What Should the Twins Do at First Base?

[stringer bell]

2 hours ago, old nurse said:

A quick check of his splits in Houston would suggest that is OPS fallout is not because of he is not hitting in Houston. 

Agreed. Last year Caratini’s away OPS split was .812 with a .633 OPS at home in Houston. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

In the short term, play Clemens. He's the best option. Long term? No idea. It seems like they most likely outcome is someone like Gonzalez or Mendez?

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

As for Royce - I would be somewhat surprised if he's on the roster next spring let alone on the roster and trying to learn a new position.

[farmerguychris]

I gotta say, I'm a fan of bringing up Fedko and/or Sabato to give them a try.  I think deep down, the leaders (minus the owner) know this team isn't doing anything great this year - why not try something new.  Once one of our current 1B gets injured (we know they love depth and will not release any of them), hopefully Fedko (who I prefer because can play multiple positions) or Sabato will surprise them and refuse to be sent back down.

[stringer bell]

2 hours ago, old nurse said:

A quick check of his splits in Houston would suggest that is OPS fallout is not because of he is not hitting in Houston. 

Agreed. Last year Caratini’s away OPS split was .812 with a .633 OPS at home in Houston. 

[amjgt]

41 minutes ago, jkcarew said:

For now, Clemens deserves to be the every day player there. He can be spelled against certain lefties. 

I know Clemens has a bright shiny OPS against lefties this season, but that's in a tiny sample size (20 PA).
His 2025 OPS against lefties was 0.482 (in 89 PA).

Playing Clemens against lefties feels like giving up. 

[DJL44]

There are other options on other AAA teams who could be acquired cheaply.

[rv78]

What the Twins "should" do at 1st base and what they "will" do at 1st base are 2 completely different things. Any major league team with aspirations of competing, (yeah - you Tom) wouldn't go into the season with Josh Bell, Victor Caratini and Kody Clemens as their options to play 1st base. Therefore, it really doesn't matter. This team isn't, wasn't, hasn't, been built to actually compete for years now. Not since Justin Morneau, have the Twins had a reliable every year 1st baseman, and he hasn't played since 2016, 10 years ago. Good job Falvey!

[amjgt]

4 minutes ago, rv78 said:

What the Twins "should" do at 1st base and what they "will" do at 1st base are 2 completely different things. Any major league team with aspirations of competing, (yeah - you Tom) wouldn't go into the season with Josh Bell, Victor Caratini and Kody Clemens as their options to play 1st base. Therefore, it really doesn't matter. This team isn't, wasn't, hasn't, been built to actually compete for years now. Not since Justin Morneau, have the Twins had a reliable every year 1st baseman, and he hasn't played since 2016, 10 years ago. Good job Falvey!

I would change that to say something more like "not since Joe Mauer retired after 2018"

Having 2014-2018 Joe Mauer holding down first base for the 2026 Minnesota Twins would be a welcome improvement. 

[Fatbat]

Someday the FO should just lean heavily into the farm system and let the chips fall. It worked in 1984-86. 

[farmerguychris]

I gotta say, I'm a fan of bringing up Fedko and/or Sabato to give them a try.  I think deep down, the leaders (minus the owner) know this team isn't doing anything great this year - why not try something new.  Once one of our current 1B gets injured (we know they love depth and will not release any of them), hopefully Fedko (who I prefer because can play multiple positions) or Sabato will surprise them and refuse to be sent back down.

[killercarewoliva]

7 hours ago, AJray15 said:

I do not understand why they’re refusing to call up Kyler Fedko. He’s hitting even better than he did last year and has experience at first base. Can be a platoon option with Clemens there and in the outfield with Larnach. It’s so confusing.

I was expecting more from him during spring training but if I recall correctly he barely got a hit. so if that regulation is correct, they're thinking about that?

[killercarewoliva]

7 hours ago, AJray15 said:

I do not understand why they’re refusing to call up Kyler Fedko. He’s hitting even better than he did last year and has experience at first base. Can be a platoon option with Clemens there and in the outfield with Larnach. It’s so confusing.

I was expecting more from him during spring training but if I recall correctly he barely got a hit. so if that regulation is correct, they're thinking about that?

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, amjgt said:

I would change that to say something more like "not since Joe Mauer retired after 2018"

Having 2014-2018 Joe Mauer holding down first base for the 2026 Minnesota Twins would be a welcome improvement. 

IDK about that.  Mauer's wRC+ over those 4 years was 103.  How is that really any better than Kody Clemmons?

[LA Vikes Fan]

Kody Clemens is fine for right now at first base but we all know he is not a long-term answer. He’s hit .255/.345/457 over his last 30 games (102 plate appearances) with a roughly 26% strike out rate. Add to that that he’s a very good to elite fielder at the position and he’s fine for right now. He’s 30 though, and this is as good as it’s ever gonna get.
 

