Minnesota Twins Farm System: The Twins system is anchored by Walker Jenkins and features a mix of toolsy athletes, late bloomers, and strike-zone specialists, offering depth and upside despite a lack of surefire pitching stars.
Summary
The Twins system is a fascinating blend of high-end fantasy upside and developmental volatility. At the top, Walker Jenkins remains a cornerstone bat with middle-of-the-order potential, while Emmanuel Rodriguez offers OBP-driven power and speed despite huge swing-and-miss risk. Kyler Fedko’s breakout season — 28 homers and 38 steals — adds intrigue to a system that’s increasingly producing fantasy-relevant bats.
Pitching depth is solid, though not without questions. Charlee Soto and Kendry Rojas headline the arms with mid-rotation potential, while Riley Quick and Andrew Morris offer starter traits with developmental hurdles. The system also features several toolsy upside plays — Carlos Taveras, Haritzon Castillo, and Quentin Young — who are early in their development but worth tracking in deeper formats.
Overall, the Twins’ system is deeper than it appears, featuring a mix of late bloomers (Fedko), high-variance athletes (Winokur, Mercedes), and elite contact hitters (Peña, Mendez). Dynasty managers should pay close attention to the emerging power-speed combos and the evolving pitching roles. While not every prospect will hit, the system offers multiple paths to fantasy value — and a few names who could surprise.
AI-Assisted Fantasy Tiers: Methodology and Observations
AI has made significant strides in all aspects of our lives. Over the past four years, I have compiled 500,000 words of personal scouting narratives, which have formed the foundation for training my own AI assistant. This assistant now evaluates prospects and assigns fantasy tiers exclusively based on the insights and observations contained in my write-ups.
After requesting that my AI assistant generate fantasy tiers using this year’s reports, I found that the AI’s rankings generally align with my own assessments. However, there are some cases where the AI’s evaluations differ from my personal rankings. I am sharing those differences here for your consideration.
🥇 Tier 1: Fantasy Impact Targets
- Walker Jenkins — Middle-of-the-order upside with hit/power blend; cornerstone fantasy piece
- Kaelen Culpepper — Athletic infielder with power/speed blend and defensive versatility
🥈 Tier 2: Everyday-Upside Targets
- Kyle DeBarge — 70-grade speed, contact bat, potential .275/30+ SB profile
- Gabriel Gonzalez — .300 AVG upside with doubles power and latent HR potential
- Kyler Fedko — Late bloomer with 28 HR/38 SB season and strong zone control
- Emmanuel Rodriguez — OBP monster with plus power and speed; volatility baked in but fantasy ceiling remains high
- Marek Houston — High-floor bat with zone control and defensive value
- Dasan Hill — Big lefty with upper-90s velocity, raw but intriguing
- Eduardo Tait — Young catcher with advanced feel for hitting and defensive polish; long runway but real upside
🥉 Tier 3: Outside of the Impact/Everyday Targets
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2026 Player Profiles
1. Walker Jenkins (OF)
- Highest Level: Triple-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 30 OF
- Last Updated: 11/04/2025
- Tools Summary: Middle-of-the-order upside with hit/power blend; cornerstone fantasy piece.
Walker Jenkins missed significant time early in 2025 with a sprained ankle — his second consecutive season disrupted by injury — but once healthy, he reminded everyone why he’s among the elite prospects in baseball. He tore through three levels, finishing the year in Triple-A while flashing speed, power, and advanced strike-zone control despite limited reps.
His swing is built for impact, and the ability to manage the zone underlines his offensive maturity. If the health holds and the approach continues to trend, Jenkins has the ceiling of a middle-of-the-order bat with All-Star upside — think Roman Anthony with more physicality. He should debut in Minnesota sometime in 2026.
Fantasy managers should treat him as a premium asset in all formats. The tools, approach, and proximity make him a cornerstone piece.
2. Kaelen Culpepper (SS)
- Highest Level: Double-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 SS
- Last Updated: 11/04/2025
- Tools Summary: Athletic infielder with power/speed blend and defensive versatility.
Drafted 21st overall in 2024, Kaelen Culpepper was viewed as a reach due to questions about his plate approach, but he’s quieted those concerns with a strong 2025. While he still expands the zone at times, he’s posted a 17.4% strikeout rate and a 9.7% walk rate — solid indicators of contact skill and growing discipline.
