Prospect lists are snapshots in time, and for the Twins, the picture is already starting to blur. The current Twins Daily top five of Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, Eduardo Tait, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Mick Abel represents a system that is very close to turning the page. Jenkins, Culpepper, Rodriguez, and Abel all finished last season at Double-A or higher, and Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, and Gabriel Gonzalez are right there with them. Only Dasan Hill and Tait remain below that level. With that many players knocking on the big-league door, it feels inevitable that next winter’s list will look very different.
A year ago, my New Year’s Day projection included Jenkins and Culpepper at the top, followed by Charlee Soto, Brandon Winokur, and Marco Raya. In hindsight, the exercise was always going to be unfair. Few could have predicted the fire sale at last year’s trade deadline, which reshaped the system overnight. Tait and Abel were not even in the organization at that point. Soto likely would have been closer to a Top 5 spot if not for injuries, while Winokur still has upside but needs to regain momentum after a disappointing stint in the Arizona Fall League. Raya struggled at Triple A and now looks more likely to impact the club out of the bullpen in 2026.
With that context in mind, here is an early look at what the Twins’ Top 5 prospects could look like on New Year’s Day 2027.
5. Marek Houston, SS
Houston, Minnesota’s 2025 first-round pick, sneaks onto the list thanks to his defensive foundation and hope for steady offensive growth. He will never be a middle-of-the-order bat, but the Twins value shortstops who can stay at the position, and Houston has the instincts and arm to do just that. If the bat continues to progress, he becomes a very safe everyday projection. He could quickly rise through the system in 2026 and finish the year in the upper minors.
2026 Prediction: Houston makes his big-league debut in September.
4. Charlee Soto, RHP
Soto gets a second chance here after an injury interrupted his rise. He was limited to three starts last season, but there is a reason the Twins targeted him with the 34th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. When healthy, he shows the type of fastball and breaking ball combination that can anchor a rotation. Durability remains the question, but the upside is still very real, and the Twins will give him every opportunity to start.
2026 Prediction: Soto gets back on track in 2026 and pitches over 100 innings between High- and Double-A.
3. Riley Quick, RHP
Minnesota took Quick with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and could have been a higher pick if not for missing his entire sophomore season following Tommy John surgery. Quick represents the modern pitching prospect with power stuff and some remaining refinement needed. In his junior season, he posted a 3.92 ERA with a 3.49 FIP and a 25.9 K%. His velocity and ability to miss bats could push him quickly through the upper minors.
2026 Prediction: Quick will be the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year as he jumps from the low minors to Triple-A.
2. Eduardo Tait, C
Catchers with offensive upside can be tough to fit on prospect lists because they have to hit and provide defensive value. Tait’s bat is the carrying tool, and if he continues to hit as he climbs the ladder, his defensive questions will matter less. In 2025, he posted a 103 wRC+ across two levels while facing older pitchers in every plate appearance. By 2027, he could be viewed as the Twins catcher of the future.
2026 Prediction: Tait’s defense and game calling will make significant strides as he gets accustomed to the Twins system.
1. Justin Lebron, SS
There are many different directions the Twins could go with the number three pick in July. College shortstop Roch Cholowsky is the consensus number one pick, with prep shortstop Grady Emerson as the likely second pick. Minnesota could take Lebron if they want to go the college route, or Jacob Lombard, a prep shortstop with a baseball bloodline. LeBron is the favorite at this point, and the Alabama shortstop earns 60 grades across four of his five tools. If he lands in the Twins system, he becomes the obvious choice at the top.
2026 Prediction: Lebron solidifies himself at the top of the draft as the clear third pick for the Twins.
Predicting prospect lists is always risky, but the direction is clear. The Twins are on the verge of graduating a wave of talent, and the next era will be defined by a new group of high upside players stepping into the spotlight.
Who will make the Twins top prospect list in one year? What direction will the Twins go with the third pick next July? Leave a comment and start the discussion.
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!