Four Triple-A Players (Not Named Walker Jenkins) That Can Help the Twins

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints

The Minnesota Twins have plenty of questions to answer as they navigate the final weeks of the regular season. Some of those questions will be answered by players already on the major-league roster. Others could be answered by someone currently playing for the St. Paul Saints.

Walker Jenkins is the obvious name to watch. The top prospect has continued to make his case at Triple-A, and there is plenty of interest in when the Twins might decide he is ready for the next step. But Jenkins isn't the only player in Triple-A who could potentially help Minnesota during the stretch run.

Whether it's an injury, a matchup, a need for defensive versatility or simply a desire to add another option, the Twins have several players in St. Paul who could get the call. Here are four names worth watching.

OF Matt Wallner

Truthfully, it feels like Wallner's place in the organization's long-term plans has all but evaporated. That doesn't mean the Twins can't find a use for him this season.

Wallner recently set a new single-season home run record (23 homers, 135 wRC+) for the Saints, continuing to show the type of power that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place. His ability to change a game with one swing remains valuable, even if his path to consistent playing time in Minnesota isn't particularly clear.

The Twins don't necessarily need another left-handed bat right now. That's one of the biggest obstacles standing in Wallner's way. Still, injuries have a way of changing roster needs quickly. If an outfielder or another left-handed hitter goes down, Wallner becomes an easy name to consider. He's already on the 40-man roster, which eliminates another potential hurdle.

Perhaps the Twins want to give Wallner one more opportunity to show that he can translate his power into consistent major-league production.

OF/1B Gabriel Gonzalez

Gonzalez's stock has taken a hit this season after he enjoyed a breakout 2025 campaign and was named Twins Daily's Minor League Hitter of the Year. His overall numbers haven't matched last year's production, but there are reasons to keep watching. Gonzalez owns a .753 OPS at Triple-A this season, which isn't overwhelming. However, his August performance has been much more encouraging. Through his first 12 games of the month, Gonzalez has posted a 1.054 OPS with four home runs.

Perhaps even more encouraging, he's walked six times compared to only three strikeouts during that stretch. The Twins could eventually need another right-handed bench option, and Gonzalez has the offensive upside to make that role interesting.

The August numbers don't erase the struggles from earlier in the season, but they do provide a reminder of why Gonzalez was once viewed as one of the organization's more promising young hitters. If he continues to produce, Minnesota could have an interesting decision to make.

UTL Ben Ross

Ross offers something the Twins could find particularly useful during a playoff push: defensive versatility. Like Gonzalez, Ross is a right-handed hitter. Unlike Gonzalez, however, Ross can provide the type of defensive flexibility that could allow the Twins to move him around the field and find favorable matchups.

And he's not simply surviving offensively. Ross has posted a .917 OPS for the season, making him one of the more productive hitters in the Saints' lineup. He's been particularly effective against left-handed pitching, where he owns a 1.003 OPS.

That combination could make Ross an intriguing bench option. A player who can cover multiple positions while providing a legitimate offensive threat against certain matchups can be extremely useful over the final month of a season.  The Twins don't necessarily need another everyday player. They could need someone who makes the roster more flexible. Ross has a chance to be that player.

RHP Marco Raya

The bullpen has been much better for Minnesota in recent weeks, but that doesn't mean the Twins can stop looking for reinforcements. At some point, every team needs to dip into its minor-league depth.

Raya's first season as a full-time reliever has been consistently inconsistent. There have been flashes of the pitcher who made him one of the organization's more interesting pitching prospects (25.6 K%), but the results haven't always been there (5.88 FIP).

He's also been less effective when asked to work multiple innings. That could actually help define his potential role if the Twins decide to call him up. Rather than asking Raya to be a multi-inning weapon, Minnesota could look to simplify his assignment. One inning. One appearance. Attack hitters. Let him use his stuff in shorter bursts.

That doesn't guarantee success, but the role could give Raya a better opportunity to succeed at the major-league level. And with the number of innings a bullpen has to absorb over the final weeks of a playoff race, another arm could become necessary sooner than expected.

Who Gets the Call?

The Twins don't have to make a move with any of these four players. That's part of what makes the situation interesting.

