Image courtesy of © Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
We’re well into an early edition of previewing the Twins 2026 draft situation at Twins Daily. After examining their lottery situation, the first part of this series was published last week. I dug into mini-profiles on Tyler Bell, Drew Burress, Roch Cholowsky, and AJ Gracia. In the next few weeks, we’ll add some prep names and some pitchers to the mix. For now, here’s the second cluster of college hitters.
While the obvious caveats all apply here (we have a whole college season between now and the draft, plenty can change), this is a very strong group of college bats at the top. The main differences for me, between this group and the cluster from 2025 are the well-roundedness of the profiles. Generally speaking, there are better hit tools and less strikeouts in this top tier of college hitters.
Because there are a wide range of outcomes still possible for the Twins first round pick, I’m offering up a decently expansive list of college hitters (with prep hitters and relevant prep and college arms to follow). I’ve listed prospects alphabetically by last name. Outside of Cholowsky being the current clear consensus number one prospect, you can make plenty of compelling arguments for ordering the rest in diverse ways.
For each prospect, you’ll find their name, primary position, college, hitting and throwing hands, and their age on draft day 2026. You’ll find a summary of their 2025 performance, with stolen bases only listed for prospects who accumulated more than ten.
Chris Hacopian, INF, Texas A&M, R/R (21)
2025 Stats (Maryland): .375/.502/.656 (1.158), 165 wRC+, 14 HR (26 XBH), 16.1 BB%, 7.6 K%
Hacopian was one of the prizes of the transfer portal this offseason, moving from Maryland to Texas A&M for his (likely) final collegiate season after an exceptional first two years with the Terps. This is another exceptionally well rounded offensive profile. Hacopian has a bit of a noisy operation, but much like Burress, it’s a ton of bat speed and twitch. He runs otherworldly contact numbers against fastballs (95% contact rate in 2025), with good power, particularly to the pull side. All of this is supplemented by an impressive approach, with 40 walks against 19 strikeouts in 52 games in 2025. Defensively, he might be described as ‘steady not spectacular’. Hacopian handled shortstop well for Maryland, but may move to third base for the Aggies in 2026. Ultimately, another spot on the first seems like a more logical defensive home.
Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama, R/R (21)
2025 Stats: .316/.421/.636 (1.058), 127 wRC+, 18 HR (37 XBH), 17 SB, 12.5 BB%, 24.2 K%
Lebron is one of the most exciting prospects in the class and oozes upside. He took several steps forward in his offensive profile in 2025 (particularly in his ability to slug) despite a mediocre performance during SEC play. It’s plenty of bat speed from the right side, although there are some holes in his swing currently. He’s particularly strong up in the zone, and susceptible to breaking stuff down in the zone. Defensively, he’s fluid, with a strong arm and should stick at shortstop long term. In fact, he might be the best athlete of this cluster of college hitters at the top of the class (there’s a good run tool here, too). If he can improve his approach and his hit tool down in the zone, he could be a monster.
Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi St, L/R (21)
2025 Stats: .352/.422/.718 (1.140), 139 wRC+, 21 HR (40 XBH), 9.9 BB%, 19.8 K%
Reese transferred from Houston to Mississippi State prior to the 2025 season and proceeded to have one of the better breakouts in college baseball. It’s a big league frame at 6’3, 210 pounds, with an offensive profile underpinned by an ability to slug. It’s a clean swing from the left side with excellent bat speed, and Reese has a knack for finding the barrel. Despite some chase in his profile, there’s above average bat-to-ball skills. 20 home run seasons with a sub 20% strikeout rate are at a premium in college baseball. Reese moved to third base last season, and it’s likely the hot corner, or a corner outfield spot long term defensively, where it’ll be a solid, not spectacular defense. This is one of the best college slugging profiles in the class.
Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU, L/L, (21)
2025 Stats: .350/.420/.650 (1.070), 138 wRC+, 11 HR (34 XBH), 10 SB, 8 BB%, 18.7 K%
Sawyer Strosnider might be a half step below the other names I’ve profiled so far currently, but I’m including him as he’s a personal favorite, and I’m tipping him to have a big 2026 season. Strosnider was probably the best freshman in the country in 2025 and has a combination of big league size and good tools across the board. There’s plus speed here, Strosnider clubbed 10 triples to go with his 11 home runs in 2025 (and a MaxEV north of 112 mph). He’ll have a chance to stick in centerfield due to the speed and athleticism. To take a step forward in 2026, Strosnider needs to reign in an overly aggressive approach characterized by too much chase. If he does, watch out.