Spring Training Usage Tracker: Roles Begin to Crystallize

[Nick Nelson]

Image courtesy of Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images

A series of cuts over the weekend, including some rather surprising ones, brought further clarity to the expected Opening Day roster for the Twins. It feels safe to say that at least 23 or 24 spots are accounted for, with some lingering uncertainty at a few positions heading into the final days of camp. 

This will be our last update on spring training usage, highlighting who's played where and who's pitched when over the past seven days (Monday through Sunday). As the Twins prepare themselves for the start of meaningful action on Thursday, let's see what we can deduce from Derek Shelton's decision-making.

(Total spring starts are listed next to each player; starts in the past week are in parentheses.)

Catcher

• Ryan Jeffers: 14x (4x) 
• Victor Caratini: 9x (2x)  
• Alex Jackson: 6x
• Noah Cardenas: 1x

The Twins used a traditional two-catcher rotation, and Jackson did not get any starts as the Twins reportedly shop him around.

First Base

• Josh Bell: 11x  (1x)
• Eric Wagaman: 8x (2x) 
• Kody Clemens: 6x (2x) 
• Victor Caratini: 4x (1x)
• Aaron Sabato: 1x

Bell still leads the team in starts at first base, but made only one in the past week. Will he be there on Opening Day? I assume it'll be either him or Caratini against lefty Trevor Rogers, with the other at DH.

Second Base

• Luke Keaschall: 12x (3x) 
• Kody Clemens: 8x (1x)

• Tristan Gray: 4x 
• Orlando Arcia: 5x (2x)
• Kaelen Culpepper: 1x

Keaschall batted leadoff on Sunday in a lineup that sure seemed like a regular-season tune up. A sign of things to come? His skill set is an obvious fit.

Third Base

• Royce Lewis: 13x (4x) 
• Gio Urshela: 6x (1x)
• Tristan Gray: 4x (1x)
• Ryan Kreidler: 3x 
• Eric Wagaman: 2x
• Orlando Arcia: 1x
• Jake Rucker: 1x

It would have been convenient if Urshela accepted an assignment to Triple-A, where he could wait on hand as third-base depth behind the oft-injured Lewis, but he chose to re-enter the open market instead. The fact that Arcia has made only one 3B start all spring is, to me, an indicator that he's not making the team, because if he does he'll be the top backup there. Wouldn't you want to get a little more of a look at now his skills and reactions play? 

Shortstop

• Brooks Lee: 18x (5x)
• Orlando Arcia: 5x 
• Tristan Gray: 4x (1x) 
• Ryan Kreidler: 3x 

Lee has made four more starts at shortstop this spring than anyone else has made at any single position — a fitting reflection of Minnesota's deeply lacking depth.

Left Field

• Austin Martin: 8x (1x) 
• Trevor Larnach: 7x (1x) 
• Luke Keaschall: 4x (1x)
• James Outman: 3x (1x)
• Alan Roden: 3x (1x)
• Emmanuel Rodriguez: 2x
• Eric Wagaman: 1x 
• Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x
• Ryan Kreidler: 1x (1x)

Martin returned to the lineup on Sunday after a concussion scare earlier in the week sidelined him for a few days. He's going to start in left fielder against left-handed pitchers (including on Opening Day) and he'll be a handy asset on the bench. The question is how much he can expand his role beyond that. Roden was optioned to Triple-A on Sunday, ensuring that Outman will make the Opening Day roster as fourth outfielder.

Center Field

• James Outman: 8x (2x) 
• Alan Roden: 7x (2x)
• Byron Buxton: 6x (2x)
• Austin Martin: 5x 
• Ryan Kreidler: 2x 
• Walker Jenkins: 1x
• Emmanuel Rodriguez: 1x

Buxton returned to the starting lineup on Friday after his run with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, where he played ... somewhat sparsely. It would come as no surprise if he takes a little extra time to consistently find his timing compared to some others. “I need at-bats,” Buxton said over the weekend. “I’m not off. I feel like I’m a couple of clicks off, but it ain’t nothing where I’m worried.”

