Minnesota Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll has made it clear he intends to improve the active roster ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline, not sell key pieces for prospects. He already backed up that statement by acquiring southpaw A.J. Minter from the New York Mets on Thursday night. While that doesn't necessarily mean the Twins won't trade anyone from the big-league squad, it indicates that prospects are more likely to be dealt than major leaguers.
The Twins have a strong farm system, meaning there are several attractive prospects they could part ways with to aid their postseason push. However, there are several whom Minnesota shouldn't even consider trading this year.
4 Twins prospects who should be untouchable at the trade deadline
OF Walker Jenkins
If the Twins could only protect one prospect, it would most likely be Walker Jenkins, whom Minnesota selected fifth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. The outfielder is the Twins' No. 1 prospect and MLB's No. 4, according to FanGraphs.
Jenkins is currently with Triple-A St. Paul. Ahead of the Saints' Thursday game, Jenkins held a .294/.398/.482 slash line in 53 minor-league games (49 with Triple-A St. Paul and four rehab games) this year. He's a strong defender and runner with a patient approach at the plate and elite power potential.
SS Kaelen Culpepper
FanGraphs has Culpepper ranked as the Twins' No. 3 prospect and MLB's No. 35. Entering Thursday, the shortstop held a .267/.367/.474 slash line with 14 home runs, 44 RBI and 16 stolen bases for the Saints.
It looks like Culpepper could take over the Twins' starting shortstop role pretty soon, as Ryan Kreidler has struggled at the plate lately. Marek Houston appears to be the Twins' shortstop of the future given his defensive prowess, so Culpepper will likely play third or second base long-term. But for this season, Minnesota may have the 2024 first-rounder play shortstop in the big leagues at some point.
C Vahn Lackey
Lackey is pretty obviously untouchable. The Twins selected him with the third overall pick in this year's draft out of Georgia Tech, and many viewed him as the best prospect in the class. FanGraphs already has him ranked as the organization's No. 2 overall prospect and MLB's No. 14.
With Ryan Jeffers slated to be a free agent at the end of this season, it's pretty clear that Minnesota plans for Lackey to be the team's catcher of the future. The 21-year-old is an athletic, strong defender who hit .397/.519/.772 with 20 home runs, 78 RBI and 15 stolen bases across 61 collegiate games this past season.
RHP Riley Quick
The Twins' farm system is much more loaded with talented hitters than pitchers, which is why the club shouldn't trade Riley Quick, Minnesota's top pitching prospect per ESPN. Quick, whom the Twins selected in the 2025 MLB Draft's Competitive Balance Round A (No. 36 overall) from Alabama, is a 6-foot-6, 255-pound right-hander with a fastball that sits 96-97 mph and touches 99.
Quick, who is currently with Double-A Wichita, throws both a four-seamer and a sinker, a mid-80s slider, a low-90s cutter and an upper-80s changeup. In 15 starts in the minors this year, the right-hander has posted a 3.68 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP and 78 strikeouts over 51 1/3 innings.
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