Cody Christie

Image courtesy of Malamut Photography (photo of Dasan Hill) Prospect rankings are never as simple as lining players up from best to worst. A traditional list tries to balance everything at once. Upside, present tools, age, injury history, proximity to the big leagues, and even organizational need all get thrown into the mix. It is part projection, part preference, and part educated guess. This exercise throws most of that out the window. Instead of weighing floors and timelines, this ranking leans fully into ceiling. It is about identifying which arms in the Twins system could become something special if everything clicks. That might mean ignoring risk. It might mean betting on pitchers who have barely thrown or struggled to stay on the mound. In some cases, the floor might be never reaching Target Field. But the reward, if it hits, could be enormous. Here are five Twins pitching prospects ranked purely by upside. 5. Riley Quick, RHP Twins Daily Current Prospect Rank: 11 Quick looks the part before he even throws a pitch. At 6’6” and 250 pounds, the former four-star football recruit brings rare physicality to the mound. That alone creates intrigue, but the upside comes from how quickly his stuff returned after surgery. Just a year removed from Tommy John, he was already touching the upper 90s, flirting with 99 mph. That kind of velocity rebound suggests there may still be another gear as he gets further removed from the procedure. Pair that with a legitimate four-pitch mix, and you start to see the outline of a durable, innings-eating starter with power stuff. The Twins slow-played his debut, which only adds to the mystery. Minnesota will start him in the low minors in 2026, where he should dominate the competition. There is risk in a pitcher with a limited recent workload, but the combination of size, arm strength, and pitch mix gives Quick a ceiling that extends well beyond a typical mid-rotation profile. 4. Connor Prielipp, LHP Twins Daily Current Prospect Rank: 5 At his best, Prielipp might have the most complete arsenal on this list. He has already shown what it looks like when everything is working. A mid-90s fastball, a true plus-slider, and a quality changeup give him the weapons of a front-line starter. The strikeout numbers back that up (27.0 K%), and when he was finally healthy in 2025, the results followed. Health is the obvious caveat. Years of elbow issues have limited his workload to the point where projecting a full starter’s role becomes difficult. Even after a relatively stable season, he has still thrown a fraction of the innings typical for someone his age. But that is where upside comes into play. If Prielipp can hold his health long enough to build innings, the pitch mix is good enough to slot near the top of a rotation. And if durability pushes him to the bullpen, the stuff could play up into something even more dominant in shorter bursts. There are multiple paths to impact, which raises the overall ceiling. 3. Charlee Soto, RHP Twins Daily Current Prospect Rank: 10 Soto is the definition of volatile upside. The raw ingredients are loud. He can reach triple-digits and flashes three pitches that project as above average or better. His changeup already stands out as a legitimate weapon, and his slider took a step forward when his velocity ticked up early in 2025. That brief three-appearance stretch, before his season was cut short, is part of what makes him so intriguing. The added velocity hinted at another level, even if it came in a tiny sample. There was no ligament damage, which keeps the long-term outlook intact, but missed time and inconsistent command leave plenty unanswered. Soto does not need perfect command to succeed, but he will need more consistency in the strike zone. If that comes, the arsenal is good enough to dream on a high-impact starter. If it does not, the fallback could still be a power reliever with dominant stretches. Either way, the upside is tied to just how electric the arm can be. 2. Kendry Rojas, LHP Twins Daily Current Prospect Rank: 8 Rojas is a reminder that upside is not always linear, especially after being traded to the Twins as part of the Louis Varland deal. His introduction to the organization did not go smoothly, as he struggled to find the strike zone in Triple-A. Walks piled up, and the stat line turned ugly in a hurry. For many rankings, that would be enough to push him down. For this exercise, it is almost irrelevant. Even during those struggles, the traits that matter showed through. He sat in the mid-90s with his fastball and generated swings and misses with both his changeup and slider. When he was around the zone, hitters had a hard time squaring him up. That is the key. If the Twins can help him harness the command, there is playoff-caliber starter potential with the raw stuff to miss bats consistently. Injuries and inconsistency have limited his track record, but the flashes are loud enough to keep the ceiling intact. In a more optimistic outcome, he becomes a reliable starter. In a less stable one, he still has the weapons to thrive in high-leverage relief. 1. Dasan Hill, LHP Twins Daily Current Prospect Rank: 7 Hill is the purest upside play in the system. When the Twins drafted him, the appeal was projection. A tall, lean high school lefty with room to grow and a fastball that hinted at more. It did not take long for that projection to start turning into reality. His velocity jumped into the mid-90s almost immediately, and he began overpowering hitters in his first taste of pro ball. The strikeout numbers followed (31.1 K%), and both his slider and changeup showed the ability to miss bats against lower-level competition. The command, as expected, is still a work in progress. Walks piled up (15.0 BB%), and efficiency was not always there. That is typical for a young pitcher learning to control newfound velocity and sharper secondary pitches. What separates Hill is how high the ceiling climbs if it all comes together. A left-hander with near triple-digit velocity and two swing-and-miss secondaries does not come around often. If he finds even average control, he has the ingredients of a true front-line starter. If he does not, the fallback could still be a dominant, high-leverage arm. Upside rankings are not meant to be comfortable. They require buying into uncertainty and accepting that some of these arms may never fully click. Injuries, command issues, and stalled development are all part of the equation. That is what makes pitching prospects so volatile in the first place. But it is also what makes them so compelling. The Twins system does not lack for intriguing arms, and this group highlights just how wide the range of outcomes can be. From near-ready options with frontline stuff to teenage projections still taking shape, the ceiling on this group is undeniable. If even one or two of these pitchers reach that ceiling, it could reshape the future of the organization’s rotation in a hurry. How would you rank the Twins' top pitching prospects by upside? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

