Left Field Could Surprise Next Season

[Cody Schoenmann]

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett & Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

After the Minnesota Twins traded right-handed hitting outfielder Harrison Bader to the Philadelphia Phillies during the organization's Trade Deadline mass exodus, left field became a hodgepodge for the club, with Austin Martin, Trevor Larnach, James Outman, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. , Kody Clemens, and Alan Roden earning playing time at the position. This quintet failed to impress, hitting a combined .217/.298/.336 with a 79 wRC+ over 332 plate appearances. Still, some players stood out in left field late last season, signaling they could earn extended roles at the position next season.

The primary player who took advantage of their opportunity was Martin. Hitting .282/.374/.365 with one home run, eight doubles, and a 113 wRC+ over 181 plate appearances, the 26-year-old impressed as Minnesota's primary left fielder, making 37 appearances at the position late last season. Showcasing a glimpse of the offensive profile that made him one of the most highly-touted college bats in the 2020 MLB Amateur Draft, Martin's defense in left field also impressed, with the speedy outfielder generating three Outs Above Average (OAA) over 262 innings at the position.

With Larnach expected to either be traded this winter or become the club's primary designated hitter early next season, Martin should be penciled in for a good share of left field starts entering next season. The contact-skilled right-handed bat won't develop into a power-hitting bat. Still, given his above-average strikeout rate, near-elite contact profile, and plus range, Martin should be an above-average contributor in left field, providing Minnesota a strong foundation at the position in 2026.

Keirsey is no longer with the organization. Outman will likely continue to mix in at the position early next spring, but is out of options, and thus is also a DFA candidate who could no longer be a Twin come Opening Day. Clemens could be in the mix in left field, but President of Baseball and Business Operations Derek Falvey stated he will receive extended opportunities at first base next season. As mentioned earlier, Larnach is expected to either depart the organization or move off the position, meaning Martin's primary platoon partner is expected to be Roden.

Acquired alongside Kendry Rojas in the trade that sent Louis Varland to the Toronto Blue Jays, Roden struggled in his small sample with the Twins, hitting .158/.200/.263 with a 26 wRC+ over 40 plate appearances. The 25-year-old's struggles weren't unique to Minnesota, evidenced by him hitting .204/.283/.306 with a 67 wRC+ over 113 plate appearances with Toronto. Despite struggling at the plate in his rookie campaign, the left-handed bat excelled at Triple-A the past two seasons, generating a 147 wRC+ over 428 plate appearances while posting an elite strikeout rate and expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA).

Unsurprisingly, Roden has struggled against left-handed pitching in the high minors and the majors. Yet, he hit .350/.436/.540 over 117 plate appearances against right-handed pitching at Triple-A last season, signaling he could become an above-average hitter against right-handed pitching with more opportunities next season. The former Blue Jays prospect is also a plus fielder, evidenced by his sporting plus range in left last season (2 OAA) alongside well-above-average arm strength.

Martin and Roden are both young, inexperienced bats who have less than 600 combined plate appearances in the majors. Still, given their sustained success and encouraging advanced metrics at Triple-A the previous two seasons, plus defensive profiles, and above-average athleticism and speed, the duo could blossom into one of the more productive and exciting left field platoons in baseball early next season, an encouraging outlook for a Twins team blanketed in uncertainty.

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[ashbury]

Quote

one of the more productive and exciting left field platoons in baseball

Platoons may be productive if viewed in isolation, but rarely are exciting, and often limit options for roster construction and (ironically) in-game strategy.

[Fatbat]

They will be fine as OF #4, #5. The question is who will be the starting LF? Hopefully someone that produces a couple of WAR and is ops+ 120. 

[DJL44]

I think it is interesting that Martin and Roden are the two outfielders with experience in the infield. They could be the LF solution in 2026 and become the 1B solution in 2027 if Rodriguez, Gonzalez and Jenkins develop as expected.

[stringer bell]

Lots of candidates. I can’t see how all will get a chance with the Twins. I like both Rosen and Martin as players and their skill sets fit with areas where the Twins need improvement.

There will be injuries and players will disappoint, but with the number of options, productivity in left field should improve over last year. 

[Blyleven2011]

Martin has earned more playing time , we need hitters and he would fit in nicely at the top of the order , so what if he doesn't hit homeruns , make a career of playing solid defense , hitting  , stealing bases and scoring runs I'll take ...

Roden hasn't proved anything with the bat yet with Toronto or the twins ( AAA stats are good , but you cant live on hope from AAA )  , defense with an arm , to bad he was injured so it was just a small sample  with the twins ....

