The Minnesota Twins are expected to have Joe Ryan lead the starting rotation once again in 2026, but they have uncertainty overall. MLB Pipeline recently shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) about No. 9 Connor Prielipp. The post suggested he could impact the team in 2026.
“The (Twins) could use one of their most talented arms on the farm to round out their pitching staff in 2026. No. 9 prospect Connor Prielipp has the pure stuff to succeed — in the bullpen or rotation,” the post reads.
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So, what should fans know about Prielipp.
Prielipp, 24, is a left-handed pitcher who features a high ceiling. While his fastball his fine, Prielipp’s offspeed stuff is what stands out. His slider and changeup are both highly-regarded pitches and will be what sets him apart from the competition.
He is still developing control of his pitches, and that is something that will continue to improve. When it comes to his pitches, though, the stuff is there to succeed.
Prielipp was selected in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft. He had some questions heading into the draft, but Minnesota clearly saw his potential and ultimately took a chance on him.
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This past offseason, Prielipp was added to the 40-man roster. The move protected him from landing with another team in the 40-man draft, which is a sign that they believe he can make an impact with the big league ball club down the road.
The Twins seemingly believe in their current core of players. They are not expected to move on from Joe Ryan, Byron Buxton or Royce Lewis. Minnesota would probably benefit from trading those players this offseason. The starting pitching market has not gained too much steam, but a number of teams would love to add a star pitcher. As a result, teams may be willing to over-pay in a potential trade for Ryan.
For now, though, it does appear that Minnesota will move forward as currently constructed for the most part. Of course, the Twins could always look add a few more players for depth, but it also seems unlikely that they will add a star in free agency.
The Twins are hoping that players on their current roster will help the ball club make a postseason run. Perhaps Connor Prielipp will help them accomplish that goal.