Minnesota Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year - 2025

[Seth Stohs]

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (graphic by Thieres Rabelo)

The categories have become blurred. What is the role of a starter? What is the role of a reliever? In the Twins system, they have several pitchers who started but usually worked just three or four innings. There were several relievers that would frequently pitch three to four innings when they worked. And in many cases, those pitchers flipped roles. 

So, distinguishing whether a pitcher is a starter or a reliever is more difficult. We decided that to be considered a starting pitcher, the pitcher had to make at least nine starts. Then some common sense was needed. If a pitcher played in eight games and all eight of them were starts, that guy is a starter. Of course, if a guy made just eight appearances all season, it’s hard to imagine that pitcher finishing in the top five or six in the organization. 

Today we are highlighting the top performing relief pitchers in the Minnesota Twins organization in 2025. We will help you get to know the top four performers, but let’s start with some Honorable Mentions. 

Honorable Mentions
RHP Cody Laweryson (27), Wichita/St. Paul: 34 G, 2-4, 6 Saves, 2.86 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 44 IP, 42 H, 14 BB, 45 K.
RHP Ruddy Gomez (25), Ft. Myers/Cedar Rapids: 27 G, 1-3, 12 Saves, 1.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 37 1/3 IP, 25 H, 10 BB, 51 K.    
                            Others Receiving Votes: RHP Jacob Kisting, LHP Samuel Perez, LHP Zander Sechrist 

Here are the top four players for the Twins Daily Relief Pitcher of the Year, leading up to the choice for the Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year.

4. RHP Hunter Hoopes (25), Ft. Myers/Cedar Rapids/Wichita
42 G, 6-5, 2 Saves, 3.27 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 52 1/3 IP, 25 H, 23 BB, 64 K. 
Hoopes grew up in Fairfax, Virginia, where he starred on the basketball court and on the baseball diamond at WT Woodson High School. A top prospect in the state, he headed to UNC Asheville for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. In 2021, he pitched at John A. Logan Community College. From there, he went to the University of Alabama where he pitched in 2022 and 2023. He went undrafted and pitched for Schaumburg in the independent Frontier League that summer. He began working as a trainer at Tread Athletics in Charlotte, North Carolina. It might just be the video below, posted on all of the company’s social media, of him throwing 107.5 mph, that got the Twins interested. (Note: When you see those videos, the balls being thrown are lighter than regular baseballs, so it doesn’t mean that is how hard he throws all the time. But, it certainly will get you noticed.)

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In July of 2024, he signed a minor-league contract with the Twins and was assigned to the FCL Twins. Like players drafted, he didn’t pitch in games. He began this season in Fort Myers and pitched 21 innings and 16 games. He had a 2.14 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, and nine walks to 32 strikeouts. He quickly moved up to Cedar Rapids and worked 17 1/3 innings over 14 games. He posted a 1.56 ERA, a 0.64 WHIP, and he had five walks to 20 strikeouts. The Twins moved him up quickly to Double-A Wichita where he found his first struggles. In 12 games and 14 innings, he had an ERA of 7.07. 

However, there is no reason whatsoever to focus the attention on that last quarter of his season, especially since he hadn’t pitched this much in two years. Early in the season, he was averaging about 93-94 mph with his fastball. He frequently hit 95, 96 and even 97 a few times. He also throws a changeup which can be really good. At times he has shown an ability to throw the changeup 15 mph slower than his fastball. But it is going to be his fastball, as well as his ability to throw strikes that will keep him potentially moving up.  

3. LHP Kade Bragg (24), LHP, Ft. Myers/Cedar Rapids/Wichita
42 G, 8-2, 5 Saves, 2.94 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 67 1/3 IP, 45 H, 31 BB, 82 K.
Bragg grew up in Ennis, Texas, a city with a population approaching 25,000. Technically, it is part of the Dallas-Ft. Worth market, but it is approximately a 35 mile drive south on Highway 45. He went to Weatherford College out of high school, a Community College about 60 miles west of downtown Dallas. In 2023, he went to Division II Angelo State in San Angelo, Texas, a four-hour drive west of Texas. He pitched in 18 games including 16 starts. He went 15-1 with a 1.20 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. In 104 2/3 innings, he gave up just 63 hits, walked 39 and had 124 strikeouts. 