Roden will be on the opening day roster and given a chance , I'm sure he has options available  ...

[gman]

Besides a decent left field combination, they could fill the #2 spot in the order. Hoping that will insure better on base percentage and thus more base runners. However, Martin hit better against right hander's than did the left handed Roden. I expect Buxton will lead off again, although I would prefer him hitting third or fourth. 

[mnfireman]

If it is one of or a platoon between the two, Roden (LH) and/or Martin (RH) fit the 9 spot in line-up better than the 2 spot (that's where Keaschall should be).

Outman profiles a little higher in the line-up, 6th or 7th with his power and higher K rate, but batting him 9th IF he earns the spot also works.

[Nashvilletwin]

Gonzalez in LF after the trade deadline (along with ERod in RF and Jenkins in CF). Martin and Rhoden are OFs #4 and #5 for the last 60 games or so. Wallner gets his opportunity to be the primary DH. Buxton oks a trade to get a chance for a ring and the Twins invest valuable MLB innings in their OF of the future.  The fans get something different to watch over the last two months of ‘26 and something to look forward to whenever baseball is played in ‘27.   Win-win-win. 

[Major League Ready]

47 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Gonzalez in LF after the trade deadline (along with ERod in RF and Jenkins in CF). Martin and Rhoden are OFs #4 and #5 for the last 60 games or so. Buxton gets a chance for a ring and the Twins invest valuable MLB innings in their OF of the future.  The fans get something different to watch to over the last two months of ‘26 and something to look forward to whenever baseball is played in ‘27.   Win-win-win. 

Been thinking pretty much the same thing but it could be sooner.  I don't think the incumbents get more than half the season to prove they belong.  We probably see at least one of the guys you mentioned by July 1.  It would be a great problem to have if Martin and/or Roden are playing so well that they make it difficult to replace them.

[mikelink45]

I am hoping to be surprised

[Parfigliano]

Outman hopium is more addictive then opium.

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Gonzalez in LF after the trade deadline (along with ERod in RF and Jenkins in CF). Martin and Rhoden are OFs #4 and #5 for the last 60 games or so. Wallner gets his opportunity to be the primary DH. Buxton oks a trade to get a chance for a ring and the Twins invest valuable MLB innings in their OF of the future.  The fans get something different to watch over the last two months of ‘26 and something to look forward to whenever baseball is played in ‘27.   Win-win-win. 

Jenkins in right, ERod in center, makes more sense. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Surprise!

[arby58]

39 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Surprise!

I think you spelled reprise wrong.

[JD-TWINS]

2 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Been thinking pretty much the same thing but it could be sooner.  I don't think the incumbents get more than half the season to prove they belong.  We probably see at least one of the guys you mentioned by July 1.  It would be a great problem to have if Martin and/or Roden are playing so well that they make it difficult to replace them.

Gonzalez given a try at 1B going forward v. corner OF?

How about shifting Martin to 1B if Gonzalez can’t handle IF? Martin definitely has good infield instincts as a former middle infielder……maybe the best conversion candidate from the OF to 1B?

Gotta have better options at 1B than Clemens!

Roden hitting .180 over 153 AB’s combining both stints in MLB is not making me warm & fuzzy. He’s got to hit his way on to the club - can’t just give him a slot in the OF.

I like Martin - Gonzalez - Buxton - Larnach - Wallner to start the season with most of the changes you suggest by end of July…….would like to keep Buxton though.

[LA Vikes Fan]

3 hours ago, mnfireman said:

nIf it is one of or a platoon between the two, Roden (LH) and/or Martin (RH) fit the 9 spot in line-up better than the 2 spot (that's where Keaschall should be).

Outman profiles a little higher in the line-up, 6th or 7th with his power and higher K rate, but batting him 9th IF he earns the spot also works.

I don't understand why everyone is looking to platoon Martin or reduce him to a #4 OF after his performance last season. The man hit .282/.374/.365, stole 11 bases, and was either 3 or 5 OAA in the field depending on where you get the number. That is a starting OF on pretty much any MLB team outside of LA or NY. His performance was a step up improvement over 2024. In other words, he is progressing the way you like to see a guy up from AAA progress. He should be next year's leadoff hitter with Keaschall hitting 2 and Buxton 3. Now maybe last year was a flash in the pan for Martin but he earned the starting job out of the gate. I just don't get why so many people here want to put him on the bench when he is the second best hitting OF we have and a good fielder in LF.