As part of the Twins’ 2026 Home Opener, Twins owner Tom Pohlad sat down with the media and discussed the outlook for the upcoming season. Naturally, the conversation turned toward the organization’s young talent and how to keep that group invested long term. “I think, again, what we’ve done from a culture standpoint, the relationships we’re building in the clubhouse, the leadership changes that you’ve seen, particularly with Derek Shelton at the helm, I think those things matter and as we go throughout the year here, there’s going to be more and more opportunities for us to put words into action and ultimately I think that’s what will make the Luke Keaschalls of the world and everybody else want to be a Twin for a lot longer.” When pressed about whether the organization had already approached players about extensions, Pohlad kept things close to the vest. “I’m not going to get into what we have or haven’t done.” Still, he tipped his hand just enough by naming Taj Bradley, Luke Keaschall, and Mick Abel as players the Twins would like to keep around for the long haul. That trio represents three very different extension cases, and each comes with its own set of risks and rewards. Taj Bradley: Electric Arm, Uneven Track Record Bradley has looked like the best pitcher on the roster through the first couple turns of the rotation. The raw stuff has always been there, but now it is jumping off the page. He even became the first Twins pitcher in the pitch tracking era to reach triple digits on a fastball, a milestone that speaks to just how loud his arsenal can be. The Twins believe they unlocked something after acquiring him at last year’s trade deadline. Mechanical tweaks and pitch usage changes appear to be paying early dividends. If that version of Bradley is real, then locking him up before arbitration gets expensive could be a savvy move. But this is where things get tricky. Bradley already has nearly 400 big league innings under his belt, and the results have been inconsistent. A 4.75 ERA paired with a 4.32 FIP, along with a 25.0 K% and an 8.7 BB%, paints the picture of a pitcher who has flashed but not sustained success. Committing long-term to that profile requires a strong belief that the recent changes are permanent, not just a short-term spike. An extension here would be a bet on development. The upside is a frontline starter at a discounted rate. The downside is paying for a version of Bradley that has not consistently existed yet. Luke Keaschall: Dynamic Bat, Lingering Questions Keaschall might be the most exciting player of the bunch right now. He has been electric at the big-league level, showing the ability to hit for average, tap into power, and impact the game on the bases. Early returns in 2026 suggest his bat speed has taken another step forward, which could unlock even more pop. That kind of offensive profile is exactly what teams look to build around. From a team control standpoint, there is less urgency. Keaschall is under control through 2031, which gives the Twins plenty of runway. However, that also creates an opportunity. If the organization truly believes he is a foundational bat, extending him early could buy out arbitration years at a lower cost and potentially secure a few free agent seasons. The hesitation comes from durability and defensive uncertainty. Keaschall has already dealt with multiple injuries, including Tommy John surgery and a broken arm. That is not something to ignore, especially for a player whose value is tied to athleticism and bat speed. There is also the question of where he ultimately plays. He has been a below-average second baseman, and while versatility can be valuable, not having a clear defensive home complicates long-term projections. Extending Keaschall would be a bet on the bat carrying the profile regardless of position. If he hits like a middle-of-the-order threat, it works. If injuries linger or the defensive fit never settles, it becomes more complicated. Mick Abel: High Ceiling, Wide Range of Outcomes Abel might be the most fascinating case of the three. He earned the fifth starter role out of spring training, beating out Zebby Matthews after an impressive camp. The biggest development was improved control, something that had eluded him at times in the upper-minors (10. BB% in 2025). Pair that with his ability to miss bats, and you start to see why the Twins dream on him as a potential front-of-the-rotation arm. That is the version of Abel that makes an extension enticing. If everything clicks, the Twins could be looking at a cost-controlled starter with top-of-the-rotation upside. Those are the types of players organizations try to lock up early, before the price tag reflects the ceiling. But there is a reason he was available in the first place. The Phillies were willing to move Abel in the deal that brought Jhoan Duran to Philadelphia, and part of that calculus was risk. Abel’s control has been inconsistent, and there is still a real possibility that he settles in as more of a back-end starter rather than an ace. The gap between those outcomes is significant, both in value and in how an extension would age. For the Twins, it comes down to confidence in their player development. If they believe the control gains are real, extending Abel early could look brilliant. If not, it is another example of paying for projection rather than production. The Bigger Picture What Pohlad said without saying it is that the Twins are at a crossroads with their young core. Extending players early can be a powerful tool. It builds goodwill, creates cost certainty, and can lock in cornerstone talent before prices escalate. It also comes with risk, especially when the players involved have not fully established themselves. Bradley, Keaschall, and Abel each represent a different version of that gamble. One has electric stuff but an uneven résumé. One looks like a budding star but carries injury and positional questions. One offers frontline upside with a wide range of outcomes. The Twins do not need to rush. But if they are serious about turning words into action, these are exactly the types of decisions that will define what this next competitive window looks like. Which player makes the most sense for an extension? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

