Twins Prospect Hot Sheet, September 15, 2025: Must-Win Games Produce Must-Watch Performances

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Hendry Mendez)

Each week, the Twins’ farm system provides a glimpse into the organization’s future. From pitchers showing poise well beyond their years to hitters turning patience into production, the next wave of talent continues to shine across multiple levels. The Cedar Rapids Kernels won the Western Division playoff series this week on the backs of two outstanding performances. At Double-A, the Wichita Wind Surge fought for their playoff lives until the season’s final game. 

This week’s hot sheet features three players who shone when their teams were facing do-or-die scenarios. 

LHP Dasan Hill – Cedar Rapids Kernels
How He Got Here: Hill was selected by the Twins in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft, out of Grapevine High School in Texas. Though he's just 19 years old, Twins Daily currently ranks him as the club’s No. 7 overall prospect and its third-best pitching prospect, behind Mick Abel and Connor Prielipp. He made his pro debut this season at Low-A and produced a 2.77 ERA, with a 1.31 WHIP and a 30.6 K% in 52 innings. The Kernels were heading to the playoffs, so the Twins promoted him to High-A in mid-August for the stretch run. 

Hitting the Hot Button: Taking the ball against Beloit, Hill worked five strong innings, allowing just two runs on two hits. He walked two and struck out seven, flashing the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that made him such an intriguing draft pick. His ability to stay composed and pound the strike zone against older competition is one of the most encouraging aspects of his development so far. He’s faced older batters in over 94% of his plate appearances this season, and is over four years younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League. An argument can be made that he is the organization’s top pitching prospect heading into 2026. 

OF Hendry Mendez – Wichita Wind Surge
How He Got Here: The Twins acquired Mendez in the Harrison Bader trade with Philadelphia, adding another young outfield bat to the system. He was originally signed by the Brewers out of the Dominican Republic, but was traded to the Phillies organization for Oliver Dunn. At just 21 years old, MLB.com ranks him as the organization’s No. 25 prospect. Prior to the trade, Mendez hit .290/.374/.434 with 24 extra-base hits in 85 games for the Phillies' Double-A affiliate. 

Hitting the Hot Button: Mendez reached base in bunches this past week, hitting .316 (6-for-19) while drawing eight walks across six games. He added a triple, a home run, and three RBIs, posting an eye-popping .536 on-base percentage. His patience has been a defining part of his game, especially for a player nearly three years younger than the competition in the Texas League. Since the trade, he’s hit .318/.456/.439, with six extra-base hits in 32 games. His patient approach could make him an important piece in the upper levels as he continues to mature.

OF Misael Urbina –  Cedar Rapids Kernels
How He Got Here: Signed as an international free agent back in 2018, Urbina has worked his way up through the system and is still just 23 years old. Long known for his athleticism and raw tools, he's spent this year refining his approach and turning that talent into results. It’s his third consecutive year playing the entire season in Cedar Rapids, so some of the prospect shine has faded for the outfielder. 

Hitting the Hot Button: Urbina has been one of Cedar Rapids’ most consistent bats over the last two weeks, slashing .295/.367/.545 with four doubles, two triples, and a home run across 13 games. Just as impressive, he’s paired that production with a balanced 5-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. After carrying a 24.7% strikeout rate last season, he has trimmed that number to 16.8% in 2025, a sign that his patience is paying off. He’ll likely get his first taste of the upper minors in 2026, with a chance to prove he can be part of the organization’s long-term plans. 

Hill’s maturity on the mound, Mendez’s ability to control the strike zone, and Urbina’s improved plate discipline showcase the variety of ways players can develop within the Twins system. Each of them stepped up in moments that carried a playoff-type atmosphere, giving the organization confidence that these young talents can handle the pressure when it matters most.

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Which performance was most impressive? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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[mikelink45]

If I had to give odds Hill is the one I would guarantee makes it. Not sure on the other two considering the prospects that are ahead of them

[DocBauer]

Hill has exceeded every possible expectation I had for him as a rookie this season. THANKFULLY when he was pulled from a recent start where we all feared the worst, it turned out to be nothing but not feeling well and then he went out and had probably his best performance of his young career.