Roden, on the other hand, has conquered AAA but hasn't shown anything yet at the MLB level. He should get a shot given his AAA mastery, but not at the expense of Martin. His shot should be at 1B at the expense of Clemens, as the backup CF, or at the expense of Wallner in RF, with Wallner moving to the primary DH spot IF Roden shows he can hit MLB pitching. Benching a guy like Martin who has shown he can hit MLB pitching so Roden can play is just insane, particularly when the other two spots he plays are manned by a guy who hit .213/.281/.434(.715) in Clemens, and a guy who hit .202 with a 30% plus SO rate who can't field the position in Wallner.  Clemens is a utility guy with some power, lousy BA, and big SO rate. Wallner is a power guy whose defense profiles him to the DH spot. No scholarships, hometown favorites, or nice 30 year old stories.  Play your best players. Martin was one of our best players for the last 2 months of 2025. Let's see if that continues on 2026. 

I do think Roden will get a shot next season in RF or at 1B. A day or two a week in LF is fine too. The Twins OF next year should be Buxton in CF and Martin in LF, both pretty much every day. with RF manned by the ST winner between Roden, GG, Emma, and Jenkins, with Wallner DHing  3-4 days a week and in RF 1-2 days a week. Let's not play Wallner every day in RF or Clemens at 1B, let's actually try to get better. 

[arby58]

5 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

I don't understand why everyone is looking to platoon Martin or reduce him to a #4 OF after his performance last season. The man hit .282/.374/.365, stole 11 bases, and was either 3 or 5 OAA in the field depending on where you get the number. That is a starting OF on pretty much any MLB team outside of LA or NY. His performance was a step up improvement over 2024. In other words, he is progressing the way you like to see a guy up from AAA progress. He should be next year's leadoff hitter with Keaschall hitting 2 and Buxton 3. Now maybe last year was a flash in the pan for Martin but he earned the starting job out of the gate. I just don't get why so many people here want to put him on the bench when he is the second best hitting OF we have and a good fielder in LF.

It was 181 plate appearances, which is basically 1/3 of a season. Hard to annoint him based on that, given that over his MLB career 438 plate appearances, he is -0.3 WAR. I'm happy with last year and agree he made great strides defensively in LF and is a decent baserunner. Handing him the starting LF spot based on that seems a bit premature.

[mnfireman]

39 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

I don't understand why everyone is looking to platoon Martin or reduce him to a #4 OF after his performance last season. The man hit .282/.374/.365, stole 11 bases, and was either 3 or 5 OAA in the field depending on where you get the number. That is a starting OF on pretty much any MLB team outside of LA or NY. His performance was a step up improvement over 2024. In other words, he is progressing the way you like to see a guy up from AAA progress. He should be next year's leadoff hitter with Keaschall hitting 2 and Buxton 3. Now maybe last year was a flash in the pan for Martin but he earned the starting job out of the gate. I just don't get why so many people here want to put him on the bench when he is the second best hitting OF we have and a good fielder in LF.

I agree that the best players should be playing, however the guys making playing time decisions with the Twins do not. That and this team has several young players that have not been given the chance to adjust after the league makes adjustments, especially players that have come from other systems.

I 100% hope Martin is the opening day LF and is given the chance to play 145 games out there, but I think the Twins are hoping he's Willie Castro 2.0 and want to play him all over the diamond.

As far as batting him lead-off; no, that's Buxton's spot, and his best numbers have come out of that that spot. Martin batting 9th could be a nice weapon ahead of Buxton as pitchers might be more willing to pitch to him instead of Buxton.

[Jacksson]

I'd have to disagree and that LF will be most likely be an Unpleasant Surprise in 2026. 

[stringer bell]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Jenkins in right, ERod in center, makes more sense. 

I believe when they both played in St. Paul, Jenkins played center. 

[GNess]

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

I am hoping to be surprised

It would be a surprise if Roden's bat is as good or better than Larmach's.

[stringer bell]

27 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

I agree that the best players should be playing, however the guys making playing time decisions with the Twins do not. That and this team has several young players that have not been given the chance to adjust after the league makes adjustments, especially players that have come from other systems.

I 100% hope Martin is the opening day LF and is given the chance to play 145 games out there, but I think the Twins are hoping he's Willie Castro 2.0 and want to play him all over the diamond.

As far as batting him lead-off; no, that's Buxton's spot, and his best numbers have come out of that that spot. Martin batting 9th could be a nice weapon ahead of Buxton as pitchers might be more willing to pitch to him instead of Buxton.

