Yasser Mercedes has never been the first name people reach for when they talk about Twins outfield prospects. He’s the No. 17 overall prospect in Minnesota’s system, according to MLB Pipeline, and seven players ranked ahead of him have already worked in the outfield during their pro careers.
Still, Mercedes is forcing his way into the conversation.
The 21-year-old right-handed hitter has been one of the more eye-catching performers in the Arizona Fall League since the minor-league season ended. Through 12 games, he has gone 13-for-40 with a home run, a double, three triples, nine RBI, seven walks and three stolen bases. His AFL line sits at .325/.400/.525, good for a .925 OPS over 50 plate appearances.
Mercedes, a Puerto Rican native, signed with Minnesota to a minor-league deal in January 2022 and received a $1.7 million bonus. The tools have always stood out.
He’s a solid defender with a strong arm and enough speed to do real damage on the bases. Across 335 minor-league games, he has stolen 145 bases.
His track record has been a roller coaster. He arrived in the Dominican Summer League and hit .355/.420/.555 with four home runs, 20 RBI and 30 steals in 41 games. The next year, with the Florida Complex League Twins in 2023, his production dipped to a .269/.348/.381 line in 25 games.
Mercedes answered with a strong 2024 showing, batting .331/.421/.568 with six home runs, 24 RBI and 18 stolen bases over 51 games in the FCL. That earned him a move to Single-A, where he struggled to a .125/.271/.150 line in 10 games. The rough stretch continued in 2025, when he hit .186/.296/.307 over 94 games at Single-A.
This season finally brought a reset. Mercedes opened with a huge run at Single-A, slashing .321/.439/.642 with six home runs, 24 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 21 games before reaching High-A for the first time in his career. At that level, he hit .232/.320/.409 with 12 home runs, 48 RBI and 41 stolen bases over 88 games.
Injuries have slowed him at times, but he stayed healthy for most of 2026. The High-A numbers weren’t spectacular, but he still showed real flashes at Cedar Rapids and put together dominant work at Fort Myers. Now, with his AFL surge, Mercedes has taken another clear step forward.
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Twins Fans Should Be Watching Kyle DeBarge Right Now
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DeBarge spent 2026 at Double-A Wichita, and his placement in the AFL gives the Twins another chance to evaluate where he stands against advanced competition. For a club always searching for the next wave of infield help and offensive depth, his progress is worth watching closely, even before the bigger numbers from this fall start to settle in. [Read more 🡒]