Minnesota Twins Minor League Relievers Of The Month - July 2025

[Steven Trefz]

Image courtesy of David Malamut (photo of Samuel Perez)

The Twins' major league bullpen came out of the All-Star Break looking to right the ship, and instead ended up shipwrecked and scattered across other teams. The 2025 trade deadline saw a direct reduction of 26-man roster arms and an infusion of minor league pitching prospects. The majority of the new prospects came into the Twins' affiliates with a “starter” label, so it will take some time before any of them make the relievers list. Several of June's prospects took a step back as the summer heated up, while others took leaps forward. Welcome to a post-deadline version of “What Twins minor league relievers now in the organization had the best July 2025?”

Honorable Mentions
- John Stankiewicz (Wichita/St.Paul): 3.38 ERA, 9 G, 13.1 IP, 13 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 1.2 WHIP, .260 BA
- Rey Pecheco (DSL Twins): 2.57 ERA, 7 G, 14.0 IP, 14 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 15 K, 1.07 WHIP, .259 BA
- Brennen Oxford (Fort Myers/Cedar Rapids): 1.64 ERA, 8 G, 11.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 9 K, 1.18 WHIP, .216 BA

#5 – RHP Xander Hamilton – FCL Twins/Cedar Rapids Kernels
1.46 ERA, 8 G (7 FCL/1 Cedar Rapids), 12.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 12 K, 0.65 WHIP, .125 BA
Xander Hamilton started July with a rehab stint in the FCL, and his performance there was utterly dominant. 10.1 innings of two-hit, no-run baseball for this 14th-round pick from the 2023 draft catapulted him up to Cedar Rapids for his last July outing. While that was a debut to forget, his trajectory is still aiming high. At 6’3”, 223 lbs, this big right-hander looks to keep climbing the ladder. His strikeout numbers jump off the page, so hopefully, further development will help him bring the whiffs up with him as the competition stiffens.

#4 - RHP Anderson Ramos, FCL Twins
0.00 ERA, 6 G, 9.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 12 K, 0.41 WHIP, .034 BA
This month’s edition of gold panning for prospects takes us to Anderson Ramos . His one-hit July at the FCL complex mirrored Hamilton’s success, but at 6’1”, 182 lbs, and only 19 years old, Ramos is starting his success five years earlier and with an encouraging ceiling. Look for Ramos to begin making waves in Fort Myers come 2026.

#3 - RHP Michael Tonkin, St. Paul Saints
1.97 ERA, 7 G, 9.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 12 K, 0.40 WHIP, .067 BA
Michael Tonkin might not seem like a prospect, but when your entire bullpen gets traded, you have to go searching for rays of positivity. Drafted in the 30th round of the 2008 by the Twins, Tonkin thought his last Twins memory was going to be how he successfully stayed Jason Kubel’s brother-in-law, until he found his way back to the club at the end of 2024. Shoulder issues thwarted the start of his 2025 campaign, but July saw minor-league rehab assignments and the Twins were ecstatic with what they saw. Tonkin will be featured in high-leverage situations for the Twins the rest of this season, and as he focuses in on his new role at the ripe old age of 35 it is right to acknowledge that he had a great July at St. Paul. It’s not his fault that there was a crater that formed in the development of the franchise; he was just willing to come try to fill a portion of it before he retires. So, thank you, Michael, for putting up with all of us as we weep that you aren’t Jhoan Duran.

#2 – RHP Hunter Hoopes – Cedar Rapids Kernels/Wichita Wind Surge
3.48 ERA, 8 G, 10.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 14 K, 0.48 WHIP, .139 BA
Hunter Hoopes fits the more prototypical bill for high-leverage reliever. The 25-year-old Alabama product signed with the Twins on a minor league deal in July of 2024. Since then, he has climbed three levels to the Wichita club, thanks to his 6’1”, 200 lb frame and his rocket arm. The Twins literally signed Hoopes after seeing him clock 100+ in a YouTube video. Let that sink in a bit as a commentary on our current organizational issues but then give thanks that someone in the organization didn’t hesitate to sign him up! Hoopes would have snagged the number one spot in July, if his Wichita debut hadn’t been so rocky (3 runs over 1.2 innings). He struck out 13 while walking nobody at Cedar Rapids this month, and if the Twins can develop him into a “pitcher” without losing the heat, there is no reason to think that St. Paul or even Target Field might not welcome him in 2026.

