Catching prospect Jimenez joins Twins' AFL contingent
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MINNEAPOLIS – The Twins still aren’t entirely sure what they’re going to do at catcher in 2027, with Ryan Jeffers on the free agent market and the top levels of the farm system still light on catching talent. But take a look a little farther down the ladder, and Minnesota has a group of young catchers that would be the envy of many organizations.
You likely know Vahn Lackey, the team’s No. 1 pick (No. 3 overall) in this summer’s Draft. Then there’s Carson Tinney, taken with their second pick in 2026, and catcher/outfielder Khadim Diaw, who had a breakout year at the plate in ’26.
And on top of them, don’t forget No. 26 prospect Enrique Jimenez. The Twins acquired Jimenez, who doesn’t turn 21 for another couple of weeks, from the Tigers in the Chris Paddack trade last year. And since arriving, he’s shown a great deal of promise.
Jimenez raked at Single-A Fort Myers after the trade, and again at the beginning of this year. His numbers suffered a bit after a promotion to High-A Cedar Rapids, but his approach remained strong. Unfortunately, Jimenez missed significant time due to two injuries this year, and a hamstring strain in July appeared to have ended his season.
But when outfielder Jacob McCombs suffered an oblique strain, a spot in the Arizona Fall League opened up. And Jimenez had progressed enough that he’ll get to end his season on the field.
“He progressed much quicker than anticipated down in Fort Myers for rehab,” said Twins farm director Drew MacPhail. “Otherwise we would’ve originally sent him [to the AFL]. But he was well ahead of schedule, so when we got the spot, we were excited to send him. The main priority is plate appearances and catcher developing time that he missed out on.”
Jimenez is still working on the defensive half of the game, but there’s real promise there. And again, he’s still 20. With the arrivals of Lackey and Tinney, both of whom are slightly older and played at major college programs, there’s a little more luxury for Jimenez to develop at his own pace.
Snyder endorses Reith hire
Few organizations are as well regarded for their run prevention as the Rays, and their pitching coach, Kyle Snyder, has become one of the top names in the game at his job. So it makes sense that when the Twins hired a pitching coach, they brought Brian Reith, who had been doing that job at Triple-A Durham in the Rays system.
Snyder, for one, was delighted.
“Obviously thrilled,” Snyder said. “It’s well deserved, maybe a little overdue just in terms of what he’s been able to do here, the players he’s been able to impact. He’s a complete pitching coach. He understands a lot of the stuff about the modern 3D spin. He understands a lot about the delivery. He has all the soft skills in the world to be able to build relationships, understand how to navigate the dugout and is probably as sharp as anybody on the hard skill side of things as there is.”
DeBarge has huge game
Infielder Kyle DeBarge, the No. 33 overall pick in the Draft by the Twins in 2024, has shown some positive signs in two full Minor League seasons but has yet to really put together the numbers hoped for him. But the early returns for DeBarge in the AFL are good, and he had a huge game on Thursday.
He went 4-for-4 with a double, a walk, three runs and two RBIs. On the AFL season, DeBarge is batting .357 as he looks to end the year on a positive note.