Minnesota Twins Minor League Hitter of the Year– 2025

One of these outfielders need to be given a first basemen glove and sent to Fort Meyers for instruction.

Thanks, Cody. 

With this group there is real hope that the Twins can have two or three young outfielders doing very well in a year or two.  May the Baseball God's please let that happen.

Don't know what to make of Rosario.  Have liked the kid since he was drafted in that weird season.  Loved what he did in the AFL a couple years ago and his hitting this year.  But with GG, Jenkins, EmRod and others, don't see a place for him with the Twins.  My question would be whether he has enough value to be included in a trade to bring back a very good reliever this winter?

The elite hitters in the system had really really good offensive performances.  From Keaschall,  to Jenkins, Culpepper and Gonzalez.   You expect some prospects to fail.  Rodriguez was good when healthy but the health is still a question mark.   Overall we have to be very pleased with the performance.  

I do think Gonzalez deserves the award.  For his age and increasing of levels that is about as perfect of a season as we could of expected out of him.  

8 hours ago, Ricky Vaughn said:

One of these outfielders need to be given a first basemen glove and sent to Fort Meyers for instruction.

Why not Gonzalez, if he crushed lefties, have Cody out there against Righties.

1 minute ago, Paul Walerius said:

Why not Gonzalez, if he crushed lefties, have Cody out there against Righties.

 

Fedko actually had about 160 innings at 1B, with one error.

Gabriel Gonzalez has been one of the most pleasant surprises for me out of any of the recent prospects in the Minnesota Twins minor league system.  After watching him play several games down in Cedar Rapids in 2024 and coming away really not impressed (we now know injuries played a part), what he did in 2025  was outstanding, and he's only 21..   The list is impressive.

GG was gone before we made it to CR game this year. How is he regarded on defense? Are his 8 SBs an indication of his speed or just a lack of attempts? 

I don’t understand why they kept Outman and his .139 batting average on the active roster when Fedko clearly earned a promotion to the bigs. Outman did not seize his opportunity, but Fedko just raked, showed power and speed, and stole a lot of bases. Just another reason why this organization is failing.

6 minutes ago, Otaknam said:

I don’t understand why they kept Outman and his .139 batting average on the active roster when Fedko clearly earned a promotion to the bigs. 

Outman has better AAA numbers than Fedko.

Kyler Fedko .268/.353/.476 in 187 PA

James Outman .283/.382/.579 in 959 PA

Great season by GG. Absolutely the right pick here. I'm pretty certainly that having a full healthy season made a real difference for him. He showed he could hit at every level and looks very promising. Would like to see him recover a little of that patience he showed prior to AAA, but the hit tool looks pretty dang good. 

I suspect the Twins won't start him in MLB in 2026, but I'd sure like him to get a legit chance to win the job. 

If he pans out, the Polanco trade will look quite good.

18 hours ago, DocBauer said:

IAsk me today who is more ready to challenge for a spot on the 26 man roster in 2026, I'm going to say Fedko for a variety of reasons that we don't need to go in to right now. But ask me who is the better, more productive BAT a few months from now in 2026, Gonzalez is the answer.

For obvious reasons Rodriguez isn't part of this discussion. It's about best season, not future potential. But how good does it make you feel as a fan to see these 5, and add Rodriguez to hope and potential, and realize they are ALL going to be at AAA or with the Twins in 2026?

I need to disagree about Fedko being the most ready to challenge for a spot next year.  Personally, I think Jenkins will be top to challenge, as he can play any OF spot, has most upside.  The only reason he will be held back is his injury history and that they may want to manage his service time for an extra year of control.  

Beyond that, I think Gonzales, on the list mentioned, has the next best shot to break camp, but I doubt that will happen.  Cullpepper is next on my list as someone who has a shot, mainly because SS is thin position for us right now.  Then I would put Fedko because he is older and AAA.  The issue with him is he has no prospect status until this break out year. Maybe he has legit power, maybe he does not.  I would not over react to his current season.  We have seen it with many in his position late round or undrafted college kids that have some break out year in mid-20's and we clamor for him to get a shot.  Only to see why they were held back.  Kersey and McCusker are two recent names. 

