Minnesota Twins Enter Camp with a Healthy Outlook (For a Change)

[Nick Nelson]

Injuries will surely come. But as the Twins enter camp, there's a refreshing lack of known concerns to cast shadows over the spring training complex in Fort Myers. It's a positive omen, in a season where this team really needs to stay healthy.

Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Let's start by putting this out there: jinxes aren't real. I feel like any time a topic such as this is broached, people get panicked and upset as if merely speaking on the situation will cause it to change. Maybe that just ties back to the superstitious ethos of baseball.

Knock on wood if you like, but it doesn't make a difference. Injuries are going to happen and it won't be due to this article getting written. With that said, it is worth remarking on the team's relatively clean bill of health entering camp, and how much that differs from past springs.

Two years ago, Jorge Polanco and Alex Kirilloff were the big question marks. They were both facing potentially career-threatening medical concerns. Polanco had been plagued in 2022 by debilitating knee pain – "He could barely walk. He could barely swing the bat," his manager Rocco Baldelli later said – and he was behind from the very start of camp in 2023. Kirilloff was coming back from a rare, invasive procedure to address his chronic wrist soreness, after a previous surgery failed to resolve the issue.

They were far from the only Twins players whose statuses were in doubt. Looking back at my early-camp rundown from that year, it's striking to recall at what an overwhelming narrative the injuries were heading into 2023: Tyler Mahle's balky shoulder, Kenta Maeda coming off Tommy John, Royce Lewis still recovering from a second ACL tear.

Last year there were also a number of pressing health questions heading into spring training. Carlos Correa was looking to prove he was past the plantar fasciitis that bogged him down in 2023. Kirilloff was coming off another surgery (this time on his shoulder). Planned fifth starter Anthony DeSclafani had come aboard with uncertainty surrounding the condition of his elbow.

But the microscope was clearly on Byron Buxton more than any other player. His '23 campaign had been a complete disaster, as persistent struggles with a non-cooperative right knee limited him like never before. Buxton didn't make a single start in center field and was a mere shell of himself offensively. As the new spring got underway, despite declaring himself "back" a few weeks early at TwinsFest, it was anyone's guess what to expect from the injury-ravaged star. 

The script has flipped completely coming off Buxton's healthiest season in years. He appeared in 100+ games for the second time in his career, played a good center field, and finished the season producing. As Bobby Nightengale recently highlighted for the Star Tribune, Buxton is entering camp this year with a "whole new mindset" after finally getting to experience an offseason that wasn't dominated by rehab and physical therapy. "This is probably the healthiest offseason he's had," according to Derek Falvey.

Buxton's dramatically improved health outlook from last year to this year is a good facsimile for the team as a whole. You look around and there just aren't a ton of known scary injury concerns following guys into camp. Here are the situations worth monitoring, that I'm aware of:

• Brock Stewart seems to be the biggest question mark this year. The perennially injured reliever is coming off shoulder surgery that the Twins hope will resolve his arm woes. There's been no word of roadblocks or setbacks, but the team has acknowledged he might be a little behind in camp as he ramps up. It's tough to feel all that optimistic about Stewart given his history, but I think most of us are viewing him as more of a bonus than an integral cog in the bullpen. 
• Chris Paddack, like Stewart, is inherently a wild card based on his track record, and probably not someone the Twins can or should count on. That's okay. Same as Stewart, he can be treated as as high-upside bonus in a unit that has the depth to succeed without him. But for what it's worth I've heard nothing to indicate he's off course.
• Justin Topa missed most of last year with a knee injury, and it's something he's dealt with before, but the Twins must have felt moderately confident in his condition to tender him a guaranteed contract. He's not a lock to make the team even if healthy, so again, relatively low stakes.
• Much higher stakes here: Correa is coming off another bout with plantar fasciitis, one that cost him nearly half of his 2024 season, and that's obviously something that will warrant monitoring. But he did make it back before the end of the campaign, and played well. Correa said during TwinsFest that he is completely healthy and a full go for spring training, expressing confidence he'll be able to manage both of his afflicted feet. 
• Joe Ryan is coming off a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the final two months of 2024. We may not be able to feel full confidence until we see him letting loose on the mound again, but recent scans showed no signs of the strain, suggesting it is 100% healed. He's been preparing for spring as normal. 

