Minnesota Twins Continue to Build Catching Depth Across the Organization

[Cody Christie]

 

Catching depth has been a quiet strength for the Minnesota Twins in recent seasons, but it’s been tested in 2025. Christian Vazquez landed on the injured list with a shoulder infection, forcing Minnesota to dip into its reserves for the first time in three years. Jhonny Pereda, a recent waiver claim from Oakland, joined the roster alongside Mickey Gasper, who has extensive minor-league catching experience despite primarily being used in a utility role.

The front office also made it clear at the trade deadline that catching was a priority. Eduardo Tait was acquired in the Jhoan Duran deal, and Enrique Jimenez arrived from San Diego in the Chris Paddack trade. Those moves added to an already layered system stocked with intriguing talent at every level.

Here’s a look at the organization’s catching depth from the Triple-A St. Paul to Low-A Fort Myers.

Triple-A St. Paul Saints
Jhonny Pereda – Pereda was claimed off waivers from the Athletics organization last month and already has been called up to the Twins. Since joining the Saints, he is hitting .393/.500/.679 (1.179) with five extra-base hits in eight games. He won’t continue to hit at that level with the Saints, but has a .352 OBP in nearly 3,000 plate appearances in the minor leagues. Pereda adds solid organizational depth at a position where the Twins will need options in 2026. 

Patrick Winkel – Drafted in the ninth round in 2021 out of UConn, Winkel has built his value on solid receiving skills and a steady presence behind the plate. In 2025, he’s posted a .217/.280/.443 (.723) slash line while throwing out 16% of attempted base stealers. His OPS has risen by over 80 points this season as he repeats Triple-A. His experience calling games makes him a valuable option if the Twins need another emergency promotion.

Noah Cardenas – Drafted in the eighth round in 2021 from UCLA, he’s split time between Double- and Triple-A. He’s shown more offensive consistency this season, hitting .241 with a .831 OPS through mid-August. Last season, he struggled in the Texas League with a .587 OPS in 75 games. His college experience and offensive improvements could make him a backup option at the big-league level in 2026. 

Double-A Wichita Wind Surge
Ricardo Olivar – Olivar has been known for his bat over the last two seasons as he combined for an OPS above .800. Signed out of Venezuela in 2018, he’s hitting .273 with 26 extra-base hits and a .797 OPS in 81 games this season. Also, he’s making strides in controlling the running game with a career-high 19% CS%. His versatility adds to his roster value as he has played outfield in the past.

Nate Baez – A 12th-round pick in 2022 out of Arizona State, Baez split time between Cedar Rapids and Wichita this season. His 2025 season features a .285 batting average with gap-to-gap doubles power and a walk rate near 12%. His game-calling continues to improve as he moves up the organizational ladder. He also plays first base regularly to keep his bat in the lineup. 

Andrew Cossetti – Known for his bat-first profile, Cossetti has lived up to that billing this season. The St. Joseph’s product has 23 extra-base hits and has improved his OPS by 125 points compared to 2024. He’s repeating Double-A where he is a year older than the average age of the competition. 

High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels
Eduardo Tait – The centerpiece from Philadelphia in the Jhoan Duran trade, Tait is only 18 years old but already showing an advanced feel for hitting. During the 2025 season, he has hit .251/.313/.428 (.741) with 23 doubles and 13 home runs in 93 games. Those numbers might not pop off the page, but he’s also been pushed aggressively and has yet to face a younger pitcher this season. Scouts rave about his arm strength and raw power projection. The Twins hope he is their long-term catcher of the future. 

Khadim Diaw – The Twins’ third-round pick in 2024 out of Loyola Marymount, Diaw entered the season as one of the top catching prospects in the system. He’s continued to put himself on the prospect map at High-A, posting a .297/.450/.445 (.895) slash line with ten extra-base hits in 42 games. His athleticism behind the plate and improved blocking skills make him a potential long-term answer.

Poncho Ruiz – Signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2023, Ruiz provided steady production for Fort Myers to start the year with an .813 OPS in 31 games. Since being promoted, he’s been getting on base nearly 35% of the time with modest power (.664 OPS). Defensively, he has cut down over 20% of would-be base stealers. 

