Prielipp's elite stuff could make him key piece for Twins in '26

MINNEAPOLIS -- As the Twins approach what could be a fascinating Spring Training, much of the prospect hype surrounds their young hitters. The organization’s top four prospects, all of whom are ranked in the Top 100 overall, are hitters.

But if you’re looking for players from the Minor League system who could have a significant impact on the 2026 season, you would be unwise to overlook the pitchers. Minnesota has extensive need in its relief corps after trading its top five bullpen arms at the Trade Deadline last year.

Some of those holes will be filled by outside acquisitions. Some will likely be filled by candidates for the big league rotation who do not crack the starting five. But it won’t be at all surprising if some portion of the 2026 bullpen comes directly from the prospect ranks.

Enter Connor Prielipp.

The Twins' No. 9 prospect has some of the best pure stuff in the system, but he is also one of its least experienced pitchers despite making it to Triple-A last season. He’s had a hard time staying healthy, and the Twins have been extremely protective of his prized left arm.

When he’s available, though … look out.

In 112 2/3 professional innings, Prielipp has struck out 146 batters. He’s allowed seven home runs. It hasn’t always been clean; he’s walked a few too many batters (42 total) and at times also given up a surprising number of hits (116). And that’s often the profile of young starters who become relievers -- elite stuff, questions about durability and inconsistency in the strike zone.

Prielipp’s four-pitch mix -- which includes a newly added sinker -- is simply electric. He averaged 94.8 mph at Triple-A on his four-seam and got an eye-popping 2994 RPM average spin rate on his slider. He also features a changeup and that new sinker.

“We felt like Connor took a really good step forward this year, getting as many innings under his belt as he did,” said Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll. “I'm excited to have him back in for our early program in Fort Myers again and get one more crack trying to finish developing his mix. And I think seeing how that early program goes, early Spring Training, will be informative as we try to map things out for the year and figure out what's best for him and for us, and pairing all that together.”

All of which is to say, Prielipp isn’t necessarily destined for the bullpen just yet. The possibility still exists that he could be not just a starting pitcher, but a very good one. But with concerns about his health, and some inconsistency with his control, the question becomes a natural one.

And of course, on top of that, there’s the simple factor of need. The Twins must balance the long-term development of a potentially special pitcher with the possibility that he could make an impact in an area of need very soon.

Some portion of the Twins’ bullpen will almost certainly consist of starting prospects. It will not be shocking if Prielipp is one of them.

“I hate to put too much pressure on anyone,” said Derek Falvey, the Twins’ president of baseball and business operations, “but you see young arms like Connor Prielipp throw the way he can at times. You see [No. 18 prospect] Marco Raya throw the way he has. You see the guys that have already reached the big leagues, I'm excited about that group in aggregate, and we're going to need to figure out how to make it all work together."