The times, they are a-changing, as one famous Minnesota singer once said, and the question for the Minnesota Twins is just how much more change is going to come before the MLB Draft in July. 

The Twins essentially have a new owner this year. They’ll have a new team president, and there’s a new manager, Derek Shelton, in the dugout. But the star center fielder is still there. The rotation that was so good in 2023 and helped them win 82 games in 2024 is pretty much intact after a 70-win 2025 campaign. 

To say that the Twins are at a fork in the road with this roster is an understatement. On one hand, they won just 70 games in 2025. On the other hand, they have a roster that could win the American League Central if healthy.

This fork will play a big part in what the Twins may do with the No. 3 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft in July.

According to The Athletic, the Twins have the 21st-ranked farm system in baseball, but others say it’s among the best. The club has four players in the MLB Top 100 prospects. That includes former No. 5 pick in 2023, Walker Jenkins, who is the No. 14-ranked prospect at MLB Pipeline. He’s No. 5 at Baseball America. Still, the farm system could certainly use a shot of prospects.

That’s where the MLB Draft and a potential quick rebuild could come into play. No team has the potential to rebuild the farm system and suffer a painful but short rebuild like the Twins could. Outfielder Byron Buxton, 32, was an All-Star in 2025 and received MVP votes. He’s under contract for three more seasons and, despite his injury history, will certainly draw trade interest.

So could former All-Star Pablo López, who is under contract through 2027 and is 29. So could another pitcher, Joe Ryan, who is under team control through 2028. Bailey Ober, yet another hurler who was great in 2022, 2023 and 2024 before a tough 2025, could also yield a trade return.

Those four players, though, could also be the backbone of a team that may chase a pennant if Josh Bell clicks, Royce Lewis plays a full season and if the aforementioned Jenkins, 20, debuts and is as good as advertised.

If the Twins are hitting a reset — and my sympathies to Shelton (the former Pirates manager) if that happens — the Twins would gladly take another prep prospect like they did with Lewis in 2017 at No. 1 and Jenkins in 2023.

Or perhaps they take a college player who could help them compete, if not by 2027 then certainly, in a best-case scenario, by 2028. At No. 3 in the draft, there are options at both levels, especially after trading Carlos Correa at the break a year ago.

Here’s a look at who the Twins could take at No. 3.

What The Minnesota Twins Roster Has Now

Much of the Twins roster seems in flux after the already named players. The Twins list eight players on their rotation depth chart. Taj Bradley came to Minnesota at the deadline last year for Griffin Jax, and the 24-year-old former big-time prospect had mixed results. Simeon Woods Richardson, the big prize in the 2021 José Berríos trade, has potential after a solid first two seasons.

The bullpen has Taylor Rogers and Justin Topa, but it is clearly the biggest question mark on the team.

Lewis, the former No. 1 overall pick, was a breakout star in 2023, his rookie year, when he hit 15 home runs in 58 games for the Twins. But he’s hit just 29 home runs in 188 games over the last two years and batted .233 and .237 in those seasons.

The strength of the Twins appears to be the rotation, and the club is hoping to hit just enough.

What The Minnesota Twins Farm System Looks Like

The Athletic has them as one of the 10 worst at No. 21. Baseball America has them at 12 and MLB had the Twins at No. 2 last August. The Athletic’s Keith Law cites the health of their top prospects as why they are ranked low, but there’s clearly talent there.

And it could be talent ready to debut. 

Jenkins didn’t stand out in Triple-A, but he made it to Triple-A as a 20-year-old. He’ll be old enough to buy a beer just as pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Former Kansas State standout Kaelen Culpepper, who played in the College Baseball Series in 2024, is the No. 52-ranked prospect in baseball at MLB Pipeline and will strive to debut this season, while Emmanuel Rodriguez is the No. 74-ranked prospect and, at 22, is expected to debut this season for the Twins after being added to the 40-man roster.

Eduardo Tait, MLB’s No. 65-ranked prospect at catcher, is 19 and a year or two away.

Who Will The Minnesota Twins Take In The 2026 MLB Draft?

In the first FloBaseball mock draft, Grady Emerson, the Texas prep phenom from Fort Worth, is Minnesota-bound, and if Emerson is available at No. 3, there’s no way the Twins pass on him. 

It would be quite the gift. 

Emerson is considered as good as, and possibly better than, the overwhelming top prospect in the draft, Roch Cholowsky of UCLA. No matter what, though, this draft appears destined to see three straight shortstops go off the board in the first three picks.

Alabama shortstop Justin LeBron, who we have at No. 2 to the Rays, is destined to be a Twin based on prospect rankings, and a system can never have enough shortstops — a position that produces, many times, more third basemen, second basemen, center fielders and corner outfielders than actual MLB shortstops.

The Twins are no stranger to drafting and signing below slot value. It’s why Hunter Greene pitches for the Cincinnati Reds and not the Minnesota Twins. The last top-five pick, Jenkins, was signed above slot value at more than $7 million.

The four best prospects on the FloBaseball Top 100 composite rankings are shortstops, and outfielder Derek Curiel is the best at his position. Liam Peterson, the No. 7 prospect, is the top pitcher.

