Can the 2026 Twins Avoid Being a Disaster Defensively?

[USAFChief]

Years and years of the Twins scoffing at defense and fundamentals will take more than an offseason to correct.

Let's hope the philosophy changes.

"Anybody can play anywhere" is a dumb idea. Stop it from the time kids are drafted. Figure out where they can play anf have them learn.

[DocBauer]

It all comes back to roster construction. And I guess I'm going to sound like a broken record, BUT, here I go again.

No Larnach means Bell is the primary DH as a career solid, switch hitting bat. (Pretty neutral splits for his career, just not in 2025). He can be an emergency 1B. Having to platoon at 1B is a cruel joke, but Clemens and Wagaman would be better doing so...with Caratini getting a few games there...than Bell. You'd probably have at least average defense at 1B.

Roden...Outman for now I guess...and Martin can play a good LF. Not to the level Bader showed last season, but still good. They can also cover CF once in a while for a Buxton day off without killing you.

I'm sorry, but Larnach's presence skews the entire roster. And his bat isn't going to make up for it.

CF is still really good. LF should be good. Catcher is solid. 3B is solid/good. 1B is average, but not horrible, if the above changes are made. Wallner's arm keeps hitters from running. He's been better previously than he was in 2025. If he can raise his defense up even a little, I'll settle for that. Especially considering his offensive potential, and how good he's been this spring.

The biggest problem...IF 1B could still be "adjusted" is the middle INF. I'm 100% in the camp of "let Keaschall play 2B and let him get comfortable there again". He's got the athletic ability to be solid-good there. I'm willing to live with a few growing pains.

And there's Lee. Personally, I don't think he's as poor a SS as some state. I believe he was -1 Outs Above Average post Correa trade. That's not great, but he's not a butcher. He does a few things well. IF his re-shaped body and hard work to gain a step of lateral quickness is real, and if he's eliminated his self diagnosed impulse to want to initially take a step forward has been eliminated, he just might be AVERAGE. I'll take that for NOW, especially if his hitting comes around. 

I can see a "coming soon to a ballpark near you" future where Wallner becomes the primary DH as Rodriguez, Jenkins, and also Roden are with the club. And I can see K-Pepper being a quicker, more athletic SS and Lee moving to the role of quality super utility INF, possibly as soon as July. (Though I wouldn't be surprised if KP DEBUTS as a role player initially).

The opening day defense worries me mostly about 1B. The Twins believe they can mitigate Bell's deficiencies at 1B due to how they position their 1B. But that puts more strain on the 2B who is trying to get comfortable again at the spot. Grrr.  It's like a spinning merry-go-round you can't get off. 

Between the options at LF, Buxton in CF, and an OK Wallner in RF, I don't think the OF looks terrible at all. Again, 3B and catcher are solid. Not great, but solid. The middle INF is not good, even though there is at least SOME growth potential.

But I remain flumoxed in regard to the Twins handling of 1B. (Sigh). The BITE is, they COULD have done better if they just didn't assemble the roster like a blind man throwing darts. Maybe it's not too late? But it probably is.

I can see a MUCH better defense in 2027 with Rodriguez, Jenkins, K-Pepper, and an improved Keaschall...if given a real opportunity to re-adjust and grow...but 1B is still a major question mark defensively. And that just shouldn't be the case. But I think there's a real possibility the 2027 version of defense might debut in the 2nd half of this season. 

But the OD defense absolutely has me worried about giving away outs that we can't afford to give away.

[stringer bell]

Short answer—yes. Longer answer—yes, but there has to be commitment. Significant improvement has to come from within. Up the middle, at catcher, Jefferson and Caratini are what they are. I think both are okay receivers and game callers, but not good throwers. It is going to take a significant improvement holding runners on to limit the opponent’s running game. In center field Buxton graded out below average last year. He may not have been as aggressive as in the past, but IMHO that is okay. He’s too valuable on offense to risk the IL multiple times a week from throwing his body around. The middle infield is where there’s much room for improvement. I hope Brooks Lee is a bit faster and quicker so that his range moves more toward average. I expect with more reps that Keaschall will improve to average or better. He has the speed to have excellent range. He needs to work on his first step, but experience will help him. Kody Clemens is a decent defender at second (and first), so getting him in the field is usually beneficial. Another key is continuity. If Keaschall and Lee play together for more than 100 games, there will be a benefit of familiarity. Corner infield—Lewis markedly improved last year. If he stays healthy and focused, he could be better this year. Bell grades out as a lousy first baseman and it looks like he has zero throwing arm FWIW. Hopefully both Clemens and Caratini get more innings than Bell. Corner outfield—Wallner looks a bit speedier and confident after a poor defensive season in 2025. His arm can help if he charges hard and keeps balanced. Martin and Outman should be okay in left and either guy can fill in for Buck for a game or two.

