Three under-the-radar Twins prospects off to stock-raising starts, led by ‘McCrusher'
Six weeks into the minor-league season seems like a good time to highlight some notable early performances in the Minnesota Twins' farm system.
With a focus on Twins prospects who weren't included in my preseason top-10 list, here are three less-heralded hitters off to stock-raising starts, including a Triple-A slugger putting up big numbers in St. Paul, a Double-A line-drive machine and a High-A speedster showing why he was a first-round pick.
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Current assignment: Triple-A St. Paul
Twins preseason prospect ranking: 38th
It's easy to see why the Twins might be skeptical about McCusker. First and foremost, they signed him out of an independent league in mid-2023, after he went undrafted out of college, so he was not expected to become a legit prospect. Sometimes initial expectations are tough to shake.
Beyond that, McCusker turns 27 next week, which is elderly for a prospect, and he's a high-strikeout hitter whose massive 6-foot-8 frame creates swing holes for pitchers to exploit. There are valid reasons to be dubious about his chances of becoming a long-term MLB regular, let alone a star. It's unlikely.
But as McCusker destroys Triple-A pitching, it's becoming harder to justify not giving him a chance to prove he at least belongs in the big leagues. And for a Twins lineup that has struggled against left-handed pitching, his right-handed power could get his foot in the door in a platoon role.
McCusker has hit .333/.400/.658 with 10 homers in 33 games for Triple-A St. Paul, out-producing the International League average by 328 points of OPS. He's crushed lefties (1.066 OPS) and righties (1.055 OPS), with eye-popping batted-ball data to match and potent opposite-field power.
Among every Triple-A hitter to see at least 500 pitches tracked via Statcast this season, McCusker ranks in the top three for average exit velocity, hard-hit rate and expected slugging percentage. He's responsible for the Saints' three hardest-hit balls of the season and eight of their top 17. McCrusher.
6'8, 250. This one is the 5th hardest hit ball in franchise history at an even 115.0 mph. An absolute missile by @carson_mccusker a.k.a. McCrusher clubs his 10th homer of the season. This solo shot makes it 2-0. His 10 HR's are tied for the most in the Minors pic.twitter.com/KKHP40OiAT
— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) May 11, 2025
McCusker has also struck out in 39 of 131 plate appearances, a high but not necessarily red-flag-raising 29.7 percent rate. Matt Wallner (29.0), Brent Rooker (30.0) and Trevor Larnach (28.6) had similar Triple-A strikeout rates for the Saints. It comes with the power-hitting territory.
Since joining the organization two years ago, McCusker has hit .286 with 43 homers and an .881 OPS in 202 games. During that period, the Twins' only minor leaguers with a higher OPS over at least 500 plate appearances are Wallner (.908), Luke Keaschall (.886) and Emmanuel Rodriguez (.885).
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If the Twins' lineup continues to be the weakest aspect of the team, leaving a hulking right-handed slugger in the minors would be every bit as much of an active decision as calling him up would be. McCusker has done enough to warrant an opportunity, and his skills could help fill a useful, needed role.
Current assignment: Double-A Wichita
Twins preseason prospect ranking: 16th
Olivar's consistently strong low-minors production led me to rank him as the No. 16 prospect in the Twins' farm system going into 2024 and 2025, deeming him underrated each time. Now that he's doing it against Double-A pitchers, perhaps the 23-year-old can shed the underrated label soon.
Olivar has avoided lots of hype because he signed for just $20,000 out of Venezuela in 2019 as an unheralded international prospect and lacks big-time power potential, which can be difficult to evaluate for a bat-first player without an obvious long-term home defensively.
But at some point, the bat does enough talking, and Olivar is proving his low-minors success was no fluke by hitting .324/.386/.480 in 25 games at Double-A Wichita. He's shown some pop with four homers and has just 16 strikeouts in 114 plate appearances, one of the farm system's lowest rates.
Olivar has always controlled the strike zone well, drawing plenty of walks and keeping his strikeouts in check while batting .290 with a .395 on-base percentage over five seasons. He struggled following a late Double-A promotion last year but looks comfortable there now.
Olly, The Tie Swatter!
Ricardo Olivar ties the game on a two-run double into the left field corner.
B9SPR 6, WCH 6 pic.twitter.com/BP9PGV5xnc
— Wichita Wind Surge (@WindSurgeICT) April 23, 2025
Figuring out where Olivar fits defensively could be tricky. He's worked hard to become somewhat serviceable at catcher, but likely lacks the arm strength and overall tools to stick there. He also plays left field, but is merely passable there. And his 5-foot-10 frame isn't ideal at first base.
Olivar's uncertain defensive future is part of the reason he was left unprotected from the Rule 5 draft and went unpicked in December, but he has the offensive ability to hit his way into the Twins' plans … somewhere. Unlocking at least 10-15 homers from his contact-oriented right-handed swing will be key.
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I'm higher than most on Olivar's potential to become a quality regular, but even if that doesn't pan out, he should be able to carve out a niche as a line-driving-hitting platoon corner outfielder/first baseman/third catcher. And his bat carrying him to the majors is looking more and more plausible.
Current assignment: High-A Cedar Rapids
Twins preseason prospect ranking: 15th
DeBarge had a mediocre 26-game pro debut last season after being drafted by the Twins with the supplemental first-round pick they received for losing Sonny Gray in free agency, casting some doubt on the flukiness of his 2024 college breakout at Louisiana Lafayette.
Previously known as a speedy contact hitter, DeBarge smacked 21 homers in 62 college games last season and did so with just 30 strikeouts, boosting his draft stock dramatically. But then he batted just .235/.322/.343 with one homer and 28 strikeouts in 115 plate appearances at Low-A Fort Myers.
Pushed aggressively to High-A Cedar Rapids to start this season, DeBarge has looked much more like the 2024 college star, hitting .282/.416/.473 with four homers and more walks (25) than strikeouts (21) in 28 games. He's also running wild, going 17-for-17 stealing bases.
KYLE DEBARGE
GAME.#CRKernels | #CRWIS pic.twitter.com/fjzfgEJRLQ
— Cedar Rapids Kernels (@CRKernels) April 23, 2025
There aren't many 5-foot-9 sluggers, so DeBarge's power potential will be in question until proven otherwise, but he's shown an encouraging all-around skill set in his first full season, out-producing the Midwest League average by 194 points of OPS as a 21-year-old who rarely whiffs.
DeBarge was a full-time college shortstop, but he's seen most of his action this season at second base, along with some shortstop, center field and left field reps. He profiles as an above-average defensive second baseman and has just enough shortstop chops to possibly bounce around in a utility role.
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DeBarge's strike-zone control and speed are standout skills, but the power development could determine if he's an impact regular or more of a quality role player. He's expected back in the lineup this week after a recent hit-by-pitch to the hand and should move quickly through the Twins' system.
(Photo of Carson McCusker: Nick Cammett / Diamond Images via Getty Images)
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New York Times
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