​With the 227th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, the Minnesota Twins selected Texas Longhorns flame-throwing reliever Thomas Burns. Displays an electric fastball and a commanding mound presence that instantly set him apart in the draft class. Burns regularly sits in the upper-90s with his heater, making him one of the most fearsome arms available, and he backs it up with a diverse trio of secondary offerings — a cutter, a changeup, and a curveball — that he can lean on to keep hitters off balance.
His fastball comes from an ultra-high arm slot that generates exceptional backspin and carry, contributing to a measurably deceptive look on the mound. At times this past season, Burns possessed the highest fastball whiff rate in all of college baseball, underscoring how often hitters swing and miss when facing him. The pitch plays faster than its velocity alone would indicate thanks to that slot and the way it sets up his cutter, which lands as a complementary weapon rather than a primary strike-throwing offering.
Typically sold in the mid-80s, Burns’ cutter is not a pitch he fires for strikes with regularity. Instead, he often uses it to induce whiffs out of the zone, capitalizing on late movement and sequencing to keep hitters guessing. That approach helps diversify his arsenal, giving him a valuable option that can disrupt timing and expand the zone he can attack. When paired with his fastball and the other secondary offerings, the cutter becomes a key complement that keeps batters off balance.
Despite the electric nature of his stuff, Burns has grappled with control issues during the last two seasons, a factor that could present challenges when he faces major league hitters. This past season, he fanned 43 batters in 22.1 innings but issued 16 walks and hit three more, highlighting a jitter in zone command that he will need to tighten as he ascends to the higher level of competition. Across his two-year tenure with the Longhorns, Burns walked or hit 17.6 percent of the batters he faced, a figure that, while offset by a 38.4 percent strikeout rate, remains a concern for his development path to the big leagues.
What often gets overlooked is Burns’ mound presence, a notable asset that complements his athletic frame. Standing 6’3” and weighing around 240 pounds, he maintains a powerfully built, physically imposing profile that translates into a formidable carry on the mound. His arm slot—combined with a bullpen mentality—amplifies the threat he poses to hitters, making his stuff feel even more dangerous than traditional metrics might suggest. That blend of physicality, confidence, and competitive demeanor contributes to an intimidating image on the mound and can amplify his effectiveness in pressure moments.
As Burns transitions to professional baseball, expectations are for him to sustain high strikeout rates against more advanced lineups. His fastball is expected to play well at the major league level, with its velocity, movement, and the deceptive look created by the high arm slot giving him a distinct edge. The off-speed trio adds significant value; the cutter can miss bats in the right zones, the changeup can disrupt same-handed hitters, and the curveball offers a true third offering with depth and late break.
For Burns to realize his potential as a reliable major league bullpen piece, he will need to improve his command and control. Taming the walk rate and refining his release consistency will be critical. If he can shore up those issues, Burns could become a trusted late-inning option, able to retire tough right-handed and left-handed hitters with a combination of velocity, deception, and a well-rounded secondary arsenal.
In the long term, Burns’ ceiling is that of a high-leverage reliever who can punch out batters in short bursts and swing important momentum in tight games. The Twins’ selection gives him an opportunity to refine his control while leveraging elite velocity and a multi-pitch mix to carve out a durable role at the big league level. With continued development, Burns has the potential to become a dependable arm out of any major league bullpen, delivering impactful performances and striking out numerous hitters along the way. This combination of power, projectable frame, and competitive mindset makes him an intriguing long-term asset for Minnesota.