Minnesota Twins Pitching Prospect Moves into MLB Top 100
The Minnesota Twins farm system isn’t among the best in baseball, but the group continues to gain more attention as it adds more minor league talent into the MLB’s official top-100 prospect rankings. Recently, right-handed pitcher David Festa became their 5th.
Minnesota Twins Top Pitching Prospect David Festa Moves Up
Over the weekend, Texas Rangers budding rookie of the year candidate, 2023 draft pick Wyatt Langford, officially graduated from the Top 100 prospect rankings. When that happened, everyone behind Langford moved up the list… and in slid Festa.
RHP David Festa enters the Top 100 Prospects list upon Wyatt Langford's graduation.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 1, 2024
Scouting report + more on the #MNTwins hurler with a 2.77 ERA + 13.8 K/9 at Triple-A in 2024: https://t.co/7jw6vmsiDC pic.twitter.com/nxBKkSp0Er
Discussion as to who the Twins top pitching prospect is has revolved around both Marco Raya and Festa. Different websites have different opinions on the pair, but it is Festa who is already at Triple-A and finding success. Having pitched in the 2023 All Star Futures Game, Festa owns a 3.56 ERA with a ridiculous 65 strikeouts in just 43 innings.
While Royce Lewis was the latest top Twins prospect to graduate and emerge at the highest level, the next wave that can join him on Rocco Baldelli’s roster is edging closer. Walker Jenkins immediately made a splash following his selection during the 2023 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, but David Festa might be the next name to don a Twins jersey.
Related: Twins Call Up Proven Big League Reliever Who’s Been Dominating in St. Paul
David Festa Highlights Minnesota Twins Prospect Depth
As a 13th round pick, Festa is a testament to the Twins development ability. The franchise has made a habit of drafting small program pitchers in the middle rounds, adding velocity, and tweaking their stuff in order to enhance the overall performance. The trajectory for Festa has been reflective of that, and it is being replicated with names like Zebby Matthews, Cory Lewis, and C.J. Culpepper.
Now with five top-100 prospects in the system, most are familiar with names like Jenkins, Brooks Lee, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Gabriel Gonzalez. Raya could be a potential top-100 addition at some point as well, but the depth of the organization is where a significant amount of excitement lies.
| MLB Top-100 | Twins Prospect | Age | Current Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Walker Jenkins (OF) | 19 | A – Fort Myers |
| 14 | Brooks Lee (IF) | 23 | AAA – St. Paul |
| 31 | Emmanuel Rodriguez (OF) | 21 | AA – Wichita |
| 81 | Gabriel Gonzalez (OF) | 20 | A – Cedar Rapids |
| 100 | David Festa (SP) | 24 | AAA – St. Paul |
| NA | Marco Reya (SP) | 21 | AA – Wichita |
David Festa dominated today with 10 K over six shutout innings to lower his ERA to 3.00 in 30 IP for Triple-A St. Paul.
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) May 12, 2024
Should get some time with Minnesota this season.#MNTwinspic.twitter.com/cXA7fs1tBv
Festa emerging on the national stage is nice to see. Players like Luke Keaschall, the aforementioned pitching prospects, Kala’i Rosario, and a few others represent potential big-league regulars in the not so distant future. As the summer bears down on the trade deadline as well, it will be these depth prospects that can help to acquire some veteran big league talent should the Twins choose as well.
Expect to see Festa pitching at Target Field sometime throughout the 2024 season. He is probably next in line to get a promotion, and the starting rotation may open up an opportunity sooner rather than later.
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