It’s Time for the Twins to Call Up Emmanuel Rodriguez

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints

The Minnesota Twins have done plenty to feel good about early in the season, but this past weekend was a reminder that good vibes do not always equal sustainable offense. Against the Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota found itself grinding through multiple tight games, struggling to deliver the one big swing that changes everything.

That swing exists in St. Paul. And it is attached to Emmanuel Rodriguez. At some point, a team that has overperformed needs to decide whether it is content staying afloat or ready to push forward. The Twins are at that crossroads already. If they want to keep this early momentum from fading into mediocrity, the answer is obvious. Call up Rodriguez.

The Spark This Lineup Lacks
There is a difference between scoring runs and threatening to score runs. Right now, Minnesota is doing just enough of the former while lacking too much of the latter. Rodriguez changes that instantly.

Few prospects in baseball can impact a game with one swing the way he can. His elite bat speed and natural strength have produced some of the loudest contact in the organization, including a 116.6 mph home run over the weekend that traveled 439 feet and left little doubt off the bat. That kind of power is not just impressive. It is disruptive.

Pitchers have to approach him differently. Mistakes do not get fouled off or rolled over. They get punished. And that is exactly what this lineup is missing.

 

Nothing Left to Prove in Triple-A
At a certain point, development stops being about refinement and starts being about opportunity. Rodriguez has reached that point. He has now spent parts of three seasons at Triple-A (74 games), producing across the board and flashing the same elite traits that have kept him on top prospect lists for years. Across his minor league career, he owns a .913 OPS with a massive .423 on base percentage, showing both patience and impact power.

He owns the four hardest-hit balls in the organization this season, including a 451-foot grand slam that jumped off his bat at 113.6 mph. This isn’t a new trend for him as he’s been posting numbers like that throughout his career. 

In 2025, his 109.1 mph exit velocity placed him in the 99th percentile at Triple-A, while his top mark of 113.6 mph sat in the 95th percentile. This season, he is barreling the baseball more than ever as well, with a hard-hit rate up to 50%, and no one at Triple A has a harder hit.

Even this season, the underlying indicators remain strong. He is walking, hitting the ball hard, and continuing to show that rare blend of power and on base ability that plays at any level. Keeping him in St. Paul is no longer about development, and it’s time for the Twins to make a move. 

 

The Injury Clock Is Real
This is the uncomfortable part of the conversation, but it cannot be ignored. Rodriguez has dealt with injuries throughout his career, ranging from knee and thumb issues to hip and oblique problems. He has averaged well under a full season’s worth of games, with durability being the one thing that has consistently held him back.

That reality should not scare the Twins away from promoting him. It should push them toward it. There are only so many bullets in the gun. If Rodriguez is going to impact this organization, it should happen in Minneapolis, not in St. Paul. Waiting for the perfect moment risks missing the moment entirely.

Fit Matters Less Than Impact
Yes, the Twins already have left handed hitters. Yes, the roster construction is not perfectly clean. That should not matter. Rodriguez is not a depth piece or a bench option. He is a potential difference maker. When a player has this kind of upside, you do not wait for a perfect opening. You create one.

Move pieces around. Rotate the outfield. Let him DH when needed. The specifics can be figured out later. What cannot be manufactured is his skill set.

The Twins have surprised people to start the year, but surprises fade quickly when the offense stalls. This weekend showed just how thin the margin can be when timely hitting disappears.

Rodriguez represents more than just a prospect promotion. He represents urgency. He represents upside. He represents the willingness to turn a good start into something more meaningful.

At some point, a team has to decide it wants more. For the Twins, that decision should come with one phone call to St. Paul.

Is the time right to call up Rodriguez? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

 

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[DJL44]

He should have made the team on Opening Day. The problem is the roster construction. Too many DH and utility infielders, no SS or 1B.

[darin617]

If he batted right handed it would make it easier. Now the have to decide if they pull the plug on Wallner or Larnach. 

They could keep both and possibly move Wallner to full-time DH.  I honestly would have sat down both Wallner and Larnach after last season got over and asked them to consider playing first base. 

It's pretty odd that you wouldn't think about trading or releasing anyone but Wallner or Larnach. Outman brings speed off the bench, Clemens can play multiple positions and they only have Caratini and Bell who can also play first. 

Tendering Larnach a contract may have been a mistake.

[Rhyno006]

Love that swing of his, especially the quiet hands. As far as the injury concern, if we can tolerate Royce Lewis and his oft injured body, why not bring this guy up and see what fun we can have while it lasts lol. 

