3 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks Who Could Turn Out to Be Steals

[Cory Sparks]

Image courtesy of © Bruce Newman/Special to the Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

There are three main ways to thrive in player acquisition as a major-league ball club: nail free agency; make brilliant trades; or draft sharply and develop well. The Minnesota Twins got the big names like Vahn Lackey early on, but they also swiped some steals in the 2026 MLB Draft. Let’s dive in. 

Tommy LaPour (Round 4, Pick 107)

A dearth of pitching depth has been a hot topic for the Twins lately, so it should come as no shock that they used three straight picks (starting in Competitive Balance Round B) to address that need. Tommy LaPour could go down as a serious bargain buy. The TCU right-handed pitcher could’ve gone earlier in the draft, per MLB.com, but elbow issues stifled his 2026 campaign and knocked his draft stock down a bit. LaPour looked remarkable in the 2025 season, registering an 8-3 record with a 3.09 earned run average and 88 punchouts over 90 1/3 innings pitched. 

LaPour’s fastball leads his arsenal, coming in with a 60 grade on MLB Pipeline’s 20-to-80 scouting grade scale. The 21-year-old can push his fastball through the zone in the 95-98 MPH range (and he has reached 101 before), with plenty of sinking action. His secondary offering is a mid-80s slider, operating with two-plane depth and coming in at a 55 grade. LaPour is still learning to harness the breaking ball, as he can’t always control the pitch or land it for strikes on command. 

Thomas Burns (Round 8, Pick 227)

One could argue the Twins got Thomas Burns right around his true value, as Minnesota picked MLB Pipeline’s 221st-ranked draft prospect in the 227th spot. Another pitcher, Burns works with a large frame and can do serious damage with his fastball. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Hortonville, Wis. product has a 70-grade fastball that sits between 95-98 miles per hour.

Burns was a rotational piece for the Arizona State Sun Devils before tendinitis pushed him to the injured list and eventually led him to relief obligations with the Texas Longhorns. Burns only managed an unsightly 5.64 ERA this year, but he struck out an impressive 42% of his opposing hitters. Burns also flashes a 50-grade cutter, but he struggles to land the bullet-spin breaker for strikes. 

His stuff can be overpowering, but the 35-grade control means that he's often working from behind or catching too much of the zone. If the Twins can toy with a pretty complex delivery and shave down what was a 16% walk rate over three years in college, this could be a dynamite reliever.

Aidan Teel (Round 11, Pick 317)

Aidan Teel is the final member of this list, and his last name is no coincidence. The brother of former first-round pick Kyle Teel, Aidan proved to be a key piece in Mississippi State’s success throughout the 2026 season. The red-shirt Junior was set up to have a decorated season, and was the 28th-ranked outfielder in the country, per D1Baseball; 82nd-ranked junior, per Perfect Game; and even a Preseason All-American Fourth Team honoree. 

Teel was a cornerstone for this year’s group. He put up a .294 batting average with five home runs, 22 runs batted in and a .449 slugging percentage. He hit north of the .300 mark over a pair of seasons before this, showcasing an ability to hit at a high level while walking (52) nearly as much as he struck out (70) over his collegiate career. He's not as talented as his brother, but between his family ties and his production, there's cause to hope that he'll be much better than your standard-issue 11th-rounder.

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[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Lapour I completely agree with.  He is an intense bulldog.  Sean Johnson said if he had been healthy this year he is most likely a #1 draft pick.  I agree.  He seemed to do everything right.  Fastball 60  Slider 55 Changeup 50  Control 50   but he is only a 45 prospect LOL.   Maybe some injury risk.  His 2025 stats were better than a Volchko 2026.  It was mentioned on one of the podcasts ive listened to - that the Twins are slightly leaning into propects that have been wrestlers - super competitive.   Keaschall,  Lapour and I believe 1 more middle infielder.    They view him as a starter along with Murdock.  

Burns - I completely agree.  JD Cameron says he could be in the bullpen by 2027 and honestly if he can figure out a little more control and 1 secondary pitch.  Game on.  

JT Raab is the big lanky pitcher that could fill out and really develop in the next year.  

Colby Turner is an excellent bat infielder that performed really well in a power 4 conference. 

Isaiah Lane - good frame good defense,  decent bat.  I think they see upside here.   

The rest are lottery tickets in my mind.  Not to say things can't click or ect.  I mean I can like Prather and some of the pitchers.  Teel is solid but is getting drafted as much to the family name.