Minnesota Twins: Kyle Gibson and the 5 Best Arms in the Farm System

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The Minnesota Twins are known as one of the best teams in Major League Baseball at developing Minor League talent.

This year, they have had to rely heavily on their farm system to play at the Major League level, due to an onslaught of injuries to key players.

Still, there are a number of great, young pitchers learning and growing in the minors within Minnesota's system.

Let's take a look at the five best arms in the Twins' farm system.

5. Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, Triple-A Rochester Red Wings

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Carlos Gutierrez may be the best reliever left in the Minnesota Twins' farm system. 

He is only 24 years old out of the University of Miami, and he currently plays in Rochester for the Triple-A Red Wings.

Gutierrez currently has an ERA of 3.27, with a .213 BAA and only 33 hits allowed in 41.1 innings pitched.

He will likely be a long-term stabilizer in the bullpen for the Twins once he makes it to the big leagues, which might be sooner than even he expected.

4. Logan Darnell, LHP, Class a Fort Myers Miracle

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Logan Darnell is one of the top young lefties in the Minnesota Twins farm system. 

He began this year playing for the Class A Beloit Snappers and shined. Darnell, only 22 years old out of the University of Kentucky, recorded a 3.78 ERA and a .192 BAA in six starts at this level.

Now a part of the Fort Myers Miracle, he has gone 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA in six starts for the higher-level Class A team.

Darnell has been a bright spot in the Twins' farm system this season, and look for him to continue his rise through the Minor League ladder. 

3. Adrian Salcedo, RHP, Class A Beloit Snappers

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The Minnesota Twins have a nice young prospect in Adrian Salcedo.

Salcedo is a tall, skinny 20-year-old out of the Dominican Republic who is eating up innings for the Beloit Snappers.

In 12 starts, he has accumuluated a 5-3 record, with a 3.10 ERA and only given up 18 BB. 

This improved control is very impressive for the young prospect, and is a sign of great things to come as he slowly approaches the big leagues.

A promotion to Fort Myers may be in order very soon.

2. Liam Hendriks, RHP, Double-A New Britain Rock Cats

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Liam Hendriks is having one of the best statistical seasons of all the pitchers in the Minnesota Twins farm system this year.

His numbers are astounding.

In 11 starts for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats, Hendriks is 6-2, with two complete games, a 2.63 ERA and 61 strikeouts.

Hendriks is only one step away from joining Kyle Gibson in Rochester with the Triple-A Red Wings and forming a scary starting tandem.

He is only 22 years old, yet just two steps away from the big leagues.

The future appears to be very bright for the Minnesota Twins pitching staff, thanks in part to the impressive play of Hendriks.

1. Kyle Gibson, RHP, Triple-A Rochester Red Wings

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Kyle Gibson has lived up to all of the expectations since being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2009.

At 23 years of age, he is probably the next starter-in-waiting for the Twins rotation, where he can become a staple.

This year, playing at the Triple-A level, he has started 13 games, grinding through 71.1 innings with a 3.79 ERA and 74 strikeouts.

Minnesota has avoided major changed to their rotation over the past few years, but the injury bug that they haven't been able to shake this season is bound to strike a starting pitcher soon enough.

Gibson may be the next starter to rise up to the Majors and is expected to become a top-of-the-rotation starter for years to come.

Twins fans can only hope that the team doesn't trade him too quickly, as they did with Matt Garza.