The 2026 Rule 5 Draft is scheduled for Dec. 9, but with the looming Dec. 1 lockout, the date will likely be pushed back. The deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft is Tuesday. To protect a Rule 5 Draft-eligible player, a team must add him to its 40-man roster. Since the event won't even happen as scheduled, teams may have another chance to protect players after the lockout. Regardless, the Twins should ensure that another organization can't pluck a pair of promising right-handers.
Twins should protect RHPs C.J. Culpepper, Paulshawn Pasqualotto from 2026 Rule 5 Draft
If I were in charge of the Twins' front office, I would protect right-handed pitchers C.J. Culpepper and Paulshawn Pasqualotto from the Rule 5 Draft. Both pitchers are 25 and on the verge of their MLB debuts, so Minnesota should add them to its 40-man roster.
The Twins' most intriguing Rule 5 Draft-eligible prospect is outfielder Yasser Mercedes. However, the Twins don't need to use a 40-man roster spot on the 21-year-old outfielder, as he hasn't played above High-A yet, making it unlikely that a team would draft him. Mercedes is Minnesota's No. 17 overall prospect.
Back to Culpepper and Pasqualotto, both right-handers could easily make an impact out of Minnesota's bullpen next year, so even if they weren't eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, the team likely would have added them to its 40-man roster at some point next season anyway.
Neither Culpepper nor Pasqualotto ranks among the Twins' top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline. However, just last year, Culpepper ranked as Minnesota's No. 10 overall prospect.
The Twins promoted Culpepper to Triple-A for the first time last season. He struggled after joining the Saints, posting a 4.71 ERA over 79 2/3 innings. However, Culpepper has been excellent overall since being selected by Minnesota in the 13th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, recording a 3.51 ERA with 291 strikeouts over 284 1/3 innings. Culpepper has been a starter for most of his professional career but moved to a bullpen role after being promoted to Triple-A.
Pasqualotto made his Double-A and Triple-A debuts in 2026. Across three minor-league levels this year, Pasqualotto recorded a 3.73 ERA with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks over 70 innings.
I don't think Culpepper and Pasqualotto should make the Twins' 2027 Opening Day roster, but they both should be on the big-league team at some point next year. The only downside of adding them to the 40-man roster ahead of the lockout is that neither would be eligible to play minor-league baseball if the lockout extends through the regular season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google