospect list in 2026.

Image courtesy of Stephen Brashear, USA Today Sports

In recent weeks, Twins Daily has been counting down the organization’s top prospects entering the 2024 season. The Twins had a terrific rookie class in 2023, and multiple top prospects are on the cusp of making their debut next season. By 2026, Minnesota’s farm system will have different names closing in on the big leagues. 

5. Connor Prielipp, LHP
TD Current Ranking: 17
Prielipp had Tommy John surgery in 2021 while in college, which is one reason the Twins were able to select him in the second round back in 2022. Last season, in July, Prielipp underwent a UCL repair surgery with an internal brace. Since it is his second major surgery, he likely won’t return to game action until the second half of 2024. Prielipp has been limited to 6 2/3 innings in his professional career, but he has one of the highest ceilings among the organization’s starting pitching prospects. There are no guarantees with starting pitching prospects, and the Twins might need to shift him to a high-leverage reliever due to his injury history. 
ETA: 2026

4. Brandon Winokur, OF
TD Current Ranking: 9
Minnesota took Winokur with their third-round pick in 2023 and signed him to an over-slot bonus to lure him away from UCLA. Last season, he played in 17 games and hit .288/.338/.546 (.884) with five doubles and four home runs. He is already a hulking figure in the box with a 6-foot-5 frame that will likely add more muscle and power as he matures. There is a chance he will be able to stick in center field, but it seems more likely for him to shift to a corner outfield spot. He has the potential to be a five-tool player, and he should be close to graduating from this list in 2026
ETA: 2026

3. Gabriel Gonzalez, OF
TD Current Ranking: 3.5
Gonzalez was the top prospect acquired from Seattle as part of the Jorge Polanco trade. Many national outlets view him as a borderline top-100 prospect after splitting time last season between Low- and High-A. In 116 games, he hit .298/.361/.476 (.837) with 23 doubles, four triples, and 18 home runs. He swings at a lot of pitches out of the zone but can do so while limiting his strikeouts. Gonzalez has the potential to be an above-average hitter if he can have better control of the strike zone while moving up the organizational ladder. By 2026, Gonzalez should be on the brink of making his big-league debut. 
ETA: 2026

2. Charlee Soto, RHP
TD Current Ranking: 8
Soto was the Twins supplemental first-round pick out of high school in Florida last year and has yet to make his professional debut. He moved from shortstop to the pitching mound in high school for his senior season. Scouts fell in love with his fastball in the high 90s to go along with other solid offspeed offerings. He will likely be the last player on this list to make his big-league debut because he has plenty of development to do in the system. The current front office regime has drafted more college arms, so it’s exciting to think about the long-term possibilities for Soto. During the 2026 season, he has the potential to be ranked as one of baseball’s top pitching prospects. 
ETA: 2027

1. Walker Jenkins, OF
TD Current Ranking: 1
There is a chance that Jenkins won’t be eligible to be a prospect entering the 2026 season, but that would mean everything went perfectly during the 2024-25 seasons. In his pro debut, Jenkins hit .362/.417/.571 (.989) with five doubles, four triples, and three home runs in 26 games. He ended the year at Low-A, where he should begin the 2024 season. Fans just witnessed Jackson Holliday, baseball’s top prospect, move from Low-A to Triple-A during his age-19 season. Jenkins has the same five-tool potential as Holliday, but that progression might be aggressive. He will likely spend most of 2025 in the high minors and be close to making his heralded debut early in the 2026 campaign.  
ETA: 2026

For full transparency, here were my top prospect predictions in recent years with some strong picks and others that don't look so good in retrospect. There will also be other additions to the team's farm system over the next two years that can be added to this list. 

• 2024 Predictions
• 2025 Prediction

Do you agree with the rankings? Who do you think will make the team’s top prospect in 2026? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

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[Cory Engelhardt]

I’d be surprised if Jenkins was still eligible. Otherwise this is a fun topic. Thanks 

[Whitey333]

Nice article.  Out of all those prospects if only one or two pan out the Twins should feel fortunate.  Prospects are suspects until and unless they prove otherwise.  Good luck to them all.

[Patzky]

Wouldn't it be something if Winokur turns out to be the steal of the 2023 draft?! Jenkins gonna Jenkins.. but there was more to be had in 23..

[Fatbat]

Great list!! A lot can happen in 2 years and yes, best case senario is that Jenkins is off the ‘26 list.  I will play the substitute game and throw in our MiLB gold glove short stop Miller. He finds his bat and will be on the cusp of a rookie debut in ‘26. Cant have a top 5 prospect list without the next Gagne. 