The thing to do is bring up a younger player, preferably one who hits right handed, and see what they can do in a quasi platoon with Clemens, with an occasional day in the outfield.  Fedko seems like a good choice because he can also play OF, but I would prefer Gonzales because I think he has a much better chance of being a full-time MLB player in the future (and he’s on the 40 man). Let him get his feet wet by playing three days a week, two at first base and one in the outfield, and also pinch hitting. Create space for him by deciding between Outman and Kriedler and only keeping one. I vote for Kriedler.

And, by the way, DFA Luis Garcia, have Bowman take his 40 man spot and bring him up. Today so he’s available for tonight‘s bullpen game.

[DocBauer]

For whatever reason, I can't currently "like" comments, or "quote" them. So I guess it's just me commenting my own opinions and leave it at that.

I still don't dislike adding Caratini as the #2 catcher and an occasional 1B.

[DocBauer]

For whatever reason, I can't currently "like" comments, or "quote" them. So I guess it's just me commenting my own opinions and leave it at that.

I still don't dislike adding Caratini as the #2 catcher and an occasional 1B.

[Jacksson]

DFA Bell and get him off of the 40 man Roster.

Play Caratini only at Catcher & DH.

Trade SOMEBODY to the Cubs for Jonathon Long to play 1B.

[Sjoski]

5 hours ago, Sampson5 said:

hoping after bell is traded at the deadline

no team wanted him last year.

Ditto in 26 

[Sjoski]

5 hours ago, Sampson5 said:

hoping after bell is traded at the deadline

no team wanted him last year.

Ditto in 26 

[Sjoski]

5 hours ago, Sampson5 said:

hoping after bell is traded at the deadline

no team wanted him last year.

Ditto in 26 

[DocBauer]

For whatever reason, I can't currently "like" comments, or "quote" them. So I guess it's just me commenting my own opinions and leave it at that.

I still don't dislike adding Caratini as the #2 catcher and an occasional 1B. He didn't start the season this poorly, so I'm going with a "slump" for now. And he's probably not going anywhere.

And I still don't dislike the signing of Bell either. He got off to a great start and was the most productive hitter on the team for the first 4 weeks or so. Unfortunately, he has a habit of running hot and cold. And his temperature certainly has changed. But history would indicate he will warm up again and really help the lineup. And let's be honest, there really is nobody to replace him at this time. A hot Bell really helps...if and when the hitting faucet changes temperature again...but he's probably moved at the deadline if he's not in a funk.

As an amateur GM, I wanted Caratini. Bell wasn't on my radar and not the direction I would have gone. But I can't like the player/bat for his career, and his good start in '26, and dislike him now due to a slump.

The surprise has been Clemens. While I doubt he maintains his current hitting...wouldn't it be awesome if he did...I do find it interesting that the best season and 1/4 he's had is as a late bloomer with the Twins. Again, it would be awesome if he could maintain his current level of production with the bat. His defense has looked pretty good as of late as well.

Unfortunately, the Twins have almost completely ignored the potential impact of a regular, solid 1B for most of the past few years. And any future solution isn't readily available TODAY.

While it may sound goofy to some, I've even suggested...in the offseason... a Roden/Fedko trial as a time share at 1B...while being able to cover the OF some as well...deserved consideration. At least it offered some creative imagination that the FO often seems to lack.

Fast forward to 2027, and assuming ownership doesn't want to sign or grade for a quality 1B, I'd really like to see Gonzalez and Mendez get MORE time at 1B. Gonzalez has started to heat up a bit, and Mendez is practically owning AAA pitching so far. They could make a nice 1B quasi platoon in '27, while still being able to play some corner OF here and there in addition to Martin, Jenkins, Rodriguez, and Roden in different roster constructions. Where that leaves Clemens depends on a lot of factors TBD at a later time.

1B is not going to drastically change any time soon for THIS season. You hope Clemens can continue to do a solid job as the #1, with Bell and Caratini filling in here and there. 

But at least I can see some possibilities for a better 1B situation come next season, IF, the FO STOPS ignoring the lost opportunities of production at 1B and DEVELOPS some imagination that they are SLOWLY starting to wake up to.

**Finally, is it POSSIBLE that Sabato is a late bloomer and not just a busted 1st round selection? Maybe. But remember when he was so HOT at AA in 2025 that he finally deserved a AAA promotion? From there he bottomed out again. I'm seldom obsessed with age of a prospect. I've seen too many early arrivals who are studs, too many early arrivals who flame out, and too many late developers who still turned out to be solid ML players for a period of time to just automatically dismiss anyone simply by age. But I need to see at least another month of Sabato performing at this kind of level before I'm going to really consider him a viable 1B/DH option for this season, or beyond.