Right Field

• Matt Wallner: 13x (3x)
• Alan Roden: 6x 
• Trevor Larnach: 4x 
• James Outman: 2x
• Ryan Kreidler: 2x (1x)
• Austin Martin: 1x (1x)
• Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x
• Kyler Fedko: 1x (1x)

It's been a great spring for Wallner, who's swinging a hot bat and looking solid defensively in right. He's primed to be the starting right fielder in almost every game, regardless of matchup. 

Designated Hitter

• Josh Bell: 8x (3x)
• Matt Wallner: 4x (1x)
• Trevor Larnach: 4x (1x)
• Gio Urshela: 3x 
• Royce Lewis: 2x 
• Byron Buxton: 2x
• Alex Jackson: 1x (1x)
• Victor Caratini: 1x
• Ryan Jeffers: 1x
• Luke Keaschall: 1x
• Emmanuel Rodriguez: 1x
• Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x
• Hendry Mendez: 1x

Bell has started at first base more than anyone else this spring, but he's also gotten twice as many DH starts as anybody else. I don't know how much meaning to attach to that but I tentatively expect we'll most often see him at DH and Clemens at 1B against right-handers.

The Pitching Carousel
Last week I noted that both Liam Hendriks and Andrew Chafin were often among the first relievers entering games, meaning that they were getting chances to face relatively legitimate spring competition. When you see that trend, you can conclude that either: A) they're gearing up for high-leverage roles and the team wants them primed for those match-ups, or B) they're being closely evaluated and the team wants to see them against the best hitters possible.

It turns out that it was the latter, and through this assessment, neither was deemed up to snuff. Both Hendriks and Chafin were granted their releases on Friday, with team officials citing their lack of consistency as the cause. I can give the Twins some credit for being honest with themselves and not simply deferring to veteran status, but it leaves the bullpen pretty light on bullpen depth and experience. 

Here's how the pitcher usage sequences played out in six games over the past week.

• Monday: Joe Ryan, Anthony Banda, Cole Sands, Justin Topa, Chafin, Kody Funderburk 
• Tuesday: Bailey Ober, Hendriks, Eric Orze, Zak Kent
• Thursday: Mick Abel, (Luis Quiñones), Hendriks, Dan Altavilla, Matt Bowman
• Friday: Simeon Woods Richardson, Topa, Banda, Taylor Rogers, Sands
• Saturday: Ryan, Orze, Altavilla, Cody Laweryson
• Sunday: Taj Bradley, (Logan Whitaker), Funderburk, Bowman, Trent Baker

Ryan is lined up to start against the Orioles in the season opener on Thursday. From there, it looks like he'll be followed by Bradley, Ober, Abel and Woods Richardson. Zebby Matthews was optioned to Triple-A on Friday, where he will stand by as the next man up.It sure looks like Altavilla is going to make the team, but the leverage hierarchy is still a bit tricky to figure out. Topa might be the closer?

Share your thoughts on final roster decisions and emerging roles as we head into the final days of spring camp. 

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[stringer bell]

I'd like to see Martin get a shot against right handed pitching. Larnach appears to have regressed to awful as a left fielder and any extra runs he accounts for with his bat are negated by his baserunning and glove. It appears that the Twins will have 2-1 ratio at catcher and full time regulars in right and center plus four infielders (Bell splitting his starts between first and DH).

[HerbieFan]

So SIX different players started in LF??  Sheesh

[AceWrigley]

If Lewis doesn't hit 3B is going to be a mess.

[bean5302]

Roden was optioned this evening so Outman is a virtual guarantee. The 13th roster spot for position players is probably going to come down to Martin vs Gray.

[bean5302]

1 minute ago, AceWrigley said:

If Lewis doesn't hit 3B is going to be a mess.

You can literally say that for pretty much every starting position on the field.

[AceWrigley]

2 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

You can literally say that for pretty much every starting position on the field.

We at least have some contingency plan for the other positions.

[karcherd]

3 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Roden was optioned this evening so Outman is a virtual guarantee. The 13th roster spot for position players is probably going to come down to Martin vs Gray.