The Twins hired a Gold Glover to work with the outfielders. Can Taylor help the guys take better routes and make better decisions? That could be worth much more than his salary if he can  help all the OFs. The easiest way to improve is turning outs into outs, making the routine  plays consistently and being fundamentally sound—throwing to the cutoff man or proper base, positioning properly for relays and tags and positioning well. The coaching staff needs to stress playing fundamentally good baseball and the players have to buy in. 
 

Culpepper, Jenkins and Rodriguez look like they can be upgrades. Maybe at some point, the Twins have an everyday first baseman who is a good defender. 

[ashbury]

14 hours ago, Reptevia said:

This may be the worst defensive team the Twins have ever run out there. Certainly in my lifetime. 

I used b-r.com's Stathead feature to refresh my memory, and the 1998 edition rolled out players like Marty Cordova, Todd Walker, Otis Nixon, David Ortiz, and Ron Coomer (still trying to man the hot corner!).  The metrics don't appear to have been kind to them.  Let's hope our guys this year don't given them a run for their money.

[High heat]

You can but you have to dump Larnach!!!

 Platoon of Outman and Martin in left to start the season.  Caratini and Clemens at 1B.

 

You get an Ok Brooks Lee at SS and you Ok defensively.

[jmlease1]

13 hours ago, JADBP said:

I keep coming back to the Twins just REFUSE to admit a mistake, on draft day, or trading or signing a free agent.  They are  desperately hanging on to Larnach hoping that he finally lives up to his first round draft pick.  Same with Wallner.  But they struck out, so give it up and MOVE ON already.  It is just insanity putting Larnach in the field.  It is just frustrating that they can't see that they have an budding star waiting in AAA (Emma) who just had a spectacular ST against legit big leaguers.  I am damn sure that Emma, Jenkins, and Prielip would put more butts in seats than Larnach, Outman, and Wallner!  When are they going to let go of their mistakes?????  

On the same insanity topic, then they trade for or sign replacements that are below average MLBers, like Outman, Roden, Bell, Kreidler, Caratini, etc.  Mistakes on top of mistakes.  I sure hope the new GM learns  from this.

When you lump Wallner in with Larnach you lose credibility. They're simply not the same player in terms of style or value. Wallner has been far more productive than Larnach. (this is like the Sano v Kepler debates, where people kept trying to argue that Kepler was as good a hitter as Sano entirely because they didn't like Sano's K's....)

[Doctor Wu]

22 hours ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Keaschall  did nothing to impress me on defense at spring training. But his hitting and base running certainly did. I wonder if he should get a first baseman's glove and start practicing scooping up low throws from Lewis and Lee?

I keep wondering if moving Lee to second base and Keaschall to first base might be the best move in the long run? Whatever happens, I sure don't think Lee is the solution at shortstop.

[Doctor Wu]

11 hours ago, Lasorda_This_Out said:

The most encouraging apect of the upcoming Minnesota Twins 2026 season is that it will be impossible to watch this trainwreck on any streaming platform or TV?

Radio!!!

I opt for radio!

[Jeff K]

21 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

I think there's a fair amount of opportunity for Keaschall to improve defensively at 2B with reps. Because of injuries, he really hasn't gotten a lot of time there, and he has the physical tools to be at least average.

Playing Martin more in LF would help; he looked good there last season in a limited role and has the speed and range to get to a lot of balls. (Even if Outman's defense in CF has slipped, he should be better than he showed out last season in the corners, right?)

Lee's range is a concern still: maybe he's gotten quicker and can position himself better? Might be asking too much. He does seem to make the plays he gets to at least, which is more than you can say about some.

But it's not a strong defensive team. It could get stronger fairly quickly if they hadn't committed to Larnach and formed a weird attachment to Outman, but we are where we are. (moving Wallner/Bell to DH and letting a better fielder take their spot consistently, whether it's Clemens or Rodriguez would have been nice)

Lewis looked like a good defender at 3B last season at least? It was good to see him not drag his problems with the bat into the field, at least.

