3 Twins Bats That Will Decide the Fate of Their 2026 Season

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Every season brings a handful of players who rewrite their own narratives. Sometimes it's health. Sometimes it's timing. Sometimes it's simply baseball being baseball. For the Minnesota Twins, 2026 sets up as a year where several familiar names could remind the league why the expectations were so high in the first place. Matt Wallner, Royce Lewis, and Brooks Lee all entered 2025 with hype and finished it in a cloud of disappointment. That combination makes them ideal candidates to surprise in the season ahead.

Matt Wallner
Wallner entered 2025 as one of the few hitters coming off a legitimately strong 2024 campaign. He was expected to be a middle-of-the-order force and a stabilizing presence, alongside the veteran bats. Instead, his season never quite found a rhythm. An oblique strain and back spasms limited his availability and consistency, and while a 110 OPS+ is nothing to scoff at, it paled in comparison to the 143 OPS+ he averaged across 2023 and 2024. When Wallner was healthy, the impact still flashed, but it came in shorter bursts than the Twins needed.

Looking ahead to 2026, the underlying traits remain extremely enticing. Wallner’s 76.6-mph bat speed is among the best in the league, and his 11.8% walk rate shows a hitter who understands the strike zone. Those two skills tend to age well, and offer a sturdy foundation even when things are not clicking perfectly. With better health and a full season of at-bats, Wallner has a clear path back to being a difference maker in the heart of the lineup.

Royce Lewis
Trying to define Lewis’s next step feels like trying to hit a moving target. On paper, 2025 looked like progress. He appeared in a career-high 106 games and showed tangible defensive improvement at third base. Offensively, however, the offensive results were jarring. His 83 OPS+ was not what anyone envisioned, especially for a player once viewed as a franchise cornerstone. A hamstring injury in spring training cost him Opening Day, and the same issue resurfaced later in the summer, interrupting any momentum.

The Twins are betting that a healthy runway changes everything. This winter, the organization has been vocal in its support of Lewis, which feels intentional. Confidence has always been part of his profile, and the flashes are still there. Last June offered a glimpse, when he went 11-for-28 (.393 BA) with three extra base hits. Once the hamstring acted up again, that stretch became a footnote, instead of a turning point. As a right-handed hitter on a roster heavy with left-side bats, Lewis brings lineup balance that Minnesota sorely needs. If his body cooperates, the impact could be immediate.

Brooks Lee
From the moment the Twins selected Lee in the first round of the 2022 draft, his calling card was simple: He hit. That profile carried him through the minors, where he posted a .289 batting average with an .836 OPS across parts of four seasons. The transition to the majors has been far less kind. Over his first two big-league seasons, Lee owns a .636 OPS and a 75 OPS+, numbers that fall well short of expectations.

What makes Lee intriguing is that many of the building blocks remain intact. He continues to square the ball up at a strong rate (28.6% of the time, as a percentage of all swings), and his 17.5% strikeout rate suggests a hitter who is not overmatched. In 2026, Lee is set to take over as the primary shortstop, a role that comes with both opportunity and pressure. In the minors, his power was more pronounced from the right side of the plate. So far in the majors, his production has been more evenly split, with just 33 points of OPS separating his two sides. If that right-sided power shows up consistently, Lee’s offensive profile could take a meaningful step forward.

What It Means If They All Click
Individually, each of these players has a chance for a major rebound. Collectively, the impact could be enormous. A productive Wallner lengthens the lineup and protects the middle order. A healthy and confident Lewis adds right-handed thump and positional stability at third base. A more comfortable Lee at shortstop provides on-base skills and contact ability. Suddenly, the Twins' lineup looks deeper, more balanced, and far less dependent on a small group of veterans carrying the load.

Baseball seasons often hinge on these types of internal surprises. If even two of these three take a step forward, Minnesota benefits. If all three find their stride in the same season, the Twins could field one of their most complete lineups in years. Of course, that's a big collection of 'if's.

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Which of these three players do you believe is most likely to surprise the league in 2026, and why? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation.

 

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[jmlease1]

Disagree on Lee; while him performing better at the plate would be excellent for the Twins in many ways, Keaschall's performance will be more critical. If he's able to play close to where he was in 2025, then he's a really impactful bat in the lineup that's short of them. Lee hitting better raises the floor (unless he has an out of nowhere explosion) not the ceiling, and Keaschall maintaining where he was is more impactful.

 

[GNess]

Not sure all three have to emerge as legit + MLB. bats, because others could rise as well. Lewis seems to have the best chance to be a true difference maker.

Following the progress of these three will be something of genuine interest to follow in 2026.

