Cory Moen

Image courtesy of Malamut Photography (photo of Dasan Hill) Depth is something every organization tries to create, and it goes well beyond what we see at Target Field or in St. Paul. I'm researching the Twins' depth beyond the 40-man roster, and have already taken a look at catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and outfield. Pitching prospects might be harder to predict than position players because of the variability in how pitchers develop, as well as whether pitchers can stick as starters or if and when they transition to a bullpen role. When Derek Falvey was hired, the idea of creating a pitching pipeline was widely discussed. Was he and the front office able to do this since taking over in 2017? Let’s do a deeper dive into looking at the pitching prospects the Twins have beyond the members of the 40-man roster. Here is the list of starting pitchers not on the 40-man roster the Twins have in their farm system. I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level they played this past season. Ty Langenberg Acquired: 11th round, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: High-A If you pay attention to Twins draft picks over the years, you’ll notice a trend of mid-to-late round picks the Twins have made over the past handful of years as players who were college pitchers. Langenberg was drafted in 2023 out of the University of Iowa, where he pitched for three years, with the final two coming as a regular starter. In his final year with the Hawkeyes, he threw 78 innings, recording 86 strikeouts and a 4.15 ERA. Since being drafted, he has pitched in the low minors, pitching the entire 2025 season with High-A Cedar Rapids. He’s thrown over 100 innings the past two years, so he has been used primarily as a starting pitcher. His K/9 rate dropped slightly in his jump up to High-A, and his walk rate came up a bit. His final line last year of a 4.87 ERA might not look like great results, but he did pitch to a much better 3.55 FIP, which suggests an improvement in results could be coming this year. He’ll be playing his age-24 season in 2026, and is likely still a few years away from making a true impact. He is someone to keep an eye on to see if he can turn from a mid-round selection to a successful major leaguer down the road. Charlee Soto Acquired: 1st round, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Soto was drafted in 2023 with a Competitive Balance selection, 34th overall. Being drafted out of high school, the Twins have been bringing him along slowly, as is common for young pitchers. In his first season of professional ball in 2024, he showed flashes of why he was a first-round selection, posting a 10.6 K/9 rate over 74 innings pitched. His 3.88 FIP was much better than his 5.23 ERA would tell you. In 2025, he underwent surgery to remove a partially detached bone spur in his elbow after throwing just 13 innings over three starts with High-A Cedar Rapids. He has great results in those few innings, but he will be looking to bounce back with a clean bill of health for the 2026 season. At 20 years old, and coming back from the elbow injury, Soto will likely continue to be brought along slowly. He has immense upside, hit triple-digits, and is someone many Twins fans will keep an eye on if he develops into a frontline starter, as many think he can. Dasan Hill Acquired: 2nd round, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Drafted in the 2nd round in 2024, Hill has made a name for himself in the short time he has been a professional. He did not pitch in the year he was drafted, but in his first professional season, he threw 62 innings across Single-A and High-A, recording 83 strikeouts, a 3.19 ERA, and a 3.35 FIP. At 6-5 and 165 pounds, the left-hander regularly throws his fastball in the mid-90s, topping out at 97 mph. He provides a different look, and his sweeper, which he throws in the low 80s, is graded as his best pitch. He will continue to develop and, much like Soto, will be brought along slowly as the Twins want him to get more professional innings and work on things like repeating his delivery and execution of his other pitches. Adrian Bohorquez Acquired: International Free Agent, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Bohorquez was signed as an international free agent in 2023 at 18 years old out of Venezuela. While most international signees are 16 or 17 years old, Bohorquez was more under the radar and has settled in nicely among Twins prospects. Soon to be 21 years old, Bohorquez has shown the ability to strike out hitters with all four of his pitches, recording a 27.2 percent strikeout rate in 2025. He throws a slider between 88-90 mph and a low 80s curve with a fastball that has been up to 98 mph as a starter. Like many young pitchers, command and control have been inconsistent, so that will be something to focus on this year, along with continued work. He was ranked #23 on MLB Pipeline's Twins prospects this past year, so if he continues his upward trajectory, expect to hear more about him as he gets closer to Target Field. Cole Peschl Acquired: 15th round, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Drafted out of Campbell University, Peschl pitched his first two collegiate seasons at Division II University of Charleston. In his first professional season this past year, he pitched at both Low-A and High-A, totaling 68 2/3 innings. His strikeout numbers dropped when he moved up a level, which is not uncommon for pitchers. He’ll be pitching in his age-23 season this year, where he will likely get an extended look at High-A Cedar Rapids. He will look to continue improving on his numbers from this past year, when he posted a 2.49 ERA and 3.08 FIP, along with 8.8 K/9 across the two levels. Miguelangel Boadas Acquired: International Free Agent, 2019 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Signed as a 16-year-old in 2019, Boadas has been brought along slowly, as he has thrown no more than 36 innings in any given year. Unfortunately, he was unable to pitch in 2025 after undergoing elbow surgery in 2024. He made one appearance in the Arizona Fall League, where he threw one inning and his fastball averaged 95 mph. He will continue to work on his secondary offerings, but at just 23 years old, he has time to become more consistent with them. Coming off the injury, he will be eased back in but will hopefully have a healthy year and look to continue developing to become an option either as a starter or possibly as a reliever. Spencer Bengard Acquired: 15th round, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Drafted out of California Baptist University, where he pitched for three years, Bengard pitched the majority of this past year with High-A Cedar Rapids, where he recorded 9.97 K/9 over 52 1/3 innings with a walk rate of 3.1 BB/9. He mostly pitched out of the bullpen, starting only two of his 18 appearances. The 23-year-old dealt with an elbow injury that kept him out until mid-August this past season. He will look to continue to build up, as he threw an average of three innings per outing this past year. Bengard has been better against right-handed batters, which is not uncommon for lower minor league prospects. The key will be to continue his development and improve on his secondary offerings. Garrett Horn Acquired: Trade, Texas Rangers, July 2025 Highest Level in 2025: High-A You may recognize Horn’s name as the player the Twins received in return for Danny Coulombe at this past year’s trade deadline. Horn is a former sixth-round pick out of Liberty University back in 2024. He got his first taste of professional ball in 2025. He made three appearances in the Complex League and then moved up to Low-A before the trade. When he joined the Twins, he pitched for High-A Cedar Rapids. A lefty, Horn compiled an impressive 12.0 K/9 rate across the three levels. His walk rate came up a bit at High-A, but hopefully that was more of him making an adjustment than a larger issue of losing the strike zone. More likely, it was just a very small sample size. His peripheral numbers were solid as well, with a 37.4% ground ball rate and a 3.21 FIP. He will likely continue to be used as a starter in 2026 and keep an eye on whether he can maintain the strikeout rates he has shown since his college days. Michael Carpenter Acquired: 11th round, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A An 11th-round pick in 2024, Carpenter made his professional debut in 2025 with Fort Myers. The Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin) native, Carpenter is a left-hander who was drafted out of Madison College. He appeared in 18 games, with 17 starts, and threw 53 2/3 innings with 58 strikeouts. Like many young pitchers, he had his ups and downs but showed promise, becoming another potential mid-round pick who turns into a contributor. Tanner Hall Acquired: 4th round, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Drafted out of Southern Mississippi in the fourth round, Hall was another from a list of prospects from USM that have joined the Twins, including Brian Dozier and Matt Wallner. While at Southern Miss, he threw 250 innings over three years, striking out 302 batters and finishing with a 2.92 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Since transitioning to the Twins organization, he has less favorable results, pitching to a 5.53 ERA this past season at High-A. He’ll be playing his age-24 season in 2026, so this will be a big year to see if he can tap back into what made him successful in his pro debut, where he had an 11.4 K/9 at Fort Myers in 2024. Consistency will be key and keep an eye on whether he can take a step forward this year, as it will be his third year in the Twins organization. Michael Ross Acquired: 18th round, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: High-A A right-handed pitcher, Ross was drafted out of Samford University (Alabama). He pitched three years at Samford, where he was not really a strikeout pitcher, recording 158 strikeouts over 180 1/3 innings. The Twins were likely focused on his ability to generate soft contact on the mound. Still just 23, Ross had solid results in his first professional season in 2025, pitching to a 3.18 ERA and 4.17 FIP. He had one start where he retired the first 15 batters he faced. He showed some flashes of being able to get guys out. He is a late-round pick who could continue to take steps forward and force his way into the long-term plans of Jeremy Zoll, Derek Shelton, and company. Here is a list of additional starting pitching prospects, along with when they were acquired, who have not pitched above the Complex League but will likely get a chance at Single-A or further looks in the Complex League. You’ll likely start to see more information on each of these players, as they will get more exposure this coming season. Riley Quick - 2025 1st round James Ellwanger - 2025 3rd round Jason Reitz - 2025 4th round Matthew Barr - 2025 5th round Jace Kaminska - Acquired for Edouard Julien/Pierson Ohl Dylan Questad - 2023 5th round Eli Jones - 2024 7th round Jason Doktorczyk - 2024 9th round Justin Mitrovich - 2025 9th round Christian Becerra - 2024 12th round Joel Garcia - International Free Agent 2022 Cesar Lares - International Free Agent 2022 Jack Daugherty - 9th round, 2023 Santiago Castellanos - International Free Agent, 2025 Yoel Roque - International Free Agent, 2024 Omar Montano - International Free Agent, 2024 Geremy Villoria - Trade, Philadelphia Phillies, July 2025 View full article

