Spring Training Usage Tracker: Reading Into Twins Playing Time Trends

[Nick Nelson]

Image courtesy of © Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

You've heard it plenty of times: spring training performance doesn't matter. That's mostly true, but it doesn't mean we can't draw meaningful conclusions from the games, and the decisions that go into them. I find myself paying attention more to the names on the lineup card than the stats next to them in the box score.

Who's getting in-game reps at which positions? Which pitchers are entering earlier in games, and getting a chance to face more legitimate big-league competition? Who's being stretched out and who's tracking toward shorter relief stints?

These usage trends can offer real insight into the team's plans for when the games start mattering, especially as the regular season draws closer and the preparation ramps up. 

We're more than halfway through the spring schedule, with 17 games down (including the unofficial exhibitions against the Gophers and Team Puerto Rico) and 16 to go (including the "Spring Breakout" prospect showcase). Here's how the starts have been allotted so far at each position, along with a few thoughts on what to make of each.

Catcher

• Ryan Jeffers: 7x
• Victor Caratini: 5x
• Alex Jackson: 4x
• Noah Cardenas: 1x

No surprises here. Jeffers is expected to get the bulk of a timeshare, with Caratini starting every third game or so. The big question, of course, is whether the Twins will be able to stash Jackson in Triple-A by passing him through waivers at the end of camp. The depth drop-off to Cardenas is pretty steep.

First Base

• Josh Bell: 8x
• Eric Wagaman: 4x
• Kody Clemens: 2x
• Victor Caratini: 2x
• Aaron Sabato: 1x

I've been operating under the loose assumption that Clemens would get a majority of time at first base, where he played regularly in the second half last year, but this makes me question that. Bell has been the, ah, bell cow at this position after making just 32 of his 129 starts at first base last year with Washington. Maybe it's just a matter of the Twins feeling like they know what they have in Clemens at first?

Second Base

• Kody Clemens: 7x

• Luke Keaschall: 6x
• Tristan Gray: 2x
• Orlando Arcia: 1x
• Kaelen Culpepper: 1x

This certainly catches my eye. Clemens has started more games at second than even Keaschall, who figures to be the everyday starter. He's being evaluated as the top backup, but I can't imagine he'll be starting or even subbing in here often if Keaschall's healthy. Which raises the question: how is Clemens going to find his way into the lineup? Not at third base apparently...

Third Base

• Royce Lewis: 5x
• Gio Urshela: 5x
• Eric Wagaman: 2x
• Tristan Gray: 2x
• Orlando Arcia: 1x
• Ryan Kreidler: 1x
• Jake Rucker: 1x

Lewis missed a bit of time with a minor health hiccup, opening up more opportunities to assess the depth behind him. Six other players have started a game at third base this spring, and very notably, none of them are Clemens. He's listed right behind Lewis on the depth charts at FanGraphs and even the team's official site, but there's no actual evidence that the Twins have any interest in playing him at the hot corner. If he's not an option at third and not starting at least semi-regularly at first, you really have to wonder what utility Clemens is bringing to this roster. 

Shortstop

• Brooks Lee: 9x
• Orlando Arcia: 4x
• Tristan Gray: 2x
• Ryan Kreidler: 2x

This tracks. Lee is going to be the everyday starter, if healthy, and the other three are competing for an infield bench spot behind him. (Which apparently will also involve being the top backup at third?) Arcia, who's also gotten starts at second and third, could have the insight track. Or maybe the Twins are just feeling more urgency to take a long look, since Kreidler and Gray have minor-league options. 

Left Field

• Austin Martin: 6x
• Trevor Larnach: 5x
• Alan Roden: 2x
• Emmanuel Rodriguez: 2x
• Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x
• Luke Keaschall: 1x

Striking to see Martin getting so many starts here, even against right-handed pitchers. He's almost certainly going to make the roster and he might be more of a regular in left than people are expecting. Martin definitely does bring something different to the lineup when he's in it. I'm a little stunned that James Outman has not made one single start in left field this spring.

Center Field

• James Outman: 5x
• Byron Buxton: 4x
• Alan Roden: 3x
• Austin Martin: 2x
• Ryan Kreidler: 1x
• Walker Jenkins: 1x
• Emmanuel Rodriguez: 1x

To make room for them on the roster, the Twins need Outman or Roden to be viable options in center, so it makes sense they've been the top recipients of playing time with Buxton away for the WBC. They'd love it if they could count on Martin there in a pinch, though he seems more stretched than others. Fun to get a glimpse of the future with Jenkins and Rodriguez.

Right Field

• Matt Wallner: 7x
• Alan Roden: 4x
• James Outman: 2x
• Trevor Larnach: 2x
• Ryan Kreidler: 1x
• Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x

With Martin getting the largest share of starts in left field, Outman and Roden have mixed more often in center and right. A sign of things to come in the regular season? This will be interesting to keep an eye on since my assumption has been that Wallner would be out in right almost every day. I have a hard time believing the Twins prefer Larnach in left to Wallner in right.