[bean5302]

Wallner and Lewis can be expected to have a huge impact on the season. The Twins absolutely need them to excel if the team has any hopes of achieving the seemingly ambitious outlook ownership has for the organization. Wallner's defense needs to rebound as much as anything else. 

Brooks Lee hasn't demonstrated much with the bat, and I don't think he ever will since there are so many tools he's missing in his production profile. I also don't think it's reasonable to expect him to be a big producer so that puts more pressure on other players.

I think Luke Keaschall could be far more key to the Twins this year than Lee. Keaschall has been willing to take walks, and enough pop to keep pitchers honest. Keaschalls speed means he's tough to double up and a threat to reach base safely on an infield grounder. Even considering his lower actual xwOBA, a league average bat at 2B would still be very valuable and it would be really nice to find a stable every day 2B.

[tony&rodney]

All three are definitely question marks. 

The Twins mol know that when healthy Buxton is a positive and Jeffers is their catcher. There is a belief in Keaschall and he may be lumped to some extent in with the other inexperienced players. Guys like Jackson, Bell, Clemens, and any other vets will surprise us if they provide value. That leaves Lee, Wallner, and Lewis. Meanwhile it looks like Trevor Larnach has been shuffled to the side. So many questions for the position players. 

[Brandon]

Lee is not as important as others.  We do need Wallner and Lewis to hit 30-40 HRs.  Keaschal to hit for average and get on base.  Buxton to be healthy Buxton 

Lee just needs to be a solid role player along with Larnarch and Bell and Jeffers in the 95-110 OPS+ range.  

[lake_guy]

Sorry but more of this "if they all click" hope is crazy talk.  it's not gonna happen.  Remember how Buxton, Sanó, and Kepler were all going to be superstars at the same time. How did that work out?  We shed payroll, sign nobody of consequence, and get sold the 'wait for the kids' narrative.  Same old, same old....

[AceWrigley]

The 3 bats? Dingbat, Wombat and Moonbat.

We're rounding out our roster with guys whose OPS+ are 76, 46 and 11 (100 being average).

It could be a long summer.

[Trov]

I would agree Lewis would be biggest need, as we thought he was the future and he had terrible year last year.  As for Wallner, he is one that when he is on he is huge for us, but he really is just a platoon guy.  He cannot hit lefties in his history, but actually last year he did well when he got a chance against them.  Very small sample size, 97 PA but improved over his prior numbers, which was unplayable with nearly same amount of PA.  Maybe new manager will allow him to try to hit lefties this year. 

As for Lee, I agree he is not a key to the line up.  If he can improve to what we thought he would be that will help, but he was never going to be a middle of line up type guy most likely. 

[stringer bell]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I agree totally with naming the specific three players as pivotal in 2026. All three disappointed in 2025 while playing more than they ever had before as major leaguers. All three are #1 draft choices and all three are slated for regular duty in 2026.

Expecting all three guys to flourish is probably counting too much on a bouceback. But getting two out of three is optimistic, but certainly not unprecedented, especially given both their pedigrees and their previous success.

It is probably a make or break year for all three, as far as their time with the Twins is concerned. I'm pretty optimistic about all three improving from 2025, but I don't expect all three to be All-Stars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[arby58]

1 hour ago, lake_guy said:

Remember how Buxton, Sanó, and Kepler were all going to be superstars at the same time. How did that work out?  We shed payroll, sign nobody of consequence, and get sold the 'wait for the kids' narrative.  Same old, same old....

It's a little selective in your recollection. First, I don't remember most people suggesting Kepler was going to be a superstar - he was sub .800 OPS his first three years and didn't get above that until 2019, which was about when Buxton emerged. Sano was long lost by then - his three year peak was 2015-2017. So what did the Twins do after 2019? They signed Donaldson for a collective $92 million in 2020, then Cruz ($13.5 million) and Simmons ($10.5 million) in 2021, and Correa for a collective $105 million in 2022. It wasn't all standing in the soup line for the Twins during that period.

[arby58]

It wouldn't matter as much for Lee offensively if he were a better defensive shortstop. Ideally, he would be at second base, Keaschall would be in the outfield, and they would have a better fielding shortstop playing there. My mid-winter daydream would have Kaelen Culpepper making the jump from AA to the majors and playing average shortstop (a step above Lee) and hitting at least as well.

It's nice to dream - hope springs eternal, at least until spring.

[mikelink45]

3 hours ago, GNess said:

Not sure all three have to emerge as legit + MLB. bats, because others could rise as well. Lewis seems to have the best chance to be a true difference maker.

