The Twins spent their first pick in the first round (No. 16) on Wake Forest shortstop, Marek Houston ($4.93 million slot value), who will rightfully garner most of the fanfare surrounding Minnesota’s 2025 draft class. They also took Alabama pitcher Riley Quick later in the first round (No. 36).

In total, Falvey and his front office made 21 picks between Sunday and Monday, some more interesting than others. Here are the four I believe to be the most interesting out of the bunch.

Riley Quick is more than just a new MN Twins pitcher

With their Competitive Balance Round A pick the Minnesota Twins grabbed Alabama pitcher Riley Quick. The 6’6″ right-hander stayed home to pitch for Alabama after being the state’s top prep prospect back in 2022. He wasn’t just a pitcher though, and left high school as a four-star offensive lineman.

Tough decisions ahead for touted 2-sport prospect Riley Quick — a 4-star OT and a dominant pitcher (VIP) https://t.co/9Wy6TPJGuX pic.twitter.com/Sley4CscbN

— Keith Niebuhr (@On3Keith) May 31, 2021

He started as a reliever for the Crimson Tide but underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024. He made 14 starts this year and topped out at 99 mph. Quick posted a 3.92 ERA and had a 70/24 K/BB across 62 innings. He allowed just five home runs.

There is a ton of projection for any prospect, but there are scouts around the league who believe Quick could settle in as one of the best arms in the organization. Quick’s fastball and slider are both plus pitches, and he has real potential as a future front-end starter in the big leagues.

🎨ing 96 to wrap up the 1st 😤@rileyquick12 I #RollTide pic.twitter.com/2PEVUOZinJ

— Alabama Baseball (@AlabamaBSB) February 22, 2025

Quick told me after being selected by the Twins that playing football helped his baseball career a lot. He did say he needed to learn to separate the emotional and aggressive aspect between the two sports. While he didn’t suit up for Alabama, pitching there and experiencing the entire Crimson Tide athletics scene is something he called the best time of his life.

Related: 2025 Minnesota Twins MLB Draft Tracker

Minnesota has shown an ability to get additional velocity from guys like Simeon Woods Richardson and Zebby Matthews. Quick is excited about going to an organization that could help him reach triple digits. He said he’s a guy who likes to rear back and throw as hard as he can at times. The MN Twins will look to harness that.

Quentin Young and Bruin Agbayani are bloodline picks for Twins

Every year there are sons, nephews, cousins, and other relations of former big league players that infiltrate the MLB Draft. This year is no different. And surprise, it’s another Holliday.

Matt Holliday already has one son, Jackson (the 2022 No. 1 overall pick), in the big leagues. Soon, he will likely add another, after Ethan Holliday was selected fourth overall by the Colorado Rockies. But the Minnesota Twins also dipped their toe into the MLB gene pool this year.

In fact, they went after baseball bloodlines twice in this draft. Bruin Agbayani, whose dad (Benny Agbayani) was a 30th round MLB Draft pick in 1993 and played five big league seasons, was Hawaii’s top prospect and the 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year.

3B Bruin Agbayani has been making hard contact early on this year with a 33.3% Hard Hit% and a max exit velocity of 108.3mph.💨

The Saint Louis HS (HI) infielder has five hits in as many games to start the summer.@MLBDraftLeague | @FrederickKeys pic.twitter.com/HGHEKVA9NB

— MLB Draft League Data (@draftleaguedata) June 9, 2025

At this point in their development, Agbayani doesn’t have the offensive upside that Young does, but he does bring a professional-style to the batter’s box that kind of reminds me of Brooks Lee. And who knows a kid like Bruin will develop into.

Then, there’s Quentin Young, nephew of Dmitri Young and (one-time Twin) Delmon Young. Unsurprisingly, the 18-year-old’s prospect profile is built on power, and a proneness to strikeouts. But as a prep prospect, there is a lot of room for development.

For now, Young plays shortstop, but he probably won’t stick there. More likely, he projects as a third baseman or corner outfielder. Like his uncles, Quentin has a strong arm, probably his best defensive attribute early on. No doubt, both of these two will be guys to watch over the next few years.

