Updated ETAs for the Minnesota Twins’ Top 10 Prospects

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Walker Jenkins)

The Twins’ farm system has undergone a significant shakeup over the past year, with trades, breakout performances, and injuries all impacting the arrival timelines for their top prospects. Some players are pushing their way toward Target Field sooner than expected, while others still have development work ahead.

Here’s a look at the Twins Daily top prospects sorted by their updated estimated time of arrival.

Prospects with 2025 ETA

Mick Abel – RHP – Triple-A
TD Prospect Rank: 8
Acquired in the summer blockbuster that sent Jhoan Durán to Philadelphia, Abel is big-league ready and will be part of the team’s long-term pitching plans. His mid-90s fastball and sharp slider have overwhelmed hitters, and improved control has trimmed his walk rate (down over 5.5% compared to 2024). If he keeps this up, Abel could be a rotation option as soon as late this season.

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Prospects with 2026 ETA 

Walker Jenkins – OF – Double-
TD Prospect Rank: 1
Jenkins has looked every bit the part of a future cornerstone since being drafted fifth overall in 2023. He’s holding his own in Double-A as a 20-year-old, showcasing advanced plate skills, gap-to-gap power, and steady defensive work in center field. Injuries have impacted his first two full seasons as a pro, but the Twins have continued to be aggressive with him. Jenkins will likely be challenged with a Triple-A promotion before the end of 2025. 

Kaelen Culpepper – SS – Double-A
TD Prospect Rank: 3
Culpepper’s steady glove at shortstop continues to be his calling card, but his bat has made strides in 2025. He’s added more lift to his swing, leading to career-best power numbers (.943 OPS at Double-A). If the offensive gains stick, he could push for an MLB role sooner than his original ETA, with the Carlos Correa trade paving way for his arrival. There is a good chance that he will be the team’s shortstop in the not-so-distant future. 

Emmanuel Rodriguez – OF – Triple-A
TD Prospect Rank: 4
Rodriguez entered 2025 looking to prove his bat could handle upper-minors pitching, and he’s doing just that with an .853 OPS. His combination of elite plate discipline and plus raw power makes him one of the most dangerous hitters in the International League. Staying healthy remains key, but if he keeps producing, an early 2026 debut feels inevitable.

Connor Prielipp – LHP – Double-A
TD Prospect Rank: 6
After missing significant time due to injury early in his pro career, Prielipp is finally building momentum. His mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider give him frontline potential, but the Twins are carefully monitoring his workload. A late 2026 debut seems realistic if his health holds. Like Duran before him, the Twins could move him to a bullpen role to keep him healthy for the long term. 

Kendry Rojas – LHP – Triple-A
TD Prospect Rank: 9
The Twins acquired Rojas as part of the Louis Varland trade, and the front office is excited for what he brings to the system. His sinker-slider combination is tough on both lefties and righties, and he’s refining his other pitches to miss more bats. The Twins have him using his fastball more regularly than he did with Toronto, so that’s something to watch. He profiles as either a mid-rotation starter or high-leverage reliever when he arrives.

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Prospects with 2027+ ETA

Eduardo Tait – C – High-A
TD Prospect Rank: 5
Tait, the second prospect in the Duran trade with Philadelphia, has quickly shown why the Twins targeted him. His mature approach at the plate is rare for a teenager, and his arm strength behind the plate is already above-average. He’s a consensus top-100 prospect and was the second-best prospect traded at the deadline. There’s plenty of time for him to develop, but his foundation is impressive.

Dasan Hill – LHP – High-A
TD Prospect Rank: 7
Hill’s 2025 season has been about refining his command. His mid-90s fastball and wipeout slider give him an intriguing starter’s profile, but he’s still learning to attack the zone consistently. He posted a 30.6 K% at Low-A, and the organization promoted him to High-A before his 20th birthday. Patience will be key, but the tools are here for a potential rotation piece.

Charlee Soto – RHP – High-A
TD Prospect Rank: 10
Soto’s stuff jumps off the page with a mid-to-upper 90s fastball with a sharp slider, but he’s still learning how to sequence effectively. He suffered a right triceps strain earlier this season and hasn’t appeared in a game since April 17th. At just 19 years old, he’s one of the younger arms in the league, so he needs to get healthy. The Twins can always have him repeat High-A next season. 

If the Twins’ development plan holds, fans could see an influx of top talent over the next three seasons. With multiple MLB-ready players knocking on the door in 2025 and a wave of high-ceiling prospects following closely behind, the organization’s long-term core is starting to take shape.

Do you agree with the ETAs? Which player will have the biggest impact on the 2026 roster? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[rdehring]

Interesting.  And yes, exciting.

Don't know if you noticed that Prielipp was promoted to AAA this morning.  Doubt he will join the Twins in September, but with the current shape of the pitching staff anything is possible.