Designated Hitter

• Larnach: 2x
• Bell: 2x
• Wallner: 2x
• Buxton: 2x
• Urshela: 2x
• Caratini: 1x
• Jeffers: 1x
• Lewis: 1x
• Keaschall: 1x
• Rodriguez: 1x
• Gonzalez: 1x
• Mendez: 1x

Tough to draw any real conclusions here since the DH position has mostly been used to give guys a partial day off. The position does figure to see a fair amount of day-to-day change during the season, with Bell and Larnach both factoring prominently. The way that actually shakes out will have a big influence on left field and first base.

What do you make of Derek Shelton's spring lineup decisions so far? Let us know. We'll check back in next week with an update, as well as some notes on pitcher usage as the decisions start to carry more weight.

View full article

[Brandon]

Arcia is the most likely back up IF starting the regular season.  That's been my thoughts since we signed him..  and that Abel will make the rotation.  

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Not terribly surprised to see Urshela get multiple starts at 3rd, they probably want to see if he has anything left in the tank.

There is still time to get Clemens innings at 3B, could be there is a push to give him more 2B innings right now by request (his or the team)

Roden and Outman bouncing around in the OF makes more sense if Larnach is on the way out. But they could also be giving some visibility for any of those guys in lieu of a roster move. 

[OregonTwinsFan]

Surprised at how much Clemens has been used at 2B...I thought he would be more 1B.

[USAFChief]

I've felt from the day they signed Bell the intent was to put him at 1st, not DH.

Also feel Arcia makes the team as the backup infielder.

Less sure, but I bet Outman makes the opening day roster as well.

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

@Nick Nelson

”With Martin getting the largest share of starts in left field, Outman and Roden have mixed more often in center and right. A sign of things to come in the regular season? This will be interesting to keep an eye on since my assumption has been that Wallner would be out in almost every day. I have a hard time believing the Twins prefer Larnach in left to Wallner in right”

Would you please clarify? The underlined really confuses me.

 

I think Martin in Left, Buxton Center, Wallner Right, Larnach DH, either Roden or Outman on the bench and Bell at 1B is the plan.

Martin is the Harrison Bader and Bell is the Ty France.

Surprising that Clemens appears to be on the bubble.

[RpR]

Not relating to single person but I found a chart of best and worst Spring Training teams from 2009 to 2023, from those 15 years I found best team has a 53 percent chance of not making the Post Season, but the worst team has an 86 percent chance of not making the Post Season.

Make out of that what your own bias says

--------------------------------------------------

At this point , Jeffers is showing Vazquez's bat and Camargo's glove.

[Riverbrian]

3 hours ago, Nick Nelson said:

Image courtesy of © Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

You've heard it plenty of times: spring training performance doesn't matter. That's mostly true, but it doesn't mean we can't draw meaningful conclusions from the games, and the decisions that go into them. I find myself paying attention more to the names on the lineup card than the stats next to them in the box score.

Who's getting in-game reps at which positions? Which pitchers are entering earlier in games, and getting a chance to face more legitimate big-league competition? Who's being stretched out and who's tracking toward shorter relief stints?

These usage trends can offer real insight into the team's plans for when the games start mattering, especially as the regular season draws closer and the preparation ramps up. 

We're more than halfway through the spring schedule, with 17 games down (including the unofficial exhibitions against the Gophers and Team Puerto Rico) and 16 to go (including the "Spring Breakout" prospect showcase). Here's how the starts have been allotted so far at each position, along with a few thoughts on what to make of each.

Catcher

• Ryan Jeffers: 7x
• Victor Caratini: 5x
• Alex Jackson: 4x
• Noah Cardenas: 1x

No surprises here. Jeffers is expected to get the bulk of a timeshare, with Caratini starting every third game or so. The big question, of course, is whether the Twins will be able to stash Jackson in Triple-A by passing him through waivers at the end of camp. The depth drop-off to Cardenas is pretty steep.

First Base

• Josh Bell: 8x
• Eric Wagaman: 4x
• Kody Clemens: 2x
• Victor Caratini: 2x
• Aaron Sabato: 1x

I've been operating under the loose assumption that Clemens would get a majority of time at first base, where he played regularly in the second half last year, but this makes me question that. Bell has been the, ah, bell cow at this position after making just 32 of his 129 starts at first base last year with Washington. Maybe it's just a matter of the Twins feeling like they know what they have in Clemens at first?