Following the progress of these three will be something of genuine interest to follow in 2026.

Not sure why anyone thinks Royce is the most likely to succeed.  He was a shooting star that seems to have burned out - even though he doesn't do slumps.  

[mikelink45]

I will be a take a different tack.  I think Lee is going to surprise.  I was really a Wallner backer, but his glow has worn off and I am not sure I expect him to be as good as we had hoped.  Royce is an enigma - grand slam super star, a man who doesn't do slumps and a pouty brat - take your pick.  I think he will be average.

Now the real questions for me - was Keaschall's production sustainable or will he follow the Lewis path?  He has shown an injury potential and he has given us great hopes and expectations.  Will he meet them?

Our Big Three questions are:

1. Can Jeffers sustain his production - maybe even improve or will additional catching demands wear him down?
2. Can Buxton have two years in a row of full season production?
3. Can another rookie emerge and getting us excited again?  (Rodriguez, Gonzales,, Walker)

And a bonus question - will any of our accumulated 1B/DH signings make a difference?

[tony&rodney]

Thinking further on these three players, I can see why many multiple viewpoints can be presented. 

Wallner has shown pop and a solid OPS, but is easily questioned due to his proclivity to K, miss time time with injuries, and his fails as an outfielder. I don't think it is Wallner's fault that the Twins put him in RF when he is a pure DH. There is still some hope for Wallner but he is also very easy to dismiss. I'm hoping he is the everyday DH and does well.

Lewis had some shooting star moments in 2023 which are apparently frozen in the minds of many fans. We all hope that Lewis returns some day. Lewis did show better health and was good enough at third base last season. The general thought seems to be that he has little value on the trade market but could blossom under a new manager and fresh coaching. Lewis may be a stretch but there is reasonable hope there for belief.

Lee had a little bit of a rough go of it in 2025, both at the plate and in the field. It seems a bit tough to forget that Lee was in his first full MLB season. I think he is a good bet to improve in all areas. That said, Brooks is slow and does not project to be a standout shortstop. He will have to do until a better option arrives. One common comment places Lee at second base. This is somewhat confusing since his range there is poor and speed is more needed at second than at a reflex position like third base. Lee has decent first reactions and most scouts saw him as a third baseman if his bat played. He doesn't have the requisite physical skills to play second base. In any event, I'm expecting a much better showing from Brooks Lee in 2026 even if he is driven to be a utility infielder in a couple of years when a good shortstop takes over.

[mnfireman]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

Wallner has shown pop and a solid OPS, but is easily questioned due to his proclivity to K, miss time time with injuries, and his fails as an outfielder. I don't think it is Wallner's fault that the Twins put him in RF when he is a pure DH. There is still some hope for Wallner but he is also very easy to dismiss. I'm hoping he is the everyday DH and does well.

Looking at Baseball Savant defensive metrics, Larnach is a much better RF than LF and Wallner is much better LF than RF, but Wallner has the big arm, and the bigger bat.

Neither player has a lot of playing time in either corner spot due to injuries, DH usage and of, course, playing the other corner spot. 

With the kids getting close, I think both players need to show more than have to stay in the organization (if Larnach doesn't get traded/DFAd this off-season).

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

Not sure why anyone thinks Royce is the most likely to succeed.  He was a shooting star that seems to have burned out - even though he doesn't do slumps.  

Probably because post-ASB he played in 64 of 66 games at 27 HR/29 SB pace, lifting his BA and slugging percentage significantly in the process.

I'm not sure that I consider him "most likely to succeed," since I put as much or more stock in Wallner's OPS+ of 143 over 2023-24 as I do in his only 110 a year ago, but I'm willing to believe that both could easily be middle of the order bats. 

I agree with others that Keaschel's ability to maintain much of his offensive prowess over a full season is probably more of a difference maker than Lee's improvement to merely average, but having even a 95 or so OPS in Lee batting 8th or 9th would speak to having a pretty long lineup. 

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

I will be a take a different tack.  I think Lee is going to surprise.  I was really a Wallner backer, but his glow has worn off and I am not sure I expect him to be as good as we had hoped.  Royce is an enigma - grand slam super star, a man who doesn't do slumps and a pouty brat - take your pick.  I think he will be average.

Now the real questions for me - was Keaschall's production sustainable or will he follow the Lewis path?  He has shown an injury potential and he has given us great hopes and expectations.  Will he meet them?

Our Big Three questions are:

1. Can Jeffers sustain his production - maybe even improve or will additional catching demands wear him down?
2. Can Buxton have two years in a row of full season production?
3. Can another rookie emerge and getting us excited again?  (Rodriguez, Gonzales,, Walker)

And a bonus question - will any of our accumulated 1B/DH signings make a difference?