Quentin Young confirmed this home run ball was located on La Tienda Dr. and returned to him by a parent on Saturday night. Former OCS Head of Athletics Jan Hethcock said in the 25 years of baseball at Oaks no one has cleared the stadium to dead center. 450 ft is the best guess. pic.twitter.com/ize3rPdosl

— Oaks Christian Lions (@OaksChrstnLions) March 11, 2025

Jason Reitz could give MN Twins a new record

Bailey Ober is someone that the Minnesota Twins have turned into a capable big league starter thanks to his extension. The 6’9″ frame is substantial and allows him to get on hitters in a hurry. Fourth round selection Jason Reitz from Oregon dwarfs him at 6’11”.

Reitz started his career at St. Mary’s (WCC), where he played for two seasons, before transferring to Oregon. He pitched in the Cape Cod league last summer and turned in a solid 3.50 ERA with a 73/29 K/BB ratio across 64 1/3 innings this season.

If Reitz makes it to the big leagues, he’ll tie former Twins reliever Jon Rauch and Minnesota native Sean Hjelle as the tallest pitchers to ever take a major league mound. Jason can touch 98 mph, but he’s raw. If the right tweaks are made, however, he could very well surpass Ober both in height and long-term ability.

Tallest Man Drafted

6'11" pitcher Jason Reitz is selected by the @Twins with the 119th pick of the 2025 #MLBDraft. pic.twitter.com/Mfju4tJOGu

— Rapsodo Baseball (@rapsodo) July 14, 2025

BONUS: The Twins wrapped up the draft by making a fun full circle moment come to fruition in the 14th round. After taking Utah pitcher Merit Jones in the 20th round last season he didn’t sign. Jones went back to school and jumped up to the 14th round after owning a 2.14 ERA across 21 innings as a reliever.

The hope for all franchises is that they will hit on multiple draft picks and generate future All-Star Game representatives from them. Minnesota’s roster currently boasts five of their own former first round picks (Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Brooks Lee, and Royce Lewis).

They have four selections in the first three rounds on Sunday, and another 16 to make on day two Monday. Their most recent top selections include Culpepper, Charlee Soto, and Walker Jenkins.

Minnesota Twins MLB Draft Picks – 2025

Minnesota owns the 16th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. They also have the 36th overall pick in the first round as part of the competitive balance round. The rest of their selections are outlined below.

MN Twins take Marek Houston 16th overall

The Minnesota Twins used their 16th overall pick on Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston. The collegiate infielder was ranked between 14th and 23rd by different publications, so he fell right within their range. He’s seen as more of a defensive talent, but MLB Pipeline provided a nice rundown.

“Houston wasn’t a high-profile recruit but won Wake Forest’s shortstop role as a freshman in 2023 and helped the Demon Deacons finish third at the Men’s College World Series. A Cape Cod League All-Star last summer, he has developed into arguably the best defensive shortstop in the Draft. He overhauled his offensive approach in fall practice and hit for more power during his junior season. Houston earns solid-to-plus grades for his quickness and arm strength, and some evaluators will go even higher than that on his ability to play shortstop. He has smooth actions and plenty of range to both sides and should be a high-quality defender at the big league level. Should he not hit enough to merit an everyday role, he has the tools to play almost anywhere on the diamond as a utilityman. In his first two college seasons, the righty-swinging Houston had a contact-over-impact mentality and projected as an average hitter with below-average power. Now that he has added muscle and sold out for power, he may find 12-15 homers per season while providing less in the way of batting average. His speed plays better in the field than it does on the bases.”

MLB Pipeline

Marek Houston is the pick. Plus defender and runner, with the offense coming around.

The Twins have really valued these athletes with speed in recent drafts#MNTwins
pic.twitter.com/Nad8luqoYC

— Twins Talk (@LetsTalk_Twins) July 13, 2025

Houston has spent three years at Wake Forest. In 61 games this year he slashed .354/.458/.597 with 14 doubles and 15 home runs. He split strikeouts and walks at 46 apiece. The plus-defender will probably regress a bit at the plate in pro ball, but there’s no reason he can’t stick at shortstop.

The Twins made a high-floor selection with their first pick, and there’s an opportunity for them to save some money on the collegiate selection as well. The slot value checks in at $4.93 million. Their draft pool is 12th largest in baseball at $12.653 million.

This seems like more of a safe selection that a high-upside one. The Twins have gone with big bat prospects in the late first round, save for Kaelen Culpepper, so this deviates a bit from their previous plan.

Pitcher Riley Quick rounds out Minnesota Twins 1st round picks

After taking a collegiate shortstop with their first overall pick, the MN Twins stayed in the collegiate ranks with selection number two. They used their Competitive Balance (Round A) choice on Alabama pitcher Riley Quick.