The Twins made him their 17th round pick in 2023. He began his pro career in 2024 in Fort Myers, but after just six innings, he missed the rest of the season. However, he was able to pitch in the Arizona Fall League after the season. He had 13 walks and 13 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings. 

He began this season with nine games in Fort Myers where he had four walks and 18 strikeouts in nine appearances and 12 innings. He moved up to Cedar Rapids where he pitched in 33 innings over 18 games. He had 18 walks and 43 strikeouts. He then was promoted to Double-A Wichita. He pitched in 22 1/3 innings over 15 games. He had nine walks and 21 strikeouts. 

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The southpaw has a solid pitch mix and a delivery that can be a bit deceptive. He has a low-to-mid-90s fastball with significant run in on a left-hander. He’s also got a strong slider with sink and slide. He also has a mid-90s changeup and a cutter. He will need to continue working on improving his control and command, but his 11.0 K/9 tells us he has a strong ability to miss bats.  

2. RHP Mike Paredes, 25, Wichita/St. Paul
38 G, 11-0, 7 Saves, 2.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 105 2/3 IP, 79 H, 28 BB, 92 K.  
Paredes grew up in San Diego and attended San Diego High School. He pitched on the varsity for four years. After his prep career, he didn’t go too far. He made the 11 mile drive from his high school to San Diego State University. His freshman season (2019), he made five starts and 12 relief appearances. He went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA. He made four starts in 2020 before Covid ended the season. He was 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA in 20 innings. He came back in 2021 and pitched in 14 games (11 starts). He was 4-0 with a 5.59 ERA. In 77 1/3 innings. He had 65 strikeouts. The Twins drafted him in the 18th round of the 2021 draft and pitched twice for the FCL Twins that summer. He was 7-4 with a 3.27 ERA with 16 walks and 63 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings for Fort Myers in 2022. In 2023, he moved up to Cedar Rapids where he went 7-1 with a 3.14 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 63 innings. He split that season between Cedar Rapids and Wichita. 

Paredes began the 2025 season in Wichita. He pitched in 37 games (2 starts), and in 103 2/3 innings, he went 11-0 with seven saves. He had a 2.43 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He was 2-3 with a 3.02 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings. He had 28 walks and had 91 strikeouts. 

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And following his fantastic season in Wichita, he ended the season by spending the final week with the Saints. He pitched in one game. He needed just 17 pitches to throw two scoreless innings. In those 17 pitches, he threw five different types of pitches. He threw just two fastballs, two curveballs, four cutters, four changeups, and five sliders. Despite it being the final game of his longest season, his fastball topped out at 94 mph. His other pitches were all in the mid-80s. The slow curve has a significant drop. The cutter and slider kind of run together. I’d assume that most of them are cutters, although once in a while it may break more, like a slider. His fastball has a little tail on it, and the changeup has a lot of tail and drops. 

1. RHP Pierson Ohl, 25, Ft. Myers/Wichita/St. Paul
24 G, 5-3, 2 Saves, 2.40 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 71 1/3 IP, 58 H, 11 BB, 86 K.
Raise your hand if you knew the name Pierson Ohl before he was called up to the Minnesota Twins in late July. Those of you who follow Twins Daily’s minor-league content, he has certainly been referenced often. 

Ohl grew up in Simi Valley, California. He went to Grace Brethren High School. He went 22-3 over his four years of varsity baseball there. His senior year, he posted a 0.54 ERA in 64 2/3 innings. He was the league’s MVP, all-county and second team all-state.  

 

 

He chose to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. He immediately jumped into their starting rotation and made 16 starts as a freshman. He went 7-5 with a 3.45 ERA in 91 1/3 innings. In 2020, he made four starts before Covid ended the season. He was 1-2 with a 2.89 ERA over 28 innings. Over 119 1/3 innings those two seasons, he had 20 walks and just 83 strikeouts. In his junior season, he went 10-2 with a 2.60 ERA. In 100 1/3 innings, he had 12 walks and 103 strikeouts. The Twins saw enough to make him their 14th round pick in the 2021 draft and pitched in one FCL game that summer. He had 101 strikeouts and 13 walks over 91 2/3 innings in Fort Myers in 2022. He split the 2023 season between Cedar Rapids and Wichita. In 127 1/3 innings, he had just 18 walks and 115 strikeouts. He spent the full 2024 season with the Wind Surge and went 4-7 with a 4.68 ERA. 

