While competing at the highest level is always the goal, the lifeblood of an organization is the farm system. Right now Minnesota has one of the best in baseball. They relied on some of that depth too early this year, but there are pieces waiting in the wings to contribute.

When the Twins host their annual Diamond Awards event each winter, two of the awards handed out are for Minor League Pitcher and Hitter of the Year. Now we know the recipients.

Culpepper and Prielipp lands MN Twins MiLB Awards

The Minnesota Twins came into this season with plenty of exciting pitching depth. Many of those prospects will close in on the big league level next season. On the hitting side, top prospects Kaelen Culpepper and Walker Jenkins were expected to lead the way. Both had stellar seasons and one of them lands an award.

The #MNTwins announced that INF Kaelen Culpepper has been named the 2025 Sherry Robertson Award winner as the Twins minor league Player of the Year & LHP Connor Prielipp has been named the 2025 Jim Rantz Award winner as the Twins minor league Pitcher of the Year. @TwinsPlayerDev

— Dustin Morse (@morsecode) September 23, 2025

Culpepper was the Twins 1st round pick (21st overall) in the 2024 MLB Amateur Draft. He made the All-Star Futures Game this season and earned a promotion from High-A Cedar Rapids to Double-A Wichita.

Across 113 games, split almost evenly between the two stops, Culpepper batter .289/.375/.469. He recorded 16 doubles, launched 20 homers, and stole 25-of-29 bases. The entire profile is one to dream on as things have developed better than expected.

Kaelen Culpepper launches a hanging curveball out of the park, his 19th of the season.

It's been a breakout season for Culpepper, who ranks #56 in our recent top 100 prospects drop! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/GqJO93mCFN

— Prospects Live (@ProspectsLive) September 3, 2025

Culpepper looks like he can stick at shortstop, and even if he moves to third base, the power has played much more than anticipated. There was a chance for him to earn a Triple-A promotion, but it’s likely he starts there, or winds up in St. Paul quickly next season.

On the mound Connor Prielipp had his breakout season. A second round pick in the 2022 MLB Amateur Draft, Prielipp was a highly-regarded, hard-throwing lefty from Alabama. He came with injury concerns and those slowed his professional career out of the gate.

Healthy this season, Prielipp pitched 82 2/3 innings between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul. He owned a 3.65 ERA and 10.7 K/9 in 61 2/3 innings with the Wind Surge. Prielipp threw 21 innings with the Saints, and while he 5.14 ERA and 13 walks leave something to be desired, he held onto the 10.7 K/9.

15. Connor Prielipp – LHP – AAA

With a 3,000 RPM, 70-grade slider, a 60-grade fastball, and a + CH, Connor Priellipp has filthy stuff. He got plenty of Chase and Whiff and posted a 3.99 ERA, 3.57 FIP, and 3.52 xFIP over 76.2 IP. This is an arm you should be keeping tabs on. pic.twitter.com/F4VxS8yN7S

— Inside The Diamond (@InsideTheDiamnd) September 19, 2025

Minnesota handled Prielipp cautiously this season given his injury history. He was on tight pitch counts and didn’t go deep in games. That could change next year as he looks to crack the big league rotation, or he could be utilized in shorter stints as a high-ceiling option to supplement a barren bullpen.

Both players are key parts of Minnesota’s future at the big league level. Each of them put up highly-deserving seasons.

Four MN Twins prospects named Double-A All-Stars

It wasn’t just the Twins organization putting out notable prospect awards today. The Texas League, Double-A home of Wichita, named their 2025 All-Star Team as well. Four Minnesota Twins prospects made the cut.

Our All-Stars shined bright in 2025🌟⚾️‼️

Congratulations to Kyler Fedko, Pierson Ohl, Kaelen Culpepper, and Kala'i Rosario on their Texas League All-Star selections! pic.twitter.com/QjS1bVYH8W

— Wichita Wind Surge (@WindSurgeICT) September 23, 2025

Kala’i Rosario, Kyler Fedko, Kaelen Culpepper, and Pierson Ohl all represent the Twins system among the recipients. Fedko and Ohl both made their way to St. Paul, with the latter pitching this season with Minnesota. Culpepper gets the Twins MiLB Hitter of the Year award, and Rosario parlayed his second trip through the Arizona Fall League into his best professional season.

Fedko certainly could have been in consideration for hitter of the year honors as well. The former 12th round pick (2021) batted .258/.367/.487 between Double and Triple-A. After hitting 19 homers over the past three seasons, he launched 28 this year. He also swiped 38 bags (in 46 attempts) and added another 25 doubles.

