Gabriel Gonzalez is stepping into spring training with a renewed sense of confidence. While his trademark smile and gratitude remain, there’s a noticeable shift in his demeanor, reflecting his growing assurance that he belongs at this level.
After a challenging start with the organization in 2024, Gonzalez found his footing last season, reminding everyone why he’s considered one of the Twins’ top prospects. As he navigates camp under the scrutiny of big-league coaches and the Minnesota development staff, his ambitions have grown.
“First of all, thank God. I had an incredible year last year, and I’m happy for that," Gonzalez shared.
"I want to build off last year, and I’ve got some goals that I want to achieve for this year. I’m incredibly lucky to be a part of this team right now, and I look forward to the staff helping me get better.”
Joining the Twins via the Jorge Polanco trade, Gonzalez faced the typical challenges of a new environment-new teammates, new coaches, and heightened expectations. Even for a highly-touted prospect, that adjustment period can be daunting.
“At first, it was a little difficult for me coming to a new team, not knowing anybody," Gonzalez recalled. "It was all new to me.
Thank God that my teammates were helpful, the staff was helpful, and I’m getting better. I found my rhythm.
I’m looking forward to this year.”
Once he found that rhythm, everything clicked. His bat speed was back, his approach became sharper, and the talent that intrigued the Twins began to shine consistently.
Looking ahead to 2026, both Gonzalez and the organization face a year filled with potential. While he might not start the season with the major league squad, there’s a strong internal belief that he could soon force that conversation. The Twins have relied on young talent in recent years, and Gonzalez fits perfectly into their strategy of blending promising prospects with competitive aspirations.
His goals for this season are both realistic and insightful.
“First of all, I would like to stay healthy," he said. "That’s number one.
Then I’d like to help the team with whatever they need. Control the controllables.”
Health is the foundation, and consistency is the next step. But Gonzalez is well aware that to transition from a promising minor leaguer to a regular at Target Field, he needs to focus on one crucial area.
“I think first and foremost, I need to work on my defense, and make it a huge emphasis. At the big-league level, people play good defense.
The game speeds up on you. Everything is hit harder and further.
So, I need to focus on my defense.”
This self-awareness is key. While his batting has always been impressive, today’s game demands versatility and reliability in the field. For a young outfielder aiming to secure a long-term role with the Twins, honing his defensive skills-like routes, reads, and arm accuracy-could be the deciding factor.
Gonzalez has even allowed himself to dream a little about the future.
“It's definitely crossed my mind. We [he, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Walker Jenkins] played together in Triple-A, shared the same outfield, and we get along very well.
But it's definitely crossed my mind that in the future we could share the same at Target Field. That would be an incredible experience.”
The vision of a young, homegrown outfield developing together at Target Field is precisely what the Twins are aiming for in 2026 and beyond. While nothing is guaranteed for Gonzalez, the path is clear: keep producing offensively, grow defensively, and stay healthy. If he checks those boxes, his timeline to the majors could accelerate quickly.
For now, Gonzalez is focused on the day-to-day grind-the drills under the Florida sun, the conversations with coaches, and the steady climb that every prospect must navigate.
Last year was about finding his rhythm. This year is about proving that success was no fluke. If he can do that, 2026 might just be the year Twins fans see Gabriel Gonzalez transform potential into major league presence.