[miracleb]

I see Jenkins being on the "verge" at this point so that looks like a great pick.  If Prielipp is still on the list, then there was probably another set back, and we are "hoping" he comes around again.......

[Nashvilletwin]

This list is precisely why we haven’t seen ERod or Rosario or Larnach or Martin or Kepler moved this off-season. Three of the five on the above 2026 top prospects list are outfielders.  Assuming the timeline is correct, and given their ages it appears more than reasonable, it certainly seems likely we shouldn’t expect a lot out of the three in a meaningful way - both innings and production - until 2027.

Ladies and gentlemen, we could have a bit of an outfielder gap in ‘25 and ‘26.  Why? Buxton’s health, Wallner’s no sure thing, Kepler could leave, Castro’s and Gordon’s limited ceilings, Kiriloff’s everything and who really knows about Larnach, Martin, Rosario, and ERod at this point.

A lot will happen in 2024 that will determine who will manning the outfield for the Twins as we wait for at least one or two of the listed 2026 prospects.  The FO has been very smart this off-season about keeping their powder dry to see how things develop.  That is why a Kepler extension cannot be ruled out (and perhaps part of the reason why payroll is down this year - who knows whom we might need to sign to play outfield for the next couple of seasons).

[DJL44]

Where are the 1st round picks from the 2024 and 2025 drafts? I hope they're in the top 5 or the Twins drafted poorly.

[beckmt]

I would be disappointed if Jenkins is on this list in 2026.  Rest are probably a ways out.  At least the future seems bright with this group, but still need more ptiching on top of this list.  Expect a few of the outfield prospects get traded for better pitching. 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

To me this is just taking the high draft picks and throwing them up on a board.   Ok lets look at outside of number 1 or number 2 picks in 3 years who is in AAA on the verge of mlb and top 5 pick.   

My top player basically because it is the safest pick and I have a ton of confidence in is Tanner Hall.  In college he was an elite pitcher with mediocre fastball velocity.  If the Twins add 3-4 mph to his fastball, with his command and secondary pitches,  you have a low end #1 or a high end  #2.  That will play and play well in the minors.  

Corey Lewis - the kids stuff is nasty.  5 pitches,  can handle them all well with 1 of them being a randomly thrown knuckleball that hitters have no clue what to do.  A sub 2.5 ERA in A and A+ ball.  He can pitch.  If the stats continue he will continue to rise on the prospect list.  

I am going to cheat here.  1 of our pitcher picks in rounds 8-13.  Stoffal, Dougherty, Dunn, Langenberg, Pasqualotto, Lee.   That is a stupid amount of talent in the late mid rounds.  Every year we have lower picked pitchers in the draft flash.  We picked better talent in these rounds than we normally do, and more of them.  I have no doubt one will flash,  and be a very very bright spot.  

For hitters, I think Jenkins and Rodriguez is up in 2026.  So I am left with 2 outfielders to pick from Winokur and Gonzalez.  Gonzalez has the hit tool.  Winokur has everything else with a questionable hit tool.  I lean towards Winokur.  I think he will flash more and will be viewed more as an athlete with power and elite defense, while Rodriguez is a bat only option.  

Invariably 1 of our other draft picks will be up there but I am going to throw out a wild card.    Noah Miller.   Some may laugh.  The kid is already an elite defender at short stop.  Late last season something started to click.  He had an .820 OPS in August.  Look at his OBP rise - June .240  July - .320  August .354 Sept .365.  That is a kid figuring it out and becoming more confident in his approach. He also had 38 BB in his last 2 1/2 months, only 61 during the entire year.  His first half was crap with the bat .  He was our minor league version of Kepler.   If he can begin to be more consistent and bring a high 700 OPS low 800 OPS as a defensive shortstop,  that is a hell of an asset.   

We have some pitchers with high ceilings we just don't know much about them or have injury concerns.  Priellip, Soto,  maybe even Questad to a degree.   There is just too much variability and lack of performance to be confident in picking any of them as a top 5 prospect in 2 years.  I hope they flash,  but the track record on high school pitchers or heavily injured players is not good.  

 

 

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

That is why a Kepler extension cannot be ruled out

You are correct to say that nothing can be ruled out.

The odds for Kepler considering another contract is about the same as the Twins signing Snell. It cannot be ruled out.

The Twins are banking on some combination of outfielders working out from a list of: Wallner, Castro, EmRod, plus a host of others. 2026 is a long way off in terms of baseball predictions.

[big dog]

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Where are the 1st round picks from the 2024 and 2025 drafts? I hope they're in the top 5 or the Twins drafted poorly.

Expecting the Twins to draft in the bottom four, so unlikely to get an elite player!