Certainly there are some looming health-related challenges that need to be factored into this discussion. Specifically I'm thinking about the back issues that have plagued José Miranda and Brooks Lee, and the general need for position players (i.e. Willi Castro and Lewis) to weather the marathon of the MLB season rather than wearing down. 

And regardless of what we know going into camp, we're all aware that the injury report is subject to change quickly. I'm reminded that Jhoan Durán and Caleb Thielbar were healthy coming into camp last year until they weren't. By no means am I trying to paint some overly rosy picture of what I expect from a health standpoint. There are always a few surprises once the action fires up and from there it becomes a game of chance.

But I will say this: Coming into spring training with so few prominent health predicaments sure beats the alternative. Especially because the Twins, given their highly questionable position-player depth, need key players to stay healthy in a pretty dire way. 

On second thought, maybe let's all knock on some wood, just to be safe.

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[DJL44]

Are they also in the best physical shape of their lives?

[Blyleven2011]

Sat-tire , mocking the front office on their words , not mine ..

the twins have a plan to rest players so they stay fresh and injury free ...

Maybe they should be more creative in that aspect and rest the players for the whole season To prevent an injury ...

I guess we'll wait and see how spring training goes ...

Seriously now ,  we need healthy players , but we need the regulars to play more game reps so they are ready for the start of the season  , they have been slow to start the season the past few years because they don't get game reps and they are behind being ready against pitching  , my understanding  is they do practice on the practice field and play in games at Hammond field but don't travel on the bus to visit away games , a short bus ride , What are we paying these guys for ...

Entertainment does come at a cost to the players , but not coming into the season prepared to play and compete comes as a cost to the fans ...

[Doctor Gast]

I'm optimistic, Buck is in a good spot, and Correa seems to have a handle on his plantar facilitisis with shoe support, exercises & treatment. Steward seems to feel pretty good. Alcala, Lewis, Paddack & Miranda are one more year past surgery, proper health management will keep them productive as long as possible. I'm more concerned with Topa chronic knee & Lee's back, if there is a proper way to manage their pain & to keep them productive.

[old nurse]

Oft injured is oft injured. Who will have more innings in CF Buxton or Bader?  Who will get the most innings at 3B Lewis or Lee? Will Paddack, Topa, or Stewart pitch in as many games as their age” Uniform number? Who will get this year;s suprize ailments? 

[jmlease1]

It's always good to have important players not be coming off surgery. Even a "minor" procedure is still something. I'm sure it's a huge relief to Buxton and Lewis to not be just in rehab mode.

I'll be very interested to see how Ryan is doing: it's the first real injury he's had, and hopefully it doesn't become a pattern or anything. If he's fully healthy and ready to go on Opening Day it'll be a big boost. I'm a big fan of his and him going down was a significant blow last season.

back injuries/conditions are always a little tricky, so it's definitely worth monitoring Miranda and Lee to see how they're doing. I suspect both would have gotten shut down last season if a) there had been other options, and b) it wasn't the end of the year. Hopefully both are feeling strong and healthy.

Pre-season health reports are always a little bit shady; "best shape of my life" is such a cliché at this point. That said, it is notable that the Twins have fewer key guys coming off off-season surgery.

[LambchoP]

I think at this point you have to plan for IL stints for Correa, Buck and Lewis. The hope is that these are short instances and not recurring or serious issues. We also need our depth and backup players to be able to handle the load while our "stars" are hurt. I think we're ok in the OF with Bader, Castro, Keirsey, Martin, maybe Keaschal and eventually ERod. The infield is a little more sus imo. It all depends on who is our starting 2nd baseman. If it's Lee, who is our backup SS or 3rd baseman? Who is our backup to Miranda at 1b? Castro should be able to cover most of these in the short term as long as he's not required to start at any one position long term. I think we really need a good first baseman to go along with Miranda and DH. Casas, MountCastle or Diaz would be best. Worst case, grab Turner for this year and look for a long term solution next year.