Will Culpepper’s season have an impact on the Twins taking a shortstop? I don’t think so. It likely has more to do with Royce Lewis’ season at third base. Culpepper plays shortstop now, but he could easily be moved elsewhere in the infield.

The prediction here defies destiny. The Twins have four everyday players in the top 100 of their system.

My pick here is Coastal Carolina pitcher Cameron Flukey. 

The 6-foot-6, 205-pound right-hander had a 3.28 ERA in 101.2 innings as a sophomore. He throws as hard as 98 mph. He’s the highest-rated draft-eligible pitcher at Baseball America, and he’s No. 9 at MLB Pipeline. Because the Twins have so many tradeable pitchers to restock the farm system as a whole, they may crave a top pitcher who could be drafted under slot value at No. 3.

2026 Shriners Children’s Baseball ShowdownFeb. 13, 202612:00 PM ET: Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech4:00 PM ET: TCU vs. Vanderbilt8:00 PM ET: Oklahoma St vs. ArkansasFeb. 14, 202612:00 PM ET: Texas Tech vs. Vanderbilt4:00 PM ET: Oklahoma St vs. Oklahoma8:00 PM ET: Arkansas vs. TCUFeb. 15, 202611:30 AM ET: Vanderbilt vs. Oklahoma St3:30 PM ET: Texas Tech vs. Arkansas7:30 PM ET: TCU vs. OklahomaCollege Baseball Series In Surprise, ArizonaFeb. 13, 20264:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Oregon St8:00 PM ET: Stanford vs. ArizonaFeb. 14, 20264:00 PM ET: Arizona vs. Oregon St8:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. StanfordFeb. 15, 20262:00 PM ET: Stanford vs. Oregon St6:00 PM ET: Arizona vs. MichiganFeb. 16, 20262:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Oregon StAmegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 2Feb. 20, 202612:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Florida St4:00 PM ET: Nebraska vs. Louisville8:00 PM ET: Auburn vs. Kansas StFeb. 21, 202612:00 PM ET: Louisville vs. Michigan4:00 PM ET: Florida St vs. Auburn8:00 PM ET: Kansas St vs. NebraskaFeb. 22, 202611:30 AM ET: Auburn vs. Louisville3:30 PM ET: Nebraska vs. Florida St7:30 PM ET: Michigan vs. Kansas StAmegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 3Feb. 27, 202612:00 PM ET: Arizona St vs. Mississippi St4:00 PM ET: UCLA vs. Tennessee8:00 PM ET: Virginia Tech vs. Texas A&MFeb. 28, 202612:00 PM ET: Tennessee vs. Arizona St4:00 PM ET: Mississippi St vs. Virginia Tech8:00 PM ET: Texas A&M vs. UCLAMar. 1, 202611:30 AM ET: Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee3:30 PM ET: UCLA vs. Mississippi St7:30 PM ET: Arizona St vs. Texas A&MWhen Is The 2026 MLB Draft?

The MLB Draft begins the Sunday of MLB All-Star Week, which is being held in Philadelphia from July 11-July 14. 

2026 MLB Draft OrderChicago White SoxTampa Bay RaysMinnesota TwinsSan Francisco GiantsPittsburgh PiratesKansas City RoyalsBaltimore OriolesOakland AthleticsAtlanta BravesColorado RockiesWashington NationalsLos Angeles AngelsSt. Louis CardinalsMiami MarlinsArizona DiamondbacksTexas RangersHouston AstrosCincinnati RedsCleveland GuardiansBoston Red SoxSan Diego PadresDetroit TigersChicago CubsSeattle MarinersMilwaukee BrewersThe 2026 MLB Draft Top 100 Prospects 