The standout season for Rosario culminated in a .256/.358/.487 slash line with 25 home runs and 35 steals (in 42 attempts). He added the speed after seeing others work that into their game during Fall League action.

Minnesota has a six-game road trip to conclude the major league season. Instructs have begun down in Fort Myers. The Arizona Fall League will kick off in October. Then it’s all eyes towards Spring Training 2026.

Of course, that doesn’t change the direction of the 2025 season. After all the moves made by the Twins’ front office last week, it’s clear that winning is not a priority for the Pohlad ownership group.

That’s bad news for everyone associated with our local nine, whether it be the fans, players, coaches or executives. But with the pressure to win now eliminated, it will allow president Derek Falvey, manager Rocco Baldelli and the rest of the coaching/analytics staff to experiment.

That brings us to today’s starting pitcher, Pierson Ohl, who made his big league debut with the MN Twins in late July, just days before their deadline selloff began. Wednesday was his third appearance for Minnesota, and his second big league start.

Ohl lasted just 2.2 innings in Detroit, where he allowed 4 runs on 4 hits (61 pitches). While the big league results haven’t been very good (8.2 IP, 4 HR, 9.35 ERA, 1.73 WHIP) so far, the Twins reportedly have a strict plan for the 25-year-old former 14th round draft pick.

Minnesota Twins experimenting with Pierson Ohl

Pierson Ohl has started 59 games during his minor league career. But that’s not exactly their plan for Pierson Ohl. Instead, those in the Minnesota Twins organization are experimenting with the Grand Canyon University alum as an every fourth day opener/piggyback.

Ohl is part of an experiment that I will eventually write about, throwing every four days. They want to see how that can work right here and now.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) August 6, 2025

Related: Failed Twins Pitcher DFA’d by New Team

In essence, the MN Twins will use Ohl every fourth day. Many times, that usage will come as an opener, like Wednesday. Other times, he could be used to eat innings, should a starter flame out early, around his fourth day of rest. Either way, the goal is to get him ~4 innings and/or 60 pitches.

Ohl isn’t the only pitcher the Minnesota Twins are experimenting with in this role. They have another Triple-A pitcher, Travis Adams, doing the same thing. He too has had his big league chances in 2025, appearing in 5 games and starting one. He’s pitched 17.1 innings, toting a 6.75 ERA, 1.385 WHIP and 3.63 FIP.

The Twins won on Wednesday, despite the failures of Pierson Ohl. Going forward, it doesn’t sound like they’ll continue with the every fourth game experiment, despite the lack results it has produced thus far.

The rotation spot was filled by rookie Pierson Ohl making his Major League debut. Less than 24 hours later he’s headed back to Triple-A and Rocco Baldelli has a new pitcher coming in to take his spot.

Noah Davis to make MN Twins debut

Minnesota traded for right-handed pitcher Noah Davis from the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this month. He made two appearances at Triple-A St. Paul and is now back in the big leagues.

We have made the following roster moves. pic.twitter.com/yzoRwqe7WH

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 30, 2025

Minnesota used Ohl’s roster spot to promote Davis. The rookie turned in three innings of four-run ball against the Red Sox on Tuesday night. Ohl started strong with three strikeouts in the first inning, but things faded from there.

Davis worked in relief for the Saints and pitched two scoreless innings with a 3/1 K/BB. In six big league innings for the Dodgers earlier this year he got lit up for 14 runs (13 earned) on ten hits across just six innings.

Plenty of Davis’ season has been spent at Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Pacific Coast League is a difficult one to pitch in, but Davis tallied a 3.94 ERA across 32 innings. At the Major League level Davis has 57 1/3 innings across four seasons between Colorado and Los Angeles.

Related: Report: Houston Astros Coming for MN Twins Carlos Correa

Drafted in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, Davis did start six games in his second season (2023) with the Rockies. He’s a reliever though, and will look to eat innings at the bottom of the Twins bullpen heierarchy.

Minnesota is still awaiting the return of Bailey Ober to the starting rotation. That could happen as soon as Friday, and Davis’ spot on the roster may be in jeopardy then.

Just over an hour and a half before playing game two of the series against Boston the news was announced. Minnesota walked off the Red Sox Monday night after giving up four runs and trailing 4-3.

With Paddack sent to the Detroit Tigers, the Twins also needed to make a roster move for a new pitcher. It was reported that Pierson Ohl was on his way for a big league debut late in the evening.

Inflammation is Buxton’s latest setback for Minnesota Twins

Byron Buxton made a leaping catch at the wall in the series against Washington over the weekend. He exited the game and underwent an MRI, but it showed just rib cartilage irritation. Unfortunately that hasn’t resolved itself and now he is headed back to the injured list for the second time this season.