Image courtesy of © Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Twins work hard to forge organizational depth, and it goes well beyond what we see at Target Field or in St. Paul. I'm researching the Twins' depth beyond the 40-man roster, and have already taken a look at catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, and outfield. Pitching prospects might be harder to predict than position players because of the variability in how pitchers develop, as well as whether pitchers can stick as starters or if and when they transition to a bullpen role. When Derek Falvey was hired, the idea of creating a pitching pipeline was widely discussed. Was he able to do this, between taking over in 2017 and leaving the team last month? Let’s do a deeper dive into the pitching prospects the Twins have, beyond the members of the 40-man roster. Here is the list of starting pitchers not on the 40-man roster the Twins have in their farm system. I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level at which they played last season. Trent Baker Acquired: Triple-A Rule 5 Draft, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A Baker was drafted in the 9th round in 2021 out of Angelo State, by the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched in the Cardinals organization through 2024, reaching Double-A. After that season, Baker was selected by the Twins in the Triple-A portion of the Rule 5 Draft. In 2025, he pitched at Double-A Wichita and earned a call-up to Triple-A St. Paul. He pitched both as a starter and as a reliever, making the majority of his appearances at Triple-A as a reliever. Between the two levels, the 27-year-old pitched in 35 games, starting 15 of them and accumulating 95 2/3 innings. His strikeout rate was decent, at 24.0%, and he put up an ERA of 3.86 and an FIP of 4.16. Baker is a non-roster invitee to big-league camp this year, so keep an eye on whether he gets big-league hitters out. As any team will tell you, you can never have enough pitching depth. Christian MacLeod Acquired: 5th round, 2021 Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A MacLeod is one of many college pitchers taken by the Falvey-led front office in the middle rounds of drafts. The left-handed pitcher pitched at Mississippi State for two seasons, where he started all 23 of his appearances. He put up solid numbers there, in the country's most competitive collegiate baseball conference. Since being drafted, MacLeod has pitched at every minor-league level, reaching Triple-A St. Paul last year. He's shown the ability to keep the ball in the park throughout his minor-league career, which is always a good sign. While he started most of his games early in his career, he had more relief appearances at Triple-A in 2025 and did not perform well. A repeat of the level will be good, to see if he can continue to make adjustments. MacLeod will be playing his age-26 season in 2026, and we'll see if he continues to rely on his slider, which he threw 48.3 percent of the time. His fastball is below average, averaging 90.6 mph over his minor-league career. Time will tell if he can develop into the stereotype of a crafty lefty who can be a weapon, either in the rotation or out of the bullpen. He's a non-roster invitee, too. Cory Lewis Acquired: 9th round, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A If you pay attention to prospects, you've probaby seen clips of Cory Lewis, heavily featuring his knuckleball. The 25-year-old signed out of UC-Santa Barbara, where he was the school's top starter. Unfortunately, he was shut down as spring training began, and will miss significant time with a subscapularis strain. Last season, he pitched at Triple-A after getting a sneak peek at the level at the very end of the 2024 season. Unfortunately, the larger dose of that level did not go down as smoothly as he had hoped. His walk rate skyrocketed, and his homer rate jumped up quite a bit. Previously, he had much better numbers, so the hope was that he could find what made him successful at other levels and get back to that for 2026. With the injury, the non-roster invitee will likely not get as many chances as he had hoped. As long as the shoulder injury doesn’t keep him out too long, the plan for 2026 will be to continue to make adjustments and start anew, after a disappointing 2025 season. The clock is ticking on him, though. Matt Canterino Acquired: 2nd round, 2019 Highest Level in 2025: Did not pitch, shoulder injury Canterino was an extremely intriguing prospect out of Rice University back in 2019, but unfortunately, his professional career has been marred by injury after injury. The 28-year-old is no longer a top prospect, but if (and this is a big if) he can stay healthy, he has the makeup to make some noise out of the bullpen. Because of his injury history, he will no longer be used as a starting pitcher. He’s still recovering from shoulder surgery in 2025, and probably won't pitch this year. He hasn’t pitched in a game since 2022, when he pitched mostly at Double-A. There, he showed flashes of greatness, with a 34.8% strikeout rate and a 1.95 ERA. While his days of starting are over, he could yet turn into a weapon out of the bullpen. The big question will be whether he can stay healthy enough to do so. C.J. Culpepper Acquired: 13th round, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Another pitcher drafted in the later rounds, Culpepper came out of California Baptist University in 2022, where he pitched for three years. He pitched mostly in relief until his final year of college, when he made 14 starts out of 16 appearances, throwing to a 3.26 ERA over 69 innings. He's pitched almost exclusively as a starting pitcher in his minor-league career, making 53 starts in his first four years. The 24-year-old has steadily climbed the rungs of the professional ladder, pitching with Double-A Wichita last season. He had very promising results over 59 1/3 innings (17 starts), with a 2.43 ERA. While his FIP was not quite as great, it was still a solid 4.27. The one thing to watch was that his strikeout rate dropped quite a bit once he hit Double-A, from 26.8% in 2024 to 21.2% in 2025. As many young pitchers do, he will continue to refine and develop his pitches. His fastball averages about 94 mph, but has reached 98. His other pitches include a plus slider, a curveball, a cutter, and a changeup. He’s an intriguing pitcher to keep an eye on, as he might still have another level to unlock with some adjustments this season. Jose Olivares Acquired: International Free Agency, 2021 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Signed out of Venezuela for $100,000 in 2021, Olivares has pitched well early in his professional career. The 23-year-old pitched at High-A in 2025, where he had a solid strikeout rate but issued way too many walks—hardly an unexpected wrinkle to need smoothing, for a young arm. He's shown the potential for three or four above-average pitches. His fastball has reached 97 mph, with a gyro slider that has also shown the ability to miss bats. He also throws a curveball and a changeup, so he has a nice repertoire in the making. With the right adjustments, Olivares could move up the ladder relatively quickly, and we could see him at Target Field within the next couple of years. He’ll likely get his first chance at the high minors this year, so keep an eye on him as he continues to develop in his age-23 season. Ryan Gallagher Acquired: Trade, Chicago Cubs, July 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A One of two prospects the Twins received from the Chicago Cubs in return for Willi Castro at the trade deadline, Gallagher is a former 6th-round pick who split his 2025 campaign between High-A and Double-A. He threw over 100 innings for the first time in his professional career, totaling 121 2/3, and posted a 3.84 FIP, which was better than his 4.07 ERA. He’s shown the ability to miss bats at Double-A, with a 26.1% strikeout rate last year. He doesn’t walk many hitters, either. He has three above-average pitches and a fourth that grades out as fair. His fastball is solid, working in the low 90s and topping out at 95, with a high-70s changeup that misses some bats. He also throws a slider and a curveball to complete his mix of pitches. He doesn’t have the upside of a front-line starter. However, he's a safe bet as a back-end guy, and could make an impact on the Twins' rotation in short order. Darren Bowen Acquired: Trade, Seattle Mariners, January 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Bowen was acquired as part of the Jorge Polanco deal in January 2024, wherein the Twins also acquired Justin Topa. Seen at the time as more of a lottery ticket than a headliner, Bowen pitched last season with Double-A Wichita, where he struggled to a 5.14 ERA over 84 innings. He struggled