Second Base

• Kody Clemens: 7x

• Luke Keaschall: 6x
• Tristan Gray: 2x
• Orlando Arcia: 1x
• Kaelen Culpepper: 1x

This certainly catches my eye. Clemens has started more games at second than even Keaschall, who figures to be the everyday starter. He's being evaluated as the top backup, but I can't imagine he'll be starting or even subbing in here often if Keaschall's healthy. Which raises the question: how is Clemens going to find his way into the lineup? Not at third base apparently...

Third Base

• Royce Lewis: 5x
• Gio Urshela: 5x
• Eric Wagaman: 2x
• Tristan Gray: 2x
• Orlando Arcia: 1x
• Ryan Kreidler: 1x
• Jake Rucker: 1x

Lewis missed a bit of time with a minor health hiccup, opening up more opportunities to assess the depth behind him. Six other players have started a game at third base this spring, and very notably, none of them are Clemens. He's listed right behind Lewis on the depth charts at FanGraphs and even the team's official site, but there's no actual evidence that the Twins have any interest in playing him at the hot corner. If he's not an option at third and not starting at least semi-regularly at first, you really have to wonder what utility Clemens is bringing to this roster. 

Shortstop

• Brooks Lee: 9x
• Orlando Arcia: 4x
• Tristan Gray: 2x
• Ryan Kreidler: 2x

This tracks. Lee is going to be the everyday starter, if healthy, and the other three are competing for an infield bench spot behind him. (Which apparently will also involve being the top backup at third?) Arcia, who's also gotten starts at second and third, could have the insight track. Or maybe the Twins are just feeling more urgency to take a long look, since Kreidler and Gray have minor-league options. 

Left Field

• Austin Martin: 6x
• Trevor Larnach: 5x
• Alan Roden: 2x
• Emmanuel Rodriguez: 2x
• Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x
• Luke Keaschall: 1x

Striking to see Martin getting so many starts here, even against right-handed pitchers. He's almost certainly going to make the roster and he might be more of a regular in left than people are expecting. Martin definitely does bring something different to the lineup when he's in it. I'm a little stunned that James Outman has not made one single start in left field this spring.

Center Field

• James Outman: 5x
• Byron Buxton: 4x
• Alan Roden: 3x
• Austin Martin: 2x
• Ryan Kreidler: 1x
• Walker Jenkins: 1x
• Emmanuel Rodriguez: 1x

To make room for them on the roster, the Twins need Outman or Roden to be viable options in center, so it makes sense they've been the top recipients of playing time with Buxton away for the WBC. They'd love it if they could count on Martin there in a pinch, though he seems more stretched than others. Fun to get a glimpse of the future with Jenkins and Rodriguez.

Right Field

• Matt Wallner: 7x
• Alan Roden: 4x
• James Outman: 2x
• Trevor Larnach: 2x
• Ryan Kreidler: 1x
• Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x

With Martin getting the largest share of starts in left field, Outman and Roden have mixed more often in center and right. A sign of things to come in the regular season? This will be interesting to keep an eye on since my assumption has been that Wallner would be out in almost every day. I have a hard time believing the Twins prefer Larnach in left to Wallner in right.

Designated Hitter

• Larnach: 2x
• Bell: 2x
• Wallner: 2x
• Buxton: 2x
• Urshela: 2x
• Caratini: 1x
• Jeffers: 1x
• Lewis: 1x
• Keaschall: 1x
• Rodriguez: 1x
• Gonzalez: 1x
• Mendez: 1x

Tough to draw any real conclusions here since the DH position has mostly been used to give guys a partial day off. The position does figure to see a fair amount of day-to-day change during the season, with Bell and Larnach both factoring prominently. The way that actually shakes out will have a big influence on left field and first base.

What do you make of Derek Shelton's spring lineup decisions so far? Let us know. We'll check back in next week with an update, as well as some notes on pitcher usage as the decisions start to carry more weight.

 

View full article

 

Thank You. 

Thumps Up 

This is good stuff. 

 

[Patzky]

16 minutes ago, RpR said:

Not relating to single person but I found a chart of best and worst Spring Training teams from 2009 to 2023, from those 15 years I found best team has a 53 percent chance of not making the Post Season, but the worst team has an 86 percent chance of not making the Post Season.

Make out of that what your own bias says

--------------------------------------------------

At this point , Jeffers is showing Vazquez's bat and Camargo's glove.

If we can ditch Jeffers and Larnach for something fair Now's the time before all spring training games have film available.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

I've felt from the day they signed Bell the intent was to put him at 1st, not DH.

Also feel Arcia makes the team as the backup infielder.

Less sure, but I bet Outman makes the opening day roster as well.

 

I will not bet against you. 

[Linus]

Lots of good info here. Will be fun to watch for changes going forward, particularly what role Clemens gets. 

[Cris E]

This sort of article needs to be clear about cut-downs and how many minor leaguers are on hand at any point, similar to the WBC mention in CF. It's fun to see ERod and Jenkins and Rucker(?) but they are starting to disappear this week as things start to get real.