[TJSweens]

Send Wallner to St. Paul. DFA Outman. Bring up Emma and Roden.

[Patzky]

"There are only so many bullets in the gun. If Rodriguez is going to impact this organization, it should happen in Minneapolis, not in St. Paul. Waiting for the perfect moment risks missing the moment entirely."

 

If Emmy is only going to play 200 innings in 2026, I want more than 10 of them to be in a Twins uniform.

[karcherd]

43 minutes ago, darin617 said:

If he batted right handed it would make it easier. Now the have to decide if they pull the plug on Wallner or Larnach. 

They could keep both and possibly move Wallner to full-time DH.  I honestly would have sat down both Wallner and Larnach after last season got over and asked them to consider playing first base. 

It's pretty odd that you wouldn't think about trading or releasing anyone but Wallner or Larnach. Outman brings speed off the bench, Clemens can play multiple positions and they only have Caratini and Bell who can also play first. 

Tendering Larnach a contract may have been a mistake.

Outman has no business being on a major league roster.  You don't need someone that is only going to pinch run a couple of times a week and plays slightly above average defense.  As I have said on other posts it would be very easy to bring up Rodriguez and get him playing time.  You have three positions, the corner OF spots and DH and four players in Wallner, Martin, Larnach and Rodriguez.  You can rotate them and they will each play 4 to 5 times a week.  But the Twins need to stop making everyone a platoon player and they will have to commit to Bell at 1B which is what he was signed to play for.  Clemens should be the 13th man playing a few times a week, he should not be a regular in the lineup like they are trying to force.

 

[PerfectGame]

49 minutes ago, darin617 said:

 

Tendering Larnach a contract may have been a mistake.

I thought so too in the off-season, but Larnach is doing great at the plate this season. He is walking near a 25% rate. That is ludicrous! He fits great behind Buck. Being this is his last year of control, it might make sense to sell high and trade him right now for some prospects or right handed relief pitching.

[CRF]

Get him up here! Wallner needs to head back to StP again and figure some stuff out...once and for all. 

[Gamblerssoftball]

Everyone is tired of all this waiting. Get it done, fer Pete's sake! Right, Peter? Lol

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

I commented about bringing him up on the Austin Martin article. He absolutely needs to be the starting RF now. 100%. Outmans time has run out. 

Martin in Left. Buck in Center. ERod in Right. 

Martin and ERod can both spell Buck in center for a rest day. We'd still have Larnach and Wallner on the roster to alternate at DH or fill in as 4th/5th outfielders. 

Pohlads, make it happen! 

[RpR]

As of today he has a 30 percent K rate, that will NOT drop in the Majors, the coaches know that is a problem.

His .800 fielding percentage makes Wallner look like a Golden Glove.

It is not going to happen.

[darin617]

26 minutes ago, PerfectGame said:

I thought so too in the off-season, but Larnach is doing great at the plate this season. He is walking near a 25% rate. That is ludicrous! He fits great behind Buck. Being this is his last year of control, it might make sense to sell high and trade him right now for some prospects or right handed relief pitching.

Larnach's success could be that he's not facing lefties.  

[amjgt]

1 hour ago, darin617 said:

They could keep both and possibly move Wallner to full-time DH.  I honestly would have sat down both Wallner and Larnach after last season got over and asked them to consider playing first base. 

I've never viewed that as an "ask" situation. Seems to me that it would be the organization telling the players where they would like them to play (or learn to play), but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Doctor Gast]

The reason we have lost so many close games isn't that we lack a big bat, it's because of a poor BP, INF defense & lack of clutch hitting (yes, we can hit a bunch hits with RISP at a time but where is that single hit when we need it?). If we bring up Emma, what'll we do with Larnach or Wallner? Do they still have options? Can we trade them? These questions need to be answered 1st.

[Blyleven2011]

24 minutes ago, soyouresayingtheresachance said:

I commented about bringing him up on the Austin Martin article. He absolutely needs to be the starting RF now. 100%. Outmans time has run out. 

Martin in Left. Buck in Center. ERod in Right. 

Martin and ERod can both spell Buck in center for a rest day. We'd still have Larnach and Wallner on the roster to alternate at DH or fill in as 4th/5th outfielders. 

Pohlads, make it happen! 

According to RpR , he's saying there's not a chance  ...

RpR loves defense like we all do , Rodriguez defense has been questionable and his strikeouts  are about the same as Wallner but he should make up for it when he does make contact  ...

