Cory Sparks

What is Royce Lewis capable of? The 2017 first-overall pick and Twins power hitter has underlying metrics that suggest he could do some real damage. In this video, we'll dive into what Lewis' strengths are and his true ceiling as an MLB player. View full video

Image courtesy of © Bruce Newman/Special to the Clarion Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images There are three main ways to thrive in player acquisition as a major-league ball club: nail free agency; make brilliant trades; or draft sharply and develop well. The Minnesota Twins got the big names like Vahn Lackey early on, but they also swiped some steals in the 2026 MLB Draft. Let’s dive in. Tommy LaPour (Round 4, Pick 107) A dearth of pitching depth has been a hot topic for the Twins lately, so it should come as no shock that they used three straight picks (starting in Competitive Balance Round B) to address that need. Tommy LaPour could go down as a serious bargain buy. The TCU right-handed pitcher could’ve gone earlier in the draft, per MLB.com, but elbow issues stifled his 2026 campaign and knocked his draft stock down a bit. LaPour looked remarkable in the 2025 season, registering an 8-3 record with a 3.09 earned run average and 88 punchouts over 90 1/3 innings pitched. LaPour’s fastball leads his arsenal, coming in with a 60 grade on MLB Pipeline’s 20-to-80 scouting grade scale. The 21-year-old can push his fastball through the zone in the 95-98 MPH range (and he has reached 101 before), with plenty of sinking action. His secondary offering is a mid-80s slider, operating with two-plane depth and coming in at a 55 grade. LaPour is still learning to harness the breaking ball, as he can’t always control the pitch or land it for strikes on command. Thomas Burns (Round 8, Pick 227) One could argue the Twins got Thomas Burns right around his true value, as Minnesota picked MLB Pipeline’s 221st-ranked draft prospect in the 227th spot. Another pitcher, Burns works with a large frame and can do serious damage with his fastball. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Hortonville, Wis. product has a 70-grade fastball that sits between 95-98 miles per hour. Burns was a rotational piece for the Arizona State Sun Devils before tendinitis pushed him to the injured list and eventually led him to relief obligations with the Texas Longhorns. Burns only managed an unsightly 5.64 ERA this year, but he struck out an impressive 42% of his opposing hitters. Burns also flashes a 50-grade cutter, but he struggles to land the bullet-spin breaker for strikes. His stuff can be overpowering, but the 35-grade control means that he's often working from behind or catching too much of the zone. If the Twins can toy with a pretty complex delivery and shave down what was a 16% walk rate over three years in college, this could be a dynamite reliever. Aidan Teel (Round 11, Pick 317) Aidan Teel is the final member of this list, and his last name is no coincidence. The brother of former first-round pick Kyle Teel, Aidan proved to be a key piece in Mississippi State’s success throughout the 2026 season. The red-shirt Junior was set up to have a decorated season, and was the 28th-ranked outfielder in the country, per D1Baseball; 82nd-ranked junior, per Perfect Game; and even a Preseason All-American Fourth Team honoree. Teel was a cornerstone for this year’s group. He put up a .294 batting average with five home runs, 22 runs batted in and a .449 slugging percentage. He hit north of the .300 mark over a pair of seasons before this, showcasing an ability to hit at a high level while walking (52) nearly as much as he struck out (70) over his collegiate career. He's not as talented as his brother, but between his family ties and his production, there's cause to hope that he'll be much better than your standard-issue 11th-rounder. View full article