There is no shortage of optimism in the Minnesota Twins system, and now there is some national validation to go with it. Baseball America released its rankings of the most talented minor league rosters entering the 2026 season, and the St. Paul Saints sit comfortably at the top. According to Baseball America, St. Paul features four top 100 prospects and nine of the organization’s top 30. That kind of concentration is rare at the Triple-A level, where rosters are often a mix of up and down depth pieces and veteran placeholders. Instead, the Saints are rolling out a group that looks more like a future core than a temporary stop. Leading the way is Walker Jenkins, ranked No. 5 overall. He is joined by Emmanuel Rodriguez at No. 57, Kaelen Culpepper at No. 74, and Connor Prielipp at No. 94. No other team in Baseball America’s top five has more than three players inside the top 100, giving St. Paul a clear edge when it comes to top-end talent. The rest of the top five includes the Midland RockHounds, Arkansas Travelers, Indianapolis Indians, and Charlotte Knights. Those are strong systems in their own right, but none can match the combination of ceiling and proximity that the Saints currently possess. St. Paul wasted little time showing what that might look like on the field. They opened the season by sweeping Indianapolis on the road, handling one of the other top-ranked rosters. That series came against Konnor Griffin, baseball’s top overall prospect, before he was called up to the big leagues on Friday. From a Twins Daily perspective, the alignment is just as impressive. Four of the organization’s top five prospects are stationed in St. Paul, and six of the top ten are already at Triple A. The list reads like a snapshot of the next wave in Minnesota Walker Jenkins No. 1 Kaelen Culpepper No. 2 Emmanuel Rodriguez No. 3 Connor Prielipp No. 5 Gabriel Gonzalez No. 7 Kendry Rojas No. 8 Andrew Morris No. 12 Marco Raya No. 15 For the Twins, this creates a different kind of pressure, the good kind. When injuries hit or production dips at the big league level, the answers are not coming from fringe depth. They are coming from players who have been developed with the expectation of contributing. Ranking systems are useful, but they only go so far. What makes this St. Paul roster compelling is not just how it looks in March, but what it represents over the next six months. This is a pipeline reaching its most concentrated point, where development meets opportunity. If even a handful of these players take the next step, the impact on Minnesota’s roster could be significant and immediate. The Saints roster is the best collection of talent to start the year, but in 2026, they feel much closer to something bigger. View full rumor

Image courtesy of William Parmeter In conjunction with the Minnesota Twins, the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels have unveiled their 2026 Opening Day roster, and it comes with a little bit of everything. There is returning production, recent draft intrigue, and enough raw athleticism to make last year’s track meet look repeatable. Jordan Smith, a Wilmar, MN native, begins his first year managing the Mighty Mussels. Also new to the staff are pitching coach Dylan Hawley and hitting coach Carlos Lara. The one holdover in the coaching department is Richard Salazar, who enters his fourth season with the club and his ninth in the organization. The initial player group featured 44 players, though that number shrank quickly. Once the injured list was finalized on Thursday, April 2, the roster was trimmed to the Florida State League maximum of 30 active players. Overall, it serves as a snapshot of organizational depth and a preview of who could take meaningful steps forward this summer. Familiarity is a defining theme. Exactly half of the current group, 22 players, appeared in a game for Fort Myers last season. That continuity matters at this level, where development often accelerates when players are not adjusting to a new environment at the same time. The returning position player group is headlined by Damuery Pena and Quentin Young. Pena was a steady presence in 2025, leading the team with 96 games played while hitting .241/.317/.316 (.633) and swiping 28 bases, tied for ninth most in the FSL last season. He is a contact-oriented player with speed who can impact games in multiple ways. Young is a different kind of storyline. Selected in the second round of the 2025 draft, he arrived late in the season and appeared in just five games. The pedigree stands out immediately as the nephew of former big leaguers Delmon and Dmitri Young. He also has one of the top power tools in the entire organization. Now with a full season ahead, Fort Myers becomes the first real stage to see how his tools translate over an extended run. JP Smith II showed flashes after being selected in the 17th round, including a Florida State League Player of the Week award in August. He hit .237 across 24 games, and while the sample size was small, the early signs suggested a player capable of putting together competitive at-bats. Yasser Mercedes might be the most electric returner on the roster (even though he starts the year on the IL). He led the 2025 team in both home runs with 10 and stolen bases, going an incredible 34-for-35 on the basepaths. That efficiency was not just impressive, it was foundational to a record-breaking season. Fort Myers stole 236 bases as a team, setting a new franchise mark, and Mercedes was right at the center of it. On the pitching side, Dylan Questad returns as the most experienced arm. His 6.87 ERA across 25 games, including 11 starts, does not jump off the page in a positive way, but the underlying workload tells a different story. He led all returners with 74 2/3 innings and 83 strikeouts, giving him a chance to take a step forward simply by refining what is already there. The most notable addition to the staff is right-hander Riley Quick. Taken with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 draft, Quick enters as one of the more intriguing arms at this level. He posted a 3.72 ERA across three seasons at the University of Alabama and struck out 70 batters in 62 innings during his final collegiate season. There is enough swing and miss in the profile to believe he could move quickly if everything clicks. James Ellwanger will make his pro debut with the Mighty Mussels after being drafted by the Twins in the third round. During his final collegiate season, he posted a 3.98 ERA with a 1.53 WHIP and 13.5 K/9. Like Quick, his college experience could mean that he moves quickly through the lower levels of the minors. However, there is no reason to rush him as he adjusts to life as a professional. Prospect watchers will have plenty to follow. According to Twins Daily’s top-20 prospect rankings, Quick, 11th overall, is the highest-rated prospect in Fort Myers. On the position player side, Young falls at 14th overall in the latest rankings. Ellwanger, the team’s third-round pick last year, is currently ranked as the 20th-best prospect in the organization. That level of prospect density is not always a given at the Low A level, and it raises the ceiling for what this group could become. The Mighty Mussels were rained out for their opener on Thursday. Now, they begin their season on April 3, with a double header against the Clearwater Threshers. First pitch scheduled for 3:35 p.m. CT. 2026 Fort Myers Opening Day Roster Pitchers (15) RHP James Ellwanger RHP Adam Falinski RHP Joel Garcia RHP Eric Hammond RHP Michael Hilker Jr. RHP Merit Jones RHP Xavier Kolhosser RHP Mike McKenna RHP Reed Moring RHP Mitch Mueller RHP Jake Murray RHP Riley Quick RHP Kolten Smith RHP Jonathan Stevens RHP Brian Zeldin Catchers (4) Ian Daugherty Irvin Nuñez Ricardo Peña Ryan Sprock Infielders (6) Bryan Acuña Harry Genth Yilber Herrera Dameury Peña JP Smith II Quentin Young Outfielders (3) Jayson Bass Eduardo Beltre Byron Chourio 7-Day IL: INF Bruin Agbayani (R thumb sprain), C Enrique Jimenez (R finger fracture), OF Yasser Mercedes (R oblique strain), RHP Justin Mitrovich (R lat strain), RHP Billy Oldham (R UCL sprain), RHP Dylan Questad (L oblique strain), RHP Jason Reitz (L ankle sprain) 60-Day IL: RHP Matt Barr (R elbow fracture), RHP Callan Fang (R elbow sprain), RHP Jake Hunter (R shoulder impingement), RHP Jace Kaminska (R elbow surgery), LHP Cesar Lares (L elbow surgery), LHP Cleiber Maldonado (L elbow surgery), C Carlos Silva (R forearm strain) Full Season IL: RHP Jack Dougherty (R shoulder surgery), INF Shai Robinson (L shoulder surgery) What stands out about the Fort Myers roster? Who will you be watching? