The Twins don’t have their catcher of the future nailed down for 2027, not with Ryan Jeffers heading toward free agency and the upper reaches of the farm system still thin behind the plate. But if you zoom out a bit, the organization suddenly looks a lot stronger at the position.
Vahn Lackey, the club’s No. 1 pick and No. 3 overall selection in this summer’s Draft, is part of that picture. So is Carson Tinney, taken with Minnesota’s second pick in 2026. Khadim Diaw, listed as a catcher/outfielder, also put together a breakout year at the plate in 2026.
And then there’s Enrique Jimenez.
The Twins acquired Jimenez from the Tigers in the Chris Paddack trade last year, and the 20-year-old prospect has given them plenty to like since arriving. He hit well at Single-A Fort Myers after the deal and kept rolling early this season.
His production dipped after a move to High-A Cedar Rapids, but the approach stayed intact. Injuries interrupted his year, and a hamstring strain in July looked like it might shut him down for good.
Instead, he’s getting one more chance to play.
An opening in the Arizona Fall League came up when outfielder Jacob McCombs suffered an oblique strain, and Jimenez had done enough to earn the assignment. He’ll close out his season there, getting the plate appearances and catching work that he missed because of the injuries.
“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 refining the defensive side of his game, but the Twins see real upside there. He also won’t turn 21 for another couple of weeks, which gives the organization some breathing room. With Lackey and Tinney both a little older and coming from major college programs, Minnesota can afford to let Jimenez develop without forcing the timeline.
The Twins also made a move on the staff side that drew strong approval from one of the most respected pitching coaches in the game.
When Minnesota hired Brian Reith away from Triple-A Durham in the Rays system, it brought in a coach with a strong reputation for run prevention work. Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder made it clear he thinks the Twins got a good one.
“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.”
The Twins also announced the hiring of Ben Myers as Assistant Athletic Trainer.
In Other News...
Twins Pitching Hire Could Signal A Very Different Plan For This Staff
The Twins have brought in Brian Reith as their new pitching coach, adding a name with a strong developmental background to a staff that could use a fresh perspective. Reith comes from the Rays minor league pitching pipeline and also brings major league playing experience with the Reds, which gives him a blend of teaching and firsthand big-league context that should fit a club looking to get more out of its arms.
What makes the hire interesting is the track record behind it. Reith has earned a reputation for helping pitchers improve at the Triple-A level, where polish matters as much as raw stuff, and his approach has been built around strike throwing and command. For the Twins, that suggests a possible shift in how the staff is being shaped, with an emphasis on control and development rather than simply chasing velocity and swing-and-miss upside. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Could Be Closer Than Ever To A Royce Lewis Pivot
Royce Lewis has been one of the more intriguing names in the Twins infield conversation, but his production since that electric rookie stretch has left Minnesota with a real decision to make. The front office has spent enough time watching the same pattern to know this isnt just about patience anymore, and the possibility of a longer-term shakeup at the position is starting to feel less like a fringe idea and more like a practical one.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has emerged as the kind of short-term fit that could help bridge the gap if the Twins decide to change course. Even after a difficult offensive season and a trade to the Yankees, he still brings athleticism, defensive value and speed on the bases, traits Minnesota has shown it can use. The more interesting part is what his market may look like, because the Twins could find themselves with a chance to act before the rest of the league fully settles on his value. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Could Revisit Some Familiar Names As Offseason Decisions Loom
The Twins are heading into an offseason with only limited free-agent activity on the docket, but there are still a few familiar names worth keeping in mind as the front office sorts through signings and arbitration business. Among the players who could eventually be back on the market are Luis Arraez, Ty France, Christian Vazquez and Michael Fulmer, a quartet that gives Minnesota at least some reason to think about reunion possibilities if the right opportunity opens up.
France stands out as the most interesting case, coming off a strong year with San Diego and giving the Twins a potential option at a position group that always seems to need reinforcements. Vazquez and Fulmer would fit different kinds of roster needs, while Arraez remains the kind of player whose fit in Minnesota would always invite a second look. The question is not whether the Twins know these names, but which ones might make sense again when the time comes. [Read more 🡒]