I'd be more willing to accept the poor defense if they made up for it with superior hitting. We'll see if enough of the bats are strong enough to live with their limitations. Seems questionable.

You beat me to the punch.  I think the Twins will be mediocre defensively, but not as bad as advertised.  Bell is not good at first, so that part is true.  I think Keaschall is too good an athlete to not improve at 2nd.  I think he will improved considerably.  Lee appears to have made modest improvements.  Lewis looks solid at 3rd.  Martin looked very good in spring training in left field and much improved in Center.  He seems greatly improved and I would bet on his athleticsm coupled with more experience.  Buxton is Buxton and maybe, just maybe, Wallner is less of a disaster in right.  I think Wallner is our best bet to rebound from a disappointing season.

[stringer bell]

8 minutes ago, Jeff K said:

You beat me to the punch.  I think the Twins will be mediocre defensively, but not as bad as advertised.  Bell is not good at first, so that part is true.  I think Keaschall is too good an athlete to not improve at 2nd.  I think he will improved considerably.  Lee appears to have made modest improvements.  Lewis looks solid at 3rd.  Martin looked very good in spring training in left field and much improved in Center.  He seems greatly improved and I would bet on his athleticsm coupled with more experience.  Buxton is Buxton and maybe, just maybe, Wallner is less of a disaster in right.  I think Wallner is our best bet to rebound from a disappointing season.

It looks like Wallner is getting a big chance in 2026. He is getting to hit against all pitching and has a clear path to being the regular right fielder, as long as he plays well. 

After a bit of a slow start, Wallner looked very good in the spring. SSS, but he looked a bit quicker in right field and swung the bat very well. I concur that he is a candidate for a bounce back, both on offense and defense. 

[jmlease1]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

It looks like Wallner is getting a big chance in 2026. He is getting to hit against all pitching and has a clear path to being the regular right fielder, as long as he plays well. 

After a bit of a slow start, Wallner looked very good in the spring. SSS, but he looked a bit quicker in right field and swung the bat very well. I concur that he is a candidate for a bounce back, both on offense and defense. 

Wallner's defense will be interesting. He was far worse last season in RF than he's ever been before, but it wasn't just one thing that tanked him. So was it just a bad year, hampered in part by injuries and maybe him dragging his struggles at the plate into the field? Is it correctable where he goes back to be below average (but acceptable) instead of just kinda bad?

I'm not going to pretend he's a good defender, but if he can get back to what he was the previous 2 seasons, both offensively & defensively, the only people who will be complaining about Wallner are the ones who hate K's so much they'd rather cut him than play him.

Modest improvements from several guys would be impactful, even if it doesn't move them up to being plus defensively. But some of it is going to be challenging based on the roster design.

[stringer bell]

12 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Wallner's defense will be interesting. He was far worse last season in RF than he's ever been before, but it wasn't just one thing that tanked him. So was it just a bad year, hampered in part by injuries and maybe him dragging his struggles at the plate into the field? Is it correctable where he goes back to be below average (but acceptable) instead of just kinda bad?

I'm not going to pretend he's a good defender, but if he can get back to what he was the previous 2 seasons, both offensively & defensively, the only people who will be complaining about Wallner are the ones who hate K's so much they'd rather cut him than play him.

Modest improvements from several guys would be impactful, even if it doesn't move them up to being plus defensively. But some of it is going to be challenging based on the roster design.

I really think the leg injury hampered his defense. His sprint speed fell dramatically, from above average to 33 percentile. He seemed more hesitant and took worse routes to the ball. Baseball Savant had his range at the 17th percentile. An injury and its after effects might explain this. As I said, I think he looks at least marginally better this year. 

[jmlease1]

8 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I really think the leg injury hampered his defense. His sprint speed fell dramatically, from above average to 33 percentile. He seemed more hesitant and took worse routes to the ball. Baseball Savant had his range at the 17th percentile. An injury and its after effects might explain this. As I said, I think he looks at least marginally better this year. 

That's a real possibility. Just because someone is playing doesn't mean they're truly healthy, and you do see with many injuries that it takes a long time to fully trust in it again. While I don't expect Wallner to be "good" defensively, landing back to where he was would be very helpful

[NYCTK]

13 hours ago, USAFChief said:

"Anybody can play anywhere" is a dumb idea.

I see you're still tilting at windmills. 