Cedar Rapids may have the best rotation in the entire system in 2026, and Hill will be a part of it.

Mendez reminds me a lot as a LH version of Gonzalez. Good bat to ball skills, and power potential. (Not sure about arm strength). What concerns me about Mendez, despite some very impressive HIT tools, I've read reports that his ground ball % is around 60%. Hard hit balls that escape MILB infielders is one thing, but doing that against ML defenders is very different. He's not a small kid at all. Bat to ball skills seem to be in place. But unless he can adjust his swing to lift the ball for more XB and HR power, he might end up as a contact only ML player. And that won't go far. But at 21yo, I'm betting the power starts to show up soon.

Sorry, but I'm OUT on Urbina. He's been HOT to lead CR in to the playoffs. And I know he's got 5 tool talent, but he's 24yo at AA next April, assuming his strong end to this season makes him ready. 

Look, I just don't prescribe to the theory that every prospect should debut by age 24, 25 at the latest, or they just won't make it at all. TOP prospects USUALLY do, injury caveats and the such maintained. 

But it's taken Urbina 3yrs at CR to finally be ready as a 23yo to advance. And if he rakes for Wichita next season  I'll champion him as a "not really that old" prospect who just took more time than hoped for.

Yasser Mercedes is his clone, but a couple years younger at almost 21yo. Mercedes had a poor 2023 at the FCL level, but a good one in 2024. But basically a horrible season this year at A- at Ft Myers. But if he takes a step forward, equally as talented as Urbina, he might end up at CR at the end of 2026 as a 21yo. Maybe he only gets there in 2017 as a 22yo. Still on track.

I wish only the best for Urbina to take a major step forward in 2026 with his strong finish to this season. He's still got a ton of talent. I just don't see him as any kind of high prospect at this time.

 

 

[old nurse]

Urbina is old for A+. How many times has it been brought up that a player is young for the level and how special that good performance is.   Well, shouldn't the play of the old man be downplayed? It is what he is supposed to do   The question becomes moot if he goes to AA. 

[twinstalker]

Minor league OBP is almost always misleading and often meaningless.  Now find a six-game stretch to take that to the 100th degree.  If we're going to talk about "hot," let's restrict it to stats that are used in projections.  Projecting using OBP is a huge mistake, unless it's inverse.

[D.C Twins]

'still just 23' not really that encouraging for high A but otherwise great article!

[jmlease1]

Lot of reasons to feel good about Hill right now. I'm sure he'll start back in Cedar Rapids in 2026 and that's fine, but he's done quite well in his first professional season reaching High A at 19 (doesn't turn 20 until Christmas!) He'll need to cut down the walks, but the stuff plays. He didn't give up a single hit this season to a player younger than him (only 15 PAs, and he walked way too many of those dudes, but it's still a fun stat). If he can chop that BB/9 down to a more manageable 3-3.5 in 2026 he'll be on a fast track. Sure would be nice to have a high-level LHP prospect for the rotation.

Mendez has done a great job since coming over. He's a legit 21 who is doing very well in AA. It'll be very interesting to see how fast he gets pushed to AAA; there could both be room and competition. He may be another one of those guys that simply needed better health to shine? The contact skills look very good and he can do enough damage that he'll punish pitchers who give him a "get over" pitch. Not sure where his ceiling is, but like where he's heading.

I'm less enamored of Urbina, like most here. 23 is not young for High A, and needing to repeat a level 3 times isn't good. He's finishing the season well, but his overall 2025 hasn't been particularly good. The numbers have improved across the board, but a lot of that is because of how terrible he was in 2024 and 2023. He's basically the same age as Kala'i Rosario (Urbina is in fact older by a few months) and there's a fair bit of (reasonable) doubt on Rosario, and he's been much more productive and sitting a level higher. I wish him luck, but he'll appear on zero prospect lists for the Twins, even if you go down 40 names. Hard to argue he deserves more.