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Major League Baseball dropped another sign that draft season is officially here on Wednesday, announcing updated bonus pools and slot values for all 30 clubs. Minnesota enters the 2026 draft cycle with a total bonus pool of $16,929,600, the fourth-largest in the sport. Only the Pirates, Rays, and White Sox sit ahead of them, putting the Twins in a position to be aggressive, flexible, and maybe even a little opportunistic when July rolls around. Holding the third overall pick certainly helps. That selection alone carries a slot value of $9,740,100, giving Minnesota a massive chunk of spending power right at the top. It is the kind of pick that can shape an entire draft class, whether the Twins choose to go with the best player available or try to manipulate the board with an underslot deal. The next key checkpoint comes at pick 43, where the assigned value sits at $2,333,200. That is another meaningful piece of the puzzle, especially for a front office that has not been shy about moving money around the board in recent years. Add in the Competitive Balance Round B selection at 74th overall, valued at $1,138,600, and the Twins suddenly have multiple pressure points to build out a deeper strategy. Around the league, the headlines start at the very top. The White Sox landed the No. 1 overall pick and with it a record-setting slot value of $11,350,600, the largest since the bonus pool system was introduced in 2012. Despite that, it is the Pirates who control the biggest overall pool at $19,130,700, another record and a reminder that volume still matters as much as position. This year’s increases were modest but notable. Slot values rose by 2.5% across the board, a reflection of the game’s continued revenue growth. In total, the 30 clubs combine for $358,662,500 in bonus pool money, up from $350,357,700 a year ago. Of course, teams rarely treat those numbers as strict guidelines. The system is built for creativity. Each pick in the first 10 rounds comes with an assigned value, and exceeding the total pool triggers penalties, but there is plenty of room to maneuver within those boundaries. If a player in the top 10 rounds does not sign, his slot value disappears from the pool entirely, raising the stakes on every negotiation. That is where things get interesting for teams like Minnesota. Clubs picking near the top often look to save money on their first selection, signing a player for less than slot value and redistributing those savings to later picks. It is a strategy that can turn a strong class into a deep one, especially when paired with extra selections like the Twins have this year. Recent spending trends suggest teams are more willing than ever to push the limits. Clubs handed out $392,533,711 in signing bonuses in 2025, shattering the previous record set just one year earlier. The Orioles led the way with a staggering $21,150,840, showing just how aggressive teams can be when the right opportunities present themselves. All of this sets the stage for a fascinating summer. The Twins are not just picking high. They are picking often, and they have the financial flexibility to take risks. In a draft that rarely follows a script, Minnesota has the resources to be creative with their spending. View full rumor

Image courtesy of © Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports There was a time when major-league teams treated prospects like unopened Christmas presents. You didn't lock in the value before you knew what was inside. Now, clubs are increasingly trying to shake the box, guess the contents, and sign the receipt before the wrapping paper even comes off. Pre-debut extensions have become one of baseball’s more fascinating gambles. Teams are buying out uncertainty in exchange for long-term cost control, while players are cashing in before facing the volatility of development. It's a risk on both sides, but one that is increasingly comfortable, as front offices try to get ahead of the market. The New Wave of Early Bets The Seattle Mariners recently pushed that trend to a new level by locking up top prospect Colt Emerson to an eight-year extension worth a guaranteed $95 million, with a club option for 2034. The signing comes with a full no-trade clause and includes another $35 million in escalators. There’s reportedly an $8-million signing bonus, with salaries ranging from $9 million to $18 million from 2028-33. That is the largest guarantee ever handed to a player who has yet to appear in a major-league game, surpassing Jackson Chourio’s deal by $13 million. Emerson, just 20 years old, has only nine games of Triple-A experience, which somehow makes the deal feel even more aggressive. If Emerson becomes a star, this deal looks like a bargain by year three. If not, it becomes a very expensive lesson in optimism. Not to be outdone, the Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly finalizing an eight-year deal worth just over $50 million with prospect Cooper Pratt, including two club options worth about $15 million per year. However, the value of those options can increase via escalators. Pratt is 21 and has barely dipped a toe into Triple-A, making this extension feel even more like a projection than a reaction. Unlike Emerson, Pratt is not coming off a season that screams superstardom. His offensive production was modest, but the underlying traits are what sold Milwaukee. Strong plate discipline, speed on the bases, and defensive reliability at shortstop give the Brewers a foundation to dream on. This is less about what Pratt has done and more about what they believe he will become. It's worth noting that the Brewers have been here before with Chourio, whose pre-debut deal looked bold at the time and now looks like a masterstroke. The difference is that Chourio had already reached Triple-A and looked big league-ready. Pratt is still more idea than finished product. In fact, unlike Chourio, Scott Kingery, and several other players who signed pre-debut deals over the last two decades, neither Emerson nor Pratt will be promoted to the majors in the wake of these deals. They're still prospects; they've just become very wealthy ones. The Boras Factor That brings us to Scott Boras, baseball’s most recognizable agent and the human embodiment of “we will take this to free agency and like it.” Boras has built his reputation on maximizing value at the open market, often steering clients away from early extensions in favor of bidding wars. While his