The dust has settled on the 2025 season, and for the Minnesota Twins, the aftermath is a bullpen stripped beyond not only its studs, but to its foundation. The front office's oversell on relievers, like Louis Varland, at the trade deadline signaled a definitive pivot towards the future. In the aftermath, it has created a gaping hole for the future. With established, high-leverage arms like Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax sent to contenders in exchange for long-term assets, the immediate challenge is immense. With only Cole Sands and Kody Funderburk as likely 2026 carryovers from the 2nd half mess of a relief core, the Twins must now look inward to their minor league system to forge a new bullpen from a pool of promising yet largely unproven talent.
Young Arms on the Rise
This sudden void creates a critical opportunity for the next wave of Twins pitchers. The first arms to get the call will likely be those already on the cusp of the majors at Triple-A St. Paul. Right-handers Pierson Ohl and Cody Laweryson, who have already had a taste of the big leagues, may get shots to step into a more significant role. Joining him could be Andrew Morris or Marco Raya, whose electric but sometimes erratic arsenal might be better suited for short stints out of the bullpen, where their high strikeout potential can be maximized.
Further down the pipeline, the Twins have additional prospects who could accelerate their development paths. C.J. Culpepper, a right-hander praised for his solid mix of pitches and projectable frame, has the makeup of a dependable late-inning arm and could see a promotion from Double-A Wichita. The club may also look to left-hander Connor Prielipp. A former top draft pick whose career has been hampered by injuries, a possible move to the bullpen could be the ideal way to unleash his high-end slider without the strain of a starter’s workload.
The remainder of the 2026 bullpen will be filled by free agents as spring training approaches and progresses. The 2026 season will undoubtedly feature skeptical eyes amid growing pains for this bullpen. However, it provides an opportunity for evaluation of the next Twins bullpen, built on the potential of players like Ohl, Raya, and Culpepper.