Why a Fast Start Is Crucial for Three Twins Hitters in 2025

[Cody Christie]

After a disappointing end to the 2024 season, many players will attempt to quickly get the bad taste of last season out of their mouths. Three players' offensive performance will be closely watched in the season’s early weeks.

Image courtesy of William Parmeter

Spring training is nearing its conclusion, and the Minnesota Twins are ready to embark on another season filled with high expectations. While the roster is full of familiar faces, three players stand out as crucial to the team’s success: Matt Wallner, Royce Lewis, and Byron Buxton. Each of these players faces unique challenges entering 2025, but they all share one common need: getting off to a strong start.  

Matt Wallner: Can He Pick Up Where He Left Off?  
Matt Wallner’s 2024 season was a tale of two halves. To say he struggled out of the gate would be an understatement. In 33 plate appearances, he went 2-for-25 (.080 BA) with 17 strikeouts. This disastrous start at the plate led to a demotion to Triple-A, where he was forced to recalibrate his approach. However, he looked like a completely different hitter once he returned to the big-league club. In his final 228 plate appearances, he hit .282/.386/.559 (.945) with 16 doubles and 12 home runs. Wallner provided consistent at-bats and became one of the Twins’ most productive hitters down the stretch.  

The biggest question heading into 2025 is which version of Wallner will show up. Was the first-half slump simply a case of pressing too much, or were there underlying mechanical issues that could resurface? His second-half surge suggested he made meaningful adjustments, but there’s always the risk of regression. The Twins are counting on him to provide much-needed left-handed power in a lineup that needs depth beyond its core stars. If he can carry his late-season success into April, he’ll solidify his role as a key contributor. If he struggles again, he could find himself fighting for playing time in a crowded outfield mix.  

Royce Lewis: Ready to Shake Off the Slump 
Royce Lewis has never lacked confidence. He’s made headlines throughout his career with his charismatic personality and infectious energy. That’s why it was so surprising when he ended 2024 in the worst slump of his young career, especially after boldly stating, “I don’t do that slump thing.”

Lewis has shown elite flashes at the plate, but his late-season struggles raised some concerns. In the second half, he hit .207/.270/.350 (.620) with 17 extra-base hits in 226 PA. The Twins are all in on him as their everyday third baseman, and they need him to produce like the middle-of-the-order bat they believe he can be. His power and ability to deliver in clutch moments make him a game-changer when he’s at his best.  

A strong start would prove that his late-season slump was an anomaly rather than a sign of growing pains that will linger into 2025. If he can settle in quickly and recapture the form that made him one of the team’s most dangerous hitters, the Twins’ lineup will be in great shape. But if his struggles continue, questions will start to arise about whether the team needs to adjust their expectations for him.  

Byron Buxton: The Offensive X-Factor
For years, Twins fans have wondered what Byron Buxton could do with a fully healthy offseason. Now, for the first time in over half a decade, they’re about to find out. Buxton wasn’t rehabbing from an injury this winter. He was training, refining his approach, and preparing for a season where he could hopefully be at his best from day one.

Last season, Buxton played over 100 games for just the second time in his career, a significant step forward for a player whose immense talent is often overshadowed by his injury history. He posted a 137 OPS+, the second-highest total of his career. Even so, he was out of the lineup in the second half when the Twins were free-falling out of playoff contention. 

Now, the Twins need him to be an offensive force in the middle of the lineup, and a locked-in Buxton changes the entire complexion of the team daily. His power-speed combination is elite, and when he sees the ball well, he forces pitchers to attack the heart of the Twins’ order differently. A hot start would send a strong message that he’s back to being the game-breaking player he was in 2021, rather than the injury-riddled star who has struggled to stay on the field.  

If Buxton stays healthy and starts the season strong, it will significantly boost Minnesota’s offense. If he struggles early, the team could find itself in an all-too-familiar spot of wondering how much they can realistically expect from their most talented player.  

The Twins have the pieces to compete for another AL Central title, but much of their success hinges on how Wallner, Lewis, and Buxton perform out of the gate. A slow start from any of them could lead to lineup reshuffling and increased pressure to make adjustments on the fly. On the other hand, if all three come out firing, Minnesota’s offense could be one of the most dangerous in the American League.  

With Opening Day just around the corner, all eyes will be on this trio. Can Wallner prove his second-half resurgence was real? Will Lewis shake off his late-season slump and deliver on his star potential? And can Buxton build off his healthy winter and be the game-changer the Twins need? The answers to those questions will significantly shape the 2025 season.

Which player is most important to the Twins’ start to the season? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[Craig Arko]

I think Correa needs to be added to this list.

[Fatbat]

These guys stay healthy, they will produce big time ops+!  The ‘25 central division crown could be decided by the allstar game.  Hit/score/win! Pitching will take care of itself. 

[old nurse]

The only two players who don’t need to be worried about starting fast are Buxton and Correa. The players out of potions might have to worry about splinters. In general it is not a fast start that is needed, it is being competent. If they are looking lost at the plate then change will happen. 