with the long ball, allowing 17 home runs. Now 25 years old, Bowen will have to show he can get hitters out in the upper minors to be considered an option in the rotation, or (maybe more realistically) out of the bullpen. He did have 11 relief appearances in 2025, so a transition to the pen may allow his stuff to play up. This will be a key year for his development. Alejandro Hidalgo Acquired: Trade, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, November 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Hidalgo was acquired from the Angels in return for Gio Urshela, whom the Twins recently signed to a minor-league deal. Hidalgo signed with the Angels for $30,000, so he was not a highly touted prospect at the time of signing. He pitched at High-A and Double-A last year, where he struggled mightily but posted solid peripherals, including a 25.6% strikeout rate and an xFIP of 3.94. While he hasn’t had great results, the soon-to-be 23-year-old will continue to develop, make adjustments, and see if he can get his actual results closer to his expected ones. Still being used as a starter, it’s possible he moves to the bullpen down the road. I would expect the Twins to continue to develop him as a starter this year, but he'll have to show rapid improvements in outcomes. Sam Armstrong Acquired: Trade, Chicago Cubs, July 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Acquired along with Gallagher in the swap for Castro, Armstrong is a former mid-round pick who has steadily climbed the minor-league ladder, pitching at Double-A for the entire 2025 season. At 25 years old, this will be a key year in his development, but he had promising results last year, over 130 innings. He finished with a 4.15 FIP and a 3.98 xFIP, which was better than his 4.71 ERA. He’s more of a pitch-to-contact pitcher than many of the other names listed here. While he doesn’t have as high a ceiling as others on this list, he could still prove to be a quality option down the road, and he has stayed healthy, throwing over 100 innings each of the past two seasons. Ricky Castro Acquired: Free Agent, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Signed in 2024 out of independent ball, Castro first pitched three years at Purdue and one at Tulane during his collegiate career. It's not hard to see why he wasn't drafted out of college; he pitched to a 6.22 ERA with 143 strikeouts over 147 2/3 innings at those schools. After the Twins signed him, he pitched at Single-A, High-A, and in Double-A for the entire 2025 season. Early in his minor-league career, he had a high strikeout rate, topping out at 27.0% in 2024. In 2025, it came down a bit, as it often does with a move up in levels; his results didn’t match his peripherals. He finished the year with a 5.48 ERA, but his FIP and xFIP were 4.45 and 4.13, respectively. An intriguing arm, Castro still has adjustments to make, but he is intriguing enough to keep an eye on, to see if he can continue to develop into an option down the road. He was used both as a starter and as a reliever last year, so a move to the bullpen might be in the cards for the 26-year-old. With the list of pitchers being quite long, we decided to break this up into two parts. We’ll take a look at the pitchers who were in the lower minors this past season in the next article. Which of these pitching prospects are you most excited or intrigued by? View full article

For one game, in 2011.

Image courtesy of Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (image of Walker Jenkins) Depth is something every organization tries to create, and it goes well beyond what we see at Target Field or in St. Paul. I'm researching the Twins' depth beyond the 40-man roster, and have already taken a look at catcher, first base, second base, third base, and shortstop. Outfield prospects are interesting because sometimes they have been outfielders since Little League. Other times, these prospects played other positions and shifted to the outfield for a variety of reasons. Former Twins players that fit the latter description include Michael Cuddyer, Nick Gordon, and, more recently, Austin Martin. Remember that time Joe Mauer was tried in right field? Anyways… Here is a list of outfield prospects not on the Twins' 40-man roster. I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level they played this past season. Walker Jenkins Acquired: 1st round, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A The result of the first draft lottery was the Twins jumping from pick 13 to pick 5 in a draft where five players had a chance to be the number one pick. Jenkins was selected out of South Brunswick High School in North Carolina and has been a constant on top prospect lists since being drafted. The soon-to-be 21-year-old has slowly climbed the minor leagues and shown why he was the fifth overall pick. The only hindrance to his development has been injuries, which he has dealt with off and on throughout his professional career. He played in 82 and 84 games the past two years, respectively. He played the majority of this past year with Double-A Wichita but was called up to Triple-A for the final month or so of the season. A left-handed hitting outfielder, Jenkins has adjusted well at each level he has played at and shows the possibility to stick in center field. At worst, the 6’3” outfielder will move to a corner where his athleticism should make him above average. As long as things go as planned, Jenkins should make his major league debut later this year, or at the latest, early in the 2027 season. Kala’i Rosario Acquired: 5th round, 2020 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A The Twins' final selection in the shortened 2020 draft, Rosario, struggled early in his professional career but has since made adjustments. struggles. The Hawaii native is a corner outfielder with a good enough bat to potentially be a designated hitter option as well. A potential Statcast darling, Rosario has shown the ability to hit the ball very hard. With hitting the ball hard, there is some swing and miss to his offensive profile as well. Rosario will be playing his age-24 season in 2026 and played this past year at Double-A, where he hit .256/.358/.487, good for an above-average OPS. He also tapped into more power, hitting 25 home runs, along with 30 doubles. To become more than a platoon bat, he will need to hit both righties and lefties. This past year, he hit for a .954 OPS against lefties and a .794 OPS against righties. You’ll likely see him in St. Paul at some point this year, so if you live near the Twin Cities, go see him in person. Kyler Fedko Acquired: 12th round, 2021 Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A Fedko was drafted in 2021 out of the University of Connecticut, where he hit .330/.407/.552 over three seasons with the Huskies. In his final season, he showed more power, hitting 12 home runs over 52 games played. He has continued to grow into his power, most recently hitting 28 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025. He improved from his 2024 numbers, where he had a .645 OPS in his first season with Double-A Wichita. He’ll be playing his age-26 season this coming year, so this will be an important year to see if he can build off his solid 2025 season and force himself into the Twins' long-term plans. He was not protected in the Rule 5 draft and was not selected, so he will provide some depth, specifically as a right-handed hitting outfielder who has shown some power with the possibility of playing center field in a pinch. He has also played a handful of games at first base, so he might get more experience there, depending on where the Twins front office sees his best fit. If this is the case, he will need to continue improving at the plate, since the expectations on offense at first base are higher than at other positions. Garrett Spain Acquired: Triple-A Rule 5 Draft, December 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Drafted in the minor league portion of the Rule-5 draft out of the Milwaukee Brewers organization, Spain will likely spend most of the year in St. Paul at Triple-A. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021 out of Austin Peay in the 15th round, where he had a .926 OPS over three seasons. During his professional career, the now 25-year-old has climbed the minor league ladder, playing the majority of the year at Double-A with the Brewers and playing 11 games with Milwaukee’s Triple-A affiliate in 2025. Listed at 5’9” and 178 lbs, the left-handed hitting outfielder will get a fresh start in the Twins organization and see if he can adjust his approach to the upper minors to see more consistent success. The upper minors have been a struggle for him over the past two years, during which he has posted an OPS of .550 and .644, respectively, across those seasons. He did hit for a bit more power in 2025, hitting 16 home runs. He has played a handful of games in center field, but has played the majority of his games in right field specifically, so that would be where he will likely play going forward as well. Maddux Houghton Acquired: Non-Drafted Free Agent, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A The Twins signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2023, after he played four seasons with Lipscomb University, where he hit 16 home runs, stole 63 bases, and hit for a .785 OPS over 225 games played. He has had similar production since joining the Twins organization, with 68 stolen bases over 285 games played with an OPS of .730 since being signed. He’s played mostly center field professionally, but has the ability to play in the corners as well. This past season, the soon-to-be 27-year-old moved up the minor league ladder quickly, playing at four different levels in 2025. Across the four levels, he started to hit a bit more, hitting for a .812 OPS with 12 home runs and 26 stolen bases. While not a heralded prospect, Houghton’s ability to steal bases is an intriguing tool, and if he continues to develop at the plate, he could serve as a serviceable fourth outfielder for the Twins in the future. Kyle Hess Acquired: Free Agent, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Another