Pitching in the lower minors is all about adjustments. For some, it’s a first taste of professional baseball in the United States. For others, it’s a chance to show that they’re ready to move quickly through the system. The Florida Complex League gives the Twins’ youngest arms a proving ground, and this summer, a few pitchers stood out above the rest.
Not every prospect thrives right away. Short outings and small workloads make it difficult to bounce back from a rough stretch, while others show enough polish to prove they’re ahead of the level. For the Twins, 2025 brought a mix of both, with a handful of arms making their presence felt in Fort Myers.
Before we get to the top three finishers in the Twins Daily voting, here are a few pitchers who also received recognition from our minor-league team of writers.
Honorable Mentions
RHP Melvin Rodriguez: 11 G, 43 1/3 IP, 3.53 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 17.5 K%, 12.0 BB%
RHP Xander Hamilton: 7 G, 10 1/3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.39 WHIP, 31.4 K%, 5.7 BB%
RHP Brent Francisco: 12 G, 17 1/3 IP, 2.08 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 35.8 K%, 3.0 BB%
RHP Xavier Kolhosser: 10 G, 17 2/3 IP, 2.55 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 25.3 K%, 13.3 BB%
2 (Tie). RHP Will Armbruester
2025 Stats: 15 G, 31 IP, 2.61 ERA, 2.37 FIP, 1.10 WHIP, 22.8 K%, 1.6 BB%
Armbruester’s story is a little different than most in the FCL. After pitching in college at New Mexico and Arizona State, he spent 2024 in the independent Frontier League before signing with Minnesota this April. The Twins shifted him to the bullpen, where his command immediately stood out with 28 strikeouts against only two walks.
At 24, Armbruester was much older than most of his competition, but he handled the role with poise. A high BABIP (.337) inflated his ERA, but his ability to limit walks and strand runners gave the Twins reason to believe there’s more here. The organization has uncovered some hidden gems from the indy leagues in recent years, and Armbruester will look to join that list as he moves up the ladder.
2 (Tie). RHP Anderson Ramos
2025 Stats: 17 G, 28 1/3 IP, 3.81 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 1.13 WHIP, 31.1 K%, 13.9 BB%
Ramos represents the opposite end of the spectrum, compared to Armbruester. He was a teenage signing out of the Dominican Republic who made his Stateside debut this summer. After some early struggles in the DSL last year, he came to the FCL as a 19-year-old and made a big jump, leading the team in strikeout rate among pitchers with a minimum of 18 innings pitched.
Ramos piled up multiple strikeouts in 12 of his 19 outings and kept hitters to a .506 OPS. Control remains the biggest question mark, as his walk rate climbed by 2.4% compared to 2024. Still, his last 11 appearances showed real growth, with no extra-base hits allowed and 21 strikeouts in 61 plate appearances. He’s one of the younger arms to watch, as he likely moves into full-season ball next year.
1. RHP Joel Garcia – Twins FCL Pitcher of the Year
2025 Stats: 11 G, 43 IP, 3.35 ERA, 2.47 FIP, 1.21 WHIP, 28.8 K%, 6.8 BB%
Garcia was the clear choice for our FCL Pitcher of the Year, appearing at the top of nearly every ballot from the Twins Daily minor-league writers. Signed out of Venezuela, this was his third season in the organization and his second year in the FCL. After a solid but limited sample in 2024, the Twins sent him back for a longer look, and he delivered.
Used exclusively as a starter, Garcia got stronger as the summer went on. Opponents posted a .731 OPS against him in May, but he held them to just a .581 OPS over the next two months. Nearly 82% of his matchups came against younger hitters, but his mix of strike-throwing and strikeouts stood out regardless. By August, Minnesota promoted him to Low-A Fort Myers, where he’ll likely begin 2026.
The Florida Complex League is just the first step, but performances here can be a glimpse into the Twins’ future. For Garcia, Ramos, and Armbruester, 2025 was a big step forward in their development, and a reminder that the next wave of pitching talent is already on its way.
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Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins’ top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!