Pick Your Favorite Twins 2025 Spring Training Newbie

[Greggory Masterson]

The Twins have a new batch of faces at spring training this year. Who are they? Why are they here? Where did they come from? Here’s your guide.

Image courtesy of © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Armando Alvarez (3B/1B/LF - RH)
Alvarez joined the Twins on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training on January 2nd. He made his MLB debut with Oakland last season but was released in November. He’s primarily played third, first, and second base, but he also saw some time in left field last season. Alvarez figures to be organizational depth at Triple-A St. Paul but could get a cup of coffee under the right (or wrong) circumstances.

Harrison Bader (CF - RH)
Bader signed the largest free agent contract for the Twins this offseason at $6.25 million guaranteed on February 7th. He’s played for St. Louis, both New York teams, and Cincinnati, winning a Gold Glove in center field in 2021. He figures to be Byron Buxton’s lead backup option and will see some time in the corners, mostly against lefty pitching to spell Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner. He’s got a mutual option for next year, too, as if that means anything.

Diego Cartaya (C - RH)
Cartaya was waived by the Dodgers on January 3rd and traded to Minnesota a few days later for Rookie ball pitcher Jose Vasquez. Cartaya was one of the top prospects in baseball as recently as 2022, but his 2023 and 2024 seasons at Double- and Triple-A have been lackluster. He’s on the 40-man roster, but the catcher position is crowded with Ryan Jeffers, Christian Vázquez, and Jair Camargo. If the 23-year-old can get his offense back on track, he can still have a good MLB career and even make the big leagues this season, but his stock is way down.

Eiberson Castellano (RHP)
Castellano was acquired in the Rule 5 draft from the Phillies organization after winning the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year award in 2024. This means that Castellano will need to remain on the active roster or injured list all season (unless the Twins make a trade for his rights with Philadelphia, at which point they can demote him). He’ll get every chance to prove himself this spring, and if he makes the team, he’ll mostly be used as a long reliever.

Danny Coulombe (LHP)
Coulombe returned to the Twins on a one-year, $3 million deal on February 7th after spending the last two seasons in Baltimore’s bullpen. Baltimore did not exercise his $4 million option for 2025. Previously with the Twins from 2020 to 2022, he was sold to Baltimore before the 2023 season after the Twins decided that he would not make the Opening Day roster. He’s been an effective lefty reliever since 2020. He slots in somewhere around the middle of the Twins’ bullpen hierarchy and is the only lefty projected to make the team.

Mike Ford (1B - LH)
Ford is probably the most recognizable name on the Twins’ list of non-roster invitees signed this offseason. He was released by the Reds in May of 2024 and had a brief stint in Japan’s NPB before signing a minor league deal with the Twins on January 2nd. The lefty first baseman has played at the big league level for six different teams, having very good partial years in 2019 for the Yankees and 2023 for the Mariners. The first base spot is in flux right now, and Ford could factor in, somehow, but he’s far down the depth chart right now.

Ty France (1B - RH)
France will sign a non-guaranteed MLB contract, pending physical, for $1 million if he makes the team out of camp. The Twins do need to devote a 40-man roster spot for the time being, but if he gets cut before the season, the team won’t owe him his salary. Hampered by injury over the past year and a half, he has struggled but might still have some juice in his bat, even if he doesn’t play at his 2021 level. The Twins have a few weeks to parse that out.

Mickey Gasper (1B/2B/C - SH)
Gasper, for a while, was the Twins’ biggest addition this offseason, having been traded for Jovani Morán from Boston on December 24th. He has experience at catcher, first base, and second base, but he will likely play first base if he gets any opportunity. He made a brief debut with the Red Sox in 2024, but he’s 29, so the time is now. He could factor into the first base and DH mix as a high-OBP switch hitter, and the Twins clearly see something in him.

Darren McCaughan (RHP)
McCaughan is a right-handed pitcher who has primarily started in the minors but has made spot starts and mop-up appearances in the majors for three different teams, most recently Miami. He signed a minor league deal with Minnesota on December 4th, which includes an invite to spring training. He’ll be depth for the Twins in 2025, though likely only if the pitching staff suffers significant injury or Minnesota’s player development unlocks something for the 28-year-old.