Culpepper has above-average bat speed and strong exit velocities, and he’s begun elevating more consistently, unlocking over-the-fence power. If the trend continues, he could settle into a 15–20 HR profile with 10–12 stolen bases early in his career. The speed may taper as he fills out, but the offensive foundation is trending up. He’s evolved from a utility infielder projection into a potential everyday contributor with fantasy relevance.
Dynasty managers should treat him as a rising asset. The bat speed, contact metrics, and growing power suggest a player who could outperform his draft pedigree.
3. Eduardo Tait (C)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2027 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 Catcher or 1B
- Last Updated: 11/04/2025
- Tools Summary: Young catcher with advanced feel for hitting and defensive polish; long runway but real upside.
Signed by the Phillies for $90K in 2023, Eduardo Tait impressed in the DSL and Complex League before opening 2025 in Low-A as the second-youngest player in the Florida State League. His standout tool is 70-grade raw power, driven by elite bat speed and physicality — already producing 110+ MPH exit velocities. He was promoted to High-A midseason and traded to the Twins for Jhoan Duran at the deadline.
While the power is very real, Tait remains a work in progress. He expands the zone and posted a 4.7% walk rate in 2025, with pronounced platoon splits that need monitoring. Defensively, he has a strong arm but is still raw behind the plate, requiring time and reps to refine his catching skills.
Dynasty managers should treat him as a long-term upside play. If the approach tightens and the glove develops, Tait has the ingredients to become a 30+ HR catcher — a rare and valuable fantasy profile.
4. Emmanuel Rodriguez (OF)
- Highest Level: Triple-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 OF with risk
- Last Updated: 11/04/2025
- Tools Summary: OBP monster with plus power and speed; volatility baked in but fantasy ceiling remains high.
Emmanuel Rodriguez continues to be one of the most polarizing prospects in the minors. He boasts elite exit velocities and 30+ HR upside, with enough early-career speed to project double-digit steals. His plate discipline is extreme — he refuses to expand the zone and walks at a 20% clip — but it’s a double-edged sword. The passive approach often leaves him in poor hitting counts, contributing to a 33% strikeout rate and a batting average that hovers near .230.
He profiles as a classic three-true-outcome bat with 30–15 potential and an OBP that could sit 100–125 points above his average. But the question remains: will it work at the highest level? Rodriguez missed two months in 2025 with an oblique strain and returned to hit just .229 with one homer over his final 13 games — a reminder of the volatility baked into the profile.
Fantasy managers should treat him as a high-risk, high-reward asset. If he gets more aggressive and improves contact quality, he could be a fantasy force. If not, he may get picked apart in the big leagues.
5. Marek Houston (SS, #16)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2027 Fantasy Ceiling: Middle Infielder
- Last Updated: 11/04/2025
- Tools Summary: High-floor bat with zone control and defensive value.
Marek Houston was a three-year starter at Wake Forest, where he posted a standout slash line of .354/.458/.597 with 15 home runs and 19 stolen bases, walking as often as he struck out. While he’s unlikely to carry loud power or speed tools long-term, the strike-zone control and defensive chops give him a high floor. He projects more as a 15-HR, 15-SB contributor with everyday utility.
After signing, the Twins sent Houston to Low-A and then High-A, where he posted a respectable .270/.330/.350 line with seven steals. The power didn’t show, but the approach held firm — just as it did in college. He’s an excellent defender and should remain up the middle, which adds real-world value and positional flexibility.
Fantasy managers should treat Houston as a high-floor, low-risk bat with sneaky category contributions. If the power ticks up even slightly, he could become a steady middle infield option.
6. Dasan Hill (LHP)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2028 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 SP with upside
- Last Updated: 11/04/2025
- Tools Summary: Big lefty with upper-90s velocity, raw but intriguing.
Selected 69th overall in 2024, Dasan Hill is a 6-foot-5 projectable lefty with a fastball that’s already drawing attention. Statcast data shows his sinker averaging 96 MPH and touching 98.4 with high spin — numbers more typical of a four-seamer, raising questions about classification. Regardless, a lefty sitting in the upper 90s with that kind of life is notable.
Hill pairs the fastball with a hybrid breaking ball that blends slider and curveball traits, flashing promise when he locates it. His changeup also shows good spin and feel, rounding out a three-pitch mix with upside. The challenge is control: he walked 5.9 per nine over 62 innings in 2025 and will need to tighten his command to stick as a starter.