[NYCTK]

52 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Wallner's defense will be interesting. He was far worse last season in RF than he's ever been before, but it wasn't just one thing that tanked him. So was it just a bad year, hampered in part by injuries and maybe him dragging his struggles at the plate into the field? Is it correctable where he goes back to be below average (but acceptable) instead of just kinda bad?

I'm not going to pretend he's a good defender, but if he can get back to what he was the previous 2 seasons, both offensively & defensively, the only people who will be complaining about Wallner are the ones who hate K's so much they'd rather cut him than play him.

Modest improvements from several guys would be impactful, even if it doesn't move them up to being plus defensively. But some of it is going to be challenging based on the roster design.

His outfield jumps are just really bad. His instincts are poor. His route running is OK, but his lumbering nature doesn't help. He just doesn't cover much ground out there, and that's been consistent for 3 seasons now. 

To his credit, he catches most everything he actually gets to, and his arm does prevent the occasional extra base. But even still, he's a liability out there. 

I find it unfathomable that he's never played a game at 1B, at least since high school. They had to have tried him there at some point, right?

Especially now that the team is an uncompetitive nightmare, they should be moving players down the defensive spectrum when they're liabilities rather than making all the pitchers jobs significantly harder. 

 

[JADBP]

10 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

When you lump Wallner in with Larnach you lose credibility. They're simply not the same player in terms of style or value. Wallner has been far more productive than Larnach. (this is like the Sano v Kepler debates, where people kept trying to argue that Kepler was as good a hitter as Sano entirely because they didn't like Sano's K's....)

Sorry, I didn't mean to equate Larnach and Wallner.  Larnach as become virtually unplayable in the field but was actually a better hitter than Wallner last year.  Wallner edged  him out on HRs (22 vs 17) but otherwise Larnach had better hitting (AVG .250 vs .202, K's 24% vs 34%, OBP: 32% vs 31%) and was in 142 games vs 104 for Wallner.  You are right, it is kind of a Sano versus Kepler comparison.  Wallner is sort of one dimensional--an HR or nothing.  Larnach is a more rounded out hitter.  Both are somewhat below average fielders.  At least Keps was a good fielder.  

My point was that we can do better with an outfield of Buxton and take your pick:  Jenkins, Rodriguez, Gonzalez  with Roden or Clemmons as backups.  While some of them need more time in AAA, I think Emma should have made the team.  

I am not in charge of the roster, but if I were, I would have handed Wallner a 1Bman's glove at the end of last season and said this is your future with the Twins.  Because with the rookies coming up, he is working himself off of the team--like Larnach has done.  

[JADBP]

22 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I have no idea why anyone would give up on Wallner at this point in his career. Larnach? 100% at his pay and career. 

Wallner is a one-dimensional player.  HR or nothing.  Lousy fielder.  I guess maybe 2 dimensions:  rocket arm.  But that's not enough for RF, and Emma is banging on the door.  So, don't give up on him, trade him or move him to 1B.  But he can't keep this up in RF.  

[Mike Sixel]

11 minutes ago, JADBP said:

Wallner is a one-dimensional player.  HR or nothing.  Lousy fielder.  I guess maybe 2 dimensions:  rocket arm.  But that's not enough for RF, and Emma is banging on the door.  So, don't give up on him, trade him or move him to 1B.  But he can't keep this up in RF.  

Ya, that's just not true. Go compare him to other hitters.... He really struggled in leverage situations last year, but that might be a fluke. He was also injured. Emma? Exciting, bit I'm not sure his approach will actually work in the majors. We'll find out this year somewhat, I believe. 

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, JADBP said:

Wallner is a one-dimensional player.  HR or nothing.  Lousy fielder.  I guess maybe 2 dimensions:  rocket arm.  But that's not enough for RF, and Emma is banging on the door.  So, don't give up on him, trade him or move him to 1B.  But he can't keep this up in RF.  

So...if Wallner is a "one-dimensional, HR or nothing, lousy fielding" player, why would you want to move him to 1st base?

For that matter, why is another team trading for him?

 

[tony&rodney]

This article was necessary Nick. 

The argument can be made that the Twins are using a DH at 7 batting positions (C, 1B, 2B, SS, LF, RF, DH). We can give Buxton and Lewis a pass, although neither is above average in the field. Keaschall is a work in progress at second base, thus it feels a little harsh to judge him at this time.

The Twins should be able to transition toward a better fielding team in a year or two. Hopefully the current/future front office see defense as a worthy part of baseball. Although the past leader certainly didn't seek out poor defenders, it clearly was not important. Things will get better.