Ben Ross, a fifth‑round selection of the 2022 MLB Draft, arrived in the Twins organization with the 144th overall pick, a position that initially suggested a long road to the majors. After a modest start in the Florida Complex League and Low‑A Fort Myers, he posted a .241/.354/.422 line, but his trajectory began to shift as he moved up the ladder.
A Late‑Blooming Rise
At Division II Notre Dame College he became a batting standout, posting a .405 average, 25 home runs and a .758 slugging percentage, while earning Division II All‑American honors in his junior and senior years. Those college achievements highlighted his raw talent and set the stage for a professional career that would soon gain momentum.
His early professional seasons saw him climb to the High‑A Cedar Rapids Kernels, where he hit 19 home runs and 25 doubles, hinting at emerging power, before a challenging stint in Double‑A Wichita that left his OPS at .531 in 2023 and a .219/.308/.363 line in 2025. The dip in production raised questions about his readiness, but the Arizona Fall League in 2024 provided a platform for renewal, as he posted a .281/.390/.427 slash line, signaling a renewed confidence.
A spectacular 2026 campaign saw Ross bat .424/.528/.797 over 16 games with the Wind Surge, earning a promotion to Triple‑A St. Paul Saints. In St. Paul he displayed defensive flexibility, hitting .249/.353/.458 with 15 homers and 23 doubles while playing multiple positions, a combination that convinced the Twins he could add depth at the big‑league level.
On September 1, 2026, Ross was called up to the major leagues, offering the Twins an extra center‑field option as injuries sidelined Byron Buxton and fatigue affected veteran teammates Royce Lewis, Trevor Larnach and Josh Bell. His promotion marked a decisive turnaround in a career that had seemed stalled just a few years earlier, and it positions him to provide stability and offensive production for Minnesota moving forward.