Outman is here for speed and supposedly his defense  , is Rodriguez speed just as good as Outman  , if it is ,  then Rodriguez can be the pinch runner when he is on the bench  ...

I am not a decision maker in this organization and they usually can't make a decision and get it right ...

Nobody is going to claim Outman ...

[Vanimal46]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

He should have made the team on Opening Day. The problem is the roster construction. Too many DH and utility infielders, no SS or 1B.

This was easily foreseeable early in the offseason during arbitration tenders. It all began with tendering Larnach, then compounding the issue by signing DH/part time 1B Josh Bell. 

Larnach has been doing fine, but I think a good portion of fans would have taken the easy exit ramp last winter. If the intention was to bring back Larnach, then I fail to understand why we targeted Roden last July in the Varland trade. 

[Vanimal46]

35 minutes ago, RpR said:

As of today he has a 30 percent K rate, that will NOT drop in the Majors, the coaches know that is a problem.

His .800 fielding percentage makes Wallner look like a Golden Glove.

It is not going to happen.

You’re sourcing his fielding percentage where he’s had (checks notes) 5 balls hit at him? Totally disingenuous argument. 

[Blyleven2011]

10 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

The reason we have lost so many close games isn't that we lack a big bat, it's because of a poor BP, INF defense & lack of clutch hitting (yes, we can hit a bunch hits with RISP at a time but where is that single hit when we need it?). If we bring up Emma, what'll we do with Larnach or Wallner? Do they still have options? Can we trade them? These questions need to be answered 1st.

Hello doc  ,

Is Replacing Outman out of the question  , would Emma be a better bat than Outman  , could Emma be a clutch fearless hitter that is lacking when the opportunity presents itself  ...

Give Emma a chance , you and I and the rest of the fans want the youth , but only if it's deserved  , emma had a good spring training and I was surprised he didn't make the 26 man roster ...

Have a blessed day , go twins for the series win ...

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, PerfectGame said:

I thought so too in the off-season, but Larnach is doing great at the plate this season. He is walking near a 25% rate. That is ludicrous! He fits great behind Buck. Being this is his last year of control, it might make sense to sell high and trade him right now for some prospects or right handed relief pitching.

Nope. This was his second year of arbitration. 

[Stew]

Yes bring him up. Dump Outman

 

[Nshore]

I was hoping Matt Wallner would succeed as much as anybody.  Who doesn't like a 30 to 40 home run stud in the middle of the lineup?  But it's time to take a cold, hard look at what's actually happening.  He's 28 years old in what should be the prime of his career and is hitting .190 - and is a liability in the field.  E-Rod may or may not be the answer, but this is The Show, and the Twins owe it to the fans to at least try to find something better.

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Hello doc  ,

Is Replacing Outman out of the question  , would Emma be a better bat than Outman  , could Emma be a clutch fearless hitter that is lacking when the opportunity presents itself  ...

Give Emma a chance , you and I and the rest of the fans want the youth , but only if it's deserved  , emma had a good spring training and I was surprised he didn't make the 26 man roster ...

Have a blessed day , go twins for the series win ...

Outman should be DFAed but I don't think Emma is the answer to replace him. With Larnach & Wallner on the active roster Emma won't get enough ABs. They should bring (RH) Fedko up to replace Outman, give Fedko a chance. have him hit against LHPs. IMO, he can serve a greater purpose than Outman. If they love Outman, he'll pass through waivers.

[darin617]

1 hour ago, amjgt said:

I've never viewed that as an "ask" situation. Seems to me that it would be the organization telling the players where they would like them to play (or learn to play), but maybe I'm wrong.

 

I prefer "asking" over telling them to change positions. Telling them they are changing could be extra pressure on then.

The sad part now is that neither have any trade value besides a lottery ticket.

They may both have enough service time that they can't be sent down without permission.

[DocBauer]

Absolutely NOT trying to say I'm the smartest guy in the room...that's seldom the case, LOL...I was on record...looking to 2026 and beyond...that Larnach no longer fit the club. And while I'm glad he's doing well so far this season, he won't be back in 2027. And his $ could have been spent elsewhere. 

IMO, it was Martin and Roden in LF, with Roden able to play all 3 spots, Martin at least two. Rodriguez...with his healthy and excellent Winter Ball performance...taking over RF, and being able to cover Buxton in CF on his off days. Wallner would be the primary DH as a LH, and could still play some OF as well.