I think they know what they have in a lot of guys, so playing time reflects either things a guy wants to work on (eg Lee at SS) or questions they want to answer. Can Bell or Wagaman really play 1B? Who can back up at 2B and 3B? Which of these OF can cover what spots?  They need enough info to decide what spots they still have to fill and which spots to create thru trades and cuts, but Larnach in RF might just be about staging him for a sale. The amount of time Clemens is spending at 2B almost looks like he's being shown off.

Hey, how about Clemens and Larnach to the Angels for the desiccated remains of Kirby Yates and whatever money and kids make the GMs happy? Money would be a wash, we get some closer-y vibes and clear the roster a bit. They have holes at 2B and LF is no great shakes. Everyone is happy. 

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Surprising that Clemens appears to be on the bubble.

I would prefer that to be true, but he's probably going to be playing quite a bit at 2B with Keaschall getting play in the outfield.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

46 minutes ago, Danchat said:

I would prefer that to be true, but he's probably going to be playing quite a bit at 2B with Keaschall getting play in the outfield.

I recall hearing Keaschall getting time in the OF too, but he only has one appearance in Left in the OP

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Today against the Phillies first baseman, Josh Bell, make a nice stop of a hard hit ball right at him with a runner on first. Bell stepped on first base and then "looped/lobbed" to ball to the covering second baseman too late to get the runner advancing from first base. I was disappointed to see what I perceived to be a lack of effort on Bell's part.

[Linus]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Today against the Phillies first baseman, Josh Bell, make a nice stop of a hard hit ball right at him with a runner on first. Bell stepped on first base and then "looped/lobbed" to ball to the covering second baseman too late to get the runner advancing from first base. I was disappointed to see what I perceived to be a lack of effort on Bell's part.

That was a weird play. Kind of an underarm throw that put Lee in a vulnerable position. Should have been two and would have prevented one run. 

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

18 hours ago, Brandon said:

Arcia is the most likely back up IF starting the regular season.

Not arguing that Arcia won't get the backup IF slot, but I'm curious how the 40-man roster decisions will shake out, the more veterans on minor-league deals that get spots. This roster has (IMO) a large middle tier of players who aren't reliable building blocks but have some upside, and players with a little less upside who have seemed at some point to be in serious consideration as MLB depth. In other words, it's not a great team as built now, but there's not a lot of true end-of-roster chaff. 

Potentially or likely they need to make room for: one or two relievers, if Chafin and Hendriks show anything even close to old form, or if someone else from the non-roster group (Altavilla et al) steps up; and then Arcia if he's really the best IF backup....

Cuts: Alex Jackson is likely (as covered in the article); Outman maybe, if the team trusts someone else to be the backup CF; Zak Kent was another team's 41st man a couple weeks ago and could probably be dropped. Hard to see a lot of other easy cuts, absent an unfortunate injury or a late trade.

 

[Nick Nelson]

19 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

@Nick Nelson

”With Martin getting the largest share of starts in left field, Outman and Roden have mixed more often in center and right. A sign of things to come in the regular season? This will be interesting to keep an eye on since my assumption has been that Wallner would be out in almost every day. I have a hard time believing the Twins prefer Larnach in left to Wallner in right”

Would you please clarify? The underlined really confuses me.

Sorry about that, I was missing a word. What I meant to say is that I expect Wallner to be in RF almost every day, because I think he's a passable defender and the Twins are wise to use rangier guys in LF where there's more ground to cover.

[jorgenswest]

Second base is Clemens best spot. He haD a 112 OPS+ against right handed pitching to go with a positive career OAA and DRS at 2B. He underperformed his contact numbers last year suggesting that if anything he had bad luck. 

Keaschall’s upside gives him the job but I don’t think he can match Clemens defensively. Keaschall’s bat is his ticket. The best line up against right handed pitching might be to find a way to get both in the game.

[Senior Softball Guy]

It's been a lot of fun watching Erod and Gabby this Spring. They have great chemistry. With the winning run on third Emma didn't get a pitch to drive, took his walk and pointed his bat at Gabby as if to say, "You got this big guy". .......and he did......game over!

[Vanimal46]

On 3/8/2026 at 4:14 PM, USAFChief said:

I've felt from the day they signed Bell the intent was to put him at 1st, not DH.

Also feel Arcia makes the team as the backup infielder.

Less sure, but I bet Outman makes the opening day roster as well.

 

I think you're right, and that's also sad to read. Gonna be a really long season ahead of us with fans complaining about those specific 3 and others on the MLB roster for far longer than we expect. 

[RpR]

47 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I think you're right, and that's also sad to read. Gonna be a really long season ahead of us with fans complaining about those specific 3 and others on the MLB roster for far longer than we expect. 

With posters at Twins Daily complaining; I doubt the average fan knows or could care less.