free agent signing, Hess signed out of independent ball in 2024 and got his first taste of the upper minors in 2025, playing in six games with Double-A Wichita. He will be 27 later this year, so to not serve as organizational depth, he will need to show he can handle upper-minor pitching this year. He has played all three outfield positions, but mostly played in the corners this past season. He hits left-handed, so he is on the strong side of a platoon and has mostly faced righties since signing with the Twins. Against righties, he hit for a .716 OPS this past season. Brandon Winokur Acquired: 3rd round, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: High-A I could have included Winokur at multiple positions, including shortstop and third base, but many think he will transition from the infield dirt to the outfield long term. Since being drafted, the 21-year-old has shown power across the board and the athleticism to play multiple positions, which is really valuable for any team. He cut down on his strikeouts this past year at High-A Cedar Rapids, but also had a down year offensively. He’s still young, so there's plenty of development to come. He did play in the Arizona Fall League this past year and did struggle offensively, but the experience can be invaluable going forward. Winokur is a prospect on the rise and someone we will likely see in a few years, so 2026 will prove to be a key year in his development. He’ll likely start the year with Cedar Rapids, but we could see him move up to Double-A Wichita if his development goes as planned. Caden Kendle Acquired: 5th round, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Kendle was drafted out of UC Irvine, where he was very solid, hitting .342/.447/.536 over four seasons. In his final college season, he posted a 1.069 OPS. While he hasn’t hit quite to that level in pro ball, he has still held his own, hitting for a .712 OPS between Single-A and High-A in his first two years. He showed a little more power in his first full season in 2025, hitting eight home runs, along with 16 stolen bases. He will turn 24 during Spring Training, so this year will be an interesting one to watch to see if he can continue developing both offensively and defensively, where he has played mostly in center field and right field. Eduardo Beltre Acquired: International Free Agent, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Beltre was ranked the 40th prospect in the 2024 international class and got his first taste of playing in the United States in 2025, appearing in both the Complex League and Single-A Fort Myers. He has shown the ability to play center field, but might move to a corner outfield spot depending on the team's long-term needs. The 18-year-old has shown above-average tools across the board, which makes him that much more exciting to watch and dream about what he could be long term. Beltre is still very young and a few years away from making an impact at Target Field. He will be someone to keep an eye on, as he has a world of potential. Byron Chourio Acquired: Trade, Miami Marlins, January 2023 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A The somewhat forgotten part of the return, along with Pablo Lopez when the Twins shipped Luis Arraez to Miami, Chourio was seen as a bit of a lottery prospect at the time of the deal. The switch-hitter will play his age-21 season in 2026 and has shown athleticism and the ability to play center field, though he has also played in the corners. To force himself into more discussions on future lineups, he will need to hit a bit more, as he hit for a slash of .193/.336/.238 this past season. Still early in his development, this coming season will be key to seeing if he can make adjustments and live up to the potential the Twins hoped for him when they acquired him. Yasser Mercedes Acquired: International Free Agency, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2022 for $1.7 million, Mercedes played this past season mostly at Single-A Fort Myers, where he struggled to a .186/.296/.307 slash line. He also struck out in just over 25% of his plate appearances at Single-A, but did walk at a 13.1% rate as well. Even with a lower on-base percentage than he or the Twins hoped, he showed the ability to steal 36 bases over 99 games, so that’s something to be excited about. He will play his age-21 season in 2026. Mercedes will see if he can get back to the type of results he had in his first professional season, where he hit .355/.420/.555 and stole 30 bases in 41 games. While a step up in competition typically slows a player down, Mercedes is still young enough to make an impact, and his base-stealing ability is a really fun tool that will help him as he gains more professional experience. Jacob McCombs Acquired: 7th round, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Drafted this past year, McCombs played two seasons between San Diego State and UC Irvine, where he was a very good hitter, hitting for an OPS over 1.000 in both seasons. A left-handed hitter, he got his first taste of professional ball over eight games and will play his first full season this coming year. His contact ability at the plate will be his calling card, as he has limited power. Like any young player, there will be tweaks and a learning curve, but there is enough there to be intriguing and to keep an eye on to see how he develops long-term. There is also a list of players who have played in the Dominican Summer League or at the highest level in the Florida Complex League. I wanted to mention them because they are part of the organization and are all still young, early in their professional careers. These players include: Jhomnardo Reyes Ariel Castro Ricardo Perez Merphy Hernandez Luis Fragoza Carlos Taveras Joyner Perez Yovanny Duran Teilon Serrano Which of these outfield prospects are you most excited about? Let’s discuss in the comments. View full article

Image courtesy of © Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Depth is something every organization tries to create, and it goes well beyond what we see at Target Field or in St. Paul. I'm researching the Twins' depth beyond the 40-man roster, and have already taken a look at catcher, first base, second base, and third base. Many prospects are drafted or signed as shortstops, but most move to other positions. Being able to field the position at a high level is key to a prospect's journey to sticking as a shortstop at the major league level. Here is a list of shortstop prospects not on the Twins' 40-man roster. I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level they played this past season. Orlando Arcia Acquired: Free Agent, 2026 Highest Level in 2025: MLB You may recognize the last name, as Orlando is the younger brother of former Twin Oswaldo Arcia. He is, however, a very different player. Arcia will be playing his age-31 season in 2026 and has had his ups and downs since his call-up by the Brewers in 2016. He was an all-star in 2023 with the Braves and had his best overall year in 2017, accruing 2.2 bWAR in his first full season with Milwaukee. He is a glove-first shortstop and was signed to a minor league contract this offseason. He will be a non-roster invitee to spring training and will be competing with the likes of Ryan Kreidler and Tristan Gray for a utility infield spot. There is no question that Arcia can handle multiple defensive positions; the big question will be whether he can show enough offensively to be a solid option off the bench for Derek Shelton and Co. Ben Ross Acquired: 5th round, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A A fifth-round pick in 2022 out of Notre Dame College (not University), Ross hit for a slash line of .405/.471/.758 over three college seasons. While he didn’t take many walks in college, the soon-to-be 25-year-old has walked at an above-average rate as a professional. In 2025, he walked in 11.2% of his at-bats and struck out in 22.7% of his at-bats, which are not bad numbers on their own. The big question is whether he can adjust to the upper minors, as he has posted OPSs of .626 and .671 in 2024 and 2025 with Wichita. In the field, he has mostly played shortstop but has also been tried in the outfield, most specifically center field, and he has held his own out there as well. He’s athletic enough to handle most positions, but the big question will be if he can hit enough to carve out a role for the Twins going forward. Kaelen Culpepper Acquired: 1st round, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Culpepper cemented himself as a first-round pick during the 2021 college baseball season for Kansas State, where he hit .328/.419/.574 with 11 home runs and 17 stolen bases. After being selected, he made his professional debut and worked his way up to High-A Cedar Rapids. He started the 2025 season with Cedar Rapids but was then called up to Double-A, where he finished the year. Between the two levels, he hit for an .844 OPS and a 138 wRC+, and has shown the potential of sticking at shortstop defensively long term. He could also move to third base, depending on the team's need as well. Culpepper is a top-100 prospect on most rankings and currently ranks #2 on Twins Daily’s prospect rankings. The 23-year-old is in for a big year, and as long as he is able to continue to develop, it won’t be long until you see him at Target Field. Marek Houston Acquired: 1st round, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Houston was not a high-end recruit, but won the shortstop job at Wake Forest and played there for three years. The 21-year-old is already one of, if not the best, defensive shortstop in the entire Twins system, so how he develops offensively will be key in when and how big of an impact he is able to make. Like Culpepper, he started professionally in Single-A and was called up to High-A, where he struggled more offensively. Expect him to start the year with High-A Cedar Rapids, and as long as he makes the adjustments, he could be playing in Wichita soon. He was ranked as the Twins Daily #11 prospect, but could easily climb up that list with either other players graduating from prospect status, or just by