Good questions as well. Which speaks to the dilemma. Those of us with hope are optimistic about (to combine your two posts) a yes from many of Wallner, Lewis, Jeffers, Buxton, Keaschall, etc., while those of us without hope are assuming a no.

The likely scenario is probably somewhere in between, but the cupboard isn't bare. Though I've wanted a good 1B signing, I've been saying all winter that success is more dependent on these guys than it is on the signing. To say it another way, if you assume Bell is going to play a lot, success is dependent on him being pushed into the No. 6 or 7 spot in the order rather than on him batting cleanup.  

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

I see a lot of people on this site talking poorly about Wallner because he "only" had a 110 OPS+ last season, but they all fail to mention he was pretty beat up most of the season. Im hoping after an off-season of rest he'll be healthy and back to his old self. 

My hope for Lewis is this new coaching staff can find whatever part of his game he lost. Maybe its as simple as the confidence and the intentional praise this off-season is a start. 

And Lee. I can't figure him out. His defense in AAA was good. I can understand the offense taking longer to catch up in the majors but I'd have figured the defense would atleast be good. Again, I'm hoping the new coaches can help him. 

[GNess]

9 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Not sure why anyone thinks Royce is the most likely to succeed.  He was a shooting star that seems to have burned out - even though he doesn't do slumps.  

I get your point. I would suggest although it was. in short bursts Lewis has had highly productive streaks over a few seasons. The talent is in there somewhere.

[JADBP]

I have high hopes that the new Coaches will get Lewis back on track.  That is apparently a top priority for them.  The OFers are a much different story...with three really good high end replacements nearly (but NOT) ready in AAA.  Both Larnach and Wallner should feel the heat to product this season.  Wallner could be a really good DH--great arm but poor glove.  Larnach just never broke out to be the start that  his draft pick suggested.  I am guessing that the Twins will expose Larnach in ST to trades only after they have a handle on how long before we bring up Jenkins or Rodriguez.  

[JD-TWINS]

18 hours ago, Trov said:

I would agree Lewis would be biggest need, as we thought he was the future and he had terrible year last year.  As for Wallner, he is one that when he is on he is huge for us, but he really is just a platoon guy.  He cannot hit lefties in his history, but actually last year he did well when he got a chance against them.  Very small sample size, 97 PA but improved over his prior numbers, which was unplayable with nearly same amount of PA.  Maybe new manager will allow him to try to hit lefties this year. 

As for Lee, I agree he is not a key to the line up.  If he can improve to what we thought he would be that will help, but he was never going to be a middle of line up type guy most likely. 

Wallner hit .202 in ‘25.

He had to have hit “better” v. RH pitchers - an assumption……..but he didn’t. .195 v. RH pitching & .224 v. LH pitching. .224 is sub-par and should not be commended as “good”. .195 is terrible and should be viewed as “terrible”.

Why “want” to have him hit v. LH pitching? What’s the fascination? How about he hits .245 v. RH pitching and gets platooned 90% of the time v. LH pitching. This would be an extreme positive over ‘25.

To me, Lee has to get his OPS+ up from 76 to 95 and he’ll be a sporadic contributor w/o the huge lulls. His ability to switch hit will always be a bit of a positive as well. With enough games played, between back issues, he has 20 HR potential.

[JD-TWINS]

6 hours ago, JADBP said:

I have high hopes that the new Coaches will get Lewis back on track.  That is apparently a top priority for them.  The OFers are a much different story...with three really good high end replacements nearly (but NOT) ready in AAA.  Both Larnach and Wallner should feel the heat to product this season.  Wallner could be a really good DH--great arm but poor glove.  Larnach just never broke out to be the start that  his draft pick suggested.  I am guessing that the Twins will expose Larnach in ST to trades only after they have a handle on how long before we bring up Jenkins or Rodriguez.  

A DH, to me, isn’t just a guy who may be defensively challenged or bad. He is supposed to “contribute” positively to the offense. Wallner hit .195 v. RH pitching in 2025. He had 22 HR & 21 singles & struck out in 34% of his AB’s ……. this is not sustainable output for ANY MLB hitter, let alone a DH.

Larnach hit .254 with a .759 OPS v. RH pitching in 2025…… in a somewhat, “down year”.

[mluebker]

18 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Not sure why anyone thinks Royce is the most likely to succeed. 

Completely agree. I’d love to be wrong, but Royce Lewis has gone from future franchise player to “What do call it when someone keeps doing the same thing and keeps expecting different results?”