In retrospect, I still believe this would have been the ideal alignment for the OF. 

While I didn't exactly like him as the #1 1B, I had no problem with the signing of Bell. I still don't. He's done about everything we could have hoped for so far, even if it changed up the DH spot some. 

If Rodriguez played for Milwaukee, Cleveland, or Tampa...amongst others...he would have broke camp with them. Especially considering 2 of his options have already been used up.

What further boggles my mind is the actual USAGE of the 13 man roster. 30 years ago and further back, when teams still often had 10-11 arms on the team, a team might decide to hold on to a seldom used position player as a late defensive sub and/or PR or PH. But that was with a 14-15 man roster, not the 13 we have now. EVERY one of the 13 spots are important now.

Even now, without Outman and Larnach...possibly moved with his good start for a decent pen arm...that 5 man OF I had thought made sense STILL DOES. Add in our 2 catchers, with one able to also play some 1B, that leaves the 6 man INF we have in place currently. No, 1B isn't handled "properly', but you can make it work as is.

As a few posters have already stated, between 1B/DH and all 3 OF spots, please don't tell me there isn't room for ALL 13 players to find sufficient playing time and be used.

ENOUGH about poor roster construction. You can STILL make changes that can work and make this a better, more dangerous lineup. More than likely, Larnach and Bell will both be gone for 2027, replaced with younger, less expensive, and even more talented prospects. So what? We just wait until the trade deadline, or an injury, or 2027 to just place ALL of the young talent on the roster at once? How about we begin to make room for them once they look ready??

And Rodriguez is ready. And if he struggles a little bit? So what? You give him TIME. Remember when Chourio started slowly for the Brewers? Did they send him back down? No. They let him work it out. And that by a lesson in regard to Keaschall starting a little slow this season, or if Rodriguez hits a speed bump or two. 

2026 may or may not be a "competitive" season. As of today, April 23rd, the Twins have been hovering around .500 even with a couple injury setbacks and inconsistent play, and a still very questionable bullpen. (Jeckyl and Hyde bullpen I guess). I doubt many thought the Twins would look as "competitive" as they do currently.

But 2026 was ALWAYS about re-tooling at some point, giving the prospects their opportunities. But who decided said opportunities had to be post trade deadline? Why can't the re-tooling begin here in late April or early May? 

Time for a course correction. Aye-aye skipper. First change in course? Get Rodriguez and Roden up here, and quit playing a 12 man roster!

[HerbieFan]

6 hours ago, TJSweens said:

Send Wallner to St. Paul. DFA Outman. Bring up Emma and Roden.

100%

[JADBP]

6 hours ago, TJSweens said:

Send Wallner to St. Paul. DFA Outman. Bring up Emma and Roden.

ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY SPOT ON!!!

[bean5302]

8 hours ago, TJSweens said:

Send Wallner to St. Paul. DFA Outman. Bring up Emma and Roden.

 

2 hours ago, HerbieFan said:

100%

 

2 hours ago, JADBP said:

ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY SPOT ON!!!

Roden out for at least a month, torn labrum in shoulder.

I would DFA Outman, DFA Clemens

Call up Rodriguez and Schobel.

[JD-TWINS]

8 hours ago, darin617 said:

If he batted right handed it would make it easier. Now the have to decide if they pull the plug on Wallner or Larnach. 

They could keep both and possibly move Wallner to full-time DH.  I honestly would have sat down both Wallner and Larnach after last season got over and asked them to consider playing first base. 

It's pretty odd that you wouldn't think about trading or releasing anyone but Wallner or Larnach. Outman brings speed off the bench, Clemens can play multiple positions and they only have Caratini and Bell who can also play first. 

Tendering Larnach a contract may have been a mistake.

Larnach entered the game on Thursday night with a .468 OBP. He had a walk and a base hit tonight.

Martin started in RF instead of Wallner v. a RH pitcher tonight. He went 3-4, with a walk.

Outman has 2 hits, is batting .091…….his OPS+ is -14 (how?) and a WAR of -.300. I don’t care how much speed he brings off the bench.

Clemens is hitting .178 and has an OBP of .275 with a -.100 WAR.

Wallner is hitting .190 …… leading A.L. in strikeouts …… his OPS+ is lower than Clemens & Lee. He has a WAR OF -.700.

Why Larnach is discussed in the same realm of Outman - Clemens - Wallner ….. I do not understand!

[Peter]

Bring up Erod!!! Wallner has been a major disappointment