Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Month: July 2026

[Steven Trefz]

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Kyle Bischoff)

As the summer heated up, so did the action across the Twins Minor League Affiliate complexes. Prospects found their way through promotions, demotions, and the awkward weeks of the trade deadline with various degrees of success. Last year at the deadline the Twins decided to fire sale the Major League bullpen in order to restock their starting pitching prospect pool. This year, the minor league pitching depth was the trade bait in order to restock that same Major League bullpen. After all the dust settled, here are the top Minor League arms in the Twins system to be excited about due to an awesome month of June.

Honorable Mentions: 

• RHP Chris Vallimont (Wind Surge): 6 G, 25 2/3 IP, 3.16 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 23 K, 8 BB
• RHP Mitch Mueller (Kernels (7)/ Wind Surge (1)): 8 G, 14 1/3 IP, 3.14 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 23 K, 3 BB
• RHP Ricky Castro (Saints): 4 G, 10 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 6 K, 2 BB

4. RHP Merit Jones – Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Cedar Rapids promotion 8/4)
July Stats (6 G): 0.73 ERA, 24 2/3 IP, 30 K, 8 BB, 1.18 WHIP, .219 BA

Nothing says "You've had a great month" better than a promotion, and that's just what Jones obtained after the trade deadline. The move to Cedar Rapids came after the 6'4", 200-pound righty continues to blossom during his first full season in the Twins organization. A 14th round pick out of Utah in the 2025 draft, Jones has been stretched into five innings of work per outing as the month came to a close. His fastball plays up to 96 mph, and his slider brings whiffs in its wake. There is much to be hopeful for as he continues his climb up the organizational ladder.

3. RHP Eduardo Salazar – St. Paul Saints
July Stats (8 G): 0.73 ERA, 12 1/3 IP, 11 K, 3 BB, 0.89 WHIP, .190 BA

On the other end of the development trajectory resides Salazar, a 28-year-old veteran of the minor league carousel. Since being signed as an international free agent by the Reds in 2023, Salazar has traveled from the Reds, to the Dodgers, to the Mariners, to the Nationals, and finally to the Twins organization in February of 2026. This 6'2", 177-pound right-handed reliever just got placed on the development list after the deadline shuffle but looks to keep his current success going before the season ends. 

Salazar's four-pitch mix actually plays to reverse splits, with lefties batting a meager .192 against him. He has the pitches to create swings and ground balls, key to any reliever who inevitably will be called upon to escape jams. Does he have a path to the majors? That appears less clear. Either way, keep an eye on how the Twins handle the remainder of Salazar's season for clues as to how they envision restocking their bullpen into 2027.

2. RHP Garrett Acton – St. Paul Saints
July Stats (7 G): 3.72 ERA, 9 2/3 IP, 11 K, 4 BB, 0.62 WHIP, .065 BA

This season has been a frustrating one for Acton, as his April right shoulder injury in Tampa derailed what was shaping up to be his first full major league season. Acton rode the rehab train from Fort Myers to St. Paul in July, and he rode it well. Other than a Florida Coast League hiccup in his second outing where he walked three and gave up three runs, Acton delivered nine innings of lights out relief, only surrendering a solo homer and striking out 10 along the way.

Acton holds one of the most precious commodities in baseball: a 40-man roster spot. The bullpen trades made his path back up to the big-league club in 2026 a difficult one, but should someone go down Acton will be ready and waiting in St. Paul. So will his magic rising fastball and knee-buckling slider.

1. RHP  Kyle Bischoff– Wichita Wind Surge
July Stats (10 G): 0.00 ERA, 11 1/3 IP, 17 K, 7 BB, 1.15 WHIP, .154 BA

It's hard to compete with zeros. Bischoff took what had been a somewhat disappointing 2026 campaign and turned things around with a stellar July. Signed as a free agent in 2023, the Michigan State alum took his 6'2", 210-pound frame and showed what being effectively wild can do. While his walk rate jumped up slightly from June to July, his strikeouts nearly doubled. And if you take out the first outing of the month, his last nine outings all ended in zeros.

Bischoff is 27 years old and was pitching in St. Paul to finish 2024 before going back down the ladder in 2025. The time to climb is now, if ever, and Bischoff is doing his best to get his fastball/slider mix noticed again. Congrats to Kyle, your efforts did not go unnoticed here as you are the Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Month!

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July featured a combined no-hitter for Vallimont and the Wichita crew, as well as several outstanding performances which were rewarded with promotions around the system. Obviously, those positioned at St. Paul have the clearest path up to the big-league club, but the newly acquired bullpen arms might create a logjam for these prospects that will push their debuts back into 2027...or even 2028 should labor strife ensue.

Who do you think had the best month of July for our farm system hurlers? As you ponder that, here is one more moment of zen...

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[Dman]

I had no idea how good Merit Jones was this month.  I knew he was having a good month, but those numbers are crazy good.  Twins drafted him twice so they always liked his stuff.  I'm starting to see why.

Relievers in these spots just don't excite me that much.  Nice to see them having some good appearances.

[Steve Lein]

I would have overwhelmingly given this award to Merit Jones, but plenty of good pitching elsewhere too.

Jones was named the Florida State League Pitcher of the Month yesterday.