Carson McCusker Should Be On The Roster Right Now

[Cody Pirkl]

Image courtesy of Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Twins have posted a .669 OPS against left-handed pitching so far in 2025. As a result, opposing teams have begun to throw whatever southpaws they have on their roster with little to no repercussions. There may be no legitimate answer to this problem within the organization, but the Twins' refusal to even try something different is becoming questionable.

Carson McCusker can’t be considered a prospect or a likely remedy to the Twins’ ailments against left-handed pitching, but there’s at least a chance he can help. The 27-year-old outfielder has posted a .927 OPS in St. Paul overall this season and a .981 OPS against left-handed pitching. He received minimal opportunity in his brief call-up to the MLB and has admittedly not been as dominant since being demoted.

McCusker has always been a long shot to be an impact MLB contributor. His career path from the Independent Leagues is fun, but it rarely leads to MLB success. His swing-and-miss tendencies raise plenty of red flags, and even in a best-case scenario, he’s unlikely to contribute in any categories other than the power department. The Twins are skeptical, which is fair, but the bar to clear is currently extremely low.

After Royce Lewis was placed on the IL, the Twins lost one of their few potential impact options against left-handed pitching. They opted not to bring up fellow right-handed third baseman Jose Miranda due to his continued struggles since being demoted. Instead, they called up DaShawn Keirsey Jr., another left-handed hitter who is serving as a defensive fill-in and pinch runner. 

The Twins roster already included Jonah Bride, who has made more of an impact pitching in mop-up duty than he has as a position player in recent weeks. As their offense continues to flounder, the Twins continue to dedicate the back end of the roster to players who have little chance of helping turn things around. We’re also likely to continue to see at least one of Larnach and Wallner play regularly against left-handed pitching. Ironically, the team has waited until the supporting cast on offense is at its weakest this season to give these two regular at-bats against same-handed pitching after years of platooning them.

McCusker being on the roster and receiving regular playing time against southpaws would undoubtedly be an act of desperation. Unfortunately, with the rash of injuries and the struggles from the lineup, this is the point we’ve reached. The downside of McCusker being overmatched isn’t much of a risk at all, given the current struggles from the lineup. The upside of something clicking and him being even a league-average option in those matchups would be massive. Unfortunately, it seems the Twins are so confident in their assessment of McCusker that they’re not willing to take such a modest gamble. 

The status quo from the Twins’ lineup simply isn’t getting the job done against left-handed pitching. There’s little reason to expect an improvement from their current roster, and it’s hard to imagine them acquiring an impact bat at the trade deadline. They have a lever to pull in St. Paul that carries minimal risk. Carson McCusker should be getting an opportunity right now.

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[jorgenswest]

I wonder why now. In the next 7 games the Twins look to face one left handed starter. Should he sit the other games. The Mariners have one lefty in the bullpen so they will see almost all right handed pitchers in that 4 game series.

I am for calling him up if he will is worthwhile starting against right handed pitching at least some of the time. Who does he replace in the line up against right handed pitching that improves the team? If calling him just to start that one game in the next 7 against a lefty I think they are better off with Keirsey as the last man on the bench. I don’t think it is reasonable to expect his bat to stay sharp if he is rarely playing. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

I am in favor of replacing Bride with a right handed hitter but I just don't think McCusker is that guy. He looked way overmatched in his previous few ABs, admittedly a tough type of of audition and small sample size,  and is a detriment on defense. I doubt if  he can give us much help. Our previous look suggests that Gaspar probably isn't that guy either. 

How about Anthony Prato? He's hitting pretty well this year (.299/.428/.418 (.846)) and has been playing SS, 2B,  and LF. He's had a high OBP every year since being drafted in 2019 and steals 10 plus bases every year. Not a power guy, but can play multiple positions and could fill in better than McCusker. He's 27 so now is the time to see if he can play and we need somebody. I'd rather see Prato than McCusker at this point. I could see bringing up Gaspar if he could play anywhere but his defense is so bad that he's really unplayable except as a DH unless he can catch. 