“Quick was Alabama’s top high school baseball prospect in 2022, as well as a four-star offensive lineman who drew interest from college football programs, but he was determined to pitch for the Crimson Tide. After a successful freshman season in Alabama’s bullpen, he blew out his elbow in his first college start in 2024 and had Tommy John surgery. He returned quicker than normal, making it back for the start of the 2025 season and staying healthy other than missing a late-March start with a bad blister. Quick has the power stuff to go in the first round, beginning with a heavy sinker that sits at 96-97 mph and tops out at 99, and the 6-foot-6, 255-pounder holds his velocity throughout his starts. His mid-80s slider can be a wipeout offering with two-plane depth, and he can turn it into a cutter that climbs as high as 95 mph. He also flashes a solid upper-80s changeup with fade and sink. Though Quick’s fastball and slider grade as plus-plus at their best and he can back them up with a quality changeup, he doesn’t miss nearly as many bats as his pure stuff indicates he should. His pitches move so much that they can be difficult to harness, leaving him with decent control but spotty command. He has logged fewer innings than most third-year college pitchers and the hope is that he’ll approach his frontline-starter ceiling as he gains more experience and polish.”

MLB Pipeline

The Alabama pitcher started 14 games this season and compiled a 3.92 ERA. Across 62 innings he posted a 70/24 K/BB and allowed just five home runs. Obviously he has seen a high level of competition in the SEC and he has a strong frame at 6’6″ 255 pounds.

Riley Quick at #36 to Minnesota! Love this pick for the Twins and thought Quick could slip into the 1st round

Had TJ in 24’, big body SP at 6’6/250 with an upper 90s FB, and two plus secondaries with his CH and Cutter. Strike throwing took major strides in 25’.

Mid rotation… pic.twitter.com/LFzP09RTNt

— Owen Hurd (@Owen_FBB) July 14, 2025

Quick showed the definition of his surname after undergoing Tommy John surgery after his first start in 2024. With the injury behind him, it’s more likely there is a clean bill of health ahead of him.

With plenty of college experience, both in the bullpen and as a starter, under his belt it’s possible he sees a fast track to the big leagues.

MN Twins make prep pick in Quentin Young

After a pair of collegiate picks to open the 2025 MLB Draft the Minnesota Twins grabbed their first prep talent. Shortstop Quentin Young is a value pick that MLB Pipeline ranked 37th overall and was selected with the 54th pick. He’s an LSU commit that the Twins likely will go over slot for after the two college talents. If the last name sounds familiar, it’s because it should be.

“The nephew of Dmitri and Delmon, Young was initially slated to be a part of the 2026 Draft class but reclassified to join this year’s crop. Young’s physicality and ceiling were on display all summer at events like MLB’s High School All-American Game and USA Baseball’s 18U team in World Cup qualifying. The 6-foot-6 Young has a ton of projection, obvious baseball bloodlines and some loud tools. He has huge raw power that some evaluators put top-of-the-scale grades on. He has bat speed and some feel to hit, but there are some swing-and-miss concerns and trouble recognizing spin that cropped up over the summer, leading some to worry a bit about how much he’ll tap into that raw pop consistently. Young moves well for his size and his athleticism shows up defensively. He actually doesn’t look terrible at shortstop, his position in high school, though he’s likely to move to third if he’s going to stay on the dirt. Some think he might be best suited in right field, where a plus arm that can fire 95-mph fastballs off the mound profiles well. Committed to LSU, Young could provide a team with a Jayson Werth-type of toolbox if he can to a more consistent hit tool, with scouts who laud his work ethic believing he can do just that.”

MLB Pipeline

Way back in 2007 the Minnesota Twins traded Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, Eduardo Morlan, Brendan Harris, and Jason Pridie for Delmon Young. Nearly 20 years later they have now drafted his nephew.

Quentin Young posted exit velos up to 115 mph today at the MLB Draft Combine 👀

The LSU commit ranks No. 55 on our draft board.

Nephew of Delmon and Dmitri Young.

BA 500: https://t.co/7bXWNyFXsR pic.twitter.com/wmkPDcUg27

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 17, 2025

Across 29 games as a senior Young batted .381 with four doubles and 14 home runs. Both Dmitri and Delmon has successful big league careers. The Twins would love to get more from Quentin than they did his uncle.

