Several Twins prospects excelled during Minnesota's 9-3 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2026 Spring Breakout game on Thursday. Let's take a look at which Twins prospects deserve the most attention for their performances during the game.
Twins prospects fans should be excited about after Spring Breakout game vs. Phillies
SS Marek Houston
Houston, whom Minnesota selected in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest, is known for his defense but put on an offensive clinic on Thursday, going 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs. Houston, 21, has a good shot at being the Twins' starting shortstop in a couple of years.
OF Emmanuel Rodríguez
Rodríguez performed well during his limited action in big league camp this spring, going 8-for-19 with a pair of homers. He continued to look sharp during the Spring Breakout game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI triple and a run. Rodríguez, 23, should be in the big leagues at some point during the 2026 season. He arguably deserves to be on the Opening Day roster, but he has already been reassigned to minor-league camp.
OF Gabriel Gonzalez
The main piece of the Jorge Polanco trade, Gonzalez, 22, could also find himself on the big-league roster at some point this season. He went 9-for-18 with a homer and four RBI in big-league camp before collecting two singles and two RBI on Thursday.
LHP Dasan Hill
Hill, one of the most exciting pitching prospects in the Twins organization, earned the start on Thursday and showcased his talent. He allowed one unearned run, two hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 2 2/3 innings. He showcased his fastball, which reached 100 mph, while mixing in a slider, a changeup and a curveball.
While Hill, 20, still has a long way to go before making his MLB debut, fans should keep an eye on him as he progresses through the minors. By 2028, he should be in the Twins' starting rotation.
RHP James Ellwanger
Perhaps the least well-known prospect mentioned in this article, Ellwanger pitched three scoreless innings of relief on Thursday, allowing just one hit and two walks while collecting two strikeouts. Ellwanger, whom the Twins selected in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Dallas Baptist University, throws a high-90s fastball, a low-to-mid-90s cutter, a mid-90s changeup and a low-to-mid-80s curveball. Thursday marked his first recorded professional outing since being drafted.