The Minnesota Twins got lucky in the past, but they couldn’t conjure up the same good fortune on Tuesday night, falling two spots in the 2025 MLB Draft Lottery
The Twins entered the lottery with a 1.1 percent chance to win the No. 1 overall pick and the 14th-worst record in baseball but instead fell to 16th, where they will pick in next year’s draft as part of the MLB All-Star Game festivities in Atlanta from July 13-15.
The Minnesota Twins have drafted well in the MLB Lottery era
The lottery has only been in place for three years but the Twins have been able to have a great experience in its early stages. Minnesota entered the inaugural lottery with the 13th-worst record in 2022 but jumped up to fifth overall, allowing them to take outfielder Walker Jenkins in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Jenkins has become the Twins top prospect and second-ranked prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, hitting .282/.394/.439 with six homers and 58 RBI in 82 games across four levels last season. He is expected to begin the 2025 season with Double-A Wichita and MLB.com has projected Jenkins, who will turn 20 on Feb. 19, to make his major league debut in 2026.
The Twins did not partake in the 2023 lottery after making the playoffs but selected Kansas State shortstop Kaelen Culpepper with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 draft. Culpepper played in 26 games between Low-A Fort Myers and High-A Cedar Rapids last summer, hitting .242/.330/.394 with three homers, 12 RBI and four stolen bases.
Who could the Minnesota Twins take in the 2025 MLB Draft?
The Washington Nationals won the No. 1 overall pick this year with the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies and St. Louis Cardinals rounding out the top five picks in the 2025 draft.
While high school shortstop Ethan Holliday, Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette and Clemson outfielder Cam Cannarella were considered the top 2025 prospects by MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo last July, he projected Coastal Carolina catcher Caden Bodine to be selected with the 16th overall pick with Oregon State third baseman Trent Caraway and high school shortstop/outfielder Sean Gamble falling in the same range.
With salary dumps and a potential Carlos Correa trade dominating the Twins’ headlines at the Winter Meetings, the Twins will likely have to hit in the draft to keep accumulating young talent and will look to find a steal next summer.