They have options in Triple-A, and each player offers something different. Wallner brings power and familiarity with the organization. Gonzalez has started to show signs of rediscovering his offensive stroke. Ross offers right-handed production and defensive flexibility. Raya could provide another arm if the bullpen needs reinforcements.

Then there's Jenkins, whose situation will continue to draw the most attention. The stretch run isn't just about the players currently on the roster. It's also about knowing which minor-league options can help when circumstances change. The Twins have several of those options in St. Paul.

---

Will any of these players be added to the roster? Who else could help the Twins down the stretch? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

 

View full article

[thelanges5]

The offense has scored 3.8 runs per game in the 2nd half (league average is 4.3)

Only 4 of their batters have an above average OPS+ in that time - Keasch, Lewis, Bell, Jeffers (Culpepper has looked good)

They need offensive help or the season is cooked. 

[Patzky]

Who should get sent packing..

Alex Jackson. He doesn't play enough to demonstrate his worth.  Alan Roden. He's not as bad as Larnach of late but he's also got options.  Kody Funderburk. Releasing Taylor Rogers would be just mean. Byron Buxton. Get well my guy, to the ten or sixty day medical office.

Who should get called up..

Walker Jenkins. Adds talent, cred, fan interest. Jack Anderson. Better than other options not named Marco Raya. Emma Rodriguez. It's time to see. Ben Ross. All purpose talent. 

Who will get called up.. Tristan Gray, Walker Jenkins, Gabby Gonzalez. Garrett Acton. 

[mikelink45]

Buxton going down again, Larnach in a prolonged slump, Roden mediocre, Kreidler offering little, Jackson offering nothing.  I think the Twins need a lot of help and watching Clark now with Detroit I am even more perplexed with the way the team ignores Walker Jenkins.

I would call up both Ross and Gonzales as well.  A team that can't stay up to 500 has a lot of parts that can be exchanged.

Raya has always been overrated for me and I do not seem him being a good addition. 

[twinfan]

I give the nod to Wallner. Ross is just another utility and we have 2-3 of those. Larnach has come back to normal but hopefully can find his touch again soon. Grey has ML experience but isn't as good as others. I don't expect to see Jenkins this season but you never know. But we need a RH bat.

[MinnInPa]

No Raya...Jenkins is only possibility that could provide any help..slight maybe to Gonzales

[stringer bell]

Acton and Merryweather have pitched well. 

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, thelanges5 said:

The offense has scored 3.8 runs per game in the 2nd half (league average is 4.3)

Only 4 of their batters have an above average OPS+ in that time - Keasch, Lewis, Bell, Jeffers (Culpepper has looked good)

They need offensive help or the season is cooked. 

2 runs Tuesday …….. Agreed, offense and it’s lack of consistency has been the central issue with Wins/Losses.

[JD-TWINS]

24 minutes ago, twinfan said:

I give the nod to Wallner. Ross is just another utility and we have 2-3 of those. Larnach has come back to normal but hopefully can find his touch again soon. Grey has ML experience but isn't as good as others. I don't expect to see Jenkins this season but you never know. But we need a RH bat.

My assumption is that they don’t screw around waiting for a couple days to “see how Buxton feels”……….. when they get back to Minneapolis, Buxton goes on IL retroactive to today & Jenkins is up to play CF.

72% of pitchers are RH so I’m not too worried which side of the plate the guy hits from.

Last, Roden isn’t going to move the needle - right? Gonzalez or Wallner for Roden could be a shot in the arm - getting desperate!!

[The Great Hambino]

I'm hoping for Jenkins, but not holding my breath.  I think they're too concerned with working Jenkins around the current roster instead of just working the current roster around Jenkins.  But they gotta try something

I am completely unconcerned with the risk of anyone they call up sputtering and failing to provide the spark they need.  When the status quo isn't good enough, the potential reward that a call-up can provide outshines any associated downside by a mile.  Worst case, someone got their feet wet now and they have some experience to rely upon going into next season

[JADBP]

The his topic is kind of silly!  There is another topic saying Jenkins has been “Superhuman.”  There is no one else that makes any sense at all.  Period. Bring up the superhuman player.  
 

Really, you would rather bring up Wallner than Jenkins?  Geez…that makes zero sense.   Wallner is a dream that never comes true when you wake up.