Many Twins fans are likely unfamiliar with the team's Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May, right-hander Justin Mitrovich. Minnesota drafted Mitrovich in the ninth round (No. 269 overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Elon University in Elon, North Carolina. Mitrovich received a $172.5k signing bonus, while the pick value was $202.9k. In three seasons with Elon, Mitrovich recorded a 4.36 ERA with 243 strikeouts and 86 walks across 233 innings.
Mitrovich, 22, already looks like a draft-day steal for the Twins. Since making his MiLB debut on May 3 after an IL stint, the right-hander has posted a 0.87 ERA and a 0.968 WHIP with 27 strikeouts and eight walks in 20 2/3 innings across six starts for Low-A Fort Myers. Hitters have struggled to hit the ball hard against Mitrovich, with the right-hander's average exit velocity sitting at 85.5 mph.
In his last start, Mitrovich threw a season-high 71 pitches across five innings, allowing no runs, two hits and two walks while collecting five strikeouts.
Final line for Justin Mitrovich:
— Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (@MightyMussels) June 5, 2026
5 IP, 5 K, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB
Season high 71 pitches
Season ERA down to 0.87 in 20.2 IP 🔥 #MNTwins
Top 6 | FTM 10 - LAK 0 pic.twitter.com/AoryXwweR6
Mitrovich relies on six pitches: a low-90s four-seam fastball and sinker, high-70s/low-80s changeup, high-70s curveball, mid-80s cutter and low-80s slider. Per Twins Daily's Cody Christie, Mitrovich had "one of the better changeups in his draft class."
Mitrovich's hot stretch makes Twins' strong pitching pipeline look even better
Because he's a college draft pick and dominating in the minors, Mitrovich will likely find himself in High-A soon. If he continues to pitch well after he's promoted to Cedar Rapids, the right-hander could be on Double-A Wichita's roster by the end of the year.
Mitrovich isn't currently among MLB Pipeline's list of top 30 Twins prospects, but that may change the next time MLB updates the list. The Twins already have plenty of promising starting pitching prospects, including Dasan Hill, Charlee Soto and Riley Quick. Additionally, starters Taj Bradley, Mick Abel and Connor Prielipp are all 25 or younger and under team control for several more seasons. If Mitrovich continues to dominate opposing hitters in the minors, the club's pitching pipeline will be viewed by many as even stronger than it already is.
Game 2 of a three-game series between the Twins and Tigers is scheduled to begin at 5:40 p.m. CDT tonight. The Twins' starting pitcher has yet to be announced, and Framber Valdez will start for the Tigers. The game will be available to stream on Twins.TV.
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