Mighty Mussels See Early Returns from Twins’ Willingness to Draft High-School Arms

For the better part of the last decade, the Minnesota Twins have carved out a distinct path in the amateur draft: find underrated right-handed college pitchers, bring them into the organization’s pitching lab, and turn up the velocity dial. It’s a strategy that’s produced impressive results (ask Bailey Ober, David Festa, or Zebby Matthews). These names weren’t exactly top-of-the-draft darlings, but they’ve steadily climbed the ladder thanks to tweaks made under the Twins’ watchful eye.

But over the last few drafts, there’s been a noticeable shift. While the Twins haven’t abandoned their trusty template, they’ve also begun dipping their toes into a historically riskier pool: high-school pitchers. Early in the 2025 season, the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels are reaping the benefits of that calculated gamble.

Two names leading the way are 2024 second-rounder Dasan Hill and 2023 draftee Dylan Questad. Though both are young pitchers for the Florida State League, they’ve already begun to show why the Twins were willing to invest early-round capital and developmental resources into them. Target Field is still a long way off when it comes to pitching development and climbing the organizational ladder, but they're starting that climb in good shape. 

Hill, a left-handed pitcher selected out of a Texas high school last July, came into pro ball with a live arm and a projectable six-foot-five frame. In his first few outings with Fort Myers this spring, he’s turned heads with 7 1/3 innings, two earned runs, 13 strikeouts, and only two walks. Sure, it’s a small sample, but it’s the kind of line that shows promise in all the right places. He misses bats, limits free passes, and competes in the zone.

Questad, a right-hander taken in the fifth round in 2023, has looked every bit as sharp, after spending most of 2024 refining his mechanics (with some speed bumps) in the FCL. In 12 appearances (28 1/3 innings), he allowed 33 earned runs on 35 hits with a 19.2 BB%. In 2025, he opened the season with five scoreless innings, racking up eight strikeouts without issuing a single walk. On Wednesday, he collected a three-inning save to close out a 1-0 Fort Myers victory. His three strikeouts capped a 19-strikeout night for the team, tying a franchise record. The command has been crisp; the stuff is playing up; and, like Hill, he looks like someone with the potential to develop into something much more.

What’s especially encouraging is how these young arms fit into the broader organizational context. As previously mentioned, Minnesota's front office has long preferred the safety and projectability of college pitchers. It’s a system that’s helped develop a reliable stable of arms, with Ober and Festa in regular rotation spots in the big leagues. Zebby Matthews and Andrew Morris aren’t far behind, continuing to impress in the upper minors.

But high-school pitchers? They’re a different beast entirely. Historically, they carry more risk, with less physical maturity, fewer innings, injury risks, and often a longer road to the majors. The Twins knew this when they took Charlee Soto in 2023, and Marco Raya a few years earlier. Both came with electric stuff and significant upside. Both have been fixtures on the Twins’ top prospect lists. And now, with Hill and Questad showing early flashes of dominance in Fort Myers, the Twins may be starting to build a pipeline of high-upside prep arms who could supplement the "pitching factory" guys down the line.

That blend of approaches (college arms with polish and efficiency, high-school arms with ceiling and projection) is starting to give Minnesota a more balanced and dynamic pitching development strategy. They’re not putting all their eggs in one basket. Instead, they’re diversifying the portfolio, and if the early results from Hill and Questad are any indication, that diversification could pay serious dividends.

Of course, we’re still in the bottom of the first inning when it comes to these guys' professional careers. Fort Myers in April is far from Minneapolis and a big-league debut. But that’s the nature of player development. It’s about planting seeds now, hoping that something special blooms in the seasons ahead.

The Twins have built a strong foundation by finding value in unexpected places. Now, they’re betting on the upside, and in Fort Myers, that bet is already starting to look like a good one.

What stands out about these two young arms? Are the Twins finding the right balance of high-school and college pitchers in the draft? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!