Must say with all the ads I missed the 2026 ETA and thought you were projecting all those as this year.  

[Mike Sixel]

Soto ? Good luck seeing him before 2028 or 9. 

[Road trip]

14 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Soto ? Good luck seeing him before 2028 or 9. 

Same with Tait.  He'll only be 20 in 2027... really young for a MLB catcher.  Even Mauer didn't arrive until age 21.

[Aggies7]

Whole lot of injuries in there 😞 

[mikelink45]

 Why wait - bring up the first wave now - are we expecting the current team to accomplish anything?

[dxpavelka]

Not to mention Gonzalez, DeBarge, Winkour, Gallagher, Amick, Diaw & Olivares who should be ready no later than 2027.  Of course, there won't BE a 2027 so that kinda sucks.

 

[Patzky]

If you have an IF of Wallner- Keaschall- Culpepper- Lee and/ or Lewis and an OF of Buxton Outman Emmy Clemens, and Jeffers- remains, you could back up with a veteran FA DH, Eeles, and Winkel at second Catcher. Hell you could even resign old friend Willi.

That's an exciting inexperienced team..If go see them.

[Dave Borton]

Excellent article, Cody. Appreciate.

[jkcarew]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Soto ? Good luck seeing him before 2028 or 9. 

I imagine that’s why he listed that category as 2027 + (plus) and wasn’t definitive in the comments regarding Soto.

[Omar Little]

I can envision Prelipp becoming a dominant closer.

 

[jkcarew]

The author makes it sound like Rodriguez has had a good year at AAA.

Not really, IMO. Besides being constantly out of action, he’s built his OPS on a very high BABiP and very high walk rate…while showing surprisingly modest power. And also a big red-flag K-rate of 33%. The ‘goodness’ of that profile doesn’t typically translate very well to the majors. Although still just 22, if he can stay on the field, and more consistently finds the power, I suppose 2026 is likely. If he had had a truly good and healthy AAA season, I would have expected him to get a taste this year, especially given how things have unfolded.

[Thumbs Down Guy]

Hope all these players the best in their development. Only, for selfish reasons, I hope Jenkins, Culpepper, and Prielipp all stay put in Wichita until September 6. We are travelling there to watch the Wind Surge and then on to KC to see the Twins on 9-7.

[mrguy]

Prielipp getting promoted is a promising sign for him, but I feel like he has had some bad luck in quite a few wichita outings this year that makes me a bit worried he'll have the same struggles as Raya, where people thought he'd be ready by now but has taken a while to really find his stride in AAA. There's really not a rush for him to get to MLB right now, especially with how careful they're being with him. Let him spend the rest of this season in St. Paul and if there's no doubt he's ready, then maybe consider it, but I'd rather have him make his way up in 2026.

[jkcarew]

Prielipp might be hitting a wall…just based on how little he’s pitched in recent years. Getting clobbered in August so far. And yeah, has a ridiculously high BABiP against. Lefties have clobbered him all year, which is…weird…and not good. But I’m all for moving him as fast as his health allows…he’s already 24.

[Fatbat]

There alot of other AAAA leaser pedigree guys that will also hit MLB with us or another team in the next 2 yrs. Hopefully they are smart enough to not trade away a Rooker type that just needs time to find his way in MLB. 

[David HK]

How about tomorrow?  

The current crop ain't cutting it.

[Killer Rod Tony]

19 hours ago, Road trip said:

Same with Tait.  He'll only be 20 in 2027... really young for a MLB catcher.  Even Mauer didn't arrive until age 21.

Butch Wynegar was 19 at catcher and was in the all star game if I recall correctly

[Killer Rod Tony]

19 hours ago, Road trip said:

Same with Tait.  He'll only be 20 in 2027... really young for a MLB catcher.  Even Mauer didn't arrive until age 21.

 Butch Wynegar was 19 and in the all star game if I recall correct

[Killer Rod Tony]

19 hours ago, Road trip said:

Same with Tait.  He'll only be 20 in 2027... really young for a MLB catcher.  Even Mauer didn't arrive until age 21.

Wynegar was 19 in the all star game.

[Killer Rod Tony]

5 minutes ago, Killer Rod Tony said:

Wynegar was 19 in the all star game.

Figuring this out and I did not see my comment but I didn't go all the way down to the bottom. Sorry for the repetition

[Russ]

Why wait ?  We have the wrong people making the decisions in evaluating and developing 

[TopGunn#22]

There are a number of players who should be making their Twins debuts either before the rest of this season ends, or early-mid 2026.  Seeing the the list and also being aware of others who are climbing the ladder rather quickly (Gabe Gonzalez) makes me wonder if one of Wallner/Larnach might be traded this winter and possibly BOTH if Roden supplants one and if a current major league OF is acquired in a winter trade or signed as a FA.