Luis Hernandez – Hernandez spent four years as a college catcher before signing with the Twins in July. He went 4-for-9 (.444 BA) with three walks and three strikeouts in four games with Fort Myers before an injury at Cedar Rapids forced a promotion. He’s very early in his professional career, so there is a lot to learn. His college experience should help to add catching depth to the system. 

Jefferson Valladares – The Twins selected Valladares in the Triple-A phase of the 2024 Rule 5 Draft from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Over the last two seasons, he has averaged 22 games per year due to multiple injuries. In 2025, he is slashing .186/.268/.361 (.629) with 11 doubles and seven home runs in 59 games. At 23 years old, he is slightly older than his level of competition. 

Low-A Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
Enrique Jimenez – Acquired from the Padres in the Chris Paddack deal, Jimenez is a switch-hitting catcher who won’t turn 20 until November. The Tigers had been playing him in the rookie leagues, but the Twins bumped him to Fort Myers after the trade. He has a strong approach at the plate (.356 OBP) and shows above-average arm strength (29.0 CS%). Evaluators believe his offensive approach will improve as he gets more pro at-bats.

Daniel Pena – Signed out of Venezuela in 2021, Pena has been splitting time between catching and first base. Offensively, he’s struggled with consistency (.570 OPS) even though he is repeating Low-A. He’s faced older pitchers in over 90% of his plate appearances, so he could show improvement when facing same-aged competition. 

Ian Daugherty – The Twins signed Daugherty in July following a four-year college career playing for Oklahoma State, where he posted an .841 OPS. In two games for Fort Myers, he has gone 2-for-7 with a home run and two RBI. His college experience in the Big 12 should help him work with young pitchers in the low minors. 

Ranking the Best Catcher by Level
Triple-A: Cardenas – His improved bat in 2025 gives him the edge over Winkel as a short-term call-up candidate. Pereda might have the inside track on a role with the 2026 Twins. 

Double-A: Olivar – His ability to contribute offensively while handling pitchers makes him a high-upside name to watch. He could be a fast riser if injuries strike.

High-A: Tait – While young, Tait already shows an advanced approach and could move quickly if he continues to adjust to High-A pitching. He's one of baseball's best catching prospects. 

Low-A: Jimenez – His age, tools, and athleticism give him the inside track as a future everyday MLB catcher, though he’s still several years away.

From the majors to the Florida State League, the Twins’ catching cupboard is as stocked as it’s been in years. Between recent trade acquisitions and steady player development, Minnesota has built a depth chart capable of absorbing injuries without drastically compromising production behind the plate.

Who’s the team’s top-ranked catcher outside of Tait and Diaw? Who will be the team’s catching duo in 2027? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

 

 

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[Cory Engelhardt]

Tait not even turning 19 until the end of next week is pretty exciting to see he is at high a to finish the year. He'll be 19 all of next year and very likely could be at AA at some point in 2026. 

[mikelink45]

Good review of the position.  But what are the odds they make it in MLB.  Catching is one tough position and I can only hope we have a catcher here that will fit in behind Jeffers so we do not have to sign another Vasquez type nor keep Gaspar as catcher.

[rdehring]

Thanks for a great analysis, Cody.

Wasn't that long ago that the Twins catching prospects were, well no one.  A year or two of good drafting and development and two trades sure have made a difference.  Gotta believe it is now a strength, although the best prospect, the prospect who could make a difference, is still a way away.

Thanks again, Cody.

 

[Blyleven2011]

What took so long , falvey is aways sucking the hind tit in filling our weaknesses  ...

Yes , pitching wins games but with poor offense it's harder to win those games , hitting is our biggest weakness as of now  ...

Falvey definitely thinks differently than the ordinary Joe  ....

 

[Patzky]

This is a nice format to help organize the catcher position across our talent pool.. Thank you for writing it. 

Tait is exciting long term! Whether we keep Jeffers will dictate just how long the term might be for some of the Saints or even Wichita backstops.

It would be nice if Vazquez could get back before year's end. It seems Jeffers is getting run down.. a good lesson for 2026.

[bunsen82]

The catching stable looks much better.  

1. Tait - as of now he looks like a legit 25-30 - with solid bat skills.  From the little I have gleaned the defense looks adequate to solid.  