agency has softened its stance slightly over the years, the track record remains clear. Pre-arbitration extensions for Boras clients are exceedingly rare. In fact, the deal signed by Carlos González back in 2011 remains the only notable example of a Boras client signing that early. That context makes the Pratt negotiations particularly interesting. If finalized, it represents a shift, or at least an exception, in how Boras is willing to operate. Perhaps it reflects the game's changing economics. Perhaps it reflects the Brewers being extremely convincing. Or perhaps it simply reflects that every rule has a price. Could the Twins Try This With Walker Jenkins? Let's turn, then, to Walker Jenkins and the Minnesota Twins. Jenkins is not just another prospect in the system. He's the kind of talent that invites bold decisions. A consensus elite prospect with the type of hit tool and overall profile that draws lofty comparisons, he is exactly the archetype teams consider for these early extensions. If Minnesota believes in Jenkins the way Milwaukee appears to believe in Pratt, there is a path to a similar deal. Lock in cost certainty. Buy out arbitration years. Maybe even sneak in a free agent season or two. From a roster construction standpoint, it's appealing. From a risk standpoint, it's enormous. The complication, of course, is Boras. Jenkins is represented by the same agent who has historically preferred to let value mature on the open market. Convincing Boras to agree to a pre-debut extension would require a deal that not only protects Jenkins, but also meaningfully rewards him for signing early. In other words, it would not come cheap, and it would not come easy. Pratt got $1.35 million as an overslot sixth-round draft pick in 2023. Jenkins went fifth overall the same year, and got almost $7.2 million. That puts the two in very different situations, in terms of the leverage the team can exercise. The Twins will have a much harder time convincing anyone Jenkins belongs in their farm system than the Brewers have had keeping Pratt's ascent smooth but steady, given that team's far superior depth. Boras could and would hold the Twins' feet to the fire in a way he couldn't have done with the Brewers. Pre-debut extensions are no longer outliers. They're becoming strategic tools for teams willing to bet on their evaluations. The Mariners and Brewers have each placed sizable wagers on young talent, hoping to secure future stars at today’s prices. For the Twins, Jenkins represents a similar opportunity, wrapped in the added complexity of Boras. The question is not just whether Minnesota believes in Jenkins. It is whether they believe enough to challenge one of the sport’s most established negotiating philosophies. Should the Twins attempt a deal with Jenkins? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints There are prospect comps, and then there is whatever is happening in Dave Kramer's living room. Kramer, a lifelong Twins fan and self-proclaimed “early adopter of takes,” has officially begun replacing every Joe Mauer reference in his vocabulary with Walker Jenkins. Not because Jenkins has debuted. Not because he has played a game at Target Field. But because Kramer is confident that he has seen enough. “Look, I’m just saving time,” Kramer said, while carefully crossing out “Mauer” on an old Twins jersey with a Sharpie. “We all know how this ends. I’d rather get ahead of the discourse.” To be fair, Jenkins has earned the hype. He entered pro ball as one of the most highly regarded national prospects the Twins have had since Mauer was the consensus top prospect in baseball during the early 2000s. The hit tool is real. The approach is advanced. The pedigree checks out. Naturally, that means it is time to begin tearing him down. “Sure, he can hit for a high average,” Kramer said. “But does he have any power? I mean, I watched one video where he hit a ball to the opposite field gap instead of 450 feet to dead center. That’s concerning.” Kramer then pulled up a spreadsheet labeled “Jenkins Red Flags” that included categories such as “Too Polished, Too Soon” and “Suspiciously Likeable.” The comparisons to Mauer have not stopped at the surface level. Kramer has also fast-tracked himself into the injury speculation phase, a stage most players do not reach until at least their arbitration years. “He’s going to be injured all the time,” Kramer said confidently. “Mauer had bilateral leg weakness. What’s Jenkins going to have? Upper body enthusiasm fatigue? Chronic prospect-hype syndrome? The Twins will come up with something.” Medical professionals have not yet weighed in on those conditions. Beyond health concerns, Kramer has already begun outlining Jenkins’s long-term legacy, including the inevitable debates that will follow. “We’re going to spend a decade arguing about whether he’s too passive at the plate,” Kramer said. “Then another decade arguing that he should have been more passive. It’s the full experience.” He also expressed concern about Jenkins’s leadership style, despite the fact that Jenkins is still working his way through the minor leagues. “Is he too quiet? Not quiet enough? Does he say the right things after losses that haven’t happened yet?” Kramer asked. “These are the questions that matter.” Twins fans have seen this cycle before. A generational hitting prospect arrives. Expectations skyrocket. The player performs at an elite level. And somehow, the conversation drifts toward what they are not doing. Kramer, however, insists he is not being negative. If anything, he believes he's honoring tradition. “This is how we talk about great hitters here,” he said. “If you’re not nitpicking them before they even debut, are they really elite?” At press time, Kramer was reportedly workshopping his next take, debating whether Jenkins’s future batting titles will come with enough exit velocity to truly count. "Unethical trophies," he could be heard mumbling to himself, as his son nodded helpfully. View full article

Image courtesy of William Parmeter Evaluating power in a prospect is about more than just counting home runs. It is about projection, bat speed, physicality, and the ability to translate raw strength into game action. It also requires separating raw power from game power. Plenty of hitters can light up batting practice, but the real value comes from how often that strength shows up against live pitching in competitive situations. Approach, swing decisions, and contact quality all play a role in determining whether a player can consistently access that power. Context matters as well. Age, level, and environment can all influence how power production looks on the surface. A younger player holding his own against advanced pitching or driving the ball in a pitcher-friendly league can be just as encouraging as eye-popping home run totals in a more favorable setting. For the Twins, that context is especially important given how many of their top power bats are still developing in the lower minors. The tools below are graded on the traditional 20 to 80 scouting scale, where 50 represents the big league average. To qualify for this list, each player appears on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Twins prospects. Honorable Mentions Kala’i Rosario narrowly misses the cut with a 55-grade power tool and remains one of the more intriguing bats in the system. Kaelen Culpepper and Billy Amick also fall just shy of average game power at this stage, though both have room to grow as they gain experience. 