Twins' deadline fire sale looks better as ex-Cubs prospect starts 2026 season strong

Of all of the trades the Minnesota Twins made last summer, the Willi Castro deal feels like the least notable. Castro had just half a season left on his contract at the time, and the Twins received two lesser-known pitching prospects, Sam Armstrong and Ryan Gallagher, in exchange for the fan-favorite utilityman.

However, while it's still early, Gallagher is off to a strong start in 2026. If Gallagher can continue to pitch well, the righty will make the Cubs regret parting ways with him. Although the Cubs probably already regret the Castro trade, given the former Twins utilityman's lack of production with Chicago in 2025 (.485 OPS in 110 plate appearances).

Former Cubs prospect Ryan Gallagher off to hot start for Twins' Double-A team

Gallagher has looked sharp in two starts with Double-A Wichita this season.

In his first outing of the year on April 2, Gallagher allowed four runs, but just two were earned. He lasted 4 1/3 innings and surrendered three hits and two walks while collecting four strikeouts.

Gallagher absolutely dominated in his second appearance of the year on April 8, hurling five shutout innings while allowing just one hit and two walks with six strikeouts.

Gallagher is ranked as the Twins' No. 19 prospect per MLB Pipeline. The righty ranked as the Cubs' No. 8 prospect before being dealt to Minnesota.

Gallagher has a fastball in the low to mid-90s that he can command well. He can also throw an upper-70s changeup that frequently misses bats. He has a good slider and a decent curveball in his arsenal as well.

Gallagher, drafted by the Cubs in the sixth round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of UC Santa Barbara, struggled last year after joining the Wind Surge, posting a 5.50 ERA in 37 2/3 innings across eight starts.

Gallagher began his professional career with High-A South Bend last year, posting a 3.72 ERA in 72 2/3 innings across 14 starts before earning a promotion to Double-A Knoxville. The righty made just two starts for the Cubs' Double-A team, allowing two earned runs in 11 1/3 innings before being traded to the Twins.

While Gallagher has looked sharp this season, the other pitcher the Twins acquired in the Castro trade has struggled since joining the Twins organization. After posting a 4.91 ERA in 40 1/3 innings across eight starts with Double-A Wichita last season, Armstrong has surrendered 10 runs (five earned) in 6 1/3 innings across two appearances with the Wind Surge this year.