2. Diaw - Athletical, Powerful and great defense.  The bat has looked very solid.  

3. Jimenez -  Viewed as a defensive catcher,  the bat, power and eye has been much better than anticipated.  I was worried how he would transition to A ball,  that jump is always quite large and he has handled it very well.  

4. Pereda -  MLB experience,  solid numbers at AAA

Those are 3 very different catcher profiles but all 3 look very good.  The floors are likely reversed as Jimenez could likely fill the defensive backup position with just a little more improvement from the bat. The only question I have with Diaw is injuries.  If I recall he was injured quite a bit in college and it seems to have continued in the minors.   Tait's ceiling is sky high,  but the floor is still quite low.  The bat is impressive as an 18 year old, but there still needs to be consistent movement forward.  

I think Pereda could be solid backup catcher at the MLB level until some of the other prospects start rising through the system.    All in all the catcher position is no longer a weakness in the minors and could quickly trend towards a strength.  

And thats without even mentioning Olivar.  He still has an extremely high upside. I think he is the biggest question mark on whether he will remain a Catcher.  

[karcherd]

I doubt Pereda is in the plans for 2026.  He is not young anymore and they are keeping Gasper up here over him.  Why would anyone think he would even be an option for next year when he can't even beat out Gasper this year.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Jimenez arrived from Detroit in the Paddock trade, not from San Diego.

[Dman]

I like the depth in the system right now, but there was a reason fans were clamoring for them to take a catcher early in the draft.  The Twins just haven't developed any meaningful catchers in the system since we all complained about them reaching for Jeffers.

Before the deadline there really only seemed to be one legit guy for backup catcher and I would say that was Cardenes. It's a weaker bat but he had decent defensive numbers.  I'm not sure if you can even call Baez, Cossetti and Oliver "true" catchers. Maybe light fill in's, but certainly nothing to hang your hat on.

It seems they lucked into getting Pereda who has had a very good bat at AAA, but offensive and defensive numbers dipped considerably at the MLB level.  Still he looks like the next man up and he has two option years left so seems like a really good fit for backup catcher, with Gasper the only thing standing in his way. In the end they might be identical as both have killed it at AAA, but have yet to translate to MLB.  Still it was a good get by Minnesota and increased their catcher depth at the upper levels.

The Twins finally spent a top 100 pick on Diaw in the 2024 draft and he looks extremely mobile back there and appears to have a legit bat.  I don't know if he is built to take a beating back there though.  We'll have to wait and see, but until the deadline he was the most promising catcher prospect we'd seen in quite some time. Until recently it seemed like Diaw was the only catcher with "real" upside in the entire system.

The trade deadline changed things.  Tait while still young with a long way to go brings a power bat and arm to the position giving him All Star potential .  If he hit's it would be a dream catcher scenario.  He could have everything you want from the position.  He still has to make enough contact for it to all work, but his potential is sky high and something we haven't since Mauer (Based on potential not batting styles).

I really, really like the Jimenez trade.  His strong suit appears to be defense and the Twins seem to have him selling out for power early in at bats and the home runs have exploded his OPS.  If he continues to hit like that they would could have another high end catcher on their hands.  

So yes with the recent acquisition's things have changed and catcher depth would be a strength in the system and no longer a weakness.  Glad the FO was listening to the board and decided to  make catchers a priority, lol.

 

[bunsen82]

21 minutes ago, karcherd said:

I doubt Pereda is in the plans for 2026.  He is not young anymore and they are keeping Gasper up here over him.  Why would anyone think he would even be an option for next year when he can't even beat out Gasper this year.

Gasper is being used to see if somehow his AAA numbers can translate and they can either get something useful out of him or trade him.  It is clear the goal of the end of the season isn't to win games (possibly to lose games) but to find some useful players in the meantime.  At this point I would say Pereda is most likely our backup catcher next year unless they sign someone.  

[Mike Sixel]

4 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

Gasper is being used to see if somehow his AAA numbers can translate and they can either get something useful out of him or trade him.  It is clear the goal of the end of the season isn't to win games (possibly to lose games) but to find some useful players in the meantime.  At this point I would say Pereda is most likely our backup catcher next year unless they sign someone.  