Anthony Misiewicz (LHP)
Misiewicz is in his eighth organization at age 30, signing a minor league contract with an invite to spring training on January 21st. A lefty with 115 ⅔ innings in the big leagues since 2020, Misiewicz (pronounced similar to Mientkiewicz) figures to be lefty middle relief depth behind Danny Coulombe and Kody Funderburk—the only two southpaw hurlers on the Twins’ 40-man roster.

Alex Speas (RHP)
Speas is a fireballing right-handed reliever who signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Only 26, he is already in his sixth organization, but the 2016 second-round pick is one of the more enticing players at Twins camp with a fastball that averages 100 miles per hour, although he’s relied chiefly on a cutter that averages 92 in his four career big league innings. He could be a legit relief option if they figure it out.

Huascar Ynoa (RHP)
Ynoa signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training on December 9th. Twins fans may best remember Ynoa as the 19-year-old traded for Jaime Garcia in 2017. The prodigal son returned after being released in November from Atlanta. He emerged as a solid starter as a 23-year-old in 2021, helping the Braves in their World Series season, but he's missed most of the last three years to injury and may be a reliever from here on, if the Twins even get him healthy enough for that.

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Let us know which new Twins player interests you the most in our comments below. 

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[TopGunn#22]

Diego Cartaya.  Vasquez either has one more season left with the Twins or he will be traded sometime in 2025.  Jeffers has had "good" seasons and "not so good" seasons as a hitter.  His defense is not a strength.  Cartaya, if he can regain his early Dodger career magic, could have a bigger impact on future Twins success than any other player listed.  

[LambchoP]

As for NRI players i am disappointed to not see Eeles with an invite to big league camp. With the year he just had he should get a good long look this spring. First base is mostly set with Miranda so the only battle will be for who backs him up or splits time with him. Second base is wide open. Im guessing some combo of Castro and Lee with Julien and Martin getting looks as well. Maybe some Keaschal as well. Our catcher duo is set but they need to figure out who is catcher number 3 in case of injury or trade. Gasper probably has the best bat but it looks like the twins dont view him as a catcher anymore, so it'll be a battle between Camargo and the new kid from LA. Twins need to figure out their long term first baseman and catcher situation. This year might be an audition year. If one of our guys can take the job then great. If not, we know we need to sign somone new.

[terrydactyls]

All these guys invited to spring training but not Paton Eeles?  I find that very odd.

[PatPfund]

Castellano is the most interesting to me, because of all the Rule 5 intrigue surrounding a live arm. Odds say he is gone, but Rule 5 is how we scored Johan Santana and Ryan Pressley, and that potential will have me watching.

[PatPfund]

Eeles got signed out of indy ball, and I heard the plan was to give him a start in minor league camp (which he's never gone through) with instructors there able to give him more development time, while getting into games on the MLB side to give him that exposure as well. Seems like a solid plan.

[Parfigliano]

45 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

All these guys invited to spring training but not Paton Eeles?  I find that very odd.

And disconcerting.

[Parfigliano]

Again with the Gasper has experience at catcher talk.  I don't think he has played a MLB inning at catcher.

[Blyleven2011]

A needed acquisition is coloumbe  being a good lefty in the bullpen ...

Huascar ynoa is intriguing but needs to probably build up arm strength due to injuries ... 

Bader's defense should be solid in the outfield  ... 

Is there any other NRI worth talking about , maybe Castellano because of the rule 5 tag on him ...

 

[ashbury]

None really.  Castellano is the one who might raise the FO's off-season grade if he performs well.  Everyone else is close to a known quantity, within narrow bounds.

[Greggory Masterson]

35 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Again with the Gasper has experience at catcher talk.  I don't think he has played a MLB inning at catcher.

He did report to spring training with pitchers and catchers, and he’s been catching bullpens the last couple days. That said, he played second and first in his cup of coffee last year and probably isn’t more than an emergency catcher.

[nicksaviking]

Out of these guys? I guess Coulombe by default as he's the only one I want to see on the 26-man roster.

If the 'newbies' were expanded to the home-grown options, there are several I'm interested in seeing.

[sweetmusicviola16]

Cartaya. He offers little excitement either. But will be an interesting player to follow this season.

[Squirrel]

You choose or select your favourites. You pick your nose. 🤣 (Couldn't resist.)

