Twins Daily 2026 Top Prospects: #5 Connor Prielipp, LHP

[Steve Lein]

Image courtesy of William Parmeter

Age: 25 (DOB: 1/10/2001)
2025 Stats (Double-A and Triple-A): 24 GS (24 G), 1-9, 4.03 ERA, .288 BAA, 1.51 WHIP, 98 K, 31 BB, 82 2/3 IP
ETA: 2026
2025 Ranking: 10

National Top 100 Rankings:
BA: 94 | FAN: NR | MLB: NR | ATH: NR | TJ: 75 | ESPN: 54

What’s to Like?
Since bursting onto the college baseball scene as a 19-year-old true freshman with Alabama, Prielipp’s “stuff” has always been something to dream on. 

He debuted with four starts in the SEC that year facing 75 hitters over 21 innings. He struck out 35 of them (47%) and allowed just five hits and zero runs in those games. That was good for a 0.52 WHIP and 15.0/9IP strikeout rate that vaulted him into future #1 overall pick conversations.

We all know how that came crashing down the next season via Tommy John surgery, but it was still enough for the Minnesota Twins to bet their second-round pick on that “stuff” in the 2022 draft as he recovered. 

His arsenal includes a mid 90’s fastball that topped out at 98 MPH in pitches tracked with the St. Paul Saints in 2025, a plus slider that can touch 90 and has elite spin rates, and a changeup that generated a 62% whiff rate. He also mixes in a sinker and is toying with a new curveball this spring, but it’s those three plus-pitches coming from a lefty that could remind Twins fans of names like Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano.

What’s Left to Work On?
In addition to the elbow work Prielipp went through in college, he also had to have a second surgery during the 2023 season after making just a pair of appearances to kick off his professional career. He returned in time to pitch 23 1/3 innings at the end of the 2024 season, but simply staying healthy has been a monumental hurdle for him to overcome.

The good news is Prielipp did so during the 2025 season, to the tune of 82 2/3 innings with Wichita and St. Paul. Those were 24 more than his total from all five of his college and pro seasons combined before then. He simply still needs innings to develop and re-harness those electric pitches.

His walk rate with the Saints last year more than doubled what he had done with the Wind Surge, and he did give up plenty of hits in between the strikeouts. While his ERA landed above 4.00 on the year, his FIP came in about a half-run lower, suggesting some further improved command can pay dividends on the results.

What to Look For in 2026?
Prielipp has commented this spring that he’s going to be built up as a starter, so while it was fun to think of him as a possibility among the bullpen competition, he looks set to open the year in the Saints rotation.

This is the right call for his future and where he is at his development. Going every five days and throwing plenty of pitches is how he’ll get to where the Twins and fans want to see. But I’ve also said in the past because of his injury history, he might just be a prime candidate to start his professional career much like one of those guys I made the “stuff” comparison to earlier.

It is very likely Prielipp could be starting games on the mound at Target Field this season with the Twins. But the further into the summer any debut is pushed, the more likely it becomes he breaks into the majors in a reliever role as there will likely still be a clear limit to his innings. Getting his feet wet in the majors the same way Johan Santana did could allow him to both impact more major league games and provide him some runway to be unleashed as an impact starter in future seasons. Blossoming into a closer like another lefty in Glen Perkins is an appealing outcome, too. 

When you have the pure “stuff” that Prielipp does, you certainly have options.

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[jmlease1]

He's incredibly talented, I just hope his elbow doesn't explode.

I have no issues with him continuing to work as a starter: as noted above, he needs innings and he needs to throw his pitches under game conditions, and starting is a perfectly fine way to do it. It's also far easier for a player to step down to a relief role than it ever is for a guy to stretch back out into starting, and with the injuries that have already cropped up it's not like the AAA rotation will be too overstuffed (especially with guys like Lewis or Klein or Raya already moving into bullpen roles.)

Should he be 5th on the list? Tough call, because there's simply a ton of variance with him as a player. the ceiling is very high, but the floor is equally low because of the injury risk and time already missed.

Performance will need to start matching the peripherals soon; it's all fine and good to talk about spin rates and movement and whiff rates as a prospect develops, but once you're up in the high minors it has to be matched with execution on the field. Looking forward to seeing how well he's able to command and control his offerings this season, but any LHP with his velocity paired with that kind of slider & changeup has pretty awesome potential.

[mike8791]

Understand all the hype on this guy, but he has been totally unimpressive this spring so he will definitely start at AAA.  When there, they should put him in the pen.  The strength of this team is in the rotation.  Abel, Bradley and yesterday, Mathews, have looked very good.  With Ryan and OBER(?) set in the rotation and with Lopez back next year, what are the chances Pre breaks in to the rotation this year or next?

We need some arms in the pen - and the sooner the better!  Topa looks finished(couldn't even get AAA batters out yesterday), Orze hasn't been much better, and Taylor & Hendricks are most likely at the tail end of their careers.  If we have any chance(as TP claims) to be competitive this year, why not push Pre and Festa into the pen early so that they might be of use by June 1st?

[Nshore]

The Twins have to continue to hope, but it seems like Prielipp might be a left handed version of Matt Canterino.  And Matt can't.

[mikelink45]

Quote

24 GS (24 G), 1-9, 4.03 ERA, .288 BAA, 1.51 WHIP, 98 K, 31 BB, 82 2/3 IP

He is 25 - these are not the stats I want for the number 5 prospect.   There are better names in previous lower level posts.  Not a believer.  Stuff doesn't count if it doesn't produce. 

[Mike Sixel]

Way, way, way to high for a guy who can't stay healthy. 

