Here are the Twins Prospects Heading to the 2026 Arizona Fall League

The Arizona Fall League is one of the last flurries of activity on the minor-league calendar, and it can serve several different purposes for a prospect. Some players use the opportunity to face advanced competition after a breakthrough season. Others get extra at-bats, additional innings, or a chance to work on an area of their game before heading into the offseason.

The Twins will have eight players on the Salt River Rafters roster this fall, with a group that includes position players who took noticeable steps forward and pitchers looking to turn limited 2026 action into something more meaningful. The 2026 AFL season begins October 3 and runs through November 14. 

Here is a look at each of Minnesota's representatives.

Yasser Mercedes, OF

Mercedes is the biggest name on this list, as he currently ranks as Twins Daily’s number 19 prospect. He spent two summers in the Florida Complex League and parts of three years in the Single-A Florida State League. The former $1.7 million international signing earned a promotion to High-A Cedar Rapids after destroying the Florida State League, slashing .321/.439/.642 with six home runs in 21 games. His production was more modest with the Kernels, where he hit .232/.320/.409 in 88 games, but there were still plenty of encouraging signs.

Mercedes finished with 18 home runs and 52 stolen bases across the two levels. More importantly, he appeared to find another gear late in the season. He posted a .874 OPS over his final 30 games with Cedar Rapids, showing why the Twins remain intrigued by the combination of power and speed.

The Fall League should give Mercedes another chance to prove that his long-awaited breakout is becoming something sustainable rather than simply a collection of hot stretches.

Kyle DeBarge, 2B/SS

DeBarge experienced the highs and lows of a full season at Double-A, but the 2024 first-round pick still put together an intriguing statistical line. He hit 12 home runs, scored 73 runs and stole 41 bases while playing four different positions. Overall, he hit .221 with a .325 on-base percentage and a .677 OPS.

The batting average will not jump off the page, but DeBarge's versatility remains one of his biggest selling points. He spent most of his time at second base while also seeing action at shortstop and other spots, giving the organization another athletic, flexible option.

The AFL gives DeBarge a chance to finish the year on a stronger note and show that his offensive game can catch up with the rest of his skill set.

Ross Dunn, LHP

Dunn's 2026 season was anything but normal. The left-hander opened the year on the injured list and did not make his first appearance until July, eventually working his way back through rehabilitation assignments in the Florida Complex League and Fort Myers before returning to Cedar Rapids.

He logged only 23 2/3 minor league innings across three levels, posting a 4.18 ERA with 25 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP. Most of that work came in Cedar Rapids, where he had a 4.86 ERA in 12 appearances.

Dunn's AFL assignment is much more about getting innings. He missed significant time, and the Fall League gives him another month of competition to rebuild his workload and regain the form that made him an interesting pitching prospect after being selected in the 10th round of the 2023 draft.

Cesar Lares, LHP

Lares had one of the more difficult seasons among Minnesota's Fall League selections. After missing most of 2025 because of Tommy John surgery, he returned to competition in 2026 and made 12 starts for Cedar Rapids. The results were rough, with a 10.27 ERA and 1.85 WHIP across 44 1/3 innings. He did, however, strike out 51 hitters.

That strikeout total is the reason this assignment remains interesting. Lares clearly wasn't sharp following his long layoff, and his command was a major issue, but there was still enough swing-and-miss ability to keep the door open.

An AFL stint could be valuable for him simply because it provides more competitive innings after a season in which he was still trying to find his footing following major elbow surgery.

Cleiber Maldonado, LHP

Maldonado's road back from injury was even more limited. He opened the year on the 60-day injured list after undergoing elbow surgery, then made a brief rehabilitation appearance in the Florida Complex League before returning to Cedar Rapids.

He ultimately appeared in 14 games and recorded 15 innings, allowing 21 runs while striking out 23 batters. Those numbers are obviously not representative of what Maldonado has done over his career. Prior to 2026, he had posted a 3.65 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings.

The Fall League could therefore be a particularly important developmental opportunity. Rather than judging him on three appearances after surgery, Minnesota can use the AFL to see how his stuff looks once he has more regular repetitions.

Jake Murray, LHP

Murray took a much different path to the Fall League. The 2025 minor league signing spent the 2026 season with Fort Myers, working primarily out of the bullpen. He posted a 6.23 ERA in 30 1/3 innings while striking out 45 hitters, showing the ability to miss bats even when the overall results were inconsistent.

Murray's 30.4 strikeout rate and 0.30 HR/9 are difficult to ignore. His 1.71 WHIP shows why there is still work to do, but the swing-and-miss ability gives him something to build around. He landed on the injured list in August, so another key objective in Arizona will be getting healthy and finishing the year with a stretch of uninterrupted work.

Jacob McCombs, OF

ith Minnesota as the organization's seventh-round pick in 2025, he moved into a full-season role with Cedar Rapids and quickly looked comfortable against High-A pitching.

McCombs hit .276 with a .388 on-base percentage, six home runs, 33 RBI and 14 stolen bases. His 2026 season included an especially strong July, when he slashed .327/.471/.582 with a 1.053 OPS while striking out just seven times in 16 games.

The combination of plate discipline, contact ability, power and speed gives McCombs an intriguing offensive profile. The AFL will provide his first opportunity to face a larger collection of upper-level pitching, and a strong showing could put him firmly in the Double-A conversation heading into 2027.

Brian Zeldin, RHP

Zeldin took an unconventional path to this roster after signing with Minnesota as a minor league free agent in February. He moved from Fort Myers to Cedar Rapids, working exclusively as a reliever. In 35 appearances, Zeldin posted a 6.93 ERA, 70 strikeouts and a 1.80 WHIP across 49 1/3 innings. He also picked up three saves.

The numbers are not perfect, but the 29.0% strikeout rate stands out. Zeldin's experience at Georgia and his debut in the organization make him one of the more interesting under-the-radar arms in this group.

The AFL will give him a chance to prove that his 2026 performance was more than a small-sample curiosity.

One Last Opportunity

This is not the most heralded group of Twins prospects to head to Arizona, but there are plenty of reasons to pay attention.

Mercedes and DeBarge are looking to turn intriguing tools into more consistent production. McCombs is trying to establish himself as one of the organization's rising bats. Meanwhile, Dunn, Lares and Maldonado all have something to prove after spending significant time recovering from injuries.

The AFL is often described as a finishing school for prospects. For these eight Twins, it could also be a proving ground, a reset button or simply one more chance to make a strong impression before everyone heads into the offseason.

What stands out about this group? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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