James Ellwanger is another pitcher to round out MLB Draft day 1

After a pair of shortstops in their first three picks, the Minnesota Twins went back to the pitching well with their final first day selection. James Ellwanger spent two seasons at Dallas Baptist and is now headed to pro ball.

“Ellwanger’s fastball shot into the mid-90s midway through his Texas high school senior season in 2023 and made him a top-three-rounds prospect, but his signability dropped him to the Nationals in the 19th round and sent him to Dallas Baptist. He touched 99 mph in his college debut last February, then missed most of March and April with a flexor strain in his pitching elbow before performing well in the Cape Cod League during the summer. He’s one of the most intriguing sophomores in the 2025 college crop but has labored to throw strikes this spring. When Ellwanger is dialed in, he can sit in the mid-90s with his fastball and blow it by batters in the zone with ample carry and armside run, though he has fought his control and command of the pitch throughout 2025. His low-80s curveball has good shape and has been his most reliable offering, while his mid-80s slider has been crushed so much that he has begun toying with a low-90s cutter. He barely uses his mid-80s changeup but it will dive at the plate at times. After working just 30 2/3 innings between Dallas Baptist and the Cape in 2024, Ellwanger needs innings to hone his craft and prove he can do more than just overpower hitters with his heater. He’s athletic but will have to polish and repeat his three-quarters delivery to develop average control and command. He still has projection remaining in his 6-foot-4 frame, so his arsenal could become even more powerful.”

MLB Pipeline

Ellwanger started just eight games as a 20-year-old in 2024. This season he made 16 appearances with 14 starts. His 3.98 ERA across 63.1 IP was hampered by lots of traffic in the form of 39 walks. He struck out a crazy 95 batters (13.5 K/9) and allowed just two home runs.

46. James Ellwanger:
High octane righty at 6’5”, 200 lbs. Fluid delivery + loose arm. FB 95-98 T100 with + IVB is his go to weapon, mixing in a low-80s slider. 22 K's in 13 IP this summer. Improved command with a 3rd offering flashed and theres serious 1st round upside. pic.twitter.com/1lU9vfyC0H

— Jackson (@jacksonab_) December 30, 2024

The Twins have been capable of adding velocity for professional arms, and that could make Ellwanger even more nasty. The command and control need to be reigned in, and he didn’t show that in either season with Dallas Baptist. He had experience (13.0 IP) on The Cape, and that experience should serve him well as he transitions to the next level.

Ellwanger is another prospect that is a value pick according to MLB Pipeline. Despite being drafted 88th overall, he was ranked the 76th overall prospect.

The rest of the MN Twins crop

Fourth round pick Jason Reitz will be difficult to miss. He’s 6’11” which means he’ll tower over even Bailey Ober. If the Minnesota Timberwolves need to borrow a pitcher, they have their guy. Should he make the big leagues, he would join former Twins reliever Jon Rauch and Minnesota-native Sean Hjelle as the tallest players to compete in Major League Baseball. Reitz has previously had Tommy John surgery (senior year of high school) and transferred to Oregon after pitching on The Cape.

Tallest Man Drafted

6'11" pitcher Jason Reitz is selected by the @Twins with the 119th pick of the 2025 #MLBDraft. pic.twitter.com/Mfju4tJOGu

— Rapsodo Baseball (@rapsodo) July 14, 2025

Agbayani is the son of former big leaguer Benny Agbayani. Bruin brings the bloodline to the professional ranks and is the first left-handed hitter taken by Minnesota in this draft.

Matt Barr touches 97 mph with his fastball and is a big spin guy. He had 94 strikeouts in just 57 innings last season and that’s why he owned a 1.74 ERA.

Minnesota clearly liked what they saw when scouting Elon this season. They grabbed third baseman Ryan Sprock in the 8th round and then followed that pick with teammate Justin Mitrovich in the 9th round. Mitrovich is a right-handed pitcher and both players are four-year juniors.

Related: MN Twins Swing Trade for New Bullpen Arm

The MN Twins grabbed a former second round pick prospect in Kolten Smith. The Georgia pitcher played collegiately for Wes Johnson. He is the former Minnesota pitching coach.

Last season the Twins drafted Merit Jones in the 20th round. He didn’t sign and went back to college. This year they took him again with their 14th round selection. He told me, “I couldn’t be happier! I’m so happy the Twins have given me a second chance. God is good!”

In total the MN Twins 21 picks. Of them just two are high school players. 13 are pitchers, with one being left-handed. They grabbed four shortstops, two third basemen, a second baseman, and one outfield prospect.