[Parfigliano]

19 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Way, way, way to high for a guy who can't stay healthy. 

Or apparently pitch

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, Nshore said:

The Twins have to continue to hope, but it seems like Prielipp might be a left handed version of Matt Canterino.  And Matt can't.

They pay not to pitch

[TJSweens]

1 hour ago, Nshore said:

The Twins have to continue to hope, but it seems like Prielipp might be a left handed version of Matt Canterino.  And Matt can't.

Way too early for that comparison. Canterino has pitched 85 innings in 7 years and none since 2022. Prielipp pitched 82.2 last year alone with no issues. Prielipp had TJ in college. After 2 outings here, they had to go back in and found that it apparently wasn't the previous surgeon's finest work. They added the brace  and he has had no issues since.

[Brandon]

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Way, way, way to high for a guy who can't stay healthy. 

Canterino is ranked 4th.....

How is Preilipp doing this spring?  I still think his future is pen.  How much I would love to be wrong and the Twins get 6 seasons of 170 innings out of him.  

[DocBauer]

I have no problem with him begining this season as a SP. He needs the innings to not only work .ore on his command, hopefully harness the 2 newer pitches, nut he's still refining HOW to pitch.  You can have great stuff, and even good control. But there is an element to setting up hitters that he's still learning. Even if he ends up in the pen, he's still working on the "knowledge" portion of pitching. 

While it would be awesome to have him as a rotation fixture at 24 or even 25yo, I'd be really happy for being a possible rotation fixture from age 26 to 32. 

That doesn't mean he doesn't still end up in the pen as a top set up man or potential closer. It might still happen. But he only gains command and experience by remaining a starter for now.

[RaoulDuke]

I was on the put him in the MLB pen this year train because of his age and innings limit.  The way this season is shaping up, and his spring showing so far, however seems there is really no need to rush him.  

Might as well see what a half season starting in AAA looks like and make decisions from there.  Hopefully he forces his way into the mix, it sure would be weird to have a good lefty starter in the Twins rotation.

 

[TL]

Agree with the author that the Johan Santana path is perfect for him right now. Continue to work as a starter at AAA and if all goes well bring him up as a reliever in the summer to bolster the pen and get him MLB experience while limiting his total innings pitched to ~110. Even start that way in 2027 if the rotation looks solid and see where it takes him. 

[Jeff K]

21 hours ago, mike8791 said:

Understand all the hype on this guy, but he has been totally unimpressive this spring so he will definitely start at AAA.  When there, they should put him in the pen.  The strength of this team is in the rotation.  Abel, Bradley and yesterday, Mathews, have looked very good.  With Ryan and OBER(?) set in the rotation and with Lopez back next year, what are the chances Pre breaks in to the rotation this year or next?

We need some arms in the pen - and the sooner the better!  Topa looks finished(couldn't even get AAA batters out yesterday), Orze hasn't been much better, and Taylor & Hendricks are most likely at the tail end of their careers.  If we have any chance(as TP claims) to be competitive this year, why not push Pre and Festa into the pen early so that they might be of use by June 1st?

Matthews was NOT very good yesterday.  He was lit up in the first inning.

[bean5302]

Prielipp had a failed TJ. He doesn't have some crazy injury history.

It certainly looks like the Twins plan to use Prielipp out of the 'pen this year since they haven't had him pitch more than 2.0 innings and he hasn't started a game so far. Despite not starting any games and the low inning count, he's pitching on a rotational type rest though. 

I'm not sure if the Twins are intentionally having Prielipp work on something or if his stuff just doesn't play. He hasn't been able to throw strikes and he's been crushed. A very bad start to the spring for sure.

[laloesch]

4 hours ago, Jeff K said:

Matthews was NOT very good yesterday.  He was lit up in the first inning.

This.

He was torched for 6 runs in 3-2/3 innings.  Honestly aside from Abel and Ober (who's only pitched 2 innings so far), the Twin's starters have been atrocious.  SWR has been brutal as has Bradley which is quite disappointing despite his high K/9 ratio.  Andrew Morris hasn't been great either.  The Twins are gonna need solid seasons out of SWR, Ober, and Ryan to keep this team from losing 100 games, knowing how bad the offense is gonna be.   

[Parfigliano]

8 hours ago, TL said:

Agree with the author that the Johan Santana path is perfect for him right now. Continue to work as a starter at AAA and if all goes well bring him up as a reliever in the summer to bolster the pen and get him MLB experience while limiting his total innings pitched to ~110. Even start that way in 2027 if the rotation looks solid and see where it takes him. 

Johan is the path.  He will be a MET.

[killercarewoliva]

On 3/9/2026 at 11:44 AM, mike8791 said:

Understand all the hype on this guy, but he has been totally unimpressive this spring so he will definitely start at AAA.  When there, they should put him in the pen.  The strength of this team is in the rotation.  Abel, Bradley and yesterday, Mathews, have looked very good.  With Ryan and OBER(?) set in the rotation and with Lopez back next year, what are the chances Pre breaks in to the rotation this year or next?

We need some arms in the pen - and the sooner the better!  Topa looks finished(couldn't even get AAA batters out yesterday), Orze hasn't been much better, and Taylor & Hendricks are most likely at the tail end of their careers.  If we have any chance(as TP claims) to be competitive this year, why not push Pre and Festa into the pen early so that they might be of use by June 1st?

I have not seen a pitcher Gain more accolades and get on that mound and do so little. whenever I've seen him pitch on TV he just can't do it very well. I'm not out there looking at him everyday you know but I don't see this guy being majorly ready. probably at least 2 years if then. always hope and wrong when I make a comment like that.