I do not believe Gray would make the team over Martin.  Unless he is the backup SS but that would mean Kreidler is sent to St. Paul.  You can't keep both Gray and Kreidler on the roster.

[AceWrigley]

I don't understand planning on playing Caratini at DH. He's a career .196 hitter (.575 OPS) from the DH position over his career 649 plate appearances there. You need to plan for more than that.

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, AceWrigley said:

If Lewis doesn't hit 3B is going to be a mess.

Agreed. The infield depth is paper thin. Lewis is a key guy, as are Lee and Wallner. They showed promise, but didn't deliver last year. If the Twins' offense is any good at all, at least two of those three have to be well above average hitters for their position.

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, bean5302 said:

Roden was optioned this evening so Outman is a virtual guarantee. The 13th roster spot for position players is probably going to come down to Martin vs Gray.

So, are you assuming one of Arcia and Kreidler is a lock? I think Austin Martin is a lock and it's a three-way competition for the backup infielder role. 

[Jon Marthaler]

Quote

Topa might be the closer?

I said this out loud while looking into a mirror and my eyes turned the deepest black I've ever seen and the haunted ghosts of my ancestors appeared over my shoulder. I turned around, and no one was there, but I heard their voices, spectral and ancient, whispering my name in a strange language only I could understand. I passed out. When I woke up I was wearing a powder-blue Ron Davis jersey. Anyway, can't wait for Opening Day!

[Yoke]

1 hour ago, AceWrigley said:

I don't understand planning on playing Caratini at DH. He's a career .196 hitter (.575 OPS) from the DH position over his career 649 plate appearances there. You need to plan for more than that.

I would assume if Caratini does anything other than catch, he’s at 1B over DH. That way if something happens to Jeffers, he’s able to slide into catch without losing the DH spot.

 

Maybe that’s wishful thinking because I don’t want him to DH, too.

[LA Vikes Fan]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

So, are you assuming one of Arcia and Kreidler is a lock? I think Austin Martin is a lock and it's a three-way competition for the backup infielder role. 

Agreed. Martin is your opening day LF and will be there most days now with Roden in AAA. Larnach will only be in LF occasionally, mostly the LH DH. Very sorry to see Outman over Roden though. Maybe we'll find a way to trade Larnach or Outman so Roden can come back. 

[dxpavelka]

3 hours ago, bean5302 said:

You can literally say that for pretty much every starting position on the field.

I don't think Lewis' hitting will impact that many other positions.

[CRF]

Ready or not, here they come! It's gonna be a long season. 

[Doctor Wu]

There hasn't been much talk about Matt Bowman as a bullpen option. He's put up good numbers so far in spring training. Might he make the team?

[Doctor Wu]

7 hours ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Agreed. Martin is your opening day LF and will be there most days now with Roden in AAA. Larnach will only be in LF occasionally, mostly the LH DH. Very sorry to see Outman over Roden though. Maybe we'll find a way to trade Larnach or Outman so Roden can come back. 

I'm sorry that Roden got bumped in favor or Outman, but the old "he still has options" factor no doubt played a big part in that decision. And yeah, meanwhile we still have Larnach for some reason. 

[Doctor Wu]

9 hours ago, stringer bell said:

So, are you assuming one of Arcia and Kreidler is a lock? I think Austin Martin is a lock and it's a three-way competition for the backup infielder role. 

I think Arcia was one of the vets that had an opt-out agreement, but he's still with the team. Seems like he might have a shot to claim that backup role. I realize that Kreidler is the better fielder, but that bat will leave a big hole in the lineup if he gets much playing time. Well, you could say that for both players really. 

[thelanges5]

51 minutes ago, Doctor Wu said:

There hasn't been much talk about Matt Bowman as a bullpen option. He's put up good numbers so far in spring training. Might he make the team?

Matt Bowman per Matthew Leach:

Bowman has requested his release per the terms of his contract, which gives the Twins 48 hours to add him to the roster or grant it. So he has triggered the clause, but he is still in camp. 