That brings us to 2025. With so much pitching depth and prospects in St. Paul, he began the season back in Wichita. He also started a new role. He had primarily pitched as a starter but got some relief appearances in the past. For Ohl, he was used in the same type of role that several Twins minor league pitchers, including Travis Adams, Marco Raya, Darren Bowen, were used. He pitched in 13 games for the Surge. He worked between two and four innings in each outing but one (went 1 2/3 innings). Most of the time, that meant between 40 and 55 pitches. He went 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA. In 39 innings, he had just four walks and 46 strikeouts.  

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In late June, he was promoted to Triple-A St. Paul. He made seven appearances, all between two and four innings and between 31 and 68 pitches. 

Late in July, the Twins needed someone to make a spot start in a bullpen game. On July 29th, he made his debut against the Red Sox. His first inning included a strikeout by Roman Anthony, a strikeout by Alex Bregman, a double to Jarren Duran, and he ended it by strikeout in Trevor Story.   

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He tossed a 1-2-3 second inning with two fly outs and a pop out. Then came the third inning. It started with a ground out. However, he gave up a triple, a single, and a double that made it 2-0 Red Sox. Next, he struck out Duran. Unfortunately, Story followed with a two-run home run to make it 4-0. After a walk, he got the third out. Michael Tonkin came in for the fourth inning. In his debut, Ohl gave up four runs on five hits and a walk over three innings. 

He certainly struggled in four of five big-league games. However, in a game against the A’s, he gave up one run over four innings and then tossed three scoreless innings against the White Sox. Again, his role was to pitch between two and four innings. And he tossed between 36 and 72 pitches. 

He went down to St. Paul where he pitched twice. The Twins called him back up a week into September. He gave up four runs in 1 1/3 innings in his first outing, but he has now pitched four straight games without giving up a run. Baby steps. And, hey, this is the minor-league award, and Ohl was terrific this year. The fact that he got a big-league opportunity this season may have come because of what happened at the trade deadline, but he earned that opportunity. And, frankly, he has shown enough stuff to find success in a big-league role. 

How would your ballot look for the Twins' top relief pitchers in 2025? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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[mikelink45]

Thanks for essay - the number one and the honorable mention look like they will be part of the 2026 roster - from this list who else would you see as a Twin next year?  I have to say that Adams does not look good and there are plenty of RP on the current edition that can be and should be replaced.

[rdehring]

Thanks, Seth.  Found it interesting that the top two were both low picks from the 2021 draft.  Would be exciting to see low picks like this duo spend four to five years working their way up the ladder before enjoying success on the big stage.

We all know that the Twins will need to bring in at least four top relievers from outside the organizaiton if they are to compete in 2026.  Can see both of these young men as part of the competition for those last four spots coming from within.

[DJL44]

Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year is kind of like awarding a Minor League Utility Player of the Year. Both roles are filled mainly by non-prospect organizational filler.

I am not a believer in the 3-inning relief pitcher role for the majors. However, it seems to be a decent way train future potential relievers in the minors without starving them of innings.

[Linus]

A lot of 25 year olds in this list. 

[Dman]

I always felt like they kind of slow boated Paredes through the system.  For an arm they liked to use in the toughest situations, as he generally came through, it is surprising it took him this long to get to AAA.  I am sure there are legit reasons as I don't know what his health was like and what he was working on at the various levels.  Still all I know is he has been a true fireman throughout his time with the Twins with K rate and fastball velocity being his main weaknesses.  I really do think he has a chance to be a good pen arm and with 103 innings this year maybe there is starter potential in there as well.  Happy to see him on this list.

I've been up and down on Ohl.  He has always been an extreme strike thrower.  HIs changeup is a weapon whether he has enough to go with that I don't know, but given his results he has a good shot at a pen role.

