The Minnesota Twins have purchased the contract of Southern Maryland Blue Crabs utilityman Quinn McDaniel, a 2023 fifth-round pick out of the University of Maine by the San Francisco Giants. Over 14 games this season, McDaniel, 23, led Southern Maryland in batting average (.365), triples (2), runs (15) and stolen bases (9). McDaniel joins utilityman Henry Kusiak (Long Island Ducks) and right-handed pitcher Nick McAuliffe (Evansville Otters) on the list of Independent League players signed by Minnesota in 2026.
🚨 BIG TIME MOVE 🚨
— Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (@BlueCrabs) May 10, 2026
Quinn McDaniel (@QuinnMcD3 ) is headed to the next level after his contract was purchased by the Minnesota Twins organization!https://t.co/DM4YpDXqOI pic.twitter.com/DaVPCWskPN
In three minor-league seasons (2023-25) with the Giants, McDaniel logged innings at all three outfield positions and second base. The utilityman slashed .234/.349/.387 with 28 homers, 121 RBI and 62 stolen bases over 253 career minor-league games across three levels. Since he never made it past High-A with San Francisco, he'll likely begin his Twins career with High-A Cedar Rapids.
New Twins minor-leaguer McDaniel is known for his ability to draw walks
McDaniel, who was released by San Francisco in March, was never a top-30 prospect with the Giants. The utilityman didn't hit for average or power and struck out at a high rate during his time with the San Francisco organization. However, he showed he can draw walks and steal bases at elite rates. And after his monster two-week stretch with Southern Maryland, the utilityman displayed that he still has MLB potential.
McDaniel posted outstanding stats in three collegiate seasons, slashing .319/.434/.577 with 32 home runs, 34 doubles, five triples, 111 RBI and 56 stolen bases across 143 games. Before the Giants drafted McDaniel, he was projected to be a second baseman who could be serviceable in left field.
It seems that the Giants may have been short-sighted by getting rid of McDaniel in March. Sure, he didn't play as well as he and the Giants would've hoped, but he's still just 23 years old. His speed and walk ability were apparent even when he struggled in the minors, and he has displayed flashes of power throughout his minor-league career. And while the minor leagues are a huge step up from college ball, McDaniel's stats with Maine were insanely good.
San Francisco's brass certainly isn't wasting time regretting the decision to release McDaniel. Still, Buster Posey and company likely wish, in the back of their minds, that they had kept the utilityman. While McDaniel may never reach the majors, signing him is a smart, low-risk/high-reward move by the Twins.
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