The Minnesota Twins didn’t just come out of the 2026 MLB Draft with volume. They may have landed a few names that outperformed their draft slots, too.
That matters for a team that has been dealing with a shortage of pitching depth and looking for value wherever it can find it. Minnesota used three straight picks beginning in Competitive Balance Round B to address that area, and the early returns on a few of those selections suggest the Twins may have found some real bargains.
Tommy LaPour, taken in Round 4 with the 107th pick, looks like the kind of arm that could pay off quickly if the health holds. The TCU right-hander was projected to go earlier by MLB.com, but elbow issues slowed his 2026 season and pushed him down the board. When he was right in 2025, he was excellent, finishing 8-3 with a 3.09 ERA and 88 strikeouts across 90 1/3 innings.
LaPour’s fastball is the pitch that stands out. MLB Pipeline gave it a 60 grade on the 20-to-80 scale, and he can run it through the zone at 95-98 MPH, with a peak of 101.
The pitch has sinking action, and his mid-80s slider gives him another weapon, graded at 55. The issue is consistency: he’s still working on commanding that breaking ball and landing it for strikes when he wants.
Thomas Burns came off the board in Round 8 at pick 227, and that selection lined up closely with his market value. Minnesota took MLB Pipeline’s 221st-ranked prospect six spots later, and Burns brings another power arm to the system.
At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, the Hortonville, Wis. product has a fastball that earns a 70 grade and sits in the 95-98 MPH range. He spent time as a starter at Arizona State before tendinitis sent him to the injured list and eventually into relief work at Texas. The results this year were uneven - a 5.64 ERA - but the strikeout rate was eye-catching, with Burns punching out 42% of the hitters he faced.
He also shows a 50-grade cutter, though the breaker with bullet spin remains a problem for strikes. Control is the big question here, with a 35 grade and a 16% walk rate over three college seasons. Still, if Minnesota can simplify a delivery that’s described as complex, there’s real reliever upside.
Aidan Teel, selected in Round 11 with pick 317, rounds out the group. His last name will ring a bell for plenty of fans: he’s the brother of former first-round pick Kyle Teel. A red-shirt junior at Mississippi State, Aidan was a key piece for the Bulldogs in 2026 and entered the year with plenty of recognition, including a No. 28 outfield ranking from D1Baseball, an 82nd-place junior ranking from Perfect Game, and Preseason All-American Fourth Team honors.
Teel backed that up with production. He hit .294 with five home runs, 22 RBIs and a .449 slugging percentage this season.
Over the previous two years, he was above .300 at the plate, and across his college career he walked 52 times and struck out 70 times. He may not have his brother’s ceiling, but for an 11th-round pick, the combination of pedigree and performance gives Minnesota a chance to have found another useful piece.
In Other News...
Twins May Be Getting Even More From That Deadline Deal
The deadline swap that sent Griffin Jax out of Minnesota and brought Taj Bradley into the rotation has already given the Twins the kind of immediate return front offices dream about. Bradley has stepped in as a key starter and given the club stability on the mound, while Jax has found a new lane with Tampa Bay by moving into a starting role of his own after struggling in relief.
There may be another layer to that deal for the Twins, too, because Andrew Morris has started to look like more than just a depth arm. He has settled into a bullpen role and has shown real improvement, including a scoreless run heading into the All-Star break, and his recent outing against the Angels hinted at a higher ceiling. If Minnesota can keep getting that kind of growth from the back end, the trade may end up paying off in more ways than one. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Fans Have A New Reason To Believe In Their Top Pick
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For the Twins, the appeal goes beyond the usual draft-day optimism. Lackey has been described as a rare catcher with five-tool upside, and his athleticism gives him a chance to develop into more than just a bat-first prospect. If the tools keep translating the way they have so far, Minnesota may have a real answer behind the plate for years to come. [Read more 🡒]
Byron Buxton Just Sent A Strong Message About Twins Trade Rumors
Byron Buxton has become one of the more intriguing names to watch as the trade market starts to take shape, and not just because of what he has done when healthy. The Twins center fielder is in the middle of a strong season, but he is also dealing with a right hip ailment that has him on the injured list, which only adds another layer to the conversation around his future.
Even so, Minnesota does not appear eager to entertain the idea of moving him, and Buxtons own contract gives him a major say in the matter. With his name floating around as a potential fit for contenders, the Twins still have every reason to treat him as a core piece rather than a chip, and the latest buzz only underscores how complicated any serious pursuit would be. [Read more 🡒]