Twins Daily just wrapped up its annual top prospect countdown. Notably, six of the Twins’ top eight prospects are expected to open at Triple-A St. Paul, one step from the big leagues.
That proximity means the Twins could see several prospects make their major-league debuts in 2026. While much of the focus is on position players at the upper levels, the system’s pitching side also boasts several intriguing arms. These pitchers could take big steps forward this year.
Here are three Twins pitcher prospect predictions for 2026.
Riley Quick Wins Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year
Quick’s power arsenal could let him dominate minor-league hitters this season. He started 14 games for the University of Alabama last year, showing enough for the Twins to draft him 36th overall. Minnesota signed him for the full slot bonus of $2.69 million.
Quick’s fastball already sits in the 96-97 mph range and can touch 99, while maintaining its velocity deep into outings. The Twins are helping him refine how he uses the pitch, leaning on his sinker against right-handed hitters while mixing in a four-seamer against lefties.
His secondary pitches also generate plenty of swings and misses. Quick throws a mid-80s slider with sharp two-plane movement that he can tighten into a harder cutter, along with an upper-80s changeup that features strong fade and depth.
He logged only 87 innings in college before entering pro ball. Building a full starter’s workload will be important this season. If he refines his command while keeping his electric stuff, Quick could emerge as the Twins’ fastest-rising arm of the year.
Dasan Hill Enters Next Season as a Top-100 Prospect
The Twins made a significant investment in Hill during the 2024 Draft, signing the highly projectable high school left-hander for $2 million after selecting him with the 69th overall pick. His first full professional season showed why the organization was willing to go over slot.
Hill struck out more than 12 batters per nine innings and held opposing hitters to a .196 average over 62 innings. He posted a 2.77 ERA at Low-A before finishing the season with a promotion to High-A.
His fastball already averages around 95 mph and has touched 99, and early reports this spring indicate he has begun reaching triple digits as he continues adding strength to his 6-foot-5 frame. Hill also features a low-80s sweeper that produced a high whiff rate, along with a big curveball and a changeup that helps him neutralize right-handed hitters.
The main area for improvement will be throwing more consistent strikes. Hill’s strikeout ability is already impressive, but reducing his walk rate will be key as he moves up the ladder. If his command improves while his velocity continues trending upward, Hill could quickly become one of the most exciting young left-handed pitching prospects in baseball and enter the top 100 by the end of the season.
Connor Prielipp Ends the Year as the Twins Closer
The Twins intend to keep Prielipp in the Triple-A rotation to start, especially because of big-league injuries that could spell an earlier need for his reinforcement than they anticipated when camp opened. His injury history, however, could shift him into a bullpen role.
Prielipp missed nearly all of 2023 after undergoing internal brace surgery on his elbow. He returned in 2024 for limited action and finally logged more than 80 innings in 2025 while pitching at the upper levels of the minors. His performance was strong enough to earn him a spot on the Twins’ 40-man roster during the offseason.
When healthy, Prielipp has exceptionally impressive stuff. His fastball averages around 95 mph and can reach 99, and it generated more swings and misses once he reached Triple-A. He also added a two-seamer late in the season. His upper-80s slider features elite spin rates and grades as a plus pitch, while his changeup also produces plenty of swings and misses. He has even begun experimenting with a curveball to round out his repertoire.
If durability becomes a concern, a bullpen move could help. His power arsenal may be more effective in shorter outings. In that role, Prielipp could reach Minnesota quickly and end the year in late-inning situations.
The Twins’ farm system features several promising young arms who could take meaningful steps forward in 2026. Quick has the raw stuff to dominate in the minors as he builds a full professional workload. Hill has the potential to emerge as one of the organization’s biggest breakout prospects. Prielipp could eventually find his path to the big leagues through the bullpen, where his electric repertoire might play even better.
With several pitching prospects nearing the upper levels, 2026 could signal a new wave of Twins arms in Minnesota.
What are your predictions for the Twins’ pitching pipeline in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion.
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