passing them from his own performance. Still early in his professional career, Houston will be a prospect a lot of Twins fans have an eye on due to being a first-round selection. Bryan Acuna Acquired: International Free Agency, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A The younger brother of Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. and new White Sox infielder Luisangel Acuna, Bryan was signed in 2022 and has slowly progressed in the minor leagues since signing. He will be playing his age-20 season this coming year and will likely start the year where he finished 2025, at Single-A Fort Myers. In 2025, across the Complex League and Single-A, he posted a .637 OPS and played shortstop primarily, but also appeared at second base, third base, and in the corner outfield. In his professional career, he has demonstrated solid plate discipline but limited power to date. Still just 20 years old, he isn’t going to make an immediate impact, but he has the potential to carve out a role for himself, either as a shortstop or at another position. Bruin Agbayani Acquired: 6th round, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A A sixth-round selection in this past year’s draft, Agbayani is the son of former Mets infielder Benny Agbayani. A left-handed hitter, the soon-to-be 19-year-old was committed to play college at the University of Michigan but chose to forego college and sign with the Twins. Like many young players, he has room to grow into more power, as he stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds. He is very athletic, but he may move off of shortstop, and some evaluators think he will be a better fit at second base or in left field long term. He got a small taste of professional ball, playing in five games for Single-A Fort Myers in 2025, so 2026 will be a big first step to see if he can follow in his father’s footsteps and create his own story as a big leaguer. Shai Robinson Acquired: 10th round, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Another 2025 draft selection, Robinson was not a prep bat like Agbayani or Quentin Young, as he was drafted out of Illinois State, where he hit .813 with an OPS over three collegiate seasons with the Red Birds. He will turn 22 in May, and 2026 will be his first full year in professional baseball with the Twins. Like Agbayani, he got into a handful of games, four specifically, to get his feet wet, but this coming year will be the first step in seeing if he can develop into an impact player for the Twins. Robinson has a solid glove at shortstop, and his offense will be the big test to see. In his final two collegiate seasons, he walked more than he struck out, which shows a good approach at the plate. Keep an eye on whether he can hit enough to start climbing the prospect rankings. Haritzon Castillo Acquired: International Free Agency, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: DSL Signed out of Venezuela, Castillo is a switch-hitter and has upside offensively from both sides of the plate. He was a top-50 international prospect in the 2025 international class. The soon-to-be 18-year-old looked the part in his time in the Dominican Summer League, hitting .283/.395/.428 over 39 games. He also showed off some speed, stealing 12 bases in 15 attempts over that same time. Still early in his professional career, Castillo isn’t going to make an immediate impact at Target Field, but he has the potential to do so in a few short years, so keep an eye on him if he continues to impress early on in his career. Daiber De Los Santos Acquired: International Free Agency, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Florida Complex League Signed out of the Dominican Republic as the No. 8-ranked prospect in the 2024 international class, the 19-year-old played in the Florida Complex League this past season. In the Complex League, he struck out at a jarring 47.8% rate, but also walked at a solid rate as well. The strikeout rate isn’t anything to be too worried about, as young players often are adjusting their swings and trying different things in lower-pressure environments. The hope is that he can cut down on those strikeouts and continue to develop offensively, since his tools show plenty of potential. Santiago Leon Acquired: International Free Agency, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: DSL Leon was the other top international signing for the Twins in the 2025 international class, signing out of Venezuela. He will be playing his age-18 season in 2026; he is seen as a sure thing to stick as an infielder long term. He played this past season in the Dominican Summer League, where he walked as much as he struck out, which is a sign of a good approach at the plate. Like many young prospects, he has some things to work on, but he has plenty of things to be excited about as well if you like keeping an eye on prospects. Which of these prospects are you most excited about? View full article

Image courtesy of © Jonah Hinebaugh/The News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Depth is something every organization tries to create, and it goes well beyond what we see at Target Field or in St. Paul. I'm researching the Twins' depth beyond the 40-man roster, and have already taken a look at catcher, first base, and second base. Third basemen often are shortstops who have moved over to the hot corner for one of many reasons. One might be that they outgrew the position, like Miguel Sano did, or that shortstop is no longer the best defensive fit, like Trevor Plouffe or Royce Lewis. That move comes with different expectations offensively: corner bats are often expected to have a better offensive profile than middle infielders. Here is a list of third base prospects not on the Twins' 40-man roster. I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level they played this past season. Tanner Schobel Acquired: 2nd round, 2022 draft Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A If you follow the Twins' drafting over the past few years, you’ll notice a pattern of selecting college-level bats higher in the draft. Schobel fits that profile. Drafted in the second round out of Virginia Tech in 2022, he hit for a 1.134 OPS over his final year with the Hokies. Since being drafted, Schobel has played at every level of the minors, reaching Triple-A St. Paul in 2025. While he struggled to a .651 OPS in his first taste of Triple-A, he is only 24 years old, and it is a small sample size of just 30 games. Prior to the call-up, he hit for a slash line of .292/.372/.465 at Double-A over 49 games, which earned him the call-up. While on the list of third basemen, he has also shown the ability to play both second base and shortstop as well. The Twins love positional flexibility among players, so they are able to play matchups and put the best possible lineup out there on any given day. He’s a more contact-oriented hitter with the ability to hit some (nine in 2025) home runs. He’s a prospect with a high floor, and his defensive versatility will help him potentially carve out a role on the big league team, as long as he is able to continue making adjustments at the plate. Billy Amick Acquired: 2nd round, 2024 Draft Highest Level in 2025: High-A Another college bat drafted in the second round, Amick started his collegiate career at Clemson and then transferred to Tennessee for the 2024 season. Over his collegiate career, he had an OPS of 1.072 and hit 36 home runs over 120 games played, with 23 of those home runs coming in 2024 with the Volunteers. Since being drafted, the 23-year-old hasn’t hit for that kind of power as he is making the adjustment to professional baseball, but he has gotten on base. In 2025, Amick played mostly at High-A Cedar Rapids, where he hit .310/.418/.455. He is a high strikeout player, striking out 63 times over 244 plate appearances, which will not be a problem if his power develops like many expect it will. Amick played about half his time at first base and half his time at third base this past season, which means his offensive development will be even more important since first basemen are expected to hit. He was also selected to play in the Arizona Fall League in 2025, where he played in 11 games, and seven of them were at first base. He didn’t hit much in the Arizona Fall League, but it’s an extremely small sample size, so not too much to be worried about, especially for a player who hasn’t played above High-A professionally. He’s an intriguing prospect, but his bat will be what carries him. Keep an eye out to see if his power develops this coming season. Danny De Andrade Acquired: International Free Agency, 2021 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Signed as an international free agent in 2021, De Andrade has been on the Twins ' prospect lists since then. He was signed as a shortstop, but played the majority of his games at second base and third base in 2025. De Andrade is still just 21 years old and played the past two seasons at High-A Cedar Rapids. In 2025, he hit for a .704 OPS, which was his first full season at High-A after only playing in 29 games in 2024 due to an injury. He has shown the ability to hit some (nine in 2025) home runs and steal some (15 in 2025) bases, so keep an eye on whether those things continue to happen as he moves up in competition. He is athletic enough to be a shortstop, but keep an eye on how often he is playing there versus elsewhere in the infield. Jay Thomason Acquired: 17th round, 2024 Draft Highest Level in 2025: High-A A later round pick in 2024, Thomason hit the cover off the ball in his collegiate career at the Air Force Academy. He hit for 1.122 OPS over his four seasons, with 58 home runs over 194 games played. A left-handed hitter, Thomason has shown solid plate discipline, taking a walk in 18.2% of his at-bats in 2025. This is likely due to lower minor-league pitchers having less effective control, and Thomason was playing his age-23 season in A ball. While his walk rate will likely come down some in the minors, he has also shown some power, hitting for .477 slugging percentage this past season. Thomason has played not just third base, but also at first base, second