Rank    Name    Position    Age    School    Commitment

1    Roch Cholowsky    SS    20    UCLA    —

2    Grady Emerson    SS    17    Fort Worth Christian    Texas

3    Justin Lebron    SS    21    Alabama    —

4    Jacob Lombard    SS    18    Gulliver Prep    Miami

5    Derek Curiel    OF    20    LSU    —

6    Tyler Spangler    SS    18    De La Salle    Stanford

7    Liam Peterson    RHP    20    Florida    —

8    Sawyer Strosnider    OF    20    TCU    —

9    Cameron Flukey    RHP    20    Coastal Carolina    —

10    Drew Burress    OF    21    Georgia Tech    —

11    AJ Gracia    OF    21    Virginia    —

12    Carson Bolemon    LHP    18    Southside Christian    Wake Forest

13    Gio Rojas    LHP    18    Stoneman Douglas    Miami

14    Ace Reese    3B    20    Mississippi State    —

15    Jackson Flora    RHP    20    UC Santa Barbara    —

16    Chris Hacopian    SS    21    Texas A&M    —

17    Eric Becker    SS    20    Virginia    —

18    Tyler Bell    SS    20    Kentucky    —

19    Vahn Lackey    C    20    Georgia Tech    —

20    Logan Schmidt    LHP    17    Ganesha    LSU

21    Coleman Borthwick    RHP    17    South Walton    Auburn

22    Caden Sorrell    OF    20    Texas A&M    —

23    Blake Bowen    OF    17    JSerra    Oregon State

24    Chris Rembert    2B    20    Auburn    —

25    Jensen Hirschkorn    RHP    17    Kingsburg    LSU

26    Gavin Grahovac    3B    20    Texas A&M    —

27    Brady Harris    OF    17    Trinity Christian    Florida

28    Trevor Condon    OF    17    Etowah    Tennessee

29    Aiden Ruiz    SS    18    The Stony Brook    Vanderbilt

30    Gabe Gaeckle    RHP    21    Arkansas    —

31    Eric Booth    OF    17    Oak Gove    Vanderbilt

32    Kaden Waechter    RHP    18    Jesuit    Florida State

33    Caden Bogenpohl    OF    20    Missouri State    —

34    Will Brick    C    17    Christian Brothers     Mississippi State

35    Joseph Contreras    RHP    17    Blessed Trinity    Vanderbilt

36    Tegan Kuhns    RHP    20    Tennessee    —

37    Zion Rose    OF    20    Louisville    —

38    Savion Sims    RHP    18    Prestonwood Christian    Oklahoma

39    Maddox Molony    SS    21    Oregon    —

40    Joey Volchko    RHP    20    Georgia    —

41    Jarren Advincula    2B    20    Georgia Tech    —

42    Cole Carlon    LHP    20    Arizona State    —

43    Chase Brunson    OF    20    TCU    —

44    Rocco Maniscalco    SS    16    Oxford    Mississippi State

45    Ryder Helfrick    C    20    Arkansas    —

46    Tommy LaPour    RHP    20    TCU    —

47    Ryan Lynch    RHP    20    North Carolina    —

48    Cole Koeninger    SS/RHP    18    Keller    Tennessee

49    Beau Peterson    3B    18    Mill Valley    Texas

50    Landon Thome    2B/3B    18    Nazareth Academy    Florida State

51    Lucas Moore    OF    20    Louisville    —

52    Daniel Cuvet    3B    20    Miami    —

53    Denton Lord    RHP    18    South Walton    —

54    Kevin Roberts    OF    17    Jackson Prep    Florida

55    James Clark    SS    18    St. John Bosco    Princeton

56    Connor Comeau    SS/3B    17    Anderson     Texas A&M

57    Andrew Costello    C    18    Cathedral Prep    Wake Forest

58    Trey Rangel    RHP    18    The Colony    Texas

59    Jake McCoy    LHP    20    South Carolina    —

60    Keon Johnson    SS    17    First Presbyterian    —

61    Eli Herst    RHP    17    Seattle Academy    Vanderbilt

62    Henry Ford    OF    21    Tennessee    —

63    Blake Bryant    RHP    18    Citizen Christian     Clemson

64    Jason DeCaro    RHP    19    North Carolina    —

65    Gavin Gallaher    3B    21    North Carolina    —

66    Archer Horn    SS    17    St. Ignatius    Stanford

67    Trey Beard    LHP    21    Florida Atlantic    —

68    Cooper Sides    RHP    18    Orange Lutheran    LSU

69    Sean Duncan    LHP    17    Terry Fox (Canada)    Vanderbilt

70    Hunter Dietz    LHP    20    Arkansas    —

71    Ethan Bass    SS    18    Glenbrook North    Wake Forest

72    Noah Wilson    OF    18    McCallie    Vanderbilt

73    Carson Tinney    C    20    Texas    —

74    Shane Sdao    LHP    22    Texas A&M    —

75    Aidan Knaak    RHP    21    Clemson    —

76    Owen Kramkowski    RHP    20    Arizona    —

77    Kade Lewis    1B    20    Wake Forest    —

78    Gary Morse    RHP    18    Orange Lutheran    Tennessee

79    Tre Broussard    OF    20    Houston    —

80    Jorvorskie Lane    OF    17    Grapevine    Arkansas

81    Matt Ponatoski    SS    17    Moeller    Kentucky

82    Jake Brown    OF    20    LSU    —

83    Malachi Washington    OF    17    Parkview    LSU

84    Logan Hughes    OF    20    Texas Tech    —

85    Steven Milam    SS/2B    21    LSU    —

86    Brady Ballinger    1B    20    Kansas    —

87    Blake Morningstar    RHP    20    Wake Forest    —

88    Ethan Kleinschmit    LHP    20    Oregon State    —

89    Brett Renfrow    RHP    20    Virginia Tech    —

90    Will Yow    SS    18    St. Anne’s-Belfield    Virginia

91    Ricky Ojeda    LHP    20    UC Irvine    —

92    Dominic Santarelli    1B    18    St. Joseph    —

93    Andrew Williamson    OF    20    Central Florida    —

94    Wilson Andersen    RHP    17    Jesuit    Mississippi State

95    Jason Amalbert    SS    18    DePaul    Oklahoma

96    Ethan Norby    LHP    20    East Carolina    —

97    Cade Townsend    RHP    20    Mississippi    —

98    Alex Hernandez    2B/OF    20    Georgia Tech    —

99    Wes Mendes    LHP    21    Florida State    —

100    Cole Prosek    3B    18    Magnolia Heights    Mississippi

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