A Couple of Bright Spots

[Linus]

In thinking about the start of the season I thought of a couple bright spots. 

1 Austin Martin is getting on base. His OBP is .615. 
2 Jeffers appears very adept using the ABS challenge (other than the one he missed last night that could have got Ryan out of that jam). 

Feel free to add on any others. And yes everyone understands the sample size. 

[Patzky]

12 minutes ago, Linus said:

In thinking about the start of the season I thought of a couple bright spots. 

1 Austin Martin is getting on base. His OBP is .615. 
2 Jeffers appears very adept using the ABS challenge (other than the one he missed last night that could have got Ryan out of that jam). 

Feel free to add on any others. And yes everyone understands the sample size. 

Austin is exciting, not only because of the good things he does at the plate, but the unexpected things he does in the field and in the basepaths. Be entertained!

Justin Topaz, Taj Bradley, and Luke Keaschall are also sources of entertainment. 

 

[MGX]

1. As you mentioned Austin Martin, who IMO should be the primary LF & not a short side platoon.

2. SWR & Bradley both had solid 1st outings

3. Surprisingly half of the bullpen has had successful outings to this point - Banda, Rogers, Orze & Sands in his lone appearance

4. A couple of other hitters who have produced in their limited opportunities - Larnach & Gray

Definitely need more hitters to create some bright spots going forward.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Bradley / SWR...

Austin Martin...

 

[The Great Hambino]

I'd like to see Martin get an opportunity to lead off against some RH pitching.  I'm sure he'll take some lumps, but Kody Clemens: leadoff hitter is not a super high bar to clear

[bunsen82]

Now Wallner has had a couple bonehead moments, but his approach at the plate looks pretty darn good.  

Josh Bell has a +.2 WAR   .200/.381/.533  slash line 168+ OPS+.   Small sample size but nice home run yesterday.   5 runs and 4 rbi's.  

[Trov]

This has been the least excited I have been for a Twins season in a long time.  The roster construction is not good, and Shelton does not strike confidence, as he has failed with a bad roster in Pittsburg, and now we have a similar poor roster.  

When you go around the diamond we have below average players all over, but they have been considered our best. I would agree I would like to see Martin on a more regular roll, not just against lefties, as early on he has been the only bright spot hitting.  I know it is SSS and a couple of hot games will flip things. Bell has been okay as well. 

I hope that they can start to look like a reasonable team but I feel like this is going to be a fight for the bottom and trading Jeffers and Ryan at the deadline with a call up of the top prospects later in the year to give something to watch. 

[RpR]

It is good to see some happy thoughts.

[Linus]

41 minutes ago, Trov said:

This has been the least excited I have been for a Twins season in a long time.  The roster construction is not good, and Shelton does not strike confidence, as he has failed with a bad roster in Pittsburg, and now we have a similar poor roster.  

When you go around the diamond we have below average players all over, but they have been considered our best. I would agree I would like to see Martin on a more regular roll, not just against lefties, as early on he has been the only bright spot hitting.  I know it is SSS and a couple of hot games will flip things. Bell has been okay as well. 

I hope that they can start to look like a reasonable team but I feel like this is going to be a fight for the bottom and trading Jeffers and Ryan at the deadline with a call up of the top prospects later in the year to give something to watch. 

Thats an interesting list of bright spots 😀

[big dog]

9 hours ago, laloesch said:

The thumbs down aren't because it is wrong. It's because the point of the thread was looking for bright spots. You can read this comment or 1,000 others just like it in virtually every other thread. Try to follow along.

[ziggy]

I'm also pretty ambivalent about this season but I have been watching the games and planning on a Target Field experience soon. I started to sour on this collection of players last spring and it has continued into this year. 

Falvey and Rocco are gone so it's on the players if the results do not improve.

Bradley and Able have electric pitches and if they can harness them they have the potential to be special pitchers. Keashall and Buxton have the speed to turn infield outs into singles and doubles into triples. Not much in baseball more exciting than watching Buxton motor into third.

Hey, $2.00 for a beer before the game. What could go wrong?

[Mike Sixel]

7 hours ago, big dog said:

The thumbs down aren't because it is wrong. It's because the point of the thread was looking for bright spots. You can read this comment or 1,000 others just like it in virtually every other thread. Try to follow along.

10000000 percent true. And no one has accused me of being a homer for this lot. 

[Squirrel]

On 4/2/2026 at 10:20 AM, Trov said:

This has been the least excited I have been for a Twins season in a long time.  The roster construction is not good, and Shelton does not strike confidence, as he has failed with a bad roster in Pittsburg, and now we have a similar poor roster.  

When you go around the diamond we have below average players all over, but they have been considered our best. I would agree I would like to see Martin on a more regular roll, not just against lefties, as early on he has been the only bright spot hitting.  I know it is SSS and a couple of hot games will flip things. Bell has been okay as well. 

I hope that they can start to look like a reasonable team but I feel like this is going to be a fight for the bottom and trading Jeffers and Ryan at the deadline with a call up of the top prospects later in the year to give something to watch. 

Come on, dude … we all know where this team is going. If you can’t add to the thread as it was intended just move on

[Linus]

I think I will add SWR to the list. Classic Sim yesterday- he used all his pitches got into a couple of tough spots but competed hard on the mound. Dude is not afraid. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

I think I will add SWR to the list. Classic Sim yesterday- he used all his pitches got into a couple of tough spots but competed hard on the mound. Dude is not afraid. 

Agreed! 

[Linus]

Time to add Josh Bell. I don’t think he will keep it up but he has really helped with this good start. 

[tony&rodney]

The team is working hard. Mental mistakes are down. Guys are battling at the plate. Keaschall will never reach the top speeds of Buxton but he is pushing every time. The players are doing their best right now and that is a fair ask.

[bunsen82]

I called Josh bell 1st LOL.  Caratini, Ryan, Bradley, Jeffers (especially with challenges).   For bullpen - Funderburk, Orze and maybe Topa.   Larnach is starting off pretty well I just don't want to jinx him lol.  

[Riverbrian]

On 4/2/2026 at 10:20 AM, Trov said:

This has been the least excited I have been for a Twins season in a long time.  The roster construction is not good, and Shelton does not strike confidence, as he has failed with a bad roster in Pittsburg, and now we have a similar poor roster.  

When you go around the diamond we have below average players all over, but they have been considered our best. I would agree I would like to see Martin on a more regular roll, not just against lefties, as early on he has been the only bright spot hitting.  I know it is SSS and a couple of hot games will flip things. Bell has been okay as well. 

I hope that they can start to look like a reasonable team but I feel like this is going to be a fight for the bottom and trading Jeffers and Ryan at the deadline with a call up of the top prospects later in the year to give something to watch. 

All I can say... and I have and will again... I would have done it differently.

Now that it's been done differently... I love bright spots threads. 

Taj Bradley has been an extreme bright spot. He has looked... not getting lucky good. He is pitching wiht stuff instead of throwing with stuff. Joe Ryan has been solid. 

Bell has had a great start. I'm glad he's getting more 1B work so the DH can be utilized by others. Hope he keeps going. Larnach has had a great start to the season. 7 walks 3 K's... .448 on base... Martin 10 walks 6 K's... .500 on base percentage. Hope they keep going. 

I had some decent Lewis vibes before his latest injury.