#MNTwins news: Byron Buxton is going on the IL.

Ryan Jeffers has been reinstated.

Pierson Ohl has his contract selected.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) July 29, 2025

The Twins placement of Buxton on the injured list is retroactive to July 27. The hope would be that he misses the minimum and that allows he to be activated on August 6. Ryan Jeffers, who just had a baby, returns from the paternity list to take his place.

It’s unfortunate news for Buxton who has undergone a career’s worth of injuries. Last season was just the second time in 11 big league seasons he has played more than 100 games (102). He wasn’t going to reach the 140 he played in 2017 this year, but could blow by last season’s total with a clean bill of health the rest of the way.

Buck makes these catches look way too easy pic.twitter.com/JJOH8KmWJ0

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 26, 2025

Through 85 games the Twins superstar owns a .282/.343/.561 slash line with 23 home runs. He won’t win the American League MVP over either Aaron Judge or Cal Raliegh, but his 3.9 fWAR should have him in the conversation. He has multi-million dollar contract incentives for finishing in the top ten of voting.

Related: Insiders Suggest Two Landing Spots for Twins Trade Candidates

As a selling team it doesn’t really matter what Buxton provides the team as an individual. He is a competitor though, and it’s logical that he is chasing his own career-best numbers. If he can get back on the field by mid-next week, there is still reason to believe he can achieve them.

Ohl and Jeffers to MN Twins active roster

The move to add Pierson Ohl became official on Tuesday, but he didn’t need to clear a 26-man roster spot with Chris Paddack departing. His capacity on the mound is unknown, but he has worked in a starting and bulk man role.

Jeffers has been fine if not unspectacular this season. He owns a 105 OPS+ with a .254/.346/.399 slash line. The offense hasn’t replicated the 133 OPS+ he posted in 2023, and the defensive remains something of a concern. He currently is the only Twins catcher in the plans for the future though.

Related: Top Contenders Blowing MN Twins Up Over Trade Assets

Mickey Gasper was originally called up to replace Jeffers while he was on the paternity list. The utility man did get behind the plate briefly, but will now remain on the roster with Buxton heading to the injured list. He scored the game-tying run on Monday night after being hit by Red Sox reliever Jordan Hicks.

Travis Adams was optioned back to Triple-A St. Paul in favor of bullpen arm Michael Tonkin. That removes a bulk arm out of the bullpen and leaves the rotation in flux this week.

Minnesota already had an undecided starter for their matinee against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. Chris Paddack was scheduled to start Tuesday and that will now be assumed by prospect Pierson Ohl.

Pierson Ohl to make MLB Debut for MN Twins

The Boston Red Sox are in town for a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins this week. Those are the final three contests before the Major League Baseball trade deadline and Derek Falvey is going to sell. The starting rotation needs live arms to compete though, and that’s where Pierson Ohl comes in.

The Minnesota Twins are calling up RHP Pierson Ohl to start tomorrow for what will be his Major League Debut.

Ohl has a 2.17 ERA along with 79 strikeouts in 66.1 innings this season across three levels.#Twins

— Chase Ford (@_chaseford) July 28, 2025

Ohl was a 14th round pick by the MN Twins during the 2021 MLB Draft. He threw 13 games for the Wichita Wind Surge this year and posted a 2.08 ERA across 39 innings. Last season Ohl operated heavily as a starter with 102 innings between 21 games (15 starts) and had a 4.68 ERA at Double-A.

He has split time as a starter and bulk guy this season, but has also reached Triple-A for the first time. In 22 1/3 innings for the Saints, Ohl has a 2.82 ERA with a 23/5 K/BB.

Incredible Triple-A debut for @Pierson_Ohl. He goes 4.0 shutout innings allowing three singles and struck out one. Did not have a runner reach second base. He threw 54 pitches, 40 for strikes. The AVERAGE exit velocity of the 14 balls put in play was 72.7 mph. pic.twitter.com/UCCjK66OCy

— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) June 25, 2025

It’s unlikely he starts in a traditional sense for the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Rocco Baldelli utilized a bullpen game on Sunday and then needed to send Adams back to Triple-A. If Minnesota is simply going to operate the shuttle, then it may just be a single day of work for Ohl.

Unlike Adams, Ohl is not on the 40-man roster and will need a move to clear space. They could DFA Noah Davis or put on of Carson McCusker or Ryan Fitzgerald through waivers. There isn’t necessarily a straightforward path, but one will certainly be taken.

Related: Minnesota Twins Trade Veteran Starter to Division Rival

As the Twins look at their season through a transitional lens, the roster is surely about to be in flux. How that shakes out remains to be seen but that won’t stop it from happening.