There has been a revolving theme around MLB of smaller market teams extending players early in their careers, locking them up with contracts based on future projections with the hope that they eventually outperform the deal.

The most recent examples were Cooper Pratt of the Milwaukee Brewers, who signed an eight-year, $50 million extension at just 21 years old, and JJ Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals, who signed an eight-year, $112.5 million extension.

Both deals make sense for both sides. The player gets financial security before reaching free agency, and the team gets cost-controlled production during what could be the player's best years.

The Minnesota Twins have a deep farm system with several candidates who fit that model. Here are the prospects they could realistically consider extending. 

Culpepper is the most obvious candidate. The 23-year-old is essentially big-league ready and is viewed as a high-floor prospect, tearing up Triple-A this year with a .272 batting average, .376 on-base percentage, .868 OPS, 14 home runs and 43 RBIs across 63 games.

He projects as a shortstop but has the versatility to play third or second as well, which only adds to his value.

A deal that buys out his arbitration years and adds a few more beyond that would feel like a win for both sides. A call-up during the second half is a realistic possibility, and his value will only rise once he proves himself at the big-league level. 

Rojas is a high-risk, high-reward candidate, but the upside is undeniable. The 23-year-old left-hander was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays last year and already made his big-league debut this season.

His fastball sits in the 95 to 97 mph range and touches 99, and he pairs it with a slider that is generating elite whiff rates. The worst case scenario for Rojas is that he becomes an effective reliever.

The best case is a quality major-league starter with front-of-the-rotation potential. Either way, locking him up now before that upside is fully realized would be smart for Minnesota. 

Houston is further away than Culpepper, but the trajectory is impossible to ignore. The 22-year-old was the 16th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest and has moved through the system at a fast pace, already earning a promotion to Double-A.

He is hitting .320 with a .400 on-base percentage and .861 OPS across both levels this season. Nobody questions his glove, which gives him a high floor even if the bat takes time to develop.

If the bat can be even average at the big-league level, his elite defense at shortstop will keep him in lineups for years. An extension now would come at a significant discount. 

Walker Jenkins, the crown jewel of the system and the 14th overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is the most unlikely candidate of the group due to his enormous upside. But seeing if he is open to committing long-term is something the Twins should still explore.