[jmlease1]

Minor league relief pitching is not a strength of this organization. They may need to look at converting some guys from starting to the bullpen a bit earlier so there's more legit options to draw from in AAA? But I get the concept since developing a starting pitcher is substantially more valuable (and harder to find) than a reliever.

Congrats to Ohl. He might be able to find a role as a middle reliever in MLB and we sure need some.

[High heat]

I think Ohl and Adam’s if they transition into a 1 inning role I think they can be major league middle relievers.  
 

Braggs if he can figure out the control might be able to be the lefty specialist.  

[FlyingFinn]

2 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

Minor league relief pitching is not a strength of this organization.

I think this is true for every organization. Even when Prielipp was only pitching 2-3 innings, he was starting every time. The team is able to control his work, he doesn't miss a day he should have pitched due to rain popping up, he faces the other teams future major leaguers more, etc. Jax and Varland didn't convert until after they hit the majors. 

[gman]

2 hours ago, High heat said:

I think Ohl and Adam’s if they transition into a 1 inning role I think they can be major league middle relievers.  
 

Braggs if he can figure out the control might be able to be the lefty specialist.  

Funderburk seems to have found something as a bullpen lefty this year although his last 2 seasons for the Twins have not been good. Laweryson, another lefty, did well for the Twins but only threw 7 innings. He did have a good season at both AA and AAA this year to earn his call up.

[mrguy]

4 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Thanks for essay - the number one and the honorable mention look like they will be part of the 2026 roster - from this list who else would you see as a Twin next year?  I have to say that Adams does not look good and there are plenty of RP on the current edition that can be and should be replaced.

Paredes, Bragg, and Hoopes all have potential. Paredes is probably the most likely out of the others, he's been one of the most consistent arms across each level he's shown up in. He got promoted to AAA to end the season and considering he had the 5th most innings out of ANY twins minor league pitcher and the results he got, I think they definitely saw something in him. At 25, he's definitely at the point where he'll have to prove himself, but if he can deliver that same consistency, I can see him being a second half promotion. In general though, I only see 4 or 5 pitchers in the twins minors system that actually have a chance of showing up next year in any form, outside of Paredes as hopeful option, the others would be Prielipp, Klein, Morris(who I feel like they expect to be ready immediately next year), and Raya(who I feel like they really want to be ready ASAP, but might need more time)

[DocBauer]

I was a little surprised that Logan Whitaker wasn't on the list. He had a great season.

What's interesting is that everyone except for Gomez pitched a substantial amount at AA, or above, this season, or at least finished there.

A few of these guys, if not all, might help in 2026 at some point. (With Whitaker thrown in).

[DocBauer]

31 minutes ago, gman said:

Funderburk seems to have found something as a bullpen lefty this year although his last 2 seasons for the Twins have not been good. Laweryson, another lefty, did well for the Twins but only threw 7 innings. He did have a good season at both AA and AAA this year to earn his call up.

Lawyerson is RH.

[AlLagoon]

I'd expect one of Matthews, Festa, or, crazy idea, Woods-Richardson. The latter doesn't go deep too often, tends to start games well. What could he do unleashed for an inning?

[Seth Stohs]

On 9/25/2025 at 2:10 PM, gman said:

Funderburk seems to have found something as a bullpen lefty this year although his last 2 seasons for the Twins have not been good. Laweryson, another lefty, did well for the Twins but only threw 7 innings. He did have a good season at both AA and AAA this year to earn his call up.

Laweryson, not a lefty... 

[Seth Stohs]

On 9/25/2025 at 10:09 AM, Linus said:

A lot of 25 year olds in this list. 

Which doesn't matter even a little bit. 

[Linus]

2 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

Which doesn't matter even a little bit. 

Sure it does. It doesn’t disqualify them from making the bigs but if you are a top end talent you are in the bigs at age 25. 

[gman]

On 9/25/2025 at 2:42 PM, DocBauer said:

Lawyerson is RH.

OOPs. 

[gman]

21 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

Laweryson, not a lefty... 

Oops

[big dog]

On 9/26/2025 at 2:59 PM, Linus said:

Sure it does. It doesn’t disqualify them from making the bigs but if you are a top end talent you are in the bigs at age 25. 

If you are a top end talent you probably aren't a reliever in the minors.