My view - bring up Prato instead of Bride unless you want to bring up Gaspar and play him instead of Vasquez. 

 

 

[DJL44]

If he played defense as well as Keirsey he'd have the job.

The Twins are going with Bader, Buxton and Castro in the OF vs LHP. Do you think McCusker will be better than Bader, Buxton or Castro?

Jeffers has been the DH with Vazquez catching when there is a LH SP. Do you think McCusker is a better DH than Jeffers?

I think the answer to all of those is probably NO, so there is no role for McCusker.

[mikelink45]

1 hour ago, jorgenswest said:

I wonder why now. In the next 7 games the Twins look to face one left handed starter. Should he sit the other games. The Mariners have one lefty in the bullpen so they will see almost all right handed pitchers in that 4 game series.

I am for calling him up if he will is worthwhile starting against right handed pitching at least some of the time. Who does he replace in the line up against right handed pitching that improves the team? If calling him just to start that one game in the next 7 against a lefty I think they are better off with Keirsey as the last man on the bench. I don’t think it is reasonable to expect his bat to stay sharp if he is rarely playing. 

At this point SP is not the only consideration since starters seldom go more than 5 innings.  Most likely a left hander will come out of the pen at some point.

[mikelink45]

Yes bring him up and let him have a real opportunity to sink or swim - with Bride, a diminished Clemens, and Keirsey we have no bats on the bench - give him a chance to prove himself.  And yes we need the bat whether he owns a glove or not.

[FlyingFinn]

4 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

a diminished Clemens,

Not sure what people have against Clemens. He got the Twins the game winning hit (changed the momentum) to break the losing streak and was responsible for several key hits and defensive plays. Sure he had a slump in between but compared to others on the team, he's been a key player thus far. I like his hustle, his defense (playing multiple positions) and his clutch hitting.

[stringer bell]

IMHO the consensus on this board is "give Larnach and Wallner a chance to hit lefties", thus the window wouldn't be open very wide for McCusker. However, the Twins have been in an interlude where they have faced a large amount of left handed pitching and not fared well, so if they want to give McCusker a bit more of a fair chance, that opportunity was in the past week. It is a pretty remote possibility that McCusker would become a difference maker, but probably a better chance than Jonah Bride becoming that guy. Tweaking on the margins isn't going to make much difference.

[Schmoeman5]

Carson McCusker was given a limited opportunity. As well as Keirsey. During those limited opportunities, they've had very timid approaches. If he's going to be McCrusher at the ML level he needs to be aggressive on pitches in the strike zone. Did he even hit the ball hard once? Not from what I recall. Weak contact and a passive approach wont play at the top level. 

[Vanimal46]

I thought I read a report that he was practicing 1B but he hasn’t made an appearance there for St Paul. That’s probably his best bet to get a real opportunity is 1B. 

[jkcarew]

34% K rate against right-handed pitching in AAA, makes him unplayable against righties with the Twins. And it’s tough to carry a guy like that with little/no defensive value when you have to carry a gazzillon relievers.

I’d wait for when the team will face a spate of left-handed starters.

[jorgenswest]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

At this point SP is not the only consideration since starters seldom go more than 5 innings.  Most likely a left hander will come out of the pen at some point.

I get that. I am also aware that Seattle has one lefty in the pen. If that lefty comes in mid game against Wallner or Larnach would they pinch hit McCusker at that point knowing he will see a right handed pitcher later in the game? Does that also mean he gets at most two at bats against that one lefty starter in the next 7 days and get pulled when a reliever enters?

Most hitters need at bats to stay sharp. If the Twins can see a path where McCusker can help by getting consistent enough at bats they should bring him up. It is hard for me to see that consistent path short of an injury.

[Althebum82]

You do offer a compelling case.  But Keirsey is the FO 2025 outfield defensive security blanket, whether he hits or not.  Each year since the FO realized how exposed they are with an injured Buxton, they have had to have one.

And Sadly, McCusker does not fill that role.

Frankly, I have never understood the love affair with Bride.  But McCusker cannot replace him, either.