5. IF/OF Brandon Winokur: 60-grade power tool Winokur’s first taste of full-season baseball over the last two years has been a mix of flashes and growing pains, but the underlying tools remain loud. His combination of strength and athleticism showed up in a big way at High-A Cedar Rapids, where he paired 17 home runs with 26 stolen bases and proved he can impact the game in multiple ways. The power itself is not in question. It shows up easily in batting practice and in spurts during games. The next step is refining his swing so that the impact becomes more consistent. At times, his path has led to weak contact, especially on balls pulled on the ground or softly hit the other way. If he can make the necessary adjustments to find the barrel more often, there is legitimate middle-of-the-order upside here. 4. OF Walker Jenkins: 60-grade power tool Jenkins entered pro ball with questions about how much power he would ultimately produce, and that debate still exists depending on the outlet. What has become clear is that his overall offensive profile continues to trend in the right direction. Despite missing time, he was one of the most productive hitters in the organization last season, posting a 135 wRC+ over a significant sample. His left-handed swing is polished and repeatable, allowing him to consistently square the ball up while maintaining strong plate discipline. As he has gotten more comfortable, the power has started to show up more frequently, particularly to his pull side. He has also shown the ability to drive the ball the other way, giving him a well-rounded approach that should translate against advanced pitching. If the power continues to tick up, he has a chance to develop into a true impact bat. 3. C Eduardo Tait: 60-grade power tool Tait brings an interesting blend of contact ability and raw strength to the plate. He can produce impressive exit velocities and has shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields, though most of his home run damage comes when he turns on pitches. His aggressive approach is both a strength and a limitation. Tait puts the ball in play at a high rate, but that comes with a tendency to expand the zone and limit his walk totals (7.4 BB%). When he gets a pitch to hit, he can do serious damage, but refining his approach will be key to unlocking more consistent game power. There is no doubt about the bat speed or the strength. The focus now is on finding a balance between contact and selectivity so that the power can play more regularly in games. 2. IF Quentin Young: 60-grade power tool Few hitters in the system can match Young’s raw power potential. Some evaluators believed it could reach top of the scale levels when he was an amateur, and the Twins are now focused on helping him translate that into game production. His 6-foot-6 frame creates natural leverage, but it also introduces challenges with swing length and contact. To his credit, Young has already taken steps to simplify things, dedicating significant time to reworking his mechanics. By quieting unnecessary movement and improving his bat path, he is giving himself a better chance to consistently reach his power potential. There will likely always be some swing and miss in his game, but if the adjustments stick, he has a chance to be one of the more dangerous power hitters in the system. 1. OF Emmanuel Rodriguez: 60-grade power tool Rodriguez continues to stand out as one of the most electric hitters in the organization. Even with injuries limiting his development time, he reached Triple-A at just 21 years old and continued to produce when he was on the field, including a strong showing in winter ball. The power comes from elite bat speed and natural strength, allowing him to drive the ball with authority when he connects. He also pairs that with an advanced understanding of the strike zone, drawing walks at a high rate (20.6 BB%) and forcing pitchers to challenge him. The biggest hurdle remains contact consistency. Strikeouts have been a part of his profile (31.8 K%), and missed time has not helped his overall development. Still, the combination of patience and power gives him a chance to profile as a middle-of-the-order hitter if he can make enough contact to maximize his tools. It is remarkable how much power exists throughout this system. Three of the five players on this list are still in the lower-levels and have significant development ahead of them. Rodriguez and Jenkins, meanwhile, are knocking on the door and could bring that power to Minnesota in the near future. Power is one of the hardest tools to develop, which makes the Twins' current pipeline especially encouraging. This is not just a group with raw strength, but one with multiple paths to impact at the big league level. Some will need mechanical adjustments, others will need to refine their approach, but the foundation is already in place. If even a couple of these bats reach their ceiling, Minnesota could be looking at a lineup capable of changing games quickly and often. Other rankings in the series: Hit Tool Fielding Tool Do you agree with the above rankings? Who is too high? Too low? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Typically, we aren't going to break down every statistic that we talk about at Twins Daily. That would make articles unreadable. We assume that people coming to the site will have a baseline knowledge of specific stats. If they don't have that knowledge, they will be able to find the answer through multiple sources. According to Baseball Savant, the way that Larnach cost the Twins seven runs last season was through Fielding Run Value. The breakdown of the equation is below. Four of the runs came from his lack of range and three came from his throws. Baseball Savant breaks down his numbers even further. Fielding Run Value is Statcast’s metric for capturing a player’s measurable defensive performance by converting all of Statcast’s individual defensive metrics from different scales onto the same run-based scale, which can then be read as a player being worth X runs above or Y runs below average. Currently, the conversions for those metrics are as follows. (Unless otherwise noted, all metrics are available since 2016.) Outs Above Average (range): 1 out = .9 run (OF) // 1 out = .75 run (IF) Fielder Throwing Runs: 1 run = 1 run Catcher Blocking: 1 block saved= .25 run (available 2018 – present). Catcher Framing: 1 strike saved = .125 run Catcher Throwing: 1 SB prevented = .65 run Double Plays: 1 DP added = .4 run How to read it: In 2024, Andrés Giménez had a Fielding Run Value of +17 runs, which came from 14 runs on range and 3 runs via his involvement in double plays, making him the most valuable defender in baseball among non-catchers that season.

