Minnesota Twins Top 30 Prospect Additions

28. C.J. Culpepper, RHP

BA Grade: 40/Average

Track Record: Culpepper was a 13th-round pick out of Cal Baptist in 2022. He entered 2025 just outside the Twins’ Top 10 prospects, but a pinched nerve delayed the start of his season and continued to bother him throughout the year, limiting him to just 59.1 innings. He returned to Wichita to start 2026, and his velocity returned.

Scouting Report: Culpepper has a starter’s build and an effortful but deceptive delivery. His stuff backed up in 2025, with his fastball sitting 91-94 mph and topping out at 95. His velocity returned in 2026, and he’s been sitting 93-95 mph and topping out at 97. His control, which was once a weapon, regressed as well. His slider remains his best pitch with sweepy shape and above-average whiff and chase rates. He can struggle to land it in the zone, though, contributing to his higher walk rate. Culpepper also has a fringy cutter that he can throw for strikes and will also show a below-average changeup on occasion.

The Future: Culpepper impressed working in short stints as a starter to start 2026 and was promoted to Triple-A St. Paul, where he’s now working in relief. He has a chance to make his major league debut this year out of the bullpen.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 45.

29. Ben Ross, SS/3B

BA Grade: 40/Average

Track Record: Ross was a fifth-round pick out of Division II Notre Dame in Ohio. He reached Double-A in his first full season in 2023, but saw his bat stagnate there and has started the season there each of the last three seasons. He finally broke out at the plate in 2026, earning a promotion to Triple-A St. Paul. Ross is an extremely versatile defender and has played every position except pitcher and catcher in his minor league career.

Scouting Report: The righthanded-hitting Ross has an average, athletic frame with no remaining projection. He has a fluid swing and solid feel for contact. He makes good swing decisions and will take what the pitcher gives him. Ross’ exit velocities have improved dramatically in 2026, changing his offensive projection. His 90th-percentile exit velocity has increased more than 3 mph, and his hard-hit rate has improved drastically. Ross has the tools to play shortstop, but is also capable of playing all over the diamond. He has good range and soft hands and is a very instinctual defender. His arm is average, but he has a quick release. Ross is only an average runner, but has solid baserunning instincts.

The Future: Ross’ defense gives him a high floor as an up-and-down player, but his ability to stick on a major league roster long term will depend on how his bat develops. If it continues to improve, he has utility upside.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 50 | Field: 60 | Arm: 50.

30. Alejandro Hidalgo, RHP

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: The Twins acquired Hidalgo from the Angels in November 2022 for Gio Urshela. He missed the entire 2024 season with a right shoulder impingement and struggled in 2025 between High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita. He transitioned to the bullpen in 2026 and has seen his stuff take off.

Scouting Report: Hidalgo is a medium-framed righthander with a max-effort delivery. His velocity has improved drastically in 2026, jumping from sitting 93-95 mph and maxing out at 97 to sitting 96-98 mph and touching 99. The pitch has generated whiffs, but his control is a work in progress and has led to elevated walk and home run rates. Hidalgo complements it with a pair of bat-missing secondaries: a mid-80s changeup and high-80s slider.

The Future: Hidalgo’s improved stuff has him back on the prospect radar. He has major league reliever upside, but will need to show more consistency with his command and control to reach his potential.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 30.

Minnesota Twins Prospect Graduations

None.

Minnesota Twins Prospect Risers

Riley Quick, RHP: Quick has shown dominant stuff in his professional debut and jumped from outside the top 10 into a spot where he might push for the Top 100 at some point this year. His fastball is sitting 95-98 mph, and his cut-slider complements it well by generating weak contact. He goes to his slider and changeup when he needs to miss bats, and both have whiff rates over 50%.

Ryan Gallagher, RHP: Gallagher’s fastball velocity is up, which has elevated his north-south arsenal. His changeup is still missing bats at a high rate, and his slider has also been effective. His strike-throwing has backed up some in Triple-A, but if that improves after he adjusts to the new level, he has a chance to develop into a back-end starter.

Minnesota Twins Prospect Fallers

Marco Raya, RHP: Raya ranked 21st coming into the season, but has struggled in his first full season pitching exclusively in relief, even though he is repeating Triple-A. His stuff will still show flashes, but it lacks consistency, and he has given up a lot of hard contact early in the season.

Minnesota Twins Prospect Injuries

• Outfielder Walker Jenkins was placed on the 7-day injured list after he suffered a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder when he crashed into the outfield wall making a catch.
• Outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez was placed on the 7-day injured list after spraining his left thumb while sliding into first base.
• Righthander Charlee Soto’s debut has been delayed by minor wrist soreness that popped up while he was rehabbing from elbow surgery at the end of the 2025 season.
• Righthander James Ellwanger is out indefinitely with a right elbow strain.
• Righthander Adrian Bohorquez is out indefinitely with a right forearm strain.
• Righthander Santiago Castellanos is still building up from a triceps issue that has delayed the start of his Florida Complex League season.
• Righthander Jose Olivares’ start to the season was delayed a few weeks as he rehabbed from bone spur surgery after the 2025 season.
• Righthander Matt Barr is still rehabbing from a stress fracture in his forearm.