Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge
Amidst the flurry that was the Minnesota Twins’ 2025 Trade Deadline mass exodus came a mid-impact trade that sent right-handed outfielder Harrison Bader to the Philadelphia Phillies for left-handed hitting outfield prospect Hendry Mendez and right-handed throwing starting pitching prospect Geremy Villoria. Similar to how he performed with Minnesota, Bader continued to impress at the plate with Philadelphia, hitting .305/.361/.463 with 54 hits, five home runs, and a 129 wRC+ over 194 plate appearances while providing plus defense in all three outfield spots for the postseason-bound Phillies.
That being the case, Bader will likely secure a substantial contract this offseason, netting the 31-year-old significantly more money and years than the one-year, $6.5 million contract he signed with Minnesota last February. On the flip side, Mendez (the headliner in Minnesota’s return package) performed exceptionally after joining Minnesota’s minor-league system, hitting .324/.461/.450 with 36 hits, three doubles, three home runs, and a 160 wRC+ over 142 plate appearances. The 21-year-old has also demonstrated a plus eye at the plate, generating 27 walks to 21 strikeouts and a well-above league-average 14.8% strikeout rate.
Possessing a contact-skilled profile, Mendez has excelled at all minor league levels since signing with the Milwaukee Brewers out of the Dominican Republic, entering the 2020 season. Despite being with his third organization, the 22-year-old is a highly regarded prospect, many prospect pundits believe could blossom into a high-average, high-OBP major league hitter in the near future. Recently being revealed as part of Minnesota’s Arizona Fall League (AFL) roster, Mendez appears to be on the verge of making it to “The Show,” potentially as part of the club’s 2026 Opening Day roster.
Being Rule 5 Draft eligible this upcoming December, Mendez is a near-lock to earn a 40-man roster spot. That being the case, earning a spot on next season’s Opening Day roster would be a seamless roster move, given the club wouldn’t need to remove anyone from the 40-man roster to reward the former Phillies prospect a spot. Still, possessing a 40-man roster spot alone won’t be enough to make the Opening Day roster. Yet, him continuing to hit at an above-average rate while developing at a specific position could. That position is first base.
According to reporting from MLB.com’s Matthew Leach, Minnesota has Mendez taking reps at first base, and despite not yet playing the position in a game, he could make his debut at the position in the AFL. Like top prospects Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Gabriel Gonzalez, Mendez making the club’s 2026 Opening Day roster appears far-fetched at the moment. Yet, given all four prospects likely possessing 40-man roster spots come Spring Training, there is reason to believe Mendez could join one or multiple of the club’s top prospects in the majors early next season, especially given how thin the parent club’s depth at first base presently is.
Now, Twins decision-makers electing to sign a veteran first baseman like Josh Naylor or Rhys Hoskins, or trading for a more cost-controlled, major league-ready option this offseason, would make speculation surrounding Mendez’s likelihood of making the club’s Opening Day roster moot. Yet, if the spending-restricted front office elects not to address the position over the offseason, Mendez (given his age, upside, and positional flexibility) could have the inside track on other internal options to become Kody Clemens’s primary first base partner early next season.
Despite earning a promotion to Triple-A this season, former first-round pick Aaron Sabato has struggled at the plate with St. Paul, yet again causing doubt surrounding his ability to produce at the major league level despite breaking out at Double-A earlier this season. Right-handed hitting utility player Kyler Fedko has hit well at Triple-A this season (115 wRC+ over 187 plate appearances) while spending time at first base. Yet, given that he is 26 years old and hasn’t demonstrated sustainable success in the high minors until this season, Minnesota would be misguided in handing him a 26-man roster spot. Also, Mendez is much more likely to possess a 40-man roster spot over Sabato and Fedko, further solidifying his chances of earning an Opening Day roster spot over them.
Mendez, being a left-handed-hitting bat who primarily plays in the corner outfield, would make him a redundant skillset on Minnesota’s 26-man roster, even if Trevor Larnach is non-tendered or traded this offseason. His redundant skillset is the driving factor in him needing to demonstrate meaningful progress at first base heading into Spring Training. Yet, if the 22-year-old can stand out at first base in the AFL while continuing to demonstrate the contact-skilled profile that made him a priority addition during the Trade Deadline, there is reason to believe Mendez could quickly become a fixture in Minnesota’s next position player core, potentially as part of next season’s Opening Day roster.