Twins’ Biggest Prospect Risers and Fallers in 2026

[Sam Caulder]

Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins’ farm system looked a lot different at the end of 2026 than it did at the beginning. A number of top prospects made their way to Target Field this season, with names like Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, and Emmanuel Rodriguez all reaching the majors. There was also plenty of movement throughout the organization, as players climbed levels, battled through injuries, and either strengthened or weakened their standing within the system.

With all that movement came changes in the Twins’ prospect rankings. Let’s take a look at a couple of the biggest risers and fallers in the organization over the course of the year, starting with the risers.

Hendry Mendez
Mendez entered the season ranked as Twins Daily’s No. 16 prospect, but he now sits all the way up at No. 7. It’s easy to see why. Across 102 games between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul, Mendez slashed .281/.374/.430, good for an .804 OPS. While the power numbers don’t immediately jump off the page—he hit 12 home runs and recorded just 31 total extra-base hits—power has never really been the main selling point of his game.

Instead, Mendez has built his profile around making consistent contact and controlling the strike zone, and those skills took a noticeable step forward this season. His 91.4% zone contact rate is excellent, and his 23% chase rate points to a hitter who understands the strike zone and rarely expands it. That combination is a strong foundation for offensive success, especially for a player who already puts plenty of balls in play.

There’s a very good chance Mendez makes his major-league debut in 2027, and if those bat-to-ball skills translate the way the Twins hope they will, he could make an impact fairly quickly.

Riley Quick
Quick entered the year as the Twins’ No. 11 prospect and now finds himself firmly inside the top five. Considering the questions surrounding him entering the season, that’s a significant jump. The Twins selected Quick 36th overall in the 2025 draft, but there was understandable uncertainty due to his limited collegiate workload and previous Tommy John surgery. This year didn’t erase every concern, but it answered quite a few of them. Quick threw 81 2/3 innings across Low-A, High-A, and Double-A, striking out 110 hitters in the process. His 30.6% strikeout rate showcased exactly why the Twins were so intrigued by his upside in the first place.

The swing-and-miss stuff was obvious. That said, there’s still work to do. Quick posted a 13.4% walk rate, and command remains the biggest hurdle standing between him and the major leagues. He also struggled after reaching Double-A, finishing with a 6.68 ERA at the level. Still, those concerns shouldn’t overshadow the overall picture.

For a pitcher making his first full season of professional starts after Tommy John surgery, this was a successful year. And with a strong 2027 season, Quick could find himself pitching at Target Field sooner rather than later. It was an encouraging year for Mendez and Quick, but unfortunately, it wasn’t all good. Let’s take a look at a couple of fallers.

Eduardo Tait
Tait entered the season as Twins Daily’s No. 4 prospect, but he’ll finish the year at No. 8. That drop stands out even more when considering that Connor Prielipp, Dasan Hill, and Kendry Rojas — three of the four players ranked immediately behind him entering the year — all lost their prospect eligibility.

Even with openings near the top of the rankings, Tait slid four spots. Over 116 games with High-A Cedar Rapids, Tait slashed .221/.281/.418, producing a .699 OPS. Those are underwhelming numbers for one of the organization’s top offensive prospects, but there’s also reason to believe the season wasn’t quite as disappointing as the stat line suggests.

His strikeout rate improved slightly compared to 2025, and his walk rate moved in the right direction as well. Tait also finished with a .243 BABIP, which suggests he may have suffered from some poor batted-ball luck. With a few more balls finding grass, his season could have looked considerably different.

Still, prospect rankings are heavily influenced by production, and Tait’s overall numbers simply weren’t strong enough to maintain his previous standing.

Marco Raya
Raya entered the season ranked as the Twins’ No. 15 prospect, but despite making his major league debut this year, he now sits outside the organization’s top 20.

He did pitch well in his brief time with the Twins, allowing two earned runs over six innings, but his Triple-A season told a different story. Across 64 1/3 innings with St. Paul, Raya posted a 5.32 ERA while allowing 14 home runs. It marked the second straight season with an ERA north of five, and that's started to reshape what his future role looks like.

That doesn’t mean there weren’t positives. Raya improved his strikeout rate from 22.6% in 2025 to 27.8% this year, and his walk rate dropped from 12.6% to 9.1%. Those are meaningful steps in the right direction. But keeping the ball in the park remains a major issue.

At this point, it’s still very possible that Raya can carve out a role in the Twins’ bullpen, and there’s enough arm talent to believe he can contribute in the majors. However, the hope of him developing into a quality starting pitcher has faded considerably. That makes 2027 an important season for Raya, and in many ways, for several players throughout the system.

Prospect rankings can change quickly. One strong season can send a player soaring up the board, while one disappointing year can create new questions. The Twins saw plenty of both in 2026, and the answers those players provide next season will go a long way toward shaping the future of the organization.

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[DJL44]

Rising: Caden Kendle, Ben Ross

Falling: Charlee Soto, Quentin Young