Image courtesy of © Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images When the Minnesota Twins acquired Taj Bradley from the Tampa Bay Rays at last year’s trade deadline, they weren’t just buying a struggling arm. They were betting on a version of Bradley that once looked like one of the most electric young starters in baseball. That version showed up (at least in flashes) on Saturday. In a win over the Baltimore Orioles, Bradley allowed one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out nine across 4 1/3 innings. It wasn't a perfectly clean outing, as he needed 92 pitches to get just 13 outs, but the raw ingredients were impossible to miss. The swing-and-miss that once made him a top prospect was back. The confidence looked different. And perhaps most importantly, the process is evolving. After posting a 6.61 ERA in six starts following the trade last season, Bradley entered 2026 needing to show tangible growth. Through his first outing (and dating back to a strong finish against Texas in 2025 and a sharp spring training), there are signs that something has clicked. For Bradley, the biggest difference might not be mechanical or statistical. It might be mental. “It’s just me being hardheaded in the past,” Bradley said. “I stuck to what I was good at and stuck to what I knew, you know. If it’s different, it gets scary, so you don’t even want to walk down that path. “What I’ve done in the past is what I felt I solidified on. Going into the offseason, I figured I’d take different routines, different practices, and bring it into this year.” That openness is already showing up in how he attacks hitters. Velocity Increase The most encouraging development came from Bradley’s fastball, which showed a noticeable jump in velocity compared to previous seasons. Throughout his big-league career, his four-seam fastball has typically sat a little above 96 mph. In his first start of 2026, that number climbed to 97.4 mph, and he even reached back for 99.6 mph at one point. Bradley used the pitch effectively, generating three strikeouts and holding the Orioles to a .167 batting average against it. If that velocity holds, it could have a ripple effect across his entire arsenal. A firmer fastball makes his splitter more deceptive, especially when it falls off the same plane. It can also help his cutter play up, giving hitters less time to differentiate between pitches that already feature similar initial trajectories. Of course, we'll also have to wait and see whether that velocity jump holds. Early-season adrenaline can sometimes lead to elevated velocity readings, but maintaining an average near 97 mph deep into the year would represent a meaningful step forward for Bradley. It's encouraging, at least, that we saw him throw harder late last year, too. If he can pair that added power with his evolving pitch mix, it raises the ceiling on what he can become in this rotation. Breaking Pitch Changes One of the more notable changes came from his cutter. In 2025, the pitch had an average of 5.6 inches of induced vertical break. In his first start this season, that number dropped to 1.1 inches. That's a notable difference in the depth of its movement, which is consistent with what we saw in spring training. Interestingly, it is also coming in slower, with velocity down by roughly 2.5 miles per hour. That tradeoff appears intentional, sacrificing velocity for more movement. It's become a true slider. If Bradley can consistently locate it, the pitch could become more of a bat-misser, rather than just a weak contact generator. The biggest shift in Bradley’s arsenal was his willingness to trust the splitter. Last season, he used it just over 15% of the time. Against Baltimore, that number jumped to nearly 30%. He threw it 27 times, primarily to left-handed hitters, and the results were dominant: no hits allowed, two strikeouts, and a 63.6% whiff rate. That kind of effectiveness is hard to ignore. Whether it was matchup-driven or a sign of things to come, the splitter gives Bradley a legitimate weapon to neutralize hitters on both sides of the plate. A Lingering Concern With Contact Quality For all the positives, there is still a red flag that followed Bradley from his time in Tampa Bay. When hitters do make contact, they can elevate and pull the ball with authority. In his 2026 debut, O's batters posted a 28.6% pull air rate against him. That's a significant jump from his previous seasons, where he hovered below 19% as a rookie and under 17% more recently. That number must come down. Early-season conditions can mask mistakes. Cold weather tends to suppress carry, turning potential home runs into warning track outs. As temperatures rise, those same swings can do much more damage. If Bradley continues to allow pulled fly balls at that rate, it could quickly become a problem. Of course, with nine strikeouts and in such a short outing, the sample is far too small to say whether that vulnerability to pulled air balls will be a real issue. Encouraging Signs With Work Still Ahead It's easy to see why the Twins believed in Bradley when they made the deal for him. The strikeout ability is real. The raw stuff has ticked up. Now, there are early indications that the approach is starting to evolve, as well. It's also fair to acknowledge what still needs refinement. Efficiency remains an issue. Contact quality is something to monitor. And one strong start doesn't erase the inconsistency that defined his 2025 season. Still, this looked like a different pitcher. The Twins are going to need that version of Bradley. With questions throughout the rotation, they can't afford to wait long for answers. Starters need to take the ball and begin carrying more of the load. It's early, and the weather will change. The league will adjust. Bradley will have to adjust back. For now, though, there is something worth watching here. What stands out from Bradley's first start? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

There was a time not long ago when optimism around the Minnesota Twins felt sustainable. Competitive rosters, postseason appearances, and a growing core gave fans reason to believe. Now, according to The Athletic’s annual Hope-O-Meter, that belief has all but vanished. The latest fan survey, which included more than 11,000 respondents, paints a fascinating picture of the sport’s emotional landscape. Across Major League Baseball, optimism is actually trending upward. A strong 72% of fans reported feeling hopeful about their favorite team, a notable jump from 66% a year ago. Baseball, broadly speaking, is in a good place when it comes to fan confidence. That makes what is happening in Minnesota stand out even more. At the top of the rankings sit perennial contenders and rising powers. The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the way at an eye-popping 99.8% optimism, followed by the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, and Kansas City Royals. The presence of Detroit and Kansas City is particularly notable for Twins fans, as two division rivals have surged into the league’s emotional elite. Minnesota, meanwhile, sits alone at the bottom. The Twins posted a staggering 4.3% optimism rating, the lowest mark in all of baseball. The only team even within shouting distance is the Los Angeles Angels at 5.7%. After that, the gap widens significantly, with no other franchise falling below 24%. This is not just pessimism. It is a complete erosion of belief. What makes the drop more jarring is how recent the optimism once was. In 2022, the Twins checked in at 70.1 %, placing them squarely in the middle of the league. By 2023, that number jumped to 91.3%, good for 10th overall, and they remained near that level in 2024 at 86.3%. Even entering 2025, there was still a baseline level of confidence at 52%. Now, that foundation has collapsed, and the reasons are not difficult to identify. On