Every minor league affiliate of the Minnesota Twins has closed out their season, which means it is time to look back at who the top performers were. It was a mixed bag of a season across the organization. Many of the top prospects were riddled with injuries, but there was plenty to be excited about, especially on the rookie ball scene, which sets up for a fun group of young prospects infiltrating full-season ball in 2027. Without further ado, I present my seven 2026 Twins Minor League Awards!
Hitter of the Year
OF Walker
Jenkins (A, A+, AAA, MLB)
73 G | .323/.417/.559 | 151 wRC+ | 14 HR | 17 SB
While Walker Jenkins missed a month with injury and spent the final month in the majors, 73 games of pure dominance was enough for me to name him the minor league hitter of the year. Everything came together this season for Jenkins, as he combined a plus hit tool and excellent swing decisions with consistent hard contact. His raw power is now looking borderline plus at just 21 years old with room for improvement still.
He earned his call-up on August 28th after the most dominant run of his career in August, slashing .411/.488/.795 for a 223 wRC+ with 8 homers and 7 stolen bags in 18 games. Now Jenkins is producing in the majors with the potential to be a franchise player for the Twins.
Honorable Mentions: SS Marek Houston, C/OF Khadim Diaw
Pitcher of the Year
RHP Riley Quick (A, A+, AA)
81.2 IP | 4.74 ERA | 4.94 FIP | 110 K
Riley Quick’s season numbers were damaged when he was thrown into Double-A after just 11 starts at High-A, but the righty hurler showed plenty of potential throughout the season. As the only pitcher in the system with a strikeout rate over 30% on 80+ innings, Quick showed off the diabolical stuff that made him a first round pick in 2025.
He struggled with command, posting alarming walk and home run rates. A 13.4% walk rate and 26.1% HR/FB rate were both top 4 in the system. Still, elite whiff and strikeout production was able to keep him afloat and produce respectable numbers. With improved strike-throwing, Riley Quick has the stuff to dominate the upper minors and crack the Twins rotation in 2027.
Honorable Mentions: RHP Paulshawn Pasqualotto, RHP Merit Jones, RHP Adrian Bohorquez
Fielder of the Year
OF Merphy Hernandez (FCL, A)
71 G | .267/.378/.386 | 103 wRC+ | 57 SB | 10 OF Assists
With 101 stolen bases in 135 professional games since Merphy Hernandez was signed out of the Dominican in 2024, he is one of the most prolific baserunning threats in minor league baseball. While there are lots of questions about the bat, Merphy has the best speed/defense profile in the Twins system.
With 51 steals in just 61 games at Single-A this year, no other player at the level came close to his level of effectiveness. The speed is evident as you watch him glide across center field. Hernandez played some corner outfield in 2026, but spend most of his time in center, where he showed off elite ground coverage and impressive instincts. His arm is also a weapon as he tallied 10 outfield assists in only 71 games, good for the third-most in the system behind Garrett Spain and Graham Brown. With such an impressive blend of range and arm value, the Twins would love to have his glove out in center field at some point down the road.
His bat showed promising signs towards the end of the season as well. Merphy just cracked my top 40 prospects list in September, and he has a chance to push much further up if we see some improvements offensively in 2027.
Honorable Mentions: SS Marek Houston, UTIL Ben Ross
Breakout Prospect of the Year
OF Luis Fragoza (FCL, A, A+)
83 G | .313/.408/.542 | 148 wRC+ | 14 HR | 24 SB
The 19-year-old outfielder came into the 2026 season as an afterthought. Luis Fragoza was signed out of Venezuela in 2024 and posted respectable numbers in rookie ball over his first two year, but nothing about his production suggested he would be a future major leaguer.
After 10 games in the FCL this spring, Luis Fragoza made his Single-A debut on May 20th and absolutely took off. In 59 games with the Mighty Mussels he was among the best teenage hitters at the level, posting a .322 batting average with a 1.007 OPS. While there are questions regarding his swing decisions and hit tool, the quality of contact was overwhelming as he showed off impressive raw power with an advanced barrel feel. He finished the season by playing 14 games at High-A with a .295 average and 122 wRC+, where he was one of 42 teenage hitters to reach the level this year.
Fragoza now ranks as my No. 22 Twins prospect and has a chance to really make a name for himself if he can build on this success in 2027.
Honorable Mention: OF Caden Kendle
System Player of the Year
1B Aaron Sabato (AAA)
113 G | .273/.349/.528 | 121 wRC+ | 25 HR | 5 SB
System Player of the Year is meant to be given to a minor leaguer who is not your traditional prospect, typically an older player, but a guy that is dominating the minor league scene nonetheless. Its hard not to be happy for Aaron Sabato, who recently earned an unlikely call-up to the Twins at 27 years old after a grueling 6 years in the minors. The former 1st round pick was nearing the end of the road until an offensive explosion in 2025 put him back on the map. He built on that success in 2026, working on his areas of concern and consistently producing at the highest step of the minors.
Sabato possesses plus raw power with an excellent barrel feel. Extreme chase rates and hit tool concerns limited him in the past, but he cut the chase rate close to league average this season and brought his strikeout rate down to a manageable 25.3%. His 55 extra-base hits and 25 home runs ranked top 10 in Triple-A. While he doesn’t hold much defensive value as a burly first baseman, Aaron Sabato has given himself a real opportunity to build a major league career.
Honorable Mention: OF Kyler Fedko, OF Matt Wallner
Sleeper Prospect of the Year
RHP Reed Moring (FCL, A, A+)
83.0 IP | 3.58 ERA | 4.10 FIP | 86 K
The 2025 15th round pick had a successful debut season. Not only was he able to hang in the lower levels, but Reed Moring showed off some legitimate big league stuff. He pairs a well-rounded arsenal with quality strike-throwing. Refined command is needed to consistently live around the edges, but the 8% walk rate in year one is a good sign.
He is my No. 31 Twins prospect, and further stuff or pitchability improvements as he moves into the upper minors in 2027 could push him firmly into the Twins long-term plans. His solid low-90s fastball with a quartet of enticing secondaries is a mid-rotation arsenal if his command continues to develop. He is all but a sure big leaguer, but he had a productive season, and all of the ingredients are there for Reed Moring to develop into a MLB starter.
Honorable Mention: SS Ben Ross, OF Kala’i Rosario
Rookie-Baller of the Year
OF Yovanny Duran (FCL, A)
52 G | .317/.458/.485 | 146 wRC+ | 4 HR | 36 SB (rookie stats only)
Yovanny Duran played very well in the Dominican in 2025 after being signed out of Venezuela at 17 years old. This year, the switch-hitting outfielder took his bat to another level. The quality of contact drastically improved as Duran sacrificed some contact for more gap power, and he showed off a patient approach with excellent spin recognition and understanding of the strike zone. He complements the bat with quality center field defense and aggressive baserunning.
While his Single-A stint didn’t go particularly well, there is plenty of reason to believe that Yovanny will figure it out and cement himself as a big league prospect in 2027. His well-rounded profile has lots of potential to dream on, and the 18-year-old is only scratching the surface of what he could become.
Honorable Mention: OF Jhomnardo Reyes, OF Jendy Martinez
