Minnesota Twins 2025 MLB Draft Day 1 Recap: A Solid Shortstop & High Octane Arms

The dust has settled on a frenetic day one of the 2025 MLB Draft. After 105 picks in an expanded opening day, the Twins have new prospects likely to join the organization soon. Here’s a rundown of their day one picks.

16. Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest (18th by consensus), slot value: $4,929,600
Here’s an excerpt of our write-up on Houston from the consensus board:

It's plus defense at shortstop, with good lateral quickness, soft hands, a great internal clock, and a plus arm combining for a complete offensive profile. He's 1B to Billy Carlson's 1A defensively for shortstops in this class.

There's plenty to like in the offensive profile, too. It's a hit over power profile, headlined by strong bat-to-ball metrics and a history of walking more than he strikes out wherever he plays, including an excellent stint on the Cape after the 2024 season.

Houston's power numbers (under the hood) didn't really hold up in ACC play. He finished the season with a .354/.458/.597 (1.055) line with 15 home runs and identical 15.4% strikeout and walk rates. Even so, it's an above-average hit and run, with plus defense and a plus arm at shortstop. He's a first-half of the first-round type of guy in this class.

36. Riley Quick, RHP, Alabama (32nd by consensus), slot value: $2,692,000
Here’s an excerpt of our write-up on Quick from the consensus board:

Quick is another riser in the 2025 cycle on the pitching side. A physically imposing frame at 6'6, 250, the stuff and the results are starting to come together for the Alabama righty after recovering from TJ surgery.

Quick's fastball is a sinker that sits in the mid-90s. He can reach back for 98 mph. It generated a ground ball rate north of 60% in 2024, and it's easy to see why, with the pitch creating 20 inches or so of run. Quick has a relatively low release height for his size. He mixes in a sweeper, which is already above average and could be plus in time. His changeup, like his sinker, gets a ton of horizontal break.

Quick delivery is relatively consistent for such a physical pitcher. It's easy to see him carrying a significant workload as a pro if he can stay healthy. Despite the size and stuff, Quick hasn’t missed the amount of bats you’d like to see. In 2025, he finished with a 3.49 FIP, 25.9 K%, and 8.9 BB% in 62 IP. If the right organization gets him, you can see him being a tweak or two away from being a monster.

54. Quentin Young, SS, Oaks Christian HS, CA, (51st by consensus), slot value: $1,761,100
Here’s an excerpt of our write-up on Young from the consensus board:

At 6'5, 215, Quentin Young (nephew of Delmon and Dmitri) is a physical monster with a ton of projection in a super athletic frame. A right-handed hitter, there's a ton of raw power here, combined with some swing and miss concerns, particularly against off-speed stuff. It's a violent swing and aggressive approach at the plate that could be reined in to get to a little more refinement with his swing decisions and control of at-bats. He's easily got a plus arm, and with infield and outfield experience, that's likely a 3B/RF profile in time.

How the hit tool develops and the pitch recognition, in particular, will likely govern Young's ceiling. He's committed to LSU, which may be a tough connection to break, depending on where he's taken.

88. James Ellwanger, RHP, DBU, (86th by consensus, slot value: $893,000
Here’s an excerpt of our write-up on Ellwanger from the consensus board:

Ellwanger was a notable prospect prior to the 2023 draft and slipped due to signability concerns. He was taken by the Nats in the 19th round and is their type of prep power arm. It's an intriguing combination of size, stuff, and refinement needed, particularly on the secondary pitches and with his control.

Ellwanger stands 6'5, 205, it's a lean frame with more strength to add. Even so, he can run his fastball up into the high 90s with good ride and armside run. There's a good curveball present too, an above-average pitch, with a slider and changeup that haven't proven to be as effective yet. Strike throwing has also been a challenge for Ellwanger at times. Despite too many free passes (13.5%), he's performed solidly in 2025. It's a 3.07 FIP and 33 K%. You'll need a drafting organization that knows what they're doing with pitchers, but the arm talent is considerable.

Analysis
We often talk about draft classes like financial portfolios. You want diversity in your class. The Twins accomplished that in some unique and fun ways on day one. In Houston, you have a high-floored, low-variance college shortstop who should stick at the position. If you’ve ever wondered what the Twins player development team could do with higher-octane starting arm talent, you’ll get that look with both Quick and Ellwanger. In Young, they’ve landed some of the best raw power in the draft class.

The Twins haven’t recently drafted elite arm talent from college arms on day one. There are prep examples (Soto, Hill), but this represents a different approach. It also represents them leaning into one of the best demographics in the draft class. I wouldn’t expect to see Quick or Ellwanger pitch in 2026, and I’d equally expect to be blown away by the stuff in 2026.

The Twins' recent pick most similar to Young is Brandon Winokur. Young has elite power for a prospect his age. His batting practice at the Draft Combine was nukes drilled into the seats at 112-115 mph. I’d expect to see rawness, refinement needed in the hit tool, and absolutely massive home runs when he debuts.

Finally, there’s Houston. I didn’t love his profile, but that’s more of a personal preference. I like the pick plenty in the context of the other picks. So let’s dig in on some of his numbers from 2025. It’s an 86th percentile walk rate, 70th percentile strikeout rate, and 87th percentile in zone contact rate. Even if the power is fringe average, that’s a skill set that should provide solid value as he’s going to get on base and hit plenty. It’s a plus arm and above average speed, too (19/21 in stolen bases in 2025). If we’re looking at which tools will accrue value, for Houston, the org is betting on hit, run, defense, with 15 home run power at a premium defensive position. It makes sense.

What are your thoughts on the Twins' day one? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Check out our 2026 mock draft board, updated regularly, and with detailed player write-ups!