Credit: William Parmeter
It wasn’t all that long ago that the Minnesota Twins’ farm system was considered the second-best in baseball. That assessment came from MLB Pipeline, which included four Minnesota prospects in its recently unveiled Top 100.
With Grapefruit League action just around the corner, new lists have also been released from Baseball America, ESPN, and The Athletic. Some of those outlets have begun unveiling their updated organizational rankings as well.
ESPN Gives MN Twins Top-10 Honors
Kiley McDaniel of ESPN has been evaluating prospects for a long time. From his work at FanGraphs to stints in multiple front offices, and now at ESPN, he’s built a strong reputation in the space. While McDaniel isn’t quite as high on the Twins as MLB Pipeline, an eighth-place ranking is still hard to argue with.
The top of the Twins’ list looks similar to last year after losing Luke Keaschall and Zebby Matthews to graduation and replacing them with the headliner from the Jhoan Duran trade in Eduardo Tait. Kendry Rojas also was acquired at the deadline, ranking 163rd, and Mick Abel just barely graduated after being included in the Duran return.
I like their draft haul, with a low-floor shortstop in Marek Houston and maybe the prospect with the highest ceiling in the draft in Quentin Young, along with possibly the highest-ceiling college pitcher in Riley Quick.
Keep an eye on Dasan Hill (161st) for a possible breakout and also No. 54 prospect Connor Prielipp as a stealth Rookie of the Year contender if he can get into the rotation in time.
Graduations by Keaschall and Matthews have thinned the system somewhat, though neither prospect sat at the very top of the rankings. Walker Jenkins remains the headliner, carrying immense upside as a top-10 prospect and even emerging as a potential Rookie of the Year candidate (16/1 odds – 10th).
Evaluating a farm system often comes down to the depth behind its elite names. As McDaniel notes, Minnesota’s 2025 first-round pick, Marek Houston, does not yet appear in the Top 100. Still, Houston profiles as a defensively ready player, and Quentin Young brings pedigree to the organization as the nephew of Dmitri and Delmon Young.
Last season, the Twins were forced to dig deep into their pitching depth due to injuries. While Dasan Hill is unlikely to be called up this year, continued development remains the priority. Connor Prielipp may be the most intriguing arm in the system, he simply needs to stay healthy and get an opportunity.
Keith Laws Knocks Down the Twins
Often controversial for his prospect rankings, Keith Law of The Athletic initially appeared fair to the Twins in his individual Top 100 rankings. That perception shifted, however, when Law placed Minnesota’s farm system 21st overall.
The Twins would be much higher if they could just keep their best guys healthy. Two of their top three prospects have missed time every year with injuries, but I still see so much offensive potential in Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez that I just can’t quit them. The Twins’ system leans position player, with some pitchers in their second tier who are very intriguing and seem poised to make a leap … if they stay healthy, that is.
It’s fair to note that both Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez have dealt with injuries. That said, Jenkins’ issues appear more fluky than systemic. With both players now at Triple-A, staying on the field could lead to quick promotions to the major league roster.
Gabriel Gonzalez was 3-5 with his 6th HR for @StPaulSaints today.
On the final home game of the season, Walker Jenkins also went yard. pic.twitter.com/oHdOSV5I2u
— Ted (@tlschwerz) September 14, 2025
Minnesota’s system has more mid-level pitchers at the higher levels outside of Prielipp. I can understand why lottery ticket types, even with high ceilings, would be a cause for concern. However, the discrepancy between Law’s ranking and virtually everyone else is again noteworthy.
Beyond Prielipp, Minnesota’s system is heavier on mid-level pitching talent at the upper levels. It’s understandable why lottery-ticket arms, even with high ceilings, might concern evaluators. Still, the gap between Law’s ranking and those from nearly every other outlet remains striking.
Mentioned in this article: Connor Prielipp Emmanuel Rodriguez Prospect Rankings Walker Jenkins
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