Fantasy managers should treat Hill as a long-term upside arm. The velocity and frame are enticing, and if the strikes come, he could grow into a mid-rotation weapon.
7. Kyle DeBarge (2B/SS/OF)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2026-27 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 15 2B
- Last Updated: 11/04/2025
- Tools Summary: 70-grade speed, contact bat, potential .275/30+ SB profile.
Selected 33rd overall after the Twins lost Sonny Gray to free agency, Kyle DeBarge brings elite speed and contact skills to the middle infield. In 2025, he stole 62 bases while being caught just seven times, showcasing true 70-grade speed and excellent instincts. While he flashed some power in college at Louisiana-Lafayette, it hasn’t translated to the pro level — and likely won’t. His swing is geared for contact, not lift, though some doubles-power and 5–10 HR pop could emerge.
DeBarge profiles as a potential .275 hitter with 30+ stolen bases and modest pop. That’s enough to earn full-time reps if the bat holds, though the lack of impact power could steer him toward a utility role — something akin to Jose Caballero’s path. That comp fits especially well if DeBarge maintains his speed and gets consistent playing time.
Fantasy managers should treat him as a speed-first asset with batting average upside. If the Twins commit to him, he could be a sneaky contributor in roto formats.
8. Gabriel Gonzalez (OF)
- Highest Level: Triple-A ETA: 2026 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 50 OF with upside
- Last Updated: 11/04/2025
- Tools Summary: .300 AVG upside with doubles power and latent HR potential.
Gabriel Gonzalez has evolved into a high-contact, doubles-oriented hitter rather than the power bat once projected. He rarely strikes out (14.5% K-rate) and walks at a league-average clip (8.7%), but his groundball-heavy profile limits his home run output despite strong exit velocities. The raw power is there — he could reach 20 HRs — but he hasn’t shown intent to trade contact for loft.
With his bat-to-ball skills and exit velo foundation, Gonzalez has a chance to hit .300 at the highest level, likely paired with 15–18 home runs and plenty of doubles. He’s an average runner who could swipe a handful of bases early in his career. It’s not a flashy fantasy profile, but if he ever adds leverage, the calculus could shift dramatically. The Twins pushed him through three levels in 2025, ending in Triple-A, and he’s well-positioned for MLB reps in 2026.
Fantasy managers should treat him as a high-floor bat with latent upside. If the swing path changes, he could become a more impactful contributor.
9. Brandon Winokur (OF/SS/3B)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2027 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 45 OF with risk
- Last Updated: 11/04/2025
- Tools Summary: Power/speed tools, contact better than expected, high-variance.
Brandon Winokur shares physical traits and tool overlap with Yankees prospect Spencer Jones — both are tall, athletic, and projectable, with plus power and speed potential. While the power hasn’t fully surfaced in the box scores, his bat speed and physicality suggest it’s coming. He makes better contact than Jones, but his 25% strikeout rate and chase tendencies remain areas for refinement.
Winokur is still raw, but the foundation is intriguing. If he tightens the approach and starts lifting the ball more consistently, the power-speed combo could pop. He’s a high-risk, high-reward profile with the kind of upside that’s worth betting on before the breakout.
Fantasy managers should treat him as a speculative add in deeper formats. The tools are loud, and if the swing decisions improve, Winokur could emerge as a fantasy-relevant outfielder.
10. Charlee Soto (RHP)
- Highest Level: High-A ETA: 2027 Fantasy Ceiling: Top 40 SP with upside
- Last Updated: 11/04/2025
- Tools Summary: High-velocity arsenal, improved slider, post-surgery upside.
Drafted 34th overall in 2023 at just 17 years old, Charlee Soto was held back from competitive ball that summer. Despite a 5.23 ERA in Low-A in 2024, he flashed swing-and-miss stuff and earned a promotion to High-A to open 2025. In his first three starts, Soto looked sharp — his fastball touched 98 MPH, he threw more strikes, and his slider showed real improvement.
Unfortunately, Soto exited his third start with elbow pain and underwent surgery to remove bone spurs. While the sample was small, the early signs were encouraging. He’s still just 19, and the arsenal — fastball velocity, improved slider, and developing command — remains enticing.
Fantasy managers should treat Soto as a long-term upside arm. If healthy, he has the tools to grow into a mid-rotation starter with strikeout potential.