There is a reason Fedko was never on a top prospect list, was drafted 12th round, just as the other guys similar in his position has lingered in minors with brief chances at bigs only to fail quickly. Is it possible he is an exception and comes out of no where and suddenly found a power stroke that was never there before? Sure, but it is also possible this is his peak.  The best thing he has going is that his k to walk ratio is good for the power breakout he showed. 

Gonzalez by a mile. Solid top 2-4 choices, imo.

Meanwhile, nothing in Jenkins season (other than injuries) to suggest that he can’t be good at the major league level by 2027, maybe sooner.

On 9/24/2025 at 5:59 PM, DocBauer said:

Here's the problem with that. Just like so many clamoring for Wallner or Larnach to grab a glove and put them at 1B, it's just not that easy. While LF and 1B are at the bottom spectrum of defenensive value, you just can't tell a guy to grab a 1B mit and go there. Forgetting nuances of actually playing the position, you have to have the ability to handle off target throws and grounders, and throws in the dirt.

How many career OF have had to do those things for years, if ever?

Now, that's not to say some guys haven't had previous time in the dirt in HS or college, or don't have a more natural ability to perform those basic operations. Fedko has been working some at 1B for St Paul, and had 13 games at Wichita in 2024 at 1B. That's not an impressive resume at the position. But maybe he's got the ability to do so? Maybe that's why he got some AAA time this season to work at it? It sure would increase his roster value and potential if he could be competent there.

Perhaps Rosario has time to try 1B? No better time to attempt a shift than in MILB. And I have ZERO clue if he's EVER played on the dirt, even in HS. Maybe he did? Maybe he's a smooth enough athlete to begin the basics at least at AAA in 2026? I'm not against your idea. You have merit. But most 1B start out as catchers, or 3B, and occasionally as a SS or 2B who outgrow their previous position. But again, those guys actually played in the dirt.

I'd honestly take a look at Rosario at 1B next season to see if there is any chance he could be a decent 1B. I'd continue having Fedko play 1B to see if he could do the job.

Let's not forget the injured and recently acquired Roden who has a fair amount of 1B experience going back to college.

The Twins have been working Hendry Mendez, recently acquired, at 1B behind the scenes. Now he's going to go to the AFL and possibly work more at 1B. But he, like Rosario, are AA OF. So you might be correct in asking some OF to try 1B. There's been speculation that Billy Amick might be the 1B of the future. And he's going to be at AA next season.

I'm absolutely not picking on you, or your quote. I'm really just talking more at random to a lot of posters that just say; "put him at 1B". It's just not that simple. But I do agree that there are SOME OF prospects that might be able to convert to the position and should do so.

But, but ,but...

Just look at Rocco's pet Canadian and his play at 1B.  Looks even worse than he does at 2B - which was historically terrible. 

Compare him to France who was almost universally derided when signed because he graded out as the "worst" 1B last season.  Even Mr. McGoo could see that he was laps ahead of any of the "anyone can play 1B" candidates...

On 9/24/2025 at 11:53 AM, Cody Christie said:

The Twins haven’t had many shortstops with this kind of offensive upside in recent years, and Culpepper is starting to make the case that he could be part of the long-term infield picture.

Who was the last shortstop with any kind of significant upside?? Guzman hit triples. Gagne...nothing like this. Roy Smalley? Who am I forgetting? 

I already thought about Lenny Faedo and Houston Jimenez, no need to mention them.

Oh wait, JJ Hardy. Ouch ouch ouch.

If Rosario's bat is real, why not have him spend the offseason working at first base? Other outfielders have more potential and he's only looking at Sabato at first base.