Five MLB-Ready Prospects Who Could Help the Twins Right Away

With spring training less than a month away, the Minnesota Twins still have clear roster holes — and a handful of MLB-ready prospects who may represent their best path forward.

Last season’s trade deadline stripped the roster of nearly a dozen veteran players, and the Twins have done relatively little to replace that lost experience. Team leadership has repeatedly emphasized a commitment to building from within, leaning on a farm system that baseball executives recently labeled one of the league’s most underrated, according to an MLB Pipeline survey.

If Minnesota truly intends to match words with action — and operate within its financial constraints — spring training will need to be more than a formality. It should be an open competition.

While top prospects like Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez arguably deserve looks after reaching Triple-A in 2025, both are blocked by a left-handed–heavy outfield that the Twins simply don’t need to add to right now.

What they do need is obvious: relief pitching and right-handed offense.

With that in mind, here are five prospects — all yet to make their MLB debuts — who could force their way onto the Opening Day roster if they shine in camp.

Connor Prielipp

One common reason teams hesitate to break camp with rookies is service-time manipulation. That concern doesn’t apply much to Connor Prielipp, who just turned 25. Even if he stuck in the majors all season, the Twins would still control him through his age-30 campaign.

If healthy, Prielipp may already be one of the Twins’ best relief options. His high-octane fastball and devastating slider from the left side give him legitimate late-inning upside. It’s not unreasonable to imagine him stepping directly into a high-leverage role — perhaps even a setup or closing job — much like Jhoan Duran did in 2022.

If the stuff is there in spring training, there’s little reason to keep him in the minors.

Marco Raya

Raya’s 2025 season was rocky, particularly in Triple-A, where he struggled as a starter. At this point, both Raya and the Twins appear ready to embrace what seems inevitable: a bullpen conversion.

In short stints, Raya can lean heavily on his plus slider and let his velocity play up. Derek Falvey has hinted at this transition, and it’s easy to see why. Raya could be a major X-factor in a bullpen that is still very much under construction.

Command and emotional consistency remain hurdles, but if Raya shows improved strike-throwing and composure in camp, the Twins may decide his upside is worth the gamble.

John Klein

Perhaps the biggest dark horse entering spring training.

Klein wasn’t widely known until the Twins added him to the 40-man roster in November — a move that followed a quietly impressive season. The 6-foot-5 right-hander struck out 128 batters in 106 innings across the upper minors, showcasing a deep arsenal that could be streamlined for bullpen use.

Though he logged just 25 innings at Triple-A, Klein turns 24 in April and already has a roster advantage over other fringe candidates. If his stuff plays in short stints, he could quickly emerge as a useful bullpen arm with upside.

Gabriel Gonzalez

Now to the other glaring need: right-handed hitting.

The Twins are overloaded with left-handed corner bats — Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, Kody Clemens, Alan Roden, and James Outman — while lacking legitimate right-handed threats to counter lefty pitching.

Enter Gabriel Gonzalez.

At just 22, Gonzalez might already be the organization’s best internal option for real right-handed punch. He dominated left-handed pitching in 2025, slashing .368/.430/.592, and finished the season with an .862 OPS in Triple-A across 150 plate appearances.

The challenge is opportunity. Minnesota won’t carry a bat-only prospect for sporadic starts. For Gonzalez to make the roster, space must be cleared — but if the Twins want immediate impact against lefties, he’s the most exciting option in-house.

Kyler Fedko

Think of Fedko as Gonzalez’s lower-risk counterpart.

At 26, Fedko is no longer a development project, which may make the Twins more comfortable using him in a limited role. He posted a strong .855 OPS at Triple-A last season, yet never received a late-season call-up and wasn’t added to the 40-man roster.

Fedko also went unselected in the Rule 5 Draft, suggesting lukewarm league-wide interest. Still, he remains on the prospect radar — ranked 18th by Twins Daily and 33rd by Aaron Gleeman — and offers a skill set that fits Minnesota’s short-term needs.

If the Twins prioritize reliability over upside, Fedko could sneak his way onto the roster.

Final Thoughts

If the Twins truly intend to build from within, spring training will matter. The roster holes are real, the payroll is tight, and several prospects are knocking on the door.

Whether it’s bullpen upside, right-handed offense, or simple roster flexibility, these five players have a legitimate path to Opening Day — if they force the issue.

Did we miss anyone?
Who’s your dark-horse Twins prospect to debut on Opening Day?

Let the competition begin.