[jmlease1]

18 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Not sure why anyone thinks Royce is the most likely to succeed.  He was a shooting star that seems to have burned out - even though he doesn't do slumps.  

I don't think people are necessarily saying that Royce is the most likely to succeed, but that he could make the most impact because the ceiling is still quite high and he hit so poorly last year. A breakout season for Brooks Lee could still have him as a league average hitter. A return to form for Royce could be a 140 OPS+. Royce probably has the highest variance, the most boom or bust potential.

He's also literally never had a healthy MLB season. He's never been close. Who knows what he looks like if he does?

[nicksaviking]

On 1/7/2026 at 9:14 AM, mluebker said:

Completely agree. I’d love to be wrong, but Royce Lewis has gone from future franchise player to “What do call it when someone keeps doing the same thing and keeps expecting different results?”

Rocco Baldelli?

The team does have a new manager and the old one and his staff repeatedly demonstrated an inability to teach, adjust and give opportunities when young players struggled. And of all the players on the roster, Lewis was clearly the most frustrated by them. 

Lewis may very well still bust, but if the idea is that the new manager can get better results from young players, then the most physically gifted player on the team is the most likely to improve.

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Rocco Baldelli?

The team does have a new manager and the old one and his staff repeatedly demonstrated an inability to teach, adjust and give opportunities when young players struggled. And of all the players on the roster, Lewis was clearly the most frustrated by them. 

Lewis may very well still bust, but if the idea is that that the new manager can get better results from young players, then the most physically gifted player on the team is the most likely to improve.

This just sounds like nothing but baseless hopes and dreams. What if I posit that the new manager is actually going to have a detrimental effect on Lewis's results because of his complete lack of success in any regard in baseball, having failed (due to injury) as a player and never managing a winning team. That this resume will not allow his veteran players (like Lewis) to ever respect his leadership. That a player, like Lewis, that complained about his manager to the press, isn't exactly the type of player that is really ever going to benefit from a change in leadership because he's never been a player that's listened to leadership, complaining about being asked to play 2B and whining that coaches were mean to young players that were struggling. 

Do I actually believe this? Not really. But it's as evidence based as this idea that new management will be a boon to Lewis's career, thanks to the ouster of a manager that, by all accounts, bent over backwards to be liked and accommodate his players.

 

[jkcarew]

“If everything goes right the Twins can ‘compete’ in the AL Central”…

…said absolutely everyone in absolutely every January in absolutely every year since 1994 when the ALC was created.

Unfortunately, it only happens when you have a bunch of players for whom it always (or almost always) goes right.

[Riverbrian]

Not all developing players have to turn into Manny Machado. Some can turn out to be Jake Cronenworth and still be a win for the organization. Just not as big a win. 

The only reason I'm pointing what is pretty obvious. Royce Lewis. Royce is a higher level importance because most of assume... he's the one of the three that has Manny Machado potential.  

The problem is... his clock is running out of time. He is currently at 3.142 Service time with 3 more years in Arbitration.

Only 925 Scattered career AB's because of his excessive injuries. Gunnar Henderson with Orioles is a potential future Manny Machado at a similar service time point as Lewis. Gunnar has cranked out 600 plus AB's for all three of his full years in the majors. almost had as many AB's in a single season. 

Gunnar has 1,883 career AB's. His best year was his 2nd full season. 37 dingers. 893 OPS over 719 AB's. His down year was last year hitting .274 with 17 Dingers for an OPS of .787 over 651 AB's. 

Royce... we have been teased by a .921 OPS over 217 AB's in 2023 and completely floored by a .671 OPS over 403 AB's in 2025. 

All of this is just to say the obvious. 

Getting Royce to Gunnar levels is critical and we need him to get there this year... not the next year. If he has another down season. Even if he gets there the following year. We might be able to enjoy the fruits for one season before he becomes a serious trade candidate due to what is now pending free agency. 

Yes we need Wallner and Lee to improve this season. They come nowhere near what we need out of Royce Lewis this season.

If he has another sub .700 season it will be a crushing value loss that will also accentuate the value loss of not trading Joe Ryan for value this season. 

[RpR]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Rocco Baldelli?

The team does have a new manager and the old one and his staff repeatedly demonstrated an inability to teach, adjust and give opportunities when young players struggled. And of all the players on the roster, Lewis was clearly the most frustrated by them. 

Lewis may very well still bust, but if the idea is that that the new manager can get better results from young players, then the most physically gifted player on the team is the most likely to improve.

When  a player does not have the talent to adapt and succeed in the Majors, blame the coaches.   Brilliant, but really is just calumny or at least projection.