Martin plays one position well—LF. I expect he could be passable in center and adequate at second base. That isn’t the utility that Castro provided. Further, I would think Keaschall should get 90% of the innings at second base. I think Rodriguez, Jenkins, Outman and Roden could all be equal or better to Martin in center, so Martin playing CF, with or without Buxton on the roster could be a rare event. 

[Linus]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

Martin plays one position well—LF. I expect he could be passable in center and adequate at second base. That isn’t the utility that Castro provided. Further, I would think Keaschall should get 90% of the innings at second base. I think Rodriguez, Jenkins, Outman and Roden could all be equal or better to Martin in center, so Martin playing CF, with or without Buxton on the roster could be a rare event. 

Yep. I think people are getting a little over their skis on Martin. He played well for the last two months in left. It’s really the only position where he has proven to be an effective fielder. If he can produce what he did the last two months I would be over the moon excited. There is zero evidence he is a Castro level utility man nor should the Twins try to make him one. 

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Gonzalez given a try at 1B going forward v. corner OF?

How about shifting Martin to 1B if Gonzalez can’t handle IF? Martin definitely has good infield instincts as a former middle infielder……maybe the best conversion candidate from the OF to 1B?

Gotta have better options at 1B than Clemens!

Roden hitting .180 over 153 AB’s combining both stints in MLB is not making me warm & fuzzy. He’s got to hit his way on to the club - can’t just give him a slot in the OF.

I like Martin - Gonzalez - Buxton - Larnach - Wallner to start the season with most of the changes you suggest by end of July…….would like to keep Buxton though.

I like the idea of Gonzalez at 1B but who knows if he can make that transition.  I can't find any record of him ever playing the position in a game.  You would think they would be giving him a shot there if they thought there was any possibility.  Who knows, maybe they have him working on it over the winter.

Martin does not have the bat to be a long-term answer at 1B and if his bat got that much better, he would be more valuable in LF or perhaps a trade for a 1B or a 3-team trading returning a 1B.  

I hear ya on Roden which is why I believe they would not wait until August to replace him with another prospect.  However, it's way too early to give up on him.  There has been many a great player that struggled in their 1st 150 ABs.   I think he is a better possibility at 1B than Martin.

[dxpavelka]

10 hours ago, ashbury said:

Platoons may be productive if viewed in isolation, but rarely are exciting, and often limit options for roster construction and (ironically) in-game strategy.

or not

[LA Vikes Fan]

4 hours ago, mnfireman said:

I agree that the best players should be playing, however the guys making playing time decisions with the Twins do not. That and this team has several young players that have not been given the chance to adjust after the league makes adjustments, especially players that have come from other systems.

I 100% hope Martin is the opening day LF and is given the chance to play 145 games out there, but I think the Twins are hoping he's Willie Castro 2.0 and want to play him all over the diamond.

As far as batting him lead-off; no, that's Buxton's spot, and his best numbers have come out of that that spot. Martin batting 9th could be a nice weapon ahead of Buxton as pitchers might be more willing to pitch to him instead of Buxton.

I could see Martin hitting 9 aka the second leadoff. I just don’t like Buxton leading off. He is the one middle of the order bat we have. He should be hitting 2 or 3. 
 

[Mahoning]

Years ago the Twins had a regular, every-day LF named Eddie Rosario. When the Twins released him (too expensive) all the stat-heads wrote that he'd be easy to replace. They've never replaced him. That's one of the problems with WAR: It assumes that there is a (cheap) replacement available. But, what if there isn't?

 In all the years since Rosario the Twins' farm system has failed to produce a regular left fielder. Now that MLB seems to be shifting to giving value to contact and speed, I'd like to see Martin get the chance.

[Nashvilletwin]

10 hours ago, arby58 said:

It was 181 plate appearances, which is basically 1/3 of a season. Hard to annoint him based on that, given that over his MLB career 438 plate appearances, he is -0.3 WAR. I'm happy with last year and agree he made great strides defensively in LF and is a decent baserunner. Handing him the starting LF spot based on that seems a bit premature.

True, but most of those early ABs were when he was still screwing around with his swing (at the behest of the Twins’ coaching staff). He became much more productive and consistent when he went back to the swing/strategy at the plate that made him a top draft pick.  He’s earned his starting role - especially on this club, lol.

[the_brute_squad]

It's too early to judge Martin and Roden. This article had no mention of launch angle or mph off the bat. Not to mention I have no idea of their average with balls in play. Without that info, I'm completely lost!