​It appears the Minnesota Twins are prepared to shell out to pry 6’5” right-hander Ethan Wachsmann away from Wake Forest, marking the organization’s first high school draftee of the year. Wachsmann’s potential makes him a compelling development project for Minnesota, and watching his progression should be a lot of fun for fans and scouts alike. On the MLB Pipeline list, he sits at 87th, while Fangraphs places him at 54th, and several evaluators have floated the possibility of him being a first-round pick. His athletic rise has been notable: a significant growth spurt in the middle of his high school years corresponded with a dramatic uptick in velocity, pushing his fastball into the upper 90s and eventually touching 100 mph, all while generating high spin and noticeable carry. That combination of velo and athleticism gives Wachsmann a ceiling that many teams covet in a pitching prospect.
In terms of repertoire, Wachsmann already offers a trio of secondary pitches: a curveball, a slider, and a changeup. The secondary stuff shows potential, though there is still inconsistency in both spin and command. His curveball, in particular, has flashed well above-average bite, displaying spins around 2,900 RPM and late break that can be both perplexing for hitters and encouraging for evaluators. The changeup has shown the ability to be an effective weapon when he can throw it with varying depth and fade, contributing to his upside as a three-pitch pitcher.
Right now, Wachsmann trades on the appeal of his arm strength and athletic frame more than established polish. He comes across as a classic “thrower” who still has a long developmental path ahead, rather than a finished product. His size—6’5” and long limbs—provides a physical foundation that scouts covet, and his fastball velocity, paired with high spin rates, hints at explosive upside if he can tighten his control and sharpen his secondary offerings with continued development.
When comparing Wachsmann to peers, he resembles players like Charlee Soto and Dasan Hill in terms of profile: high ceiling, raw with significant room to grow, and a potential for elite velocity that could translate into a frontline or near-frontline upside if everything comes together. The blend of size, power, and spin makes him one of the more tantalizing pitching prospects in the draft class, especially given his youth and the rapid acceleration of his arm speed and velocity during late adolescence.
From a scouting perspective, the notable tools here are the fastball velocity and spin, plus the pure athleticism that allows for projection in development and mechanics refinement. The curveball’s spin and bite are also appealing, offering a potential clear third pitch that could be leveraged against both right- and left-handed hitters. The slider and changeup show promising development paths but need refinement to become consistently reliable weapons in a modern pitching arsenal. The challenge for Wachsmann will be translating raw upside into a repeatable delivery and usable secondary pitches, which is a common hurdle for players with a late growth surge and a projectable frame. Minnesota will be betting on a strong developmental track record to mold this high-upside arm into a durable, front-line contributor, assuming they can secure him away from Wake Forest and commit to a long-term player-development plan.
For fans and analysts following the Twins’ draft strategy, Wachsmann represents a bet on athletic projection and raw power. If he can convert that raw material into more consistent command and a more reliable secondary mix, his ceiling could be significantly higher than the average high school pitcher taken in the early rounds. In the meantime, Wachsmann’s profile offers a compelling storyline: a behemoth of a pitcher with velocity peaking near 100 mph, a high-spin curveball promising chase, and a frame that invites optimism about what a few years in a professional development system could yield. It will be fascinating to watch his transition from a raw talent at the high school level to a polished pitching prospect within the Twins’ organization, and even more exciting to see how his tools translate into performance on the mound as he continues to mature.