Minnesota Twins Slip in 2025 MLB Draft Lottery
The Minnesota Twins couldn’t replicate their previous lottery success, dropping two spots in the 2025 MLB Draft Lottery on Tuesday night.
Despite entering the lottery with a 1.1% chance of securing the No. 1 overall pick and holding the 14th-worst record in the league, the Twins slid to the 16th pick. Their selection will take place during the MLB All-Star Game festivities in Atlanta, scheduled for July 13-15.
Twins Have Thrived in the MLB Draft Lottery Era
Though the MLB Draft Lottery is relatively new, Minnesota has already benefitted in its early years. In 2022, they entered the inaugural lottery with the 13th-worst record but managed to jump to the fifth pick. This allowed them to draft outfielder Walker Jenkins in 2023.
Jenkins has since risen to prominence as the Twins’ top prospect and the second-ranked prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB.com. Last season, he hit .282/.394/.439 with six home runs and 58 RBIs over 82 games across four levels. Jenkins is projected to start the 2025 season with Double-A Wichita, and MLB.com anticipates his major league debut in 2026.
The Twins skipped the 2023 lottery after making the playoffs but used the 21st pick in the 2024 draft to select Kansas State shortstop Kaelen Culpepper. Culpepper appeared in 26 games between Low-A Fort Myers and High-A Cedar Rapids, posting a .242/.330/.394 line with three home runs, 12 RBIs, and four stolen bases.
Potential 2025 MLB Draft Targets for the Twins
The Washington Nationals secured the No. 1 overall pick for 2025, followed by the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, and St. Louis Cardinals in the top five.
Among the top 2025 draft prospects identified by MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo are high school shortstop Ethan Holliday, Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette, and Clemson outfielder Cam Cannarella. Mayo also predicted Coastal Carolina catcher Caden Bodine for the 16th pick, with Oregon State third baseman Trent Caraway and high school shortstop/outfielder Sean Gamble as potential options in that range.
With rumors of salary reductions and a possible Carlos Correa trade circulating during the Winter Meetings, the Twins will likely need to make the most of their draft picks to continue building their roster. They’ll aim to uncover a hidden gem in next year’s draft.
