3 Twins Prospects to be Excited About in 2026

[NJM]

While the Twins had their worst season in almost a decade in 2025, they have a much brighter future than they did back then. With many talented prospects either acquired from trades or home-grown’s emerging as potential play-makers. These 3 prospects intrigue me the most though as a Twins fan.

1. Walker Jenkins

To start this out you have to mention Walker Jenkins, the 2023 High School draftee from South Brunswick HS, North Carolina, Jenkins is a very exciting prospect for the Minnesota Twins for 2026. Jenkins started the season with a delay due to an injury sustained in Spring Training. He played a few games in the lower levels (Rookie Ball Twins, and Low-A Fort Myers) But once he got back to Double-A Wichita he showed his true potential, slashing .303/.404/.494 in the first two summer months before getting the call to Triple-A St. Paul in late August where he started off slow but finished strong to end the year. Overall the 20 year-old is a player to be very excited about from his Joe Mauer-esque swing, to his Juan Soto-like eye, with the only thing stopping him from becoming a star is injuries. 

2. Gabriel Gonzalez

The second prospect I am very excited about is Gabby Gonzalez, The hard hitting Outfielder is a prospect that I feel has flown under the radar as a potential superstar. Acquired in the Jorge Polanco trade that sent Gonzalez, Justin Topa, Anthony DeSlafani, and Darren Bowen to the Twins. Gonzalez wasn’t much of a headliner last year, he only slashed around .255/.326./.381 in mostly Cedar Rapids, good for an OPS just above .700. In 2025 it was a night and day difference compared to last season, Gonzalez slashed .329/.395/.513 for an OPS of over .900 over 3 levels. He climbed up to Triple-A St. Paul by the end of the year and played better than the other two lower levels in his short stint there. Depending on how his Spring and the offseason goes in 2026 we could see him on the Opening Day roster. 

3. Connor Prielipp

Finally, the third prospect I have high hopes for is Connor Prielipp. His stats might not jump out at you like Jenkins and Gonzalez, but the potential is on the same par. He has a devastating Fastball-Changeup-Slider 3 pitch mix which makes his stuff so good. He played in Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul this season where he started almost all of his games. Though when he does start he usually doesn’t pitch long, maybe 3-5 innings so we will see how that translates to the big league level. Along with Gonzalez, Prielipp is on the 40-Man roster currently. I’m curious to see what role he has for the Twins either being a starter that goes a few and the bullpen takes over similar to what the Twins did with Travis Adams and Pierson Ohl this season. Maybe he will be a bullpen arm, or even a full fledged starter. Like Jenkins, and Gonzalez we will have to see what spring training has in store for us this year.

 The new generation of players is only starting for the Minnesota Twins and an exciting time for Twins baseball is on the horizon, so stay strong Twins fans.

[Linus]

Well written post. I see you are in high school, perhaps the Twins Daily staff should bring you on board to provide a young Twins fan perspective.   I will enjoy watching these three this summer as well.