The Minnesota Twins will kick-off 2026 spring training at their home facility, Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida, against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday, Feb. 20. Their first game against an MLB opponent will be the following day, also at home, against the Boston Red Sox. The Twins’ spring training schedule includes numerous other exciting matchups, including a game against Team Puerto Rico.

Top prospects Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper will be at big-league camp this spring, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune’s Bobby Nightengale. Additionally, minor leaguers such as Aaron Sabato, Kyler Fedko and others will be at big-league camp. One forgotten prospect, who the Twins drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, seems poised to have a strong showing in Fort Myers.

This forgotten slugging prospect, Kala’i Rosario, could make serious noise at Twins spring training

Rosario, who plays corner outfield, currently ranks as the Twins’ No. 29 prospect per MLB Pipeline. After a 2024 season in which he missed over two months due to an elbow injury, the 23-year-old Hawaii native impressed in his first full season with Double-A Wichita last year, slashing .256/.358/.487 with 25 homers, 30 doubles, five triples, 83 RBI and 32 stolen bases.

The Twins have a crowded outfield that includes Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Alan Roden, James Outman and Austin Martin. Luke Keaschall is also expected to play some outfield next season, and top outfield prospects Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodríguez and Gabriel Gonzalez will likely make their MLB debuts in 2026 or 2027. Right-handed hitting outfielder Kyler Fedko could reach the big leagues soon as well. Still, Rosario, who bats from the right side, seems poised to have a strong 2026 spring training and earn a big-league promotion sometime during the next couple seasons.

Being a right-handed hitter helps Rosario’s chances of reaching the majors soon, since Wallner, Larnach, Roden, Outman, Jenkins and Rodríguez all bat from the left side. Rosario, who won the Midwest League MVP in 2023, deserves a big-league promotion soon. If the Twins feel they don’t have room for him anytime soon, and the 2026 season goes well, they may package Rosario in a trade to receive an established big leaguer to help their playoff chase. But if the season goes south, which is very likely, then the Twins may as well give the Hawaii native a shot on their 26-man roster near the end of the 2026 season, as long as he keeps performing well.