base, and in left field as well in his short time in the minors. No matter where he ends up defensively, he is an intriguing prospect who has shown some flashes. We will see if he is able to continue developing as he faces higher competition and sneak his way into the Top 30 prospect discussion in the next year or so. Rayne Doncon Acquired: Trade, Los Angeles Dodgers, February 2024 Highest Level in 2025: High-A You may recognize Doncon’s name as the prospect who came to the Twins along with Manuel Margot prior to the 2024 season. While Margot was not at the top of the list of acquisitions prior to the disappointing 2024 season for the Twins, Doncon was a lower-level prospect who was essentially a lottery ticket at the time. He has shown some power, but hasn’t developed offensively, hitting for a slash line of .183/.286/.299 in A ball in 2025. Still just 22 years old, he will be looking to bounce back this season and take a step forward in his development. Quentin Young Acquired: 2nd round, 2025 Draft Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Another name you might recognize, as he is the nephew of former Twin Delmon Young. A very different player, Quentin is 6’6” and 225 lbs. He was drafted as a shortstop, but he will likely end up moving to third base down the road, as you don’t see many shortstops that are that tall. He’s got huge raw power, but like many young (he's 18 years old) hitters with power potential, has shown some swing-and-miss concerns as well. He only had 22 plate appearances last year in Fort Myers after signing. While a move to third is possible, there is a chance he is tried at other positions as well to see where he best fits defensively. Ryan Sprock Acquired: 8th round, 2025 Draft Highest Level in 2025: Single-A An 8th-round pick in 2025, Sprock ended up playing in 23 games with Fort Myers after being drafted. He played his college years at Elon, where he posted a .958 OPS over three seasons. In his final season with Elon, he hit 14 home runs over 57 games played, and hit two more with the Mighty Mussels after being drafted as well. While still very early in his development, he’s an intriguing mid-round prospect and someone to keep an eye on. Yilber Herrera Acquired: International Free Agency, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Signed as an international free agent in 2022, Herrera will be playing his age-21 season in 2026. In 2025, he moved up from the Complex League and played ten games at Single-A. He projects as a contact hitter, and the hope is that power will develop as he continues to mature. Signed as a shortstop, Herrera has been tried out mostly at second base and third base, but was also tried in the corner outfield for a few games this past season. His offensive development will be the key thing to watch this coming season. Darwin Almanzar Acquired: International Free Agency, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Dominican Summer League An international free agent signing just last year, he played in the Dominican Summer League, where he showed some promise, hitting for an .843 OPS with six home runs over 44 games played. Still very early in his development and playing his age-18 season in 2026, he is a long way from making an impact at Target Field. Almanzar remains a prospect to monitor periodically to see whether he continues to perform at a higher level as the competition increases. Leave a comment on who you think is the most promising prospect on this list. View full article

Depth is something every organization tries to create, whether through the draft, international free agency, or even minor-league free agency. Let’s take a look at how the Twins’ system stacks up at various positions. I’ve looked at catchers and first baseman and am working my way around to other positions. Second base is interesting because often, second baseman are former shortstops who have been moved over for one reason or another. As mentioned, second basemen typically played shortstop and moved to the right side of the infield, whether that be due to arm strength, or because of it being a better fit due to team need. A few examples in Twins history who were known as second baseman who played other positions include Brian Dozier, Luis Rivas, and more recently, Jorge Polanco. Here is a list of second base prospects not on the Twins 40-man roster. I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level they played this past season. Jake Rucker Acquired: 2021 Draft, 7th round Highest Level in 2025: Double-A A mid-round selection out the University of Tennessee, Rucker was a high OBP guy who showed a little more power in his final college season. Since being drafted, he has had limited power but walked at a decent clip and has cut down on his strikeouts over the past two seasons as well. He’s played the past three seasons at Double-A, and he will be playing his age-26 season in 2026, so he will have to make some improvements to avoid being relegated to organizational depth. He’s been tried all over defensively but has mostly settled into playing second base and third base over the past two seasons. He will need to hit to carve out a role for himself. Jorel Ortega Acquired: 2022 Draft, 6th round Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Also, a mid-round selection out of the University of Tennessee, Ortega has taken a different path than Rucker since being drafted. He strikes out at a higher rate but also walks at a higher rate (11.4% in 2025). He has shown some defensive versatility since being drafted, playing in left field, center field, and all infield positions beside catcher. He’s mostly played second base but has extensive time at first base and third base as well. He’ll need to hit for a bit more power to make more noise. His OPS in 2025 was .667, so he will likely repeat Double-A for a third time, hoping to make a break through offensively. Kyle DeBarge Acquired: 2024 Draft, Round 1 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Another college bat, DeBarge was drafted 33rd overall in 2024 out of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he hit .339/.406/.699. While he hasn’t hit quite to that level in the minors, DeBarge has done quite well in his first taste of professional ball. At 21 years old, he hit for a .709 OPS over the first full season with High-A Cedar Rapids. While not very imposing at just 5 foot 9, 175 pounds, DeBarge started to show a little more power in 2025, hitting eight home runs over 121 games at High-A Cedar Rapids. While still a few years away, DeBarge is ranked #16 in the Twins Daily prospect rankings and will be an interesting prospect to keep an eye on how he develops. DeBarge has played the majority of his games at second base since being drafted, he has also been tried at shortstop and in center field, so that positional versatility will be a thing to keep an eye on as well. He is an exciting young prospect and if things go well, he will get his first taste of the upper minors in 2026. Jose Salas Acquired: Trade, Miami Marlins, January 2023 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Acquired along with Pablo Lopez in the trade that sent Luis Arraez to the Marlins, Salas has slowly climbed up the minor league ladder, making his Double-A debut in 2025. Salas was injured at the beginning of the year, did a rehab assignment at Single-A and then was activated at High-A Cedar Rapids, where he hit for a .892 OPS over 16 games, earning him a promotion to Double-A. He didn’t hit quite to that level in Double-A but has shown pretty solid positional versatility. He has played all infield positions beside catcher, as well as getting time in the outfield as well. His defensive versatility could be what helps him carve out a role in the future. Salas is going to have to hit, but he is someone that many Twins fans will want to know how he does, since he was traded for a popular player in Arraez. Dameury Pena Acquired: International Free Agency, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Pena was signed in 2023 out of the Dominican Republic, he played his first year of professional ball in the Dominican Summer League at 17 years old where he hit for a .949 OPS. A bat first prospect, he played at Single-A Fort Myers in 2025 at age 19. He played the majority of his games at second base but was also tried in left field as well this past season. He struggled a bit offensively, like many young players do, but he still has some upside and is someone to keep an eye on, as he is playing his age 20 season in 2026. Ramiro Dominguez Acquired: International Free Agency, 2024 Highest Level in 2025: Complex League Dominguez got his first taste of professional ball in 2024 at age 17 and played his age 18 season in 2025 in the Complex League. Dominguez was 1.5 years younger than the average player at that level and he held his own, hitting for a slash line of .248/.366/.414. Still early in his development, 2025 was a good launching point for his professional career and Dominguez has a change to make even more noise this coming year. Jose Barrios Acquired: International Free Agency, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Dominican Summer League I know, seeing this name reminds you of a former Twins pitcher. Barrios was signed this past year out of Venezuela and, like many international signings, played his first professional games in the Dominican Summer League. Over 37 games played, Barrios hit for a slash line of .254/.352/.205. He’ll be just 18 in 2026, so seeing if he is able to develop as a hitter this next season. View full article