That said, I'm really only interested in those who will/might make the 26-man roster. The rest? Eh, don't really care. Would rather see our prospects with hopeful futures than maybes. Ynoa and Cartaya might interest me if I see a resurgence from them. Still, not likely either making the roster, but if they prove 'good enough' that is good depth to have and maybe puts them in a 'could help down the road' category if there are injuries or trades.

[PatPfund]

4 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Again with the Gasper has experience at catcher talk.  I don't think he has played a MLB inning at catcher.

To be fair he has something approaching a 1000 innings as a minor league catcher (though spread over several years). But, yeah. To be realistic, Mickey is 29, and has 18 total innings in MLB (where in 23 plate appearances, he had zero hits and 4 walks). If he makes the Twins out of ST (regardless of position), things have gone deep wrong.

[thelanges5]

Hard to pick just one ⚾️

Cartaya vs Camargo for the catcher of the future. 

Is Castellano the real deal?

I like the Bader, Coulombe, and France signings. 

Who is our 2nd baseman?

[RpR]

2 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Who is our 2nd baseman?

Good question with not really good choices.

[DocBauer]

I like the Coulombe signing quite a lot. I'm good with Bader as long as he's a well paid, veteran 4th OF and not a full time starter. The bat is below average for him to be starting daily in a corner OF spot. France as a bounce back flier at 30yo is smarter than some of the 35-40yo options out there.

But as to the rest:

CARTAYA: I'm sorry, I'm just not as excited about him as others are. The CS % has been low and his bat abandoned him once he hit AA. (unlike Camargo who throws better and who's bat picked up at AA). But was some of that his back injury? I'm intrigued...I just don't know that I expect a lot. I hope he proves the Dodgers and me wrong.

CASTELLANO: I know the Twins liked him enough to try and trade for him before the rule 5. I know he was the Phillies MILB pitcher of the year. But is he really better than Matthews, Morris, Lewis, Raya, Culpepper, etc? I'm going to pay attention, of course, but I don't see room for a bullpen roster stash on a team that has contention intentions. 

GASPER: There's just no reason to be excited about a poor defensive catcher who's played a couple innings at 2B here and there, but is primarily a 1B with little power and is 29yo. So why do I keep getting this feeling in the back of my head that his high contact and high OB% might give him the last spot on the bench at some point as a "different" type of hitter than many other Twins players?

YNOA: Hard not to be intrigued by a former farmhand that did pretty well for Atlanta before getting hurt. Is he a potential pen option later in the season as a middle/long arm?

SPEAS: I expect nothing from Speas at all. But the former 2nd round pick is still only 25yo and averaged 13.9K per 9 in MILB. He also didn't allow hits, fewer than IP, at a rate of only 6.8 per 9. BUT, he also had a BB number of 8.4 per 9!! Those BB rates are insanely bad. But what if the Twins are the right place and right time in his career at his age and he suddenly finds a modicum of control? It's worth at least paying attention to.

[jud6312]

Is there a "none of the above" button?

[IndianaTwin]

12 hours ago, Squirrel said:

You choose or select your favourites. You pick your nose. 🤣 (Couldn't resist.)

As the saying goes, “You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friend’s nose.”

[LambchoP]

I think if Castellano shows anything in spring, a trade is going to need to be made so we can send him back down to AA. He was the minor league pitcher of the year for PHI and he ranks somewhere in the middle of the Twins top 30. We have a lot of intriguing arms coming up but as everyone knows, there is no such thing as too much pitching. I wonder what it would take in a trade. I cant imagine too much. A good looking A or AA starter?

[Boswell]

Last year, the Twins gave plate appearances to 21 players and brought  31 pitchers (and 3 position players) to the mound.  So, most of these guys will be up and about at some point in the season!

 

 

[Parfigliano]

7 minutes ago, Boswell said:

Last year, the Twins gave plate appearances to 21 players and brought  31 pitchers (and 3 position players) to the mound.  So, most of these guys will be up and about at some point in the season!

 

 

That's kinda depressing.

[Doctor Wu]

On 2/15/2025 at 11:29 PM, Blyleven2011 said:

Huascar ynoa is intriguing but needs to probably build up arm strength due to injuries ... 

He's the one I'll be following.