Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez are the two most discussed pitchers in the Minnesota Twins‘ starting rotation, and for good reason. Both hurlers feature All-Star ceilings and they will lead the rotation in 2026 — assuming they are not traded. However, every good rotation has depth, and just about every great rotation has an overlooked pitcher who steps up. This season, that could be Simeon Woods Richardson.
Woods Richardson was once a top prospect, but he has not met his early career lofty expectations. However, he is only 25 years old and could be a guy who makes an impact in 2026.
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Woods Richardson made his MLB debut in 2022. For his career, he has pitched to a 4.21 ERA across 53 games pitched. Overall, he has only pitched two full seasons at the MLB level, so there is an argument to be made that Woods Richardson is simply still finding his groove in MLB. If that’s the case, it would not be surprising to see him break out in his third full season in 2026.
2025 saw him record a career-best 22.7 strikeout percentage. His 9.8 walk rate was higher than his 2024 mark, but he set a new career-high with a .230 opponents batting average against.
Woods Richardson’s xBA (expected batting average) ranked in the 79th percentile in the league last season. Meanwhile, his pitching run value checked in at the 33rd percentile.
In other words, Woods Richardson has certainly done some good things on the mound, but the results have yet to impress. There is potential for Richardson, though, whose fastball run value and breaking run value are both above the 50 percentile mark.
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It seems as if Woods Richardson is trending in a promising direction overall. He was a former highly regarded prospect for a reason. His ceiling remains high to say the least.
If Minnesota ends up with a big three of Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez and Simeon Woods Richardson, the team’s rotation will take a big step forward in 2026. It may seem like a small note, but the difference between two and three truly reliable starters in a rotation is undeniable. It could even make the difference between the Twins emerging as a playoff team or not.
Woods Richardson could end up making or breaking the Twins’ starting rotation during the 2026 MLB season.