Image courtesy of William Parmeter Riley Quick doesn’t just have a spectacular baseball name; he could hold a pivotal role in the future of the Minnesota Twins. The Twins’ rising prospect is turning heads as he coasts up the team’s minor league system. Let’s break down who the recently promoted pitcher is, what his strengths and weaknesses are and just how ‘quick’ he can impact the big league ball club. Growing Up With A Dominant Stature Quick could pass as an NFL player, as he stands at 6-foot-6, 255 pounds while using every bit of that size to generate plenty of force on the rubber. This is somebody who played offensive line in high school, but he’s converted that physicality to becoming an intimidating, effective pitcher in Minnesota’s farm system. The Twins selected him the 36th overall pick in last year’s draft, and he’s already toeing the rubber with the High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels. So far through 13 starts (10 with the Kernels), he holds an 0-2 record with a 3.57 earned run average. Quick has fanned 69 hitters while walking just 22 across 45.1 innings of work, all as a starter. An Electric 1-2 Punch The 22-year-old towering righty primarily operates with a three-pitch mix: the fastball, slider and changeup. MLB Pipeline has his fastball and slider each at a 60-grade, and it’s for good reason. His firm four-seamer has a sinking action, and it sits easily in the 96-97 mile per hour range with the potential to reach 99. While Quick is fresh off of Tommy John surgery in 2024, he’s showing the ability to hold that velocity through games, a key component differentiating a potential starter from a bullpen arm. While the heater is a prominent part of his game, a little variety is never a bad thing. The hard-throwing orthodox pitcher utilized his fastball nearly 50% of the time during his final season with the Alabama Crimson Tide. His fastball holds just as much weight, also earning a 60-grade on MLB Pipeline’s 20-to-80 scouting scale. It’s a two-plane pitch, breaking both vertically and horizontally as an effective break-off option from a cutter that also sits in the low 90s. Working Up A Sample Size The stature and dominant nature are there, but the Twins need to be careful with Quick. Averaging about three and a half innings per start, the Kernels’ starter is on track to clock 80-90 innings in his first year as a professional. This comes after he logged 87 total innings in college ball. It’s a relatively normal approach considering the circumstances; Phillies’ first rounder Gage Wood has seen the same type of innings management after he had never thrown more than 40.1 innings at the college level. The Alabama alum’s main priority will be maintaining his command as he gets more acclimated to pitching deeper into games. The tools are clearly there, and there should be plenty of opportunity for someone sporting an impressive .191 batting average allowed when he does reach the major league level. When Will He Arrive? When will Quick get to the big leagues? His stuff could probably play as a reliever as soon as next year, as most ball clubs could find a place for someone who can live in the mid-to-upper 90s with a sharp secondary offering. The road to becoming a starter will be heavily dictated by the innings and control, as he has relinquished 22 walks over 45.1 frames (roughly a walk every other inning). A mid-2028 call-up seems realistic, as it would still be a minor league journey that takes less than three years for a former SEC arm. View full article

Riley Quick is an up-and-coming prospect for the Minnesota Twins. The 2025 MLB Draft pick touts a 6-foot-6 frame and is well over 200 pounds (he's a former offensive lineman). In this video, we'll break down the other components of Quick's game that make him intimidating on top of his large frame. We'll also break down when to expect him to debut in Minneapolis. View full video

Byron Buxton is on pace for nearly 50 home runs this season. The main problem has been his availability, as he has played in 100+ games in just three of his first 11 seasons. In this video, we'll break down his intangibles and how he can stay on this rapid pace to finish out the 2026 campaign strong. View full video

While Opening Day roster construction is underway, today we'll focus on three under-the-radar Twins prospects who sit outside of the team's top 15 (per MLB.com). John Klein has a chance to turn a hometown story into the ultimate rise to stardom, C.J. Culpepper's potential remains as high as his health will allow, and Enrique Jimenez has some sneaky pop to watch for in 2026. View full video

The Minnesota Twins have announced their 40-man Spring Breakout Roster pool. Before it is trimmed down to the official roster later in March, here is your crash course on all things Kaelen Culpepper (former first-rounder), top backstop Eduardo Tait, Connor Prielipp, and Riley Quick. View full video

While Chandler Simpson, Elly De La Cruz, and Enrique Bradfield Jr. jockey for the fastest man in baseball title, Kyle DeBarge may have the 'fastest man in Minnesota' moniker on lock before long. The Twins' 21st-ranked prospect swiped 66 bags in 2025 and is tracking towards a 2027 big league debut. Here is a full scouting report on everything DeBarge brings to the table. View full video