[bean5302]

The quality of the depth may be poor, but there's plenty of it. The Twins have 1/2 a dozen options they could call on to cover 3B in a pinch if Royce Lewis hits as poorly as Brooks Lee is going to hit.

[Seth Stohs]

1 hour ago, Doctor Wu said:

I'm sorry that Roden got bumped in favor or Outman, but the old "he still has options" factor no doubt played a big part in that decision. And yeah, meanwhile we still have Larnach for some reason. 

He opted out of his deal. Tells me that the team told him he wasn't going to make the opening day roster. He'll have other MLB options, I'd think. 

The thing with Chafin and Bowman, and maybe even Hendriks, is they're going to look around for other teams and a huge piece of what they certainly are considering is a path to the big leagues. There are several paths to the big leagues in the Twins bullpen. 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

9 hours ago, Jon Marthaler said:

I said this out loud while looking into a mirror and my eyes turned the deepest black I've ever seen and the haunted ghosts of my ancestors appeared over my shoulder. I turned around, and no one was there, but I heard their voices, spectral and ancient, whispering my name in a strange language only I could understand. I passed out. When I woke up I was wearing a powder-blue Ron Davis jersey. Anyway, can't wait for Opening Day!

I’ll have what he’s having. . . .

[tarheeltwinsfan]

10 hours ago, Jon Marthaler said:

I said this out loud while looking into a mirror and my eyes turned the deepest black I've ever seen and the haunted ghosts of my ancestors appeared over my shoulder. I turned around, and no one was there, but I heard their voices, spectral and ancient, whispering my name in a strange language only I could understand. I passed out. When I woke up I was wearing a powder-blue Ron Davis jersey. Anyway, can't wait for Opening Day!

Really cool post. Please post some more.

[Jack Pine]

54 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Matt Bowman per Matthew Leach:

Bowman has requested his release per the terms of his contract, which gives the Twins 48 hours to add him to the roster or grant it. So he has triggered the clause, but he is still in camp. 

AAAARRRGGH!!

[tarheeltwinsfan]

14 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

He opted out of his deal. Tells me that the team told him he wasn't going to make the opening day roster. He'll have other MLB options, I'd think. 

The thing with Chafin and Bowman, and maybe even Hendriks, is they're going to look around for other teams and a huge piece of what they certainly are considering is a path to the big leagues. There are several paths to the big leagues in the Twins bullpen. 

Seth, I'm sorry but I don't know who you are referring to in your post. When Seth speaks, I listen. 

[DJL44]

10 hours ago, Yoke said:

I would assume if Caratini does anything other than catch, he’s at 1B over DH. That way if something happens to Jeffers, he’s able to slide into catch without losing the DH spot.

Maybe that’s wishful thinking because I don’t want him to DH, too.

I think he will pinch hit for Larnach when Larnach is the DH. I wouldn't worry about losing the DH if they use him as a pinch hitter in the 8th or 9th.

[thelanges5]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

Matt Bowman per Matthew Leach:

Bowman has requested his release per the terms of his contract, which gives the Twins 48 hours to add him to the roster or grant it. So he has triggered the clause, but he is still in camp. 

MLB.com article this morning. Top options for the last BP spot. 

Zak Kent, Dan Altavilla and Cody Laweryson

[Cris E]

9 hours ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Agreed. Martin is your opening day LF and will be there most days now with Roden in AAA. Larnach will only be in LF occasionally, mostly the LH DH. Very sorry to see Outman over Roden though. Maybe we'll find a way to trade Larnach or Outman so Roden can come back. 

You've got this backwards: Larnach will play against righties and Martin against lefties, meaning you'll be seeing a lot more of Trevor.  If he sticks to a platoon that should be OK, since he's a league-average bat when he's allowed to avoid same-side pitchers. 

[DJL44]

Quote

Roden was optioned to Triple-A on Sunday, ensuring that Outman will make the Opening Day roster as fourth outfielder.

They can't have Outman AND Kreidler on the roster together, can they? That's two bench players you would never want to actually use.