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Aaron Sabato) Depth is something every organization tries to create, whether through the draft, international free agency, or even minor league free agency. Let’s take a look at how the Twins’ system stacks up at various positions. I started with catchers and decided to work my way around the diamond. This list for first basemen is shorter, mostly due to the fact that very few prospects are only first basemen and often are listed at other positions instead. Most first basemen started playing another position and moved down the defensive spectrum either because they were blocked at the position they were drafted at, or they weren’t cutting it defensively elsewhere and things were working out better at first base. A few examples in Twins history who became first baseman but played elsewhere when younger or in the minors include Justin Morneau, Harmon Killebrew, and more recently, Carlos Santana. For each player below, I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level they played this past season. Aaron Sabato Acquired: 2020 Draft, 1st round Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A Sabato is one of many college sluggers the Twins have taken early in the draft over the last handful of years. In College at UNC, he hit for a 1.158 OPS with 25 home runs over 83 games played. He’s had his ups and downs since being drafted and the prospect shine has worn off, but in 2025, he appeared to turn a corner, hitting 23 home runs with a .809 OPS over 109 games played and 449 plate appearances. He did go unprotected and unselected in the Rule 5 draft, again. Always seen as a bat-first prospect, Sabato can still carve out a role if his offense is up to it. While he is a first baseman by trade, his future could be at designated hitter, depending on what other first base options there are. Andy Lugo Acquired: Trade, Boston Red Sox, June 2025 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Lugo was acquired from the Red Sox in late June so the Red Sox could jump the other teams on the waiver wire to acquire relief pitcher Jorge Alcala, after he was designated for assignment. Lugo has also played some second base and third base, along with a bit of left field as well. After the trade, he hit well at High-A Cedar Rapids, where he posted a .889 OPS over 28 games. He will be playing his age 22 season in 2026 and with experience just in the low minors, he is still a decent distance away from making an impact, but his bat will be an interesting thing to watch. He might get his first crack at Double-A this year, and we will see how that goes, as this step up in levels is often a key challenge for young prospects. Jaime Ferrer Acquired: 2024 Draft, 4th round Highest Level in 2025: High-A Another college slugger, who posted a .989 OPS over three college seasons at Florida State. Since being drafted, he has struggled at the plate, hitting for a slash line of .227/.312/.345 with limited power (5 home runs over 101 games played). He has played first base, but has also been tried out at catcher and in the corner outfield. Like many prospects, Ferrer is looking to take the next step in his development, and depending on his long-term position, his development trajectory could change. Catchers have a lower bar offensively for example, but if he ends up being a corner bat, he will have to hit to move into the Twins future plans. JP Smith II Acquired: 2025 Draft, 17th round Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Are you starting to notice a trend here? Smith was a college bat who mashed at Sacramento State. He had a .953 OPS over three seasons, hitting 48 home runs and showing a good eye at the plate as well. He got his first taste of professional ball at Single-A Fort Myers where, like many prospects, he didn’t hit for as much power, but that typically comes with time. He held his own over his first 101 professional plate appearances, where he struck out at a 24.8% clip and he walked 6.9% of the time. As a later-round draft pick, he doesn’t have the pressure of living up to high expectations, but if he is able to continue making adjustments, he might just be able to continue slowly climbing the minor league ladder. Mark him down as a player to check in on from time to time to see how he adjusts to his first full year in the Twins system. Jayson Bass Acquired: International Free Agency, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Signed out of Mexico in 2023, Bass will be just 20 in 2026. He is a contact-oriented hitter, with just three home runs since signing. In previous years, he was tried in the corner outfield, but in 2025 was tried at first base a bit more to see where he best fits defensively. He was a great hitter in the Dominican Summer League after signing, hitting .308/.406/.378 at age 17. He played the 2025 season mostly in the Florida Complex League and did get his first taste of Single-A, where he played eight games this past year. Still very early in his career, seeing if he can develop some power will be key in seeing if he can continue to develop. Do any of these future first base options catch your attention? Which other sleepers in the system might you add to the list? Sound off in the comments! View full article

My mistake there. He is listed as an infielder and not under catcher

Pereda is on the 40-man roster. I decided to take a look at the guys not on the 40-man

Pereda was not mentioned for the same reason Jeffers and Alex Jackson were not mentioned. They are all on the 40-man roster

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images Depth is something every organization tries to create, whether through the draft, international free agency, or even minor league free agency. Let’s take a look at how the Twins’ system stacks up at various positions. I decided to start with catchers and work my way around the diamond. Below is a look at the catchers in the Twins system not named Ryan Jeffers or Alex Jackson . I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level they played this past season. Mickey Gasper Acquired: Trade, Boston Red Sox, December 2024 Highest Level in 2025: MLB The Twins acquired Gasper in a minor trade with the Boston Red Sox in December 2024 for left-handed relief pitcher Jovan Moran. Gasper split time between Triple-A St. Paul and the Twins in 2025. While he is listed as a catcher, he can also play first base, second base, and has even dabbled in left field. The upside is limited, as he hit .158/.257/.232 over 110 plate appearances with the Twins. Ricardo Olivar Acquired: International Free Agency, 2019 Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Olivar has slowly worked his way up the minor league ladder since signing in 2019. Playing the 2025 season with Double-A Wichita, Olivar appeared in 93 games, catching in 38 of them while playing left field and designated hitter in the others. He has been a bat-first catcher, posting a career .832 OPS over five minor league seasons. His future may be more likely as a designated hitter if he cannot stick behind the plate. If that happens, his path to a role on the major league roster will hinge on his bat. Noah Cardenas Acquired: 2021 Draft, 8th round Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A After signing for a $200,000 bonus as an eighth-round pick in 2021, Cardenas has steadily worked his way toward the major leagues, spending the 2025 season between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul. His .245/.387/.438 slash line in 2025 is passable for a backup catcher. He does not strike out at an unreasonable rate at 19.9 percent and his walk rate is higher than average at 16.4 percent. If he continues to develop, Cardenas could carve out a role for the Twins over the next few years. Patrick Winkel Acquired: 2021 Draft, 9th round Highest Level in 2025: Triple-A Drafted one round after Cardenas, Winkel also reached Triple-A this past season, though with a very different profile. In 2025, he posted a 32.8 percent strikeout rate and a 7.2 percent walk rate over 47 games and 180 plate appearances. Winkel will look to continue improving both in the field and at the plate. At this point, he is serving as organizational depth in the upper minors, and it remains to be seen whether he can break through and carve out a role in the Twins’ future plans. Nate Baez Acquired: 2022 Draft, 12th round Highest Level in 2025: Double-A You’ll notice a trend of mid-round picks making their way into the upper minors. Prior to 2025, Baez was an above-average hitter at every level. He started the season in High-A Cedar Rapids, continued to hit, and earned a promotion to Double-A. Double-A marked the first extended stop in his minor league career where he posted an OPS below .700. Assuming he makes the necessary adjustments, Baez’s bat could move him closer to the majors this year. He also began playing more first base in 2025, raising some questions about whether he can stick at catcher defensively. Even if he does not, the hope is that his bat continues to develop. Andrew Cossetti Acquired: 2022 Draft, 11th round Highest Level in 2025: Double-A Another mid-round pick, Cossetti was drafted out of St. Joseph’s University, where he posted a 1.016 OPS over four seasons. He has spent the last two years with Double-A Wichita and has shown some power, hitting 22 home runs over 604 plate appearances. In 2025, he recorded a .374 wOBA with a .798 OPS, good for a 123 wRC+. He has also played some first base, and if he continues to hit, he could begin climbing prospect lists in the future. Poncho Ruiz Acquired: Non-Drafted Free Agency, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Ruiz signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, which can happen for a variety of reasons, especially with fewer draft rounds than in the past. He began 2025 in Single-A and was promoted to High-A after 31 games. At 23 years old, he held his own between the two levels, posting a .723 OPS. He has shown a good eye at the plate throughout his minor league career and walked at a 15.8 percent rate in 2025. While not a highly touted prospect, Ruiz can make a name for himself if he continues to grow both at the plate and in the field. Eduardo Tait (#3 Twins Daily Prospect) Acquired: Trade, Philadelphia Phillies, July 2025 Highest Level in 2025: High-A Tait was one of two players, along with right-hander Mick Abel, acquired from the Phillies in exchange for closer Jhoan Duran at the 2025 trade deadline. He signed for $90,000 out of Panama in January 2023 and hit at every level in the Phillies’ system. Like many young catchers, Tait’s defense is still a work in progress. He has a plus arm, and the Twins are hoping he can become at least average as a receiver. Still