Tristan Gray

[stringer bell]

I don't think I'm alone in thinking that Tristan Gray seemed like a real long shot to make the Twins' Opening Day roster. He turned 30 this spring, has played for three other major league teams and has only accrued 122 plate appearances. Gray is a left handed hitter and we've spent much time on this site talking about the plethora of lefty hitter on the roster and the high minors. Yet, here he is. It might be damning him with faint praise in that his competition was Ryan Kreidler and Orlando Arcia, but he won the battle for now. Congratulations to him.

Gray didn't stand out statistically this spring. He only hit .200 (.569 OPS) with a 30% K rate. However, a glance at his Savant page tells me there might be something there as a hitter. The Savant page has a lot of pink (not red because of limited sample size) and pink is better than blue, I suppose. In the limited sample size, Gray has above-average marks for xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, exit velocity, sweet spot, barrel % and bat speed. I guess you can say he profiles to be a statcast darling. 

The versatility is also there. He's played all four infield spots close to equally and his defensive metrics in limited sample size look decent. Finally, Gray is a left handed hitter. It seems an odd match until the roster is examined closely. Two of the three guys he would spell are right handed hitters and the third is a switch hitter who whose strong side last year was right handed. 

According to @jorgenswest Gray has played for 14 teams since he began his professional career. I would consider him well-traveled. Good luck in 2026 Tristan!

[jorgenswest]

The 14 include Rice and Falmouth where he played in 2016. He has moved from the Pittsburgh organization to Tampa Bay to Oakland to Miami to Chicago back to Tampa Bay and now Minnesota by age 30.

[Parfigliano]

1 hour ago, jorgenswest said:

The 14 include Rice and Falmouth where he played in 2016. He has moved from the Pittsburgh organization to Tampa Bay to Oakland to Miami to Chicago back to Tampa Bay and now Minnesota by age 30.

Mr Gray seems a hot property until a team acquires him and then he's gone.

[nicksaviking]

Maybe Gray is just the sacrificial lamb. Maybe the plan is to call up Culpepper in a couple of weeks come hell or highwater and they didn't want to roster than DFA Arcia.

Probably not. But this certainly has the feel of a situation where something is going on behind the scenes that we're not privy to.

[thelanges5]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Maybe Gray is just the sacrificial lamb. Maybe the plan is to call up Culpepper in a couple of weeks come hell or highwater and they didn't want to roster than DFA Arcia.

Probably not. But this certainly has the feel of a situation where something is going on behind the scenes that we're not privy to.

I did read that Culpepper is starting with the Saints. So that’s good.

[Danchat]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Maybe Gray is just the sacrificial lamb. Maybe the plan is to call up Culpepper in a couple of weeks come hell or highwater and they didn't want to roster than DFA Arcia.

Probably not. But this certainly has the feel of a situation where something is going on behind the scenes that we're not privy to.

I wouldn't be shocked if he's gone sooner than later, but I don't think Culpepper is going to bump Lee down to utility infielder in a few weeks. Methinks they're going to give Lee a long runway to figure out if he can hold the SS job down.

[jaimedude]

I want Culpepper starting at SS for the Twins not the Saints. The time is now to get more athletic up the middle. 

[Major League Ready]

On 3/25/2026 at 7:01 PM, Danchat said:

I wouldn't be shocked if he's gone sooner than later, but I don't think Culpepper is going to bump Lee down to utility infielder in a few weeks. Methinks they're going to give Lee a long runway to figure out if he can hold the SS job down.

I don't think it will be a couple weeks.  Culpepper will need to prove himself for a couple months but nobody thinks Lee is a SS long-term so I wouldn't think they would be all that reluctant to replace Lee with Culpepper if Culpepper shows well at AAA.  He has more ceiling both offensively and defensively.

Another potential scenario that could emerge is a competition for the starting 3B job between Lee and Lewis if Lewis does not get going with the bat.  I think Lee's value will be the ability to back-up 3 INF positions as a switch hitter.  That has value.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

53 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I don't think it will be a couple weeks.  Culpepper will need to prove himself for a couple months but nobody thinks Lee is a SS long-term so I wouldn't think they would be all that reluctant to replace Lee with Culpepper if Culpepper shows well at AAA.  He has more ceiling both offensively and defensively.