Twins Minor League Reliever of the Month – LHP Samuel Perez – Cedar Rapids Kernels
1.00 ERA, 6 G, 9.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 0.89 WHIP, .194 BA
June’s #2 is now the Reliever of the Month! At 5’11”, 205 lb., Samuel Perez continued to dominate the competition at High-A. Perez has been climbing the organizational ladder since 2021. His reverse splits bode well for the future, and it appears he’s getting honed in for a high-leverage future despite a fastball that doesn’t crack the 90’s. The speed at which the 25-year-old prospect from Venezuela can climb, however, is now expedited given the trade deadline’s aftermath. 

July has come and gone, but several relief pitchers in the Twins organization stood out above the crowd, and they hope to continue that success as summer leagues head into playoff time.

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How would your ballot look for the Twins Minor League Relievers of the Month? Who are you most excited to see enter the organization from these trades?  Let us know in the comments.

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[Fatbat]

Hunter Hoopes goes undrafted by every MLB team. There has to be a back story as the why he signed as a FA with the twins and why no one else….

[Dman]

Man I got to get my act together because I don't even remember seeing Brennen Oxford in any box scores. Old for the level but nice to see him doing well.

I don't pay close attention to the FCL but glad Anderson Ramos made the list as I didn't have a clue he was that young and doing that well. I was hoping Chivilli would make the list but it looks like he hit a rough patch. Ramos appears to go after guys and still has a .50 WHIP.  With that K rate and WHIP he might have some special stuff.  Will be interesting to see how he does as he moves up.

I hope Hoopes is something.  We could use more hard throwing pen arms.  I hope he finds a way to handle to AA and can be a potential answer next year.

 

[gman]

I, like probably everyone, figured the Twins had their bullpen covered for the next 2-3 years and so was not overly looking at bullpen pieces in the minors. I figured their relievers were all going to come from the failed starter pot.

And then the Pohlad(s) decided $75million payroll for next year was just about right or maybe too high and ordered everyone traded or sold off. That still leaves a couple of starting pitchers to deal with this winter.

I think most of the starters and bullpen could easily come from the players received last week. There possible could be a $1 mil dollar pitcher signed at the end of spring training next year. I think next spring and possible all next year will turn into a year long try out camp.

[Twinsgypsy]

Lets just hope the next ownership is not another Pohlad type owner & definitely does not hire a clown like Joe Pohlad to actually run the franchise......

[DocBauer]

I always appreciate EVERY MILB post, including the RP articles. But while I appreciate them, and remain interested, I just don't pay attention to the DSL or FCL results because they are just so far away. And a good month at those levels just doesn't hold a lot of weight/promise until said arms rise through the system.

I also don't pay a lot of attention to 26-27yo or a 30+yo like Tonkin. But yes, they deserve to be recognized. 

Xander Hamilton is interesting to be recognized as he was a recent draft choice who might have some potential. He's dealt with an injury or two, but remains young enough to wonder about.

I vaguely recall the Twins signing Hoopes. He didn't pitch until this season, so he's a 25yo independent ball rookie who can touch 100mph and blew through both A levels. IF he can do well at AA, he's the pitching version of Payton Eeles. WILL he get an honest look if he keeps it up? Pure velocity doesn't make you a good pitching prospect. There's so much more to it than that. And AA is the sacrificial alter where position players prove they "have it" or they don't. But he might be fun to watch.

 

[Bodie]

I have to say, I picked the right time to live in Cedar Rapids (baseball wise).

They were an Angels franchise and seemingly wore old tattered Angels uniforms.  These Kernel uniforms look like a church league softball team spent an unfortunate night with a Mexican 'rassler!