The Minnesota Twins All-Century Prospect Team: Pitchers

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Kim Klement (Berrios), Mark J. Rebilas (Gibson, Meyer)- Imagn Images

Regarding pitching, the Twins’ farm has delivered a remarkable array of arms over the past 25 years, including flamethrowers, craft artists, and power relievers alike. For the All-Century Prospect Team at Twins Daily, there have been some remarkable hitting prospects, while the pitching prospects have left something to be desired. Below are profiles of five starters and two relievers who carried sky-high expectations during their time in the Twins system. 

SP: Francisco Liriano
The Twins acquired Liriano in one of the most famous trades in team history, sending A.J. Pierzynski to the Giants for Liriano, Joe Nathan, and Boof Bonser. Liriano’s 96–97 mph heater and wipe-out slider quickly made him one of baseball’s top prospects. In 2005, his 2.63 ERA in Minnesota’s upper minors vaulted him to Baseball America’s No. 6 overall prospect. He was electric with a 2.16 ERA en route to an All-Star selection. In a rotation with Johan Santana, he was the team’s best starter. Injury woes curtailed his prime, but Liriano still ranks among the greatest prospect-to-breakout conversions in club history.

SP: José Berríos
Taken with the 32nd overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, Berríos was a consensus top-50 prospect entering the 2015 season and peaked in the top 20 on multiple top-100 lists. The 2014 season was his breakout season as he rocketed through High- to Triple-A, posting a 2.76 ERA and 9.0 K/9 over 140 innings while only being 20 years old. By 2016, he became a regular in Minnesota’s rotation and was one of the league’s most consistent pitchers during his Twins tenure. Though he never quite reached ace territory before being traded in 2019, Berríos was a two-time All-Star and helped carry the team’s pitching staff through some tough years. 

SP: Kyle Gibson
A first-round pick in 2009, Gibson’s college pedigree allowed him to move through the system quickly. In 2010, he made his professional debut and dominated three different levels with a 2.96 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP while vaulting himself into national top-100 prospect lists. Gibson became a reliable starter for the Twins from 2013–19, becoming prized for his durability even if he was never considered an ace. His career arc peaked with a 3.5 WAR in 2018 and rewarded the organization with 147+ innings six times, an underrated luxury in the modern era.

SP: Joe Ryan
Ryan was considered a borderline top-100 prospect when the Twins acquired him in the Nelson Cruz trade from Tampa Bay. His prospect profile was unique because he could dominate in the high minors by relying almost exclusively on his fastball. In the Twins system, he has further developed his secondary pitches to establish himself as a borderline All-Star over the last two seasons. Since 2023, he ranks 12th in the AL in fWAR and third in K/9 behind Cole Ragans and Tarik Skubal. Ryan’s high-ceiling arsenal suggests he’s the first of this group still climbing.

SP: Alex Meyer
Meyer was drafted 23rd overall by the Washington Nationals in 2011 and came to the Twins in a one-for-one trade for Denard Span. He was a top-100 prospect from 2013-15. Yet Meyer struggled with command in the upper minors, walking 4.0 batters per nine in his time at Triple-A. He only made four appearances for the Twins and allowed 10 earned runs over 6 1/3 innings. Minnesota traded him to the Angels in 2016 as part of the Ricky Nolasco deal. A shoulder injury led to surgery and, ultimately, retirement. Meyer’s story remains a cautionary tale: elite tools don’t always translate without consistent control and health.

RP: Jhoan Durán
The Arizona Diamondbacks signed Durán in 2015, and he was traded to the Twins three years later as part of the Eduardo Escobar swap. He quickly started turning heads in the Twins organization as he consistently hit triple-digits as a starter. As he moved through the upper minors, there began to be some injury concerns, and he was moved to the bullpen. His MLB introduction in 2022 was electric: 8 saves, a sub-2.00 ERA, and gas up to 103 mph. Durán’s devastating splinker adds an exclamation point, and when healthy, he’s arguably the best reliever prospect in franchise annals.

RP: Brusdar Graterol
The Twins signed Graterol in August 2014, but he was limited to four starts from 2014-16 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. All three national top-100 lists had Graterol ranked as high as No. 32 entering the 2020 season. Before that season, Minnesota traded Graterol to the Dodgers as part of the Kenta Maeda trade, so he was never fully able to be used as a reliever with the Twins. Still, he has become a vital part of the Dodgers bullpen as they have won multiple World Series titles since he was acquired.

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Over the last quarter century, the Twins have had a mixed bag of pitcher prospects. For multiple years, Berríos was the biggest success story, while Gibson carved out a long, durable career. Ryan looks to be the next star in the making, his early results boding well for sustained success. On the flip side, Meyer is a reminder that there is no such thing as a pitching prospect, as he tried to compensate for nagging control issues and injuries. 

As prospect lists turn over, the Twins have attempted to redefine their pitching pipeline, and there have been positive results so far. However, these seven arms represent some dark years in Minnesota as the organization underwent franchise-altering changes on the pitching and development front. Whether culmination or cautionary tale, each profile offers a window into what it takes to transform raw talent into Major League production, and why, in Minnesota, prospect fever never really subsides.

Would you add other pitchers to the list? What stands out about this group? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[terrydactyls]

That is pretty slim pickin's for a 25-year period.  Especially when the list includes both players drafted by the Twins and players the Twins acquired by trade.

[mikelink45]

Chase Petty is now moving up the prospect list. Luis Gil is injured but was ROY.  Cano was great for the Orioles last year.  

[Linus]

I don’t understand the criteria being used for selecting the players but Brad Radke has to be included in any Twins pitching list. Drafted and developed by the Twins and played his entire career here. 

[DaveW44]

I’d add Kohl Strewart. Another prospect who didn’t turn out. 

[Road trip]

On the "good story side": Glen Perkins.  1st rounder, failed as a starter but an all star reliever.

On the "I can't wait till he gets here...whoops that didn't work out side": Jordan Balazovic

On the "He sure figured out how to pitch after we gave up side": Liam Hendricks

[MN Brian]

I find these articles interesting, but I think an outline of the selection criteria would helpful.   On the one hand it reads as if there is a set criteria, but on the other hand it feels almost as if it is just the author's subjective opinion.  In reality it is, I'm sure, both.  But difficult for the reader to understand without the selection criteria =)

[dxpavelka]

15 hours ago, Linus said:

I don’t understand the criteria being used for selecting the players but Brad Radke has to be included in any Twins pitching list. Drafted and developed by the Twins and played his entire career here. 

"Here are the team’s best pitching prospects of the 2000s." ~~Radke was a rookie in 1995.

[dxpavelka]

So the return for "the biggest success story on this list", four years after trading him is two guys who remain parked on the wrong side of the river.  Got it.

[Morland]

Johan?

[twinstalker]

This is such an odd exercise.

I mean, wouldn't you basically just see what players have been ranked in BA's top 100?