Another potential scenario that could emerge is a competition for the starting 3B job between Lee and Lewis if Lewis does not get going with the bat.  I think Lee's value will be the ability to back-up 3 INF positions as a switch hitter.  That has value.

Why in the world does a guy with 700 PAs of .630 OPS keep getting brought up as a viable starting 3B?

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Why in the world does a guy with 700 PAs of .630 OPS keep getting brought up as a viable starting 3B?

My disbelief in Lee goes back to before he ever made it to the majors.  He gets brought up for 3B because Lewis looks lost at the plate.  I only bring up Lee in the context of Culpepper taking over short.  Then, the least lost guy between Lewis and Lee gets 3B.  Let's hope Amick is the minor league break out player of the year.

[jaimedude]

I saw Culpepper play one game with Wichita last year, and first thoughts were that guy not only looks like a short stop, he fields like a short stop, has the tools of a short stop, and he did not look scared. He's the best short stop prospect the Twins have had in some time. Culpepper is gonna help the Twins, hopefully this year. He has a presence about him and is confident. I like that. I like Culpepper a lot, maybe because I got to see him, both him and Walker Jenkins have a swagger that they can play. I  will stop hijacking the Tristan Gray thread now. These guys coming up with the Saints are better prospects than we are used to seeing. 

[Twodogs]

I watched Gray have a nice AB last night in the 8th inning I believe.  He ended the AB with a walk, but he must have fouled off 5 or 6 pitches that were probably strike 3.  Only AB I've seen, but it looked good.

[Dave Borton]

.962 FA in career play in minors @ SS.

Gray day, indeed.

[lecroy24fan]

Is it possible he could Wally Pipp Brooks Lee? I know it's a real small sample size so far but he's hitting really well right now and Lee isn't.

[bunsen82]

4 minutes ago, lecroy24fan said:

Is it possible he could Wally Pipp Brooks Lee? I know it's a real small sample size so far but he's hitting really well right now and Lee isn't.

I don't think a 30 year old is going to Wally Pipp anyone.  What he might do is create a niche and a role for himself.  Maybe he becomes the utility infield for a couple years for us or someone else.  For him that is all he is trying to do,  trying to fulfill a dream,  provide for his family,  married in 2023,  has 1 child with 1 more on the way.   Anyone at SS for us right now is just a placeholder for Culpepper.  

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, lecroy24fan said:

Is it possible he could Wally Pipp Brooks Lee? I know it's a real small sample size so far but he's hitting really well right now and Lee isn't.

I think I would keep trying with Brooks Lee at this point. But it’s absolutely go time for him. If the struggles continue he could get Wally Pipp’d by Culpepper in May. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

My only question is when we’re retiring his number. 

[nova_twins]

Gray reminds me potentially of Kyle Farmer, who peaked as a solid bench player ages 30-32 after improving his hitting while still being good defensively. 

 

[stringer bell]

As long as he's hitting, he could give Lewis and or Keaschall a day off with all the consecutive games coming up. Good for Tristan Gray so far.

[SteveLV]

The way Royce is butchering 3B, how about Gray at SS until Culpepper gets called up, Lee at 3B, and Lewis at 1B?

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, SteveLV said:

The way Royce is butchering 3B, how about Gray at SS until Culpepper gets called up, Lee at 3B, and Lewis at 1B?

I would get behind this. Would stop them from playing Clemens so much..

[Mike Sixel]

Also, this is a great story so far. 

[Vanimal46]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Also, this is a great story so far. 

Hope he stays hot during his spot starts. I could see a scenario later this year where Brooks is still struggling, Culpepper gets called up, and Gray remains as the bench player. 

[ashbury]

5 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

My only question is when we’re retiring his number. 

When the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown tells us along with all the other teams to, Gehrig be damned.