[Nashvilletwin]

3 hours ago, Fatbat said:

Great list!! A lot can happen in 2 years and yes, best case senario is that Jenkins is off the ‘26 list.  I will play the substitute game and throw in our MiLB gold glove short stop Miller. He finds his bat and will be on the cusp of a rookie debut in ‘26. Cant have a top 5 prospect list without the next Gagne. 

I actually have Noah Miller pencilled in as one of utility infielders breaking camp with the varsity in 2026.  Farmer will be gone. Correa will be two seasons older and may need a few more days off.  By 2026, Miller will likely be the best defensive SS in our entire system.

Lewis and Lee are ensconced at 3B and 2B, respectively.  Julien and Severino will be our primary DH and 1B.  Keaschall or Schobel plays the infield non SS utility role (and maybe some OF and pinch hitting as well). Miller is our primary SS backup and late inning defensive specialist.  That could be one fine infield lineup in terms of defensive range and arm, on base, power, speed, flexibility, leadership, and, importantly, overall cost.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

3 hours ago, miracleb said:

I see Jenkins being on the "verge" at this point so that looks like a great pick.  If Prielipp is still on the list, then there was probably another set back, and we are "hoping" he comes around again.......

If Priellip is on the list,  it means he has been healthy and productive.  He will not be in the majors in 2 year after not pitching for almost 3 years.  

[Fatbat]

5 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

I actually have Noah Miller pencilled in as one of utility infielders breaking camp with the varsity in 2026.  Farmer will be gone. Correa will be two seasons older and may need a few more days off.  By 2026, Miller will likely be the best defensive SS in our entire system.

Lewis and Lee are ensconced at 3B and 2B, respectively.  Julien and Severino will be our primary DH and 1B.  Keaschall or Schobel plays the infield non SS utility role (and maybe some OF and pinch hitting as well). Miller is our primary SS backup and late inning defensive specialist.  That could be one fine infield lineup in terms of defensive range and arm, on base, power, speed, flexibility, leadership, and, importantly, overall cost.

Is this list predicting beginning of the season or end? As in prospect breaking camp as a rookie type status? 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

4 hours ago, Fatbat said:

Great list!! A lot can happen in 2 years and yes, best case senario is that Jenkins is off the ‘26 list.  I will play the substitute game and throw in our MiLB gold glove short stop Miller. He finds his bat and will be on the cusp of a rookie debut in ‘26. Cant have a top 5 prospect list without the next Gagne. 

Damn you beat me to it.   I really like Miller,  and his walk improvement, OBP and OPS rise throughout the end of the season, was a major reason for success of the high A team,  but also a hopeful precursor for things to come with Miller.   

[SAL]

It would be nice if TwinsDaily used captions on the pictures they post in an article. I am unsure which prospect (Charlee Soto, I think?) is in the picture and who he is with.

[DocBauer]

Top 5? Yeah, think you probably nailed it. 

Jenkins might debut in 2025, but decent chance he's still a rookie to begin the 2026 season. He'd be what, 21yo?

But a few that might push that top 5?

Noah Miller....agree the bat has some potential, isn't there yet, but if it comes along, great prospect!

Danny DeAndre...if he can stick at SS, his offensive potential is above average for a SS. Could be top 5 in 2026.

Yasser Mercedes...one of the best IL signings of recent years. CF ability and 5 tool talent. Poor stateside debut and injury following a tremendous 2022 in the DSL. But if things start to click in 2024, very possibly top 5 for 2026.

Soooo want to include Luke Keaschall as a possible add. High A to begin this year, and maybe finish in AA. 2025 sees him at least finishing the season in AAA. So maybe he's already on the roster for 2026? Maybe he's just outside the top 5? Or maybe he's traded. Let's go ahead and include him as a "fringy" top 5 possible.

[sweetmusicviola16]

Jenkins will arrive at Target in mid-season of 2025, to join E Rod in the Twins OF. E Rod makes it in the latter portion of this season.

[sweetmusicviola16]

 Jose Rodriguez is my darkhorse candidate to be on this list for 2026. We will have a very good OF for 2027. Wallner, Winokur, E Rodriguez, J. Rodriguez, Jenkins. Buxton will be an All Star type backup for 75 games. Wow.

[Rosterman]

The decisions the Twins have to make on so many CURRENT players come, say, 2026 is amazing. Except for all the aging bullpenners they have recently signed, a good portion of the roster will be ehre for 3-4 years, as well as a half-dozen guys who will get a taste this year before attempting to break into fulltime duty in 2025.

You gave away the top choice before TD wrote about him! Arghhhh!