At best, McCusker is stuck unless we have another OF injury happen.

[Blyleven2011]

How many years have we been calling for a righthand hitter that plays outfield , even our FO has said so but they continue to give up on trying to find that thumper that hits against righties and lefties ...

McCrusher wasn't given much of a chance except to sit on the bench and get rusty and he hasn't played the same since his return to AAA ( what did falvèys professionals do to him ) ,  they brought up a shortstop that they didn't play either and we have kiersey Jr who plays defense and pinch runner ...

Makes no sense to bring up a player just to sit them , find the right player and if the FO ( do what they do best ) go dumpster diving and hope the get lucky ...

I don't have the answers why we can't hit lefties , blame it on the hitters but the FO hasn't done enough to fill that righthanded need either ...

Let's get some life in this team ...

[Mike Sixel]

8 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

How many years have we been calling for a righthand hitter that plays outfield , even our FO has said so but they continue to give up on trying to find that thumper that hits against righties and lefties ...

McCrusher wasn't given much of a chance except to sit on the bench and get rusty and he hasn't played the same since his return to AAA ( what did falvèys professionals do to him ) ,  they brought up a shortstop that they didn't play either and we have kiersey Jr who plays defense and pinch runner ...

Makes no sense to bring up a player just to sit them , find the right player and if the FO ( do what they do best ) go dumpster diving and hope the get lucky ...

I don't have the answers why we can't hit lefties , blame it on the hitters but the FO hasn't done enough to fill that righthanded need either ...

Let's get some life in this team ...

Larnach and Wallner are dumpster dives? I'd much rather have lefties that hit righties.

I'm guessing the FO not spending more money isn't their choice.....

[DocBauer]

In regard to the OP, the answer is YES and NO. 

I've been a rather strong advocate for seeing what you have at AAA when someone is doing well. You might catch lightening in a bottle, MAYBE you get a good role/bench player out of it. 

When Wallner and Buxton were both hurting and McCusker was brought up he got 6! PA in his stay. And they were scattered. And just recently we faced a large group of LHP. He should have been given opportunities over the past 2-3 weeks to see if he could hit maybe .230 and hit some doubles and run in to a couple HR bombs. 

But with the OF healthy again, im not sure I currently see an opportunity for him to play much. Granted, Castro doesn't HAVE to play only OF, he can slide to the INF and McCusker can play some OF, in addition to DH.

I keep wondering what Eeles might be doing now had he not had his offseason surgery? Would be be a sparkplug for the team? Or would he be languishing for St Paul? And if he keeps doing well, and some of the pop we saw from him last season cones back, do they give him a shot? Or do they keep him down just waiting for Keaschall and that's it?

My point is Castro was more or less a cast off, as were Clemens and Bride. Castro has turned out great, Clemens has made real contributions, will hopefully get hit again, and I guess Bride can at.least field a little bit and toss an inning in a blowout. (Yipee). 

Yes to giving shots to guys when your offense is struggling because you have nothing to lose and might gain something. But im not sure I see a fit with McCusker NOW, unless they just move on from Bride, or someone else gets hurt. 

[mikelink45]

4 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Not sure what people have against Clemens. He got the Twins the game winning hit (changed the momentum) to break the losing streak and was responsible for several key hits and defensive plays. Sure he had a slump in between but compared to others on the team, he's been a key player thus far. I like his hustle, his defense (playing multiple positions) and his clutch hitting.

This is not against Clemens, just recognition that his hitting is settling back to the norm.

[Bodie]

It's obvious that no Twins decision makers think he has anything to offer the major league club.

It is even more obvious why...

[DJL44]

12 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Makes no sense to bring up a player just to sit them , find the right player and if the FO ( do what they do best ) go dumpster diving and hope the get lucky ...

Makes no sense to sit one of your starters just because you needed to add an injury replacement from AAA.

[DJL44]

11 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I keep wondering what Eeles might be doing now had he not had his offseason surgery? Would be be a sparkplug for the team? Or would he be languishing for St Paul? And if he keeps doing well, and some of the pop we saw from him last season cones back, do they give him a shot? Or do they keep him down just waiting for Keaschall and that's it?

