Injuries to Track on the Twins Opening Day Roster

[Cody Christie]

The biggest variable for the 2024 Minnesota Twins isn't performance; it's injury risk. Let's take a look at the players who are healthy to open the season, but who might require reinforcement as the season goes on.

Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

The Twins hoped to enter the regular season with a relatively healthy roster. Unfortunately, injuries started mounting in the team’s final days in Fort Myers. Some players will begin the year on the injured list, while others seem healthy but have previous issues to follow. Minnesota has already announced multiple players who will open the year on the IL, including Jhoan Durán (oblique), Caleb Thielbar (hamstring), Justin Topa (knee), Josh Winder (scapula), and Anthony DeSclafani (forearm). Let’s examine the Opening Day roster, the injuries to track, and the logical backup options. 

Byron Buxton, OF/DH
Twins fans will track every play Buxton makes in the outfield and every slide he takes into a base. His knee has been a chronic issue in recent years, but the club believes this offseason’s surgery might have fixed the biggest issue. His back also bothered him this spring, so the Twins will be cautious with him in his return to center field. 
Backup Options: Manuel Margot, Willi Castro, Austin Martin (Triple-A)

Carlos Correa, SS 
Correa dealt with plantar fasciitis throughout the 2023 season, resulting in the worst season of his career. It’s an injury that takes time to heal, but some players deal with it throughout the remainder of their careers. The Twins are confident that Correa is past this injury and can return to being one of the league’s best shortstops.
Backup Options: Farmer, Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee (Triple-A)

Royce Lewis, 3B
Lewis has missed large chunks of two seasons while recovering from knee surgery. Last year, he jumped immediately into the Twins’ lineup and impacted the team on both sides of the ball. Late in September, he strained his hamstring, landing him on the injured list for the rest of the regular season. Minnesota would love to have Lewis play in over 130 games, which would be a career-high as a professional.  
Backup Options: Farmer, Castro, Lee, Yunior Severino (Triple-A)

Alex Kirilloff, DH/1B
The Twins will be playing Kirilloff at DH for most of the season, partially because of his recent injury history. Last season, he suffered a shoulder injury and underwent offseason surgery. Kirilloff has also previously battled a wrist injury, resulting in multiple surgeries. To stay at DH, Kirilloff needs to stay healthy and produce offensively.  
Backup Options: José Miranda (Triple-A), Severino, Lee

Chris Paddack, SP
Paddack is in his first full season since returning from his second Tommy John surgery. The Twins will find ways to give him extra time off throughout the season by skipping starts, pushing him back, or putting him on the IL (even if it be more for maintenance than to address an acute issue). Last season, Minnesota followed a similar plan with Kenta Maeda, who pitched 104 innings across 21 appearances. 
Backup Options: David Festa (Triple-A), Simeon Woods Richardson (Triple-A), Brent Headrick (Triple-A)

Brock Stewart, RP
The Twins have multiple relievers already hitting the IL, so keeping Stewart on the field will be critical. He returned last season from Tommy John surgery and bone spur surgery and missed time while tending to a sore elbow. However, he was dominant on the mound with a 0.65 ERA in 28 appearances. With Durán out, he will get the opportunity to close out at least some games. 
Backup Options: Cole Sands (Triple-A), Daniel Duarte (Triple-A), Ronny Henriquez (Triple-A), Jordan Balazovic (Triple-A)

Josh Staumont, RP
Staumont’s 2023 season ended last July when he underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. According to reports, his fastball velocity has been rising this spring, which is a good sign for someone returning from that operation. Pitchers returning from TOS have seen mixed results, and now the team’s bullpen desperately needs him to move up the bullpen hierarchy before the season starts.   
Backup Options: Sands, Duarte, Henriquez, Balazovic

Jorge Alcalá, RP
Last week, Alcala had a comebacker deflect off his pitching hand and was removed from his appearance. He’s looked great this spring after missing time in the last two seasons. Elbow and forearm issues can have long-lasting effects and have limited him to fewer than 20 big-league innings since 2021. Now, he needs to prove he can be consistent again. 
Backup Options: Sands, Duarte, Henriquez, Balazovic

The Twins must continue to rely on their depth throughout a 162-game season. Few players can stay healthy for the entire year, but Minnesota needs strong performances from multiple players on this list. Which player(s) should fans be most worried about? Do the Twins have enough bullpen arms? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[Mark G]

"Few players can stay healthy for the entire year........"

Forget the entire year, we have trouble getting from FL to MN healthy.  I hope our depth steps up like it did last year.  

Can't wait for Thursday!!

[Doctor Wu]

Keeping a healthy pitching staff is always a challenge. Hopefully, with the added depth we have this season, the early injuries to the guys in the bullpen won't be a huge issue. And I'm still not real confident about the fifth starter.

[Hrbeks Divot]

I think we’ve got enough depth to withstand injuries to every position except for starting pitching. I think Varland will be fine as the fifth starter and has plenty of upside. I just think it would have been much better to start him in triple A with a more seasoned, and healthy, option than DeSclafani on the big league squad.

[Karbo]

Are the Twins getting hurt more than normal? Anyone know where they rank as far as injuries compared to the rest of the league over the last 2-3 years?

[Whitey333]

The Twins always seem to have a lot of injuries.  Not sure why but it doesn't seem to get much better.  At least it gives them a good excuse when they lose games.

[MinnInPa]

Alcala has looked great ..every time i look at the box score he's getting shelled???

[Bamboo Bat]

1 hour ago, Karbo said:

Are the Twins getting hurt more than normal? Anyone know where they rank as far as injuries compared to the rest of the league over the last 2-3 years?

Not sure about the last 2-3 years, but here's a link to current MLB injuries. Looks like the Twins are about average (especially since Moran, Prielipp, & Winder were known to be out long-term early in spring training or even before the year started). 

MLB Injury Status - 2024 Season - ESPN

[Fatbat]

Our injuries are about league average this season. Several teams have multiple SP on the 60 day DL. We got one. Mostly meaningless $4M guy. Injuries happen. Next man up. 

[twinstalker]

Stewart is the big one on the relief staff, because he's the one with superior stuff.  He makes Duran's job so much easier.

[Rosterman]

The scary part will be freeing up 40-man spots. The Twins are pretty good for backups right now at all the position spots. But, by chance, they lose Camargo at St. paul, and have to add a catcher to replace the major league guys...roster spot.

Right now, they might have one rotating roster spot for up-and-down minor league guys NOT on the 40-man. But then you have to judge the ability to send them abck thru waivers, if necessary.

[Linus]

Absolutely starting pitching. With even a normal year of injuries we are going to see lots of innings going to unproven pitchers. 

[KBJ1]

So far the Polanco trade is looking like another fleecing. A pitcher with known injury issues - on the IL. A one year wonder who so far has sucked and is now also hurt and a prospect who has what, maybe a 10% chance of ever making an MLB roster.

Sign a proven and healthy player for once.

[twinstalker]

1 hour ago, KBJ1 said:

So far the Polanco trade is looking like another fleecing. A pitcher with known injury issues - on the IL. A one year wonder who so far has sucked and is now also hurt and a prospect who has what, maybe a 10% chance of ever making an MLB roster.

Sign a proven and healthy player for once.

If only the Twins had checked with other teams on their interest in Polanco...

[twinstalker]

Honestly, I never thought anything but that the Twins took on a negative asset in DeSc.  They had to take him to make the trade.  That they pretended for a moment he might be able to pitch is their fault here, preying on a gullible audience.  You don't think they'd have rather put $4 million towards a healthy pitcher who might start?  smh