Agreed. I think there is zero chance Gasper sticks, though, and I'd have someone else up....

[cheeseheadgophfan]

How can anyone think Pareda is in the Twins plans when he hasn't even gotten an AB since June with the Twins....all the while they are letting Gasper catch????

And...wow!!!  Watching that throw from Tait makes me wonder what could be in the future....it sure would be nice to have a catcher with a cannon behind the plate.

[karcherd]

11 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

Gasper is being used to see if somehow his AAA numbers can translate and they can either get something useful out of him or trade him.  It is clear the goal of the end of the season isn't to win games (possibly to lose games) but to find some useful players in the meantime.  At this point I would say Pereda is most likely our backup catcher next year unless they sign someone.  

Gasper will not be part of the roster next year, it has become apparent he is not a catcher and he can not hit up here.  So see what you have in Cardenas or Winkel.  You aren't winning games this year, see what you have for next year.

[bunsen82]

6 minutes ago, cheeseheadgophfan said:

How can anyone think Pareda is in the Twins plans when he hasn't even gotten an AB since June with the Twins....all the while they are letting Gasper catch????

And...wow!!!  Watching that throw from Tait makes me wonder what could be in the future....it sure would be nice to have a catcher with a cannon behind the plate.

Twins claimed Pereda on July 22nd.  The Twins don't claim Pereda unless they are willing to give him a shot.  

[cheeseheadgophfan]

19 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

Twins claimed Pereda on July 22nd.  The Twins don't claim Pereda unless they are willing to give him a shot.  

I understand what you're saying, but if he's not getting AB's now with the current catching situation, I don't see it happening later IMO

[Patzky]

53 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Jimenez arrived from Detroit in the Paddock trade, not from San Diego.

Some of us old timers still connect Paddack with the Padres lol. Those neural connections don't sever easily.

 

Like the countless articles still talking about "Oakland".

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Agreed. I think there is zero chance Gasper sticks, though, and I'd have someone else up....

Pareda over Gasper now.

[Doctor Gast]

Gasper & Pereda can hit in AAA but not in the MLB. Gasper isn't a catcher & yet they picked Gasper over Pereda? That's not saying much. IMO. Cardenas is our best bet. We got him as a good defensive catcher, but maybe he needs more seasoning at AAA. I've been waiting for 4 years for them to develop Olivar as a good defensive catcher; he's got the tools.

Our catching may look better on paper, but picking up other organizations' rejects & lower-level prospects in hopes we can develop them is a pipe dream. Thinking that Tanner Swanson helped Garver & Jeffers & his ghost can miraculously develop them is futile. They haven't developed anyone since he left. Our only hope now is to get an already developed catcher & fire Conger & get someone who can do the job.

[DocBauer]

First, there was Garver and Castro. Then there was Jeffers and Vazquez. It's not that the Twins haven't prioritized catcher as being important, they've just missed on the guys they've drafted since Jeffers. Though to be fair, Jeffers remains the only backstop they've drafted before the 4th round.

AAA: With all due respect to the "gamer" that Gasper is, he can't throw and the bat hasn't translated. I'd at least give Perada a shot to see if he can be a viable backstop at the ML level. He can't hit worse.

Cardenas and Winkel were drafted back to back in 2021, 8th and 9th selections. The LH Winkel can't throw, can't hit, and has very little power. Cardenas has a good reputation behind the plate, CAN throw, and can control the zone and has a better AVG/OB/SLG/OPS than Winkel. He's not a finished product just yet, but he's probably the best overall talent at AAA.

AA: Olivar is a LF who can catch some. His current 19% CS is a career high, which isn’t saying much. IF he can/has really improved his catching skills and can raise his CS to closer to 25% he has a shot as a backup who also plays some OF. Cossetti was drafted as a BAT FIRST backstop similar to Jeffers. He hit an offensive wall in 2024 at AA, but has improved this season. But his CS remains at 18%. I really don't know if his other skills behind the plate have improved, or to what degree. But his bat was his initial ticket, and that ability has wavered. Baez was an ATHLETE with some BAT talent and potential who came to catching late. He can't throw worth a darn and the bat is pretty average at best. 