The Twins now have the #2 ranked farm system in baseball.  Only the Dodgers are ahead of them.  That kind of "upward pressure" from promising prospects results in changes for the current major league roster.  A good example of this is Baltimore.  They've had (and continue to have) quite a few top prospects who are currently on the major league roster or are knocking on the door (Samuel Basallo).  Some of their prospects got traded (Stowers, Norby among others).

The Twins FO is going to have to make some tough decisions about who they keep, who they trade and who they acquire in those trades.  There's not enough room for all of them.  I'm not sure I'm confident the current FO is equipped for this, but I hope they are.  

[Fatbat]

Tait will be in AAA in ‘26 if he keeps breaking baseballs open. Its insane how hard he hits at his age. 
also Bradley, Abel, Preillip and Raya will all be finding their way onto the MLB roster soon. Dasan Hill is in A+ now so he is advancing fast as well. 

[Ghost of Kirby Puckett]

19 hours ago, jkcarew said:

The author makes it sound like Rodriguez has had a good year at AAA.

Not really, IMO. Besides being constantly out of action, he’s built his OPS on a very high BABiP and very high walk rate…while showing surprisingly modest power. And also a big red-flag K-rate of 33%. The ‘goodness’ of that profile doesn’t typically translate very well to the majors. Although still just 22, if he can stay on the field, and more consistently finds the power, I suppose 2026 is likely. If he had had a truly good and healthy AAA season, I would have expected him to get a taste this year, especially given how things have unfolded.

I wouldn't pay attention to any of those numbers since he has been in and out of the lineup so much. Hard to gauge anything from this season in those little bursts. It's very troubling how often he is hurt, I'm not holding my breath for him anymore. I question whether he'll ever stay healthy. 

[Ghost of Kirby Puckett]

39 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Tait will be in AAA in ‘26 if he keeps breaking baseballs open. Its insane how hard he hits at his age. 
also Bradley, Abel, Preillip and Raya will all be finding their way onto the MLB roster soon. Dasan Hill is in A+ now so he is advancing fast as well. 

That sound it makes is different. And man, a couple of Culpeppers homers recently have also sounded like his bat is exploding. Abel with 11 punch outs last night also. Guessing he is up in the rotation by September.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Plus the Twins will get some top draft picks again next year. Alas.

[dxpavelka]

On 8/16/2025 at 12:00 PM, Patzky said:

If you have an IF of Wallner- Keaschall- Culpepper- Lee and/ or Lewis and an OF of Buxton Outman Emmy Clemens, and Jeffers- remains, you could back up with a veteran FA DH, Eeles, and Winkel at second Catcher. Hell you could even resign old friend Willi.

That's an exciting inexperienced team..If go see them.

I hope this is your 2026 projection cuz if it's beyond and Jenkins isn't prominent in it there will be lots of angst.  Also, and maybe this is just a minor point, but I'm not sure we want to refer to the young man as Emmy.  Maybe Emma (not sure about that one either) or maybe E-Rod but I'm just not sure Emmy works.  Kind of like me telling my 8 year old granddaughter that, yes, she can come with me to my fantasy football draft but, NO, she can't bring Veggie Straws.  Just doesn't work.

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, dxpavelka said:

I hope this is your 2026 projection cuz if it's beyond and Jenkins isn't prominent in it there will be lots of angst.  Also, and maybe this is just a minor point, but I'm not sure we want to refer to the young man as Emmy.  Maybe Emma (not sure about that one either) or maybe E-Rod but I'm just not sure Emmy works.  Kind of like me telling my 8 year old granddaughter that, yes, she can come with me to my fantasy football draft but, NO, she can't bring Veggie Straws.  Just doesn't work.

Just putting Rodriguez I guess seems like he could be confused with one of so many other ballplayers with the same surname. Emm Arr?

 

Yeah 2026 because we aren't promised 2027 (work stoppage)

[Road trip]

On 8/17/2025 at 9:36 AM, Fatbat said:

Tait will be in AAA in ‘26 if he keeps breaking baseballs open. Its insane how hard he hits at his age. 
also Bradley, Abel, Preillip and Raya will all be finding their way onto the MLB roster soon. Dasan Hill is in A+ now so he is advancing fast as well. 

Maybe... if the Twins are content to have Tait be a DH/1B initially and not worry about developing his catching skills.  That would be his fastest path to MLB.  Based on scouting reports his bat is way ahead of his catching.

Now if Tait's bat is truly elite the Twins could decide to move him off catcher, where injuries are common, frequent days off are needed, and players wear down at a relatively young age.  Bryce Harper was a catcher when he was drafted but the Nats moved him off that immediately.  I'd say that worked out ok...