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Minnesota’s pitching pipeline saw multiple rookies impact the big-league roster this season, with mixed results. Technically, Zebby Matthews and David Festa didn't number among that group, but they're important to the team's future—as is the incoming next wave of homegrown hurlers. Derek Falvey and Minnesota’s player development team have prided themselves on building a pitching pipeline. If the team’s winning window reopens in 2026, the organization’s top-performing pitchers will need to get to the big leagues and perform well.
Before exploring this year’s top vote getters, here’s a look back at Twins Daily’s recent winners of this award.
2024: Zebby Matthews
2023: Cory Lewis
2022: Louie Varland
2021: Louie Varland
2019: Randy Dobnak
2018: Tyler Wells
2017: Stephen Gonsalves
2016: Stephen Gonsalves
2015: Jose Berrios
2014: Jose Berrios
2013: Taylor Rogers
2012: BJ Hermsen
Let’s get into this year’s voting, starting with the honorable mentions and others receiving votes.
Honorable Mentions:
- RHP Michael Ross (Low-A): 3.18 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 76 K, 22.0 K%, 29 BB, 8.4 BB%, 82 IP
- RHP Jose Olivares (High-A): 4.38 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 107 K, 27.6 K%, 57 BB, 14.7 BB%, 90 1/3 IP
- RHP Adrian Bohorquez (Low-A, High-A): 4.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 85 K, 27.2 K%, 31 BB, 9.9 BB%, 71 1/3 IP
- Others Receiving Votes: Chase Chaney, Cole Peschl, Trent Baker, Andrew Morris
4. RHP C.J. Culpepper , Double-A
2025 Stats: 2.43 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 53 K, 21.2 K%, 31 BB, 12.4 BB%, 59 1/3 IP (17 GS)
Culpepper didn’t rank among the largest innings totals among Twins pitching prospects, but he made every start count. He missed two-plus months with a pinched nerve in his right elbow, and got sick with a virus multiple times. Despite the missed time, a sub-2.50 ERA across 17 outings in Wichita showed that he can keep hitters off balance and limit damage even when batters find way on base. The 23-year-old was still a year and a half younger than the competition in the Texas League, and held older batters to a .544 OPS for the season. His strikeout rate didn’t jump off the page, but he paired it with a knack for inducing weak contact and working his way out of jams. If he can trim the walks, Culpepper has the foundation of a back-end starter with the stuff to surprise.
3. LHP Connor Prielipp, Double-A/Triple-A
2025 Stats: 4.03 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 98 K, 31 BB, 82 2/3 IP (23 GS, 24 G)
The Twins have been patient with Prielipp after his injury history, and 2025 represented his most consistent season of work yet. He took the ball regularly in Double-A before earning a bump to St. Paul, where he held his own against veteran hitters. He faced older batters in over 57% of his plate appearances and struck them out 27% of the time. His ERA hovered just above 4.00, but the left-hander showed stretches where his slider looked like a big-league weapon. For a pitcher still working his way back to full strength and consistency, this season was a step in the right direction. The next challenge will be refining his command so that his strikeout ability can shine through more consistently at the upper levels. He’s arguably the team’s top pitching prospect, and the organization recently named him their own pick for minor league pitcher of the year.
2. RHP John Klein, Double-A/Triple-A
2025 Stats: 3.98 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 128 K, 27.6 K%, 37 BB, 8.0 BB%, 106 1/3 IP (15 GS, 31 G)
The Twins took a revolutionary approach with a group of pitching prospects this season, and Klein was among them. Instead of being part of the regular rotation, the Twins had a group stay on a four-day rotation while throwing fewer pitches in each appearance. Klein quietly thrived in this pitching environment and put together one of the more reliable seasons among Twins pitching prospects. He logged over 100 innings across two levels and held hitters in check, with a balanced mix that allowed him to both miss bats and limit free passes. His strikeout-to-walk ratio stood out as a strength, and he adapted well when moving between the rotation and the bullpen. That versatility could end up being his ticket to the big leagues, where he may eventually profile as a swingman or multi-inning reliever. Regardless of role, Klein’s steady production has made him a name worth watching.
1. LHP Dasan Hill, Low-A/High-A
2025 Stats: 3.19 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 83 K, 31.3 K%, 40 BB, 15.0 BB%, 62 IP (19 GS)
Hill’s season was the definition of a breakout. At just 19 years old, he showed a maturity on the mound that belied his age while making the jump from Low-A to High-A. His fastball routinely overpowered hitters at both levels, and his sharp slider gave him a true out pitch that piled up strikeouts in bunches. That dominance is reflected in his gaudy 31.3% strikeout rate, one of the best marks in the organization. In his first 11 starts (33 IP), he posted a 2.45 ERA while limiting batters to a .561 OPS.
The one bad side of his season was the command. With a 15.0% walk rate, Hill often put himself in tough situations, but what stood out was how often he pitched his way out of trouble. His OPS with runners on base was over 20 points lower, compared to when the bases were empty. For a young arm still refining his mechanics, the ability to miss bats at such a high clip outweighed the occasional lack of control. He faced younger batters in only 15 plate appearances this season, and they went 0-for-10 with six strikeouts. That combination makes him both raw and incredibly exciting. He is the kind of prospect who could make significant developmental strides in a short period.
Beyond the stats, Hill’s profile is exactly what the Twins have been searching for: a high-upside left-handed arm who can project into a starting role. Minnesota has rarely had this type of pitcher rising through the system in recent years, and Hill’s emergence gives them a legitimate candidate to grow into that mold. His final start in Cedar Rapids put a bow on his season. In five innings, he limited Beloit to two earned runs on two hits, with seven strikeouts and two walks. He kept the team’s playoff hopes alive and dominated as a teenager.
If he can smooth out the command, his ceiling is that of a playoff-caliber starter—the type of arm who could anchor the staff for years to come. With his youth, strikeout ability, and fearless approach, Hill became the most exciting pitching story in the Twins’ system in 2025.
The Twins saw progress from several different arms in 2025, with each name on this list taking critical steps forward. Prielipp and Klein showed durability and flashes of upside at the upper levels, while Culpepper quietly dominated in Double-A. Still, it was Hill’s emergence that stole the spotlight, as his combination of strikeouts and youth made him one of the most intriguing pitchers in the organization. With arms like these pushing upward, Minnesota’s pitching pipeline may be better stocked than it has been in quite some time.
How would your ballot look for the Twins’ top minor league starter this season? 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!
View Twins Top Prospects
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