Eeles has a 561 OPS in AAA. He is not in MLB because he hasn't earned it.

[Whitey333]

Its hard to judge mccuster on such a limited opportunity.  One issue is that Rocco will  not use a lot of players thr FO sends him.  Several times in his tenure Baldelli hasn't used players at all even with games out of hand or the season out of hand.  He's even not let guys get their major league debut in when the team is way out of contention and family has flown in to watch his debut and never, ever even get in a game during his stay. 

[PatG]

"Intangibles" of bringing someone up from AAA:

Remember when Correa was hurt (bout 2 year ago), B Lee was brought up and was tearing it up....amazing how quickly CC healed from injury and was on the field.

IMO, Larnach and Walner NEED to be "motivated", No penal actions for them not producing (eg Walner's letting in the winning run against Reds, vice just cutting the ball off).

Guarantee: you see McCusker hitting at big league level, and we'll then see a spike in production from Walner/Larnach. 

The young guys bring that youthful exuberance!!

 

[LambchoP]

I'd like to see him replace Keirsey on the roster. Keirsey is another left handed OF bat who can't hit. He's just a late game defensive sub and pinch runner. And not even a good pinch runner as he gets caught stealing way too much. Why not give Mccusker a shot and platoon him with Wallner in RF? 

[Major League Ready]

They already have 5 OFers.  (Buxton/Wallner/Larnach/Bader/Castro)  Who is coming off the roster?  Should we DH him over Wallner or Larnach?  They also have a top prospect (Rodriquez) that is eventually going to get a shot and their top prospect (Jenkins) hopefully here sometime next year.  See if he can be taught to play 1B and he might have future value.

[Riverbrian]

If he is coming up to face left handers at the expense of Wallner and Larnach. Please don’t. 
 

If he is coming up to simply face left handers period. Please don’t. 
 

If Rocco or anyone on Twinsdaily feels that we have 9 players that have to be in the lineup everyday. Please don’t call him or anyone up. 
 

However… that strategy better work because all eggs will be in that basket. 
Good luck to all involved. 

[Riverbrian]

Let’s say McCusker comes up and is much more aggressive and he gets 4 ABs vs lefties and he hits 4 home runs. 
 

Will it matter? I mean besides the home runs that put a run or two on the board for the team. Will it matter to the future of McCusker?
 

Will his utilization all of sudden change? Or will he continue facing 25% of the pitching? 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, LambchoP said:

I'd like to see him replace Keirsey on the roster. Keirsey is another left handed OF bat who can't hit. He's just a late game defensive sub and pinch runner. And not even a good pinch runner as he gets caught stealing way too much. Why not give Mccusker a shot and platoon him with Wallner in RF? 

Wallner is an elite hitter. He should play every day. 

[Wedman13]

1 hour ago, AKTwinsFan said:

Because we got a bald headi coach who can't come up with a consistent roster and lineup. We really should be asking who we gotta get rid of on the relief pitching side. We sold off Alcala but he wasn't the problem, he was actually a decent young arm. Will we ever see the return we got for him? Just like Polanco probably never.

Please tell me this is sarcastic.  Alcala a decent young arm?

[Danchat]

1 hour ago, AKTwinsFan said:

Because we got a bald headi coach who can't come up with a consistent roster and lineup. We really should be asking who we gotta get rid of on the relief pitching side. We sold off Alcala but he wasn't the problem, he was actually a decent young arm. Will we ever see the return we got for him? Just like Polanco probably never.

The vast majority of other teams' lineups vary wildly like Rocco's, is there any evidence to believe that this affects hitter performance?

Also, Alcala is almost 30 years old, I wouldn't call that young. He may not have been "the issue", but he finished 2024 poorly and was abysmal this season. I don't see the point of continuing to trot him out there when the pitching staff can't fix him.

[Mike Sixel]

For his career, Wallner is hitting 39% better than the average MLB player, and people think he should be benched and platooned. Unreal.