[Parfigliano]

knock....knock....knock

[CRF]

Yeah...healthy outlook? That, and a couple bucks, will get you a cup of coffee...except at Starbucks or Caribou, where it'll empty your wallet! Let's see how healthy they are once we get rolling into the season. 

[Jocko87]

The fate of the Twins season rests in dad shoes. How very Minnesota.

[UK Twin]

Twins have figured out how to manage Buck, finally. He mentally needs to be playing CF (understandably) but needs rest days and 2 or 3 10 day stints on the IL. If we can get 100 games out of him again that's a result. 

The thing | actually fear most with Buck, Lewis and Correa is when they get HBP. They will have individual plans to manage their bodies but what you can't plan for is an arm or wrist fracture from an errant pitch.

 

[Linus]

I think players having a full healthy off season to train is a big deal.  It seems like guys who don’t get that because they are recovering from injury / surgery seem to get hurt more often the next year.  I’m hopeful that Buck is entering a new phase of health.  Finding the Plica problem with his knee seems to have really helped and now he has a fully built up body from the off season.  Back stuff - who knows?  Stewart with a shoulder surgery is never a good sign.  I would be shocked if they got any meaningful innings from him.

[Riverbrian]

Whenever someone asks me: How's it going? How are you doing today? Or something of the sort. 

I always reply: Ok So Far

I do not want to tempt fate by responding with: I'm Well, Fantastic or Just Peachy.

I'm only comfortable answering that question when I go to bed. 

Nick... You Just tempted the Baseball Gods with your Just Peachy.

The Baseball Gods have a wicked sense of humor. This is all your fault. 

[RpR]

4 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Sat-tire , mocking the front office on their words , not mine ..

 

LOL, Twins, last year, were flat-tire.

It was re-inflated but not fixed so by the end of the year it was flat again.

 

[CRF]

Agree 100%. When someone asks me how I'm doing...I say ok, for right now, but it's early yet! Sh*t happens, and it can happen at any time. 

[LastOnePicked]

Wait, jinxes aren't real ... but omens are?

I'm fine with the idea of the Twins not being cursed by the baseball gods, but let's also not act like a healthy November-January means even a single thing for the team's health in June. Or April, for that matter. That's silly.

All we know is that injured players are more likely to experience future injuries. So we should probably expect a similar IL experience for the players who were injured in the last few years. With this roster, that's plenty of reason for skepticism.

[jud6312]

Healthy Buxton is the new Healthy Mauer. Sure, it's real today, but we all know it's not gonna last.

[saviking]

All it takes is one throw, ala Joe Ryan .. But here's to hopping we have a healthy season for a change

[IndianaTwin]

One encouraging sign was to see an article that listed current injuries that could lead to 60-day IL stints and to see the Twins as one of seven teams with none listed. 

[ashbury]

20 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

One encouraging sign was to see an article that listed current injuries that could lead to 60-day IL stints and to see the Twins as one of seven teams with none listed. 

This in turn accounts for losing Headrick on waivers, I think.  Signing France to a non-guaranteed contract could surely have waited a few days, if someone was headed to the IL.

[Riverbrian]

8 hours ago, ashbury said:

This in turn accounts for losing Headrick on waivers, I think.  Signing France to a non-guaranteed contract could surely have waited a few days, if someone was headed to the IL.

It's odd.

Headrick and Henriquez were waiver claims yet they were able to trade Helman for cash. 

Did the Twins think they could sneak those two through? 

Anyway... It's all over now. The Twins have successfully removed every player on the 40 man whose last name starts with H. 

[ashbury]

7 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

It's odd.

Headrick and Henriquez were waiver claims yet they were able to trade Helman for cash. 

Did the Twins think they could sneak those two through? 

Anyway... It's all over now. The Twins have successfully removed every player on the 40 man whose last name starts with H. 

[Riverbrian]

1 minute ago, ashbury said:

Thank God Kent Hrbek wasn't on the 2025 40 man roster. 

[ashbury]

3 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Thank God Kent Hrbek wasn't on the 2025 40 man roster. 

Concur.  The man is 64 years old and can't get around on the heater anymore.