the field, inconsistency and underperformance have chipped away at expectations. Off the field, uncertainty surrounding ownership has only deepened the frustration. There was a moment last winter when it seemed possible the Pohlad family might explore a sale of the team, offering a potential reset and renewed direction. That possibility has since faded, and with it, a significant portion of fan optimism. The result is a five-year trend line that looks less like a normal fluctuation and more like a free fall. The Twins Hope-O-Meter arc resembles a slow climb to a peak followed by a sudden and dramatic plunge. There were real highs, but the landing has been hard. Rebuilding that trust will not happen overnight. It will take more than a hot streak or a promising prospect. Fans are looking for a clear vision, a commitment to winning, and signs that the organization understands the weight of this moment. That responsibility falls on everyone, from the front office to the clubhouse to ownership itself. For now, the numbers tell the story. In a league where hope is rising, Minnesota has run out of it. The next chapter for the Twins will not just be about wins and losses. It will be about convincing a disillusioned fan base that there is something worth believing in again. View full rumor

Major League Baseball spent years testing the automated ball strike system in the minors before finally rolling it out at the big league level in 2026. The early days of any new rule come with a learning curve, and on Sunday, that adjustment period produced a moment that will live in the record books. Twins manager Derek Shelton became the first manager to be ejected in Major League Baseball history over an ABS-related dispute. The moment came in the ninth inning of Minnesota’s 8-6 loss against Baltimore, and it unfolded in a way that perfectly captures both the promise and the confusion surrounding the league’s newest technology. With two outs and the Twins mounting a potential rally, Ryan Helsley appeared to issue a walk to Josh Bell. That would have brought the tying run aboard and shifted the pressure squarely onto Baltimore. Instead, Helsley signaled for a challenge, tapping his hat to trigger the ABS system. The call was overturned to a strikeout, abruptly ending Bell’s plate appearance and changing the complexion of the inning. Shelton immediately took issue, not necessarily with the result of the challenge, but with its timing. Under MLB’s ABS guidelines, players must initiate a challenge almost instantly after the umpire’s call. The unofficial benchmark has been about two seconds, leaving little room for hesitation. In real time, Helsley’s motion looked quick, but Shelton clearly saw it differently from the dugout. "I didn't think Helsley tapped his hat quick enough," Shelton said after the game. "Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. But I didn't feel he did. I feel it's gotta be something that's in the three seconds and I didn't think it was there. But the umpiring crew thought it was." The disagreement escalated quickly, and Shelton was tossed, cementing his place in MLB history as the first casualty of the ABS era. From Helsley’s perspective, the sequence was not as clear-cut either. "I understood where he was coming from, because I felt like the umpire didn't see me right away and so I was kind of confused," he said after the game. "(Home plate umpire Laz Díaz) behind me kind of took up for him. He was like, 'He did it right away,' which I know we're probably going to go through some growing pains with this since it's so new and I think we saw that today. And I can respect Shelton for trying to not get him to do it there, because it did seem like it was a little long in that moment." That last part might be the most important takeaway. MLB’s ABS system is designed to eliminate missed calls, but it introduces a new layer of subjectivity in how and when challenges are initiated. What feels immediate to one person may look delayed to another, especially in a high-leverage situation with the game on the line. The inning did not end quietly after the ejection. The next batter reached on an error, briefly extending Minnesota’s hopes, but Helsley regrouped and induced a game-ending flyout to shut the door. MLB and the ABS system will have some kinks in the season’s early weeks. Shelton’s ejection might be just the first step as the league and teams adjust to a new normal. View full rumor

Organizational depth matters in March, even if it rarely grabs headlines. The Minnesota Twins made a pair of under-the-radar moves aimed at bolstering that depth, signing right-handers John Brebbia and Drew Smith to minor league deals. Both pitchers arrive with big-league experience and something to prove, offering the Twins low-risk options as the season begins. Brebbia, who will turn 36 next month, is the more established of the two. Not long ago, he looked like a steady late-inning option. From 2022 through 2023, he posted a 3.47 ERA and 3.54 FIP across 106 1/3 innings, leaning on a deep arsenal even as his strikeout rate dipped to 22.5%. That stretch with San Francisco positioned him well for a return to free agency. The right-hander cashed in with a one-year deal from Chicago ahead of the 2024 season, but things unraveled quickly. Brebbia was tagged for a 6.29 ERA across 54 appearances with the White Sox, and while his 26.9 K% and 7.7 BB% were respectable, he was undone by the long ball. Nine home runs allowed in just under 49 innings proved too much to overcome, and Chicago moved on. Last season, his opportunity came in Detroit, but injuries and ineffectiveness limited him to just 18 appearances. A triceps strain interrupted his season, and when he did take the mound, the results were rough. Brebbia posted a 7.71 ERA, continuing a downward trend that forced him into a minor league pact this offseason. He initially latched on with Colorado but did not make the club out of camp after a difficult spring (7.00 ERA in 9 IP). Now with Minnesota, Brebbia will look to rediscover the form that once made him a dependable bullpen piece. If he can limit the home run damage, there is still enough swing-and-miss in his profile to make him a viable option. Smith presents a different kind of upside. The 32-year-old has spent his entire major league career with the Mets, quietly building a track record as a useful middle reliever. His 2023 campaign marked a high point, as he set career bests in both innings and appearances while also recording his first three saves. He appeared to be building on that success early in 2024. Smith posted a career-best 29.1 K% and picked up a pair of saves before an elbow sprain in July derailed his season. That injury ultimately led to his second Tommy John surgery, wiping out his entire 2025 campaign and prompting New York to decline a club option for 2026. Despite the long layoff, Smith showed encouraging signs this spring with Washington. He tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out 35% of the batters he faced, looking like a pitcher who could contribute sooner rather than later. Even so, the Nationals opted to move in a different direction, giving the Twins an opportunity to bring him into the fold. For Minnesota, both signings fit a familiar mold. These are experienced relievers with clear flaws but also identifiable paths back to usefulness. Brebbia needs to keep the ball in the yard. Smith needs to prove his health and durability after multiple elbow procedures. Neither move will define the Twins' season, but both could matter more than expected. Bullpens are fluid, and the line between Triple-A depth and meaningful innings at Target Field is often thin. If even one of these veterans finds his footing, this will look like a quietly effective bit of roster building. At this time of year, that is exactly the kind of gamble worth making. View full rumor