Cory Sparks

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

With Pablo Lopez suffering a torn UCL, Joe Ryan's arbitration years looming and a team earned run average in the bottom 10 last year, the Minnesota Twins need pitching prospects like Dasan Hill to blossom. Here is a full scouting report on the southpaw who was the Twins' no. 7 prospect (per MLB.com) at the end of 2025. View full video

While Byron Buxton and Josh Bell will be drawing plenty of opposing teams' attention in 2026, there's a real case that Luke Keaschall ends up being the team's most productive hitter. In this video, we review his 2025 season, dive into his above-average analytics, cover what aspects he needs to work on, and ultimately simulate his 2026 season. View full video

The Twins traded for Anthony Banda, who made his most recent stop in Los Angeles with the Dodgers. What is Banda's story? In this video, we uncover his strengths, weaknesses, career trajectory to this point, and what role he could play for a Minnesota Twins bullpen that had the fifth-highest earned run average in baseball last season. View full video

Yes, the Twins were a 70-win ball club last year, but these five players truly could be gamechangers in 2026. In this video, we dive into how Zebby Matthews, Josh Bell, Luke Keaschall, James Outman, and Taylor Rogers can add to Minnesota's on-field performance this upcoming season. View full video

Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan turns 30 years old this year. While father time may not be knocking on his door yet, talks of regression and constant adjustments begin on the other side of 30 years old. What if we told you he's already planning for that, and he's only getting better with age? In this video, we discuss his varied pitch arsenal, attack on opposing hitters' launch angle and his knack for location that should bode well for him well into his 30s. View full video

The Twins traded Pierson Ohl and Eduoard Julian to the Rockies to acquire minor league arm Jace Kaminska. What can Kaminska truly bring to the table in Minnesota, and how long do we have to wait until he debuts at Target Field? We answer all of these questions and do a deep dive on the prospect in this Twins Daily video. View full video

The Minnesota Twins have been steadily stacking their farm system for a while now, and these three prospects are primed for a leap in 2026. Kaelen Culpepper has one of the highest floors of any prospect in baseball at the moment, and one of his weakest supposed tools (power) has jolted awake. Emmanuel Rodriguez registered an on-base percentage north of .400 in the upper levels of MiLB last year, but he needs to get and stay healthy. Connor Prielipp has a sharp three-pitch mix and has been averaging north of 11 strikeouts per nine innings. Learn all about these three up-and-coming talents in this Twins Daily video! View full video