just 19 years old, he is likely a couple of years away from his major league debut. Tait projects as a future starting catcher and is someone many Twins fans will be watching closely in 2026. Khadim Diaw (#20 Twins Daily Prospect) Acquired: 2024 Draft, 3rd round Highest Level in 2025: High-A Diaw was the highest-drafted catcher by the Twins since Ryan Jeffers went in the second round in 2018. He played his age-21 season in 2025, spending the year at High-A Cedar Rapids. A good athlete, Diaw also saw time in center field and right field. He has a reputation as an aggressive hitter who makes a lot of contact, which showed up in his .429 wOBA this past season. He is likely a few years away, but if catcher does not work out, his athleticism could allow a move to the outfield. Enrique Jimenez Acquired: Trade, Detroit Tigers, July 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Another pre-deadline acquisition, Jimenez will play his age-20 season this coming year. In 2025, he spent about two-thirds of his time behind the plate and reached Single-A. He showed some power, hitting 12 home runs with a .846 OPS between the Tigers’ and Twins’ systems. While not a high-end prospect, he provides a solid floor and could eventually serve as a backup to Tait, though he is still a long way from that point. Daniel Pena Acquired: International Free Agency, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Pena signed out of Venezuela in 2022 and played with Single-A Fort Myers in 2025. He has not hit much since reaching that level, posting a .567 OPS over 55 games this past season. Still just 20 years old, he remains a developmental player to check in on periodically. Ricardo Pena Acquired: International Free Agency, 2022 Highest Level in 2025: Single-A Pena appeared in a combined 22 games between the Complex League and Single-A Fort Myers, so he remains early in his development. He has also seen some time at first base, and a position change could be in the cards, though that decision does not need to be made anytime soon. Pablo Castillo Acquired: International Free Agency, 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Dominican Summer League A 2025 international free agent out of Venezuela, Castillo showed promise in his first 28 games in the Dominican Summer League. At 17 years old, he posted an .885 OPS. While it is a small sample, it provides a strong starting point for a young prospect heading into his next stage of development. Miguel Caraballo Acquired: Trade, San Francisco Giants, December 2025 Highest Level in 2025: Dominican Summer League Caraballo came over from the Giants in the trade that sent Rule 5 selection Daniel Susac to San Francisco. He is not currently a strong defender, but he has shown both power and on-base skills. At 16 years old, he hit five home runs and posted a .874 OPS over 41 games in the DSL. He is a long way from making an impact, but will be a name Twins fans check in on from time to time, especially if Susac makes an impact in San Francisco. Irvin Nunez Acquired: International Free Agency, 2023 Highest Level in 2025: Complex League Nunez signed with the Twins as part of the 2023 international free agent class and played in 43 games in the Florida Complex League in 2025. He also saw time at first base and a handful of games at third base, so he could end up with some positional versatility depending on how he develops over the next few years. Overall, the Twins’ catching depth is a mix of near-ready upper-minors options, mid-level organizational pieces, and longer-term developmental bets in the lower minors and international pipeline. While there is no shortage of names in the system, the group reflects the reality of building depth through many avenues, with some players closer to contributing in Minneapolis and others still several years away. As with most organizations, only a handful will ultimately impact the big league roster, but this collection gives the Twins flexibility, insulation against injuries, and multiple paths to address the position as they continue to build out the system from top to bottom. View full article

Image courtesy of Brad Mills-Imagn Images When Josh Bell signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals for the 2025 season, he wanted to change his swing and hit for more power. His hopes were to hit more home runs, and he didn’t mind striking out a bit more. He adjusted his swing and his stance, both from the left side of the plate and the right side of the plate. His stance was more upright, and he utilized a slightly higher leg kick than he previously had. While these changes are not uncommon in the modern game, Bell had some lousy results immediately after making them. Through May 14th, he had a wRC+ of 46, with a slash line of .146/.234/.285. Through this same time period, he had a lower average exit velocity, a higher strikeout rate, and a lower walk rate than his career numbers. His hard-hit rate was the lowest it had been since 2017. Bell was hoping to hit for more power, envisioning more home runs and doubles by making these changes to his swing, but the results did not follow. In the first six weeks or so of the season, he was one of the worst hitters in the major leagues. The switch-hitter struggled from both sides: more fly balls, fewer line drives, more chasing outside the zone. Too many easy outs. From the outside, one may have thought this was Bell aging and that he would never be the same, especially given some downward trends in contact quality over multiple seasons. However, Bell was able to make in-season adjustments to not only improve his numbers, but give more hope for future years as well. This is likely what caught the Twins' eye, compelling them to give the 1B/DH a bigger contract than anyone they signed last offseason. “I just tried to lower my launch angle, tried to focus on squaring up the ball as best as I can, tried to get my OPS over .600 -- so, I’ve done that,” a resurgent Bell said around the All-Star break. “Now I'm fighting for .700. We'll see where we go from there.” From May 15th until the end of the season, Bell hit for a wRC+ of 130, which is 30% above league average. His slash line of .272/.358/..467 was the improvement he and the Nationals were hoping for. Virtually every metric trended in the right direction as visible changes took hold, and that creates room for healthy optimism going forward. The Bell signing is one that will not only lengthen the Twins lineup, but he will provide a veteran presence as someone who has gone through struggles and shown the ability to make in-season adjustments. The Twins surely value this in a veteran for a young and less experienced roster. Are you a believer in Josh Bell's turnaround? Share your thoughts below! View full article

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images With the latest reports taking focus away from Joe Ryan, Pablo López, and Byron Buxton, there are other Twins trade candidates to consider this winter, including catcher Ryan Jeffers. Is it possible the Twins could trade Jeffers, but hang on to the other players mentioned in rumors? If they go that route, they would need to sign a catcher to replace their erstwhile starter. Jeffers split time with Christian Vázquez from 2023 through 2025, and absent a major addition, he's in line to take on a bigger role in 2026. While it might not make a ton of sense on the surface, there are a few options the Twins would have if they do move on from Jeffers. Let’s take a look at a trio of interesting mid-level free agents. Danny Jansen Jansen started the year with Tampa Bay and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers near the trade deadline. He played in 98 games between the Rays and Brewers, hitting .215/.321/.399, which was good for a 101 OPS+. For comparison, Jeffers hit .266/.356/.397, which was good for an OPS+ of 108. A burly 6-foot-1, Jansen, 30, put up 2.8 bWAR in 2025, compared with Jeffers's 1.2. If the Twins trade Jeffers, Jansen could make some sense on a one- or two-year deal, as a bridge to prospect Eduardo Tait. Minnesota acquired Tait as part of the return in the Jhoan Duran trade at the trade deadline, so they hope only to need a stopgap behind the plate. Jonah Heim Heim had a down year in 2025 and was non-tendered by the Texas Rangers last month, making him a free agent. He broke out in 2023, hitting for a 106 OPS+ and earning his first career All-Star nod. He won a Gold Glove the same season, and was the main catcher as the Rangers marched to their first-ever World Series title. Since then, he has not been as consistent offensively as he (or the Rangers) would have hoped. While he may be a downgrade offensively from Jeffers, he has shown the ability to be an above-average defender, and being solid behind the plate can mask being a below-average hitter. As the starting catcher, playing in 124 games, Heim hit .213/.271/.332 in 2025, which equates to a 77 OPS+. While this is below average even for a catcher, if the Twins believe that Heim is a bounce-back candidate, they could get him for good value. The Rangers non-tendered him when he was projected to make in the ballpark of $6 million, so he will likely command less than that on the free-agent market. As a switch-hitter, he provides solid matchup value at a righty-dominated position. Reese McGuire In a backup role with the Cubs in 2025, McGuire hit .226/.245/.444 over 140 plate appearances. The Cubs non-tendered him after the season, and he was projected to make $1.9 million next season. If the Twins were to trade Jeffers, could they look to McGuire to split time with the recently acquired Alex Jackson? It sure seems like a plausible option. Offensively, in limited appearances, he was on par with the average catcher across the majors. Another positive in signing McGuire is that he grades out above average defensively, particularly as a framer and thrower. However, like Jackson, he has never handled a full starter’s workload, so he would be more likely to be a candidate to split duties than to play as much as Jeffers would. Do you think the Twins should trade Jeffers? And if so, whom should they sign to replace him? View full article