Which Twins Prospects Are Next in Line?

The Twins have already had a handful of prospects get the call this year. We've seen Andrew Morris, Kendry Rojas, Connor Prielipp, John Klein, and Marco Raya make their major-league debuts so far this season. We've also seen a pair of outfielders get their first taste of the big leagues. Gabriel Gonzalez was up for an entire weekend before heading back to Triple-A, while Kyler Fedko got a slightly longer but less fruitful audition. But if you think the prospect promotions are going to slow down, think again.

The Twins currently sit at 48-49, and there's a pretty good chance they'll be moving some established major-league pieces over the next few weeks. If that happens, it impacts a lot of the organizational depth in the process. Even while you're chasing a playoff spot, if you're a team like the Twins, the second half becomes about evaluating talent. It's about figuring out who can help you moving forward; who deserves a spot on next year's roster; and who might force their way into the team's long-term plans. So who else could make their debut between now and the end of September?

I think there's a handful of names worth keeping an eye on. Some are among the organization's very best prospects, while others have quietly played their way into the conversation. Let's start with the obvious one. While a lot of people expect Walker Jenkins to make his major-league debut this season, I don't share that belief. I talked about this earlier this month, but I still think the Twins should slow-play him. Jenkins is obviously one of the best prospects in baseball, but there's no reason to rush him. Unless they reach a point where they feel he'd make a difference in a push for the playoffs, I'd rather see the organization stay patient. I'm sticking with my prediction: Walker Jenkins will not debut in 2026.

That said, I'd be surprised if we didn't see Kaelen Culpepper before the season comes to a close. It feels like we've been waiting on this promotion for about two months now. He's currently sporting an .868 OPS with the St. Paul Saints, and he checks just about every box you'd want to see from a young position player. He hits the ball hard, he gets on base, he can steal a base, and he plays quality defense all over the infield. There's really not much left for him to prove in Triple-A. He just has to get healthy; you can't debut in MLB from the Triple-A injured list. The same goes for Emmanuel Rodríguez, who would already have gotten a look if he weren't hurt.

Kaelen may not even be the only Culpepper making his debut this year. Pitcher C.J. Culpepper has quietly built a very compelling case himself. The 24-year-old has posted a 3.13 ERA across 20 relief appearances with the Saints, while striking out 23.2% of opposing batters. As is the case with any prospect, there are still some things to clean up. His 13.0% walk rate certainly isn't ideal, and command has been an issue at times. But he consistently finds ways to work himself out of trouble. That's an underrated skill for a reliever. Not every outing is going to be clean. Good bullpen arms are often the ones who can strand inherited runners or escape jams after putting themselves in difficult situations. Culpepper has shown an ability to do exactly that. If the Twins don't add external help to the bullpen and try to roll with what they have in-house, I think he'll be one of the first names considered for an opportunity.

The final player I'm willing to confidently predict will make his major league debut this season is Ben Ross. Unless you're a Twins Daily denizen who loves the minor league reports and lives in the forums, Ross has come out of nowhere this year. He's already 25 years old, and if you pull up most prospect rankings, his name isn't exactly going to jump off the page. But sometimes good baseball players force the issue; Ross has done exactly that. He's a versatile defender who can move all over the diamond. He can play shortstop, third base, and center field, giving the Twins plenty of flexibility. That kind of versatility becomes incredibly valuable over the course of a long season.

The role Tristan Gray is playing for the Twins right now could just as easily go to Ross, if an injury compelled the Twins to try it. And it's not like he'd be getting called up simply because of his defensive versatility. Since being promoted to Triple-A, Ross has posted an .846 OPS. If the Twins eventually fall out of the AL Central race, he could be worth a look in September, even if it means jettisoning Gray. If they stay in the race and more injuries strike, that's another path open.

Culpepper, Culpepper and Ross seem like they fit specific things the team either needs now or might need in the near future. If they get and/or stay healthy, and if circumstances warrant in one way or another, they could be the next three guys we see come through the Twins' homegrown pipeline. Jenkins and Rodríguez are bigger names, but might be longer shots to show up in the bigs right now.

But what do YOU think? Who do you think gets the call before the end of the season? Let us know in the comments!

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!