Image courtesy of William Parmeter
The Twins’ farm system continued to show its strength in 2025, with several top names taking significant steps forward while others refined their games against tougher competition. Each of Minnesota’s top five prospects provided new clues about what kind of player they could become at the next level.
Two of those players joined the organization during last season’s trade deadline sell-off, when Minnesota moved veteran pieces to restock a thinning prospect pool. Those deals, combined with strong player development and recent draft success, have helped the Twins build one of baseball’s highest-ranked farm systems. The group is now deep, balanced, and full of players who project to make an impact in the near future, with the five names at the top standing out as the foundation for that success.
Walker Jenkins: He’s The Best Twins Prospect Since…
Jenkins entered the season with enormous expectations, and he somehow managed to exceed them. After dominating at Double A (154 wRC+), Jenkins was promoted to Triple-A St. Paul before his 21st birthday, a rare feat even for baseball’s best prospects. The Twins have been aggressive with him, despite injuries causing him to miss time in his first two pro seasons.
Scouts have compared his combination of bat speed, plate discipline, and raw power to the early days of Joe Mauer or Byron Buxton, two of the best prospects in Twins history. Minnesota hasn’t had a prospect this complete in years, and his ceiling looks every bit as high as advertised.
Kaelen Culpepper: He Can Stick at Shortstop
When the Twins selected Culpepper out of Kansas State, there were questions about whether he would eventually move to third base. This season, he silenced those doubts. His footwork, range, and arm strength all took visible steps forward; he handled every defensive challenge thrown his way.
Offensively, his consistent contact and improving gap power (138 wRC+) make him a valuable piece for the organization’s future infield plans. Jenkins gets a lot of the prospect love, but Culpepper has a chance to be an All-Star. For a team looking to build around athletic, versatile players, Culpepper’s progress was a significant win.
Eduardo Tait: He’s the Organization’s Catcher of the Future
It’s been a while since the Twins have had a catching prospect who looked like a long-term answer behind the plate, but Tait is quickly changing that narrative. Minnesota acquired him as the headliner in the Jhoan Duran trade. The young Panamanian backstop made a name for himself in 2025 with strong defensive skills and advanced pitch-framing ability for his age.
Even more encouraging was his offensive consistency, showing power to all fields with a 103 wRC+, despite being one of the youngest players in the Midwest League. If his development continues on this trajectory, he could become the everyday catcher by the time the next core of Twins prospects reaches Target Field.
Emmanuel Rodriguez: His OBP Is Still High, Even Against Advanced Pitching
Rodriguez’s on-base skills have always been elite, and that remained true in 2025 despite facing more advanced competition. His walk rate has stayed above 21% over the last two seasons at Triple-A, while being over four years younger than the average age of the competition. Pitchers continued to challenge him with breaking balls and elevated fastballs, but his strike-zone judgment held firm.
Even when his batting average dipped (down 11 points compared to 2024), Rodriguez found ways to get on base and impact games. While he still needs to cut down on swing-and-miss tendencies, his approach gives him a high floor as a future regular who can provide power and patience in the middle of the order.
Mick Abel: He Has the Chance to Be the Next Joe Ryan
Acquired from Philadelphia (along with Tait), Abel joined the Twins organization with high expectations. His fastball played well up in the zone, and his curveball showed the kind of late movement that generates weak contact and strikeouts (39.1 Whiff%). There were some rough patches during his first taste of the big leagues, but even future All-Stars can struggle early in their careers.
The Twins’ player development staff will get an entire offseason to work with him to refine his pitch mix, with a chance for him to take the next step in 2026. Much like Joe Ryan before him, Abel combines competitiveness with plus stuff, and if he establishes better control, he could be the next pitcher to thrive under Minnesota’s pitching development model.
The Twins’ top five prospects each progressed in meaningful ways in 2025, from flashing elite hitting potential to steady defensive growth and emerging leadership. Four of these players could impact the big-league roster next season. For a team looking to put the last two seasons in the rearview mirror, that’s exciting. As the organization looks to sustain success at the major-league level, this group constitutes a strong foundation for the next wave of talent ready to make its mark in Minnesota.
What stands out about Minnesota’s top five prospects and their 2025 performances? Leave a comment and start the discussion.