[Cody Christie]

1 hour ago, Craig Arko said:

I think Correa needs to be added to this list.

A lot of players could be talked about in the article but I tried to limit the list. Correa was great last year when he was healthy. His first half was one of the best stretches of his career. He's proven that he can perform when he is healthy. 

Other players I considered for the list were Julien, Miranda, Castro, Larnach and Jeffers. Like I said, the list could be almost the entire offensive roster. 

I picked Wallner because of his slump to start last season, Lewis for his slump to end last season, and Buxton because of the high expectations that continually surround him. 

[tony&rodney]

While it would be best if all of Correa, Buxton, and Lewis get off to a great start in March/April, there isn't any history to suggest their playing time or where they bat in the order changes. Wallner was sent back to AAA last year. Hopefully the Twins put some trust in him this year.

[ashbury]

As implied elsewhere in the thread, a slow start isn't welcome for anyone.  Still, I would put Brooks Lee near the top of the list, assuming he is brought north in the first place - or, I guess, whoever else such as Gasper or Julien who is perceived as barely making it as the 25th or 26th man on the roster in place of Lee.

[TwinsDr2021]

I would put everybody on the list except Buxton, CC, Bader, Vazquez and Jeffers. IMO those guys can't/won't be replaced by a slow start, everybody else could/should be with a slow start.

[terrydactyls]

3 hours ago, old nurse said:

The only two players who don’t need to be worried about starting fast are Buxton and Correa. The players out of potions might have to worry about splinters. In general it is not a fast start that is needed, it is being competent. If they are looking lost at the plate then change will happen. 

What sort of potions are some players out of.  Are they legal or are they on the list of banned performance enhancing drugs?

[Craig Arko]

32 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

What sort of potions are some players out of.  Are they legal or are they on the list of banned performance enhancing drugs?

Hopefully not Potions of Invisibility. Potions of Extra Healing might come in handy.

[Parfigliano]

Julien, Larnach, Lee, Lewis, Miranda, and Wallner.  AKA "The Future".

[HerbieFan]

Is there anyone who DOESN'T seem to need a good start??

[old nurse]

3 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

What sort of potions are some players out of.  Are they legal or are they on the list of banned performance enhancing drugs?

Options . Oops. Forgot to proof my typing 

[mnfireman]

To pick 3: Miranda, Julien & Larnach, simply because their collective careers are depending on not only a hot start, but an entire season of good hitting. 

Based on positional needs: Julien, Martin and Lee at 2B - Keaschel, (and to an extent Eeles, though he is not at MLB ST) is knocking on the door with Culpepper right behind him. All three may not break camp with the team, Lee is out playing Martin right now, and Martin may be considered more of an OF these days anyway. All three have options though and can get reps in AAA.

[Blyleven2011]

Once the twins leave sunny Florida and the warm weather who knows what's going to happen  , they're bats have been cold to start many seasons in the past , so unless management has changed their spring training  effort to get the players ready for the season , I'm seeing more at bats for the regular players that are part of the 26 man roster  , past spring trainings they would have the players over on the practice field and try and keep them from being injured in spring training , the team came into spring training very healthy and it looks like management is taking a different approach in getting the players ready for better results  to start the season  ...

Spring training is for preparing players bodies to build up strength and conditioning  ....

[Fatbat]

5 hours ago, HerbieFan said:

Is there anyone who DOESN'T seem to need a good start??

Well it seems that Stewart is having a good start at being injured by pitching….

[Doctor Wu]

I'm not sure "crucial" is the best word, but certainly all of those players, and the team, will benefit from a fast start by them. As far as Wallner, he's being used primarily as the leadoff hitter in spring training, which strikes me as ... I don't know, but he's just not the player I think is ideal for that role. Is that just an experiment, or a spring thing, or do the Twins actually see him as their best option as the leadoff hitter this season?

[Whitey333]

I agree with the article.  I also believe Correa should be added there.  However the team as a whole needs a good start to the season due to last years disastrous finish.  I believe last year they started slowly again and they essentially told us that the early games don't really matter.  Well I would like to see some urgency when they play.  At least give the appearance they actually care.  A 7-13 start would be disastrous IMO.

[LambchoP]

For what it's worth, all these guys and Correa have looked pretty good so far this spring. I think Wallner is one or two home runs away from leading MLB in spring homers. Most importantly though, they all look healthy. Not sure what happened with Stewart yesterday, hopefully we get some good news on him soon...

[bean5302]

If selected to be part of the 26 man, nobody has more pressure on them to produce than Eddie Julien IMHO.

Royce Lewis - What I want to see is a sprint speed in that 28.0+ range along with results at the plate. Is his lower body healed up? Has he regained the athleticism? I think the biggest question for Lewis is defense. Baldelli will have him on a short leash at 3B (for better or worse).

I'm not at all concerned about Matt Wallner or Byron Buxton. 

[bean5302]

...and just like that, Lewis pulls a hammy.

[IndyTwinsFan]

2 hours ago, bean5302 said:

...and just like that, Lewis pulls a hammy.

... and likely to be out of the lineup for quite awhile (again).