A+: THIS is where it gets exciting. Tait is a LH power bat with a strong arm and the potential to be not only solid behind the plate, but dangerous offensively. His floor would seem to be a powerful 1B if catcher doesn't work out for some reason. Diaw is maybe the best overall athlete the Twins have had as a catching prospect since Mauer. He's obviously rough around the edges, but has a good arm, real BAT potential, and the athleticism to develop behind the plate as Jeffers did.

But shame on you Cody for not including Jaime Ferrer on your list! Diaw was selected in the 3rd round last season and Ferrer in the 4th directly after. Like Diaw, Ferrer is a very good athlete with a ton of potential behind the plate, and with the BAT. He was a top HS receiver when recruited, but ended up playing mostly OF as the FL State program already had a solid catcher in front of him. His hitting got off to a much poorer start than Diaw here in 2025, but it has improved somewhat as the season has gone along. Let's not forget these 22yo kids are only in their 1st full season of pro ball.

A-: Jimenez was a nice pickup from the Tigers in the Paddack deal. Strong body, strong arm, and a good natural feel from all early reports. I've heard some comparisons to Vazquez, meant in a positive way. How much he hits, and how much power he can produce are TBD, which isn’t unexpected for a 19yo kid. Not saying D Pena and Dougherty don't offer up some potential, but Jimenez offers a lot more excitement and upside at this point.

Do you want to rank catching prospects as closest to helping the Twins and carving out some kind of ML career? Or do you want to rank them based on potential?

If it's on POTENTIAL, I'd go with Tait as the obvious #1. I'd follow him up with Diaw probably #2, and Ferrer as a close #3. That's based on age, athleticism, and bat potential. Personally, I'd have Jimenez at #4 based on youth and distance from MLB. Cardenas is #5 for me. He has the lowest upside, but I can see a ML career as a solid backstop who will at least contribute some with his bat.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

If Tait continues to hit, you have to wonder if they will keep him behind the plate or work him into 1B/OF. Strong hitting, durable catchers are pretty rare. It will be interesting to see how they handle him as he moves up the system.

[FlyingFinn]

7 hours ago, Dman said:

Before the deadline there really only seemed to be one legit guy for backup catcher and I would say that was Cardenes. It's a weaker bat but he had decent defensive numbers.  I'm not sure if you can even call Baez, Cossetti and Oliver "true" catchers. Maybe light fill in's, but certainly nothing to hang your hat on.

100% agree on Cardenas and your entire paragraph. It's either him or sign a cheap free agent this winter. Jeffers had better be ready to catch a lot next year.

[Otaknam]

A excellent summary of the Twins catching depth. Thanks for putting it together. Looking forward to similar columns for each position.

[TopGunn#22]

Great synopsis of the "state of catching prospects in the Twins system."  We've been hearing how bare the cupboard is here for so long that it was quite enlightening to see it laid out from the top of the system to the bottom.

In reading through the comments I think there is a sizable portion of TD readers/posters who are sleeping on Noah Cardenas.  Others on here have also pointed this out, but he's probably our best defensive catcher in the system at this time and his offense, while not LOUD, is steadily improving.

I see Cardenas breaking camp next year as the #2 behind Jeffers provided the Twins don't acquire a catcher like Kyle Teel or the CWS Quero or Brewers Quero.  Seeing the extensive layout of the minor league catching prospects "almost" makes me consider giving up on acquiring a Teel/Quero type.

"Almost..."  The Twins still have a serious need for a Major League caliber catcher to pair with Jeffers and I am kind of fixated on getting a Teel/Quero type who's played a full season in the big leagues and has shown some promise.  To me, the White Sox remain a prime candidate because they really don't need BOTH of those young catchers and they could use a pile of prospects, which the Twins have in abundance.   

The Twins could even include one of these catching prospects (Not Tait) in a deal to acquire one of the White Sox young major league catchers.  

[DocBauer]

21 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

100% agree on Cardenas and your entire paragraph. It's either him or sign a cheap free agent this winter. Jeffers had better be ready to catch a lot next year.

Personally, I believe they'll sign an OK, 30+ years old veteran catcher who's not expensive, is solid behind the plate, and won't embarrass himself behind AT the plate. A Jansen, Diaz type. Cardenas will probably be the #3 option on St Paul to give his bat a little more time to catch up.