Can The Twins Trust Their Three Rookies In 2027?

[Cody Pirkl]

The Twins turned to a trio of top prospects down the stretch this season as their playoff odds dwindled. These three had varying degrees of success, but teams looking to compete often don’t like to lean on too many rookies from day one. Can the Twins trust these three to slot right into the core of the MLB roster?

Kaelen Culpepper

The first in the wave of Twins call-ups in 2026, Kaelen Culpepper filled a much-needed role as the everyday shortstop and logged just under 130 plate appearances by season's end. He slashed a respectable .274/.328/.393 and flashed his raw power on several occasions, though it wasn’t consistent. Culpepper also finished with a positive Outs Above Average defensively and was inarguably a huge step up from Brooks Lee in the middle infield.

 

Culpepper should be a lock for the opening day roster. He showed that he could hold his own at the plate while also being passable defensively. The lineup also needs as many impact right-handed hitters as it can get. His well-rounded skill set should make him a valuable contributor, even if he has some struggles adjusting during his sophomore season. It’s also helpful that the Twins don’t need to stash him in Triple-A as depth, as fellow top prospect Marek Houston should also be pushing for his debut in 2027.

Walker Jenkins

The Twins have to ask themselves two questions regarding Walker Jenkins headed into 2027: “Do we trust him in center field?” and “Did everything click at the plate at the end of the season?” Byron Buxton will need regular time off or days in the DH spot in 2027, and the Twins can’t afford to piece together center field again when he’s out of the lineup. Jenkins could struggle at the plate and still be a better option than much of what the Twins got from center field without Buxton in 2026, as long as his defense is trustworthy.

 

Jenkins struggled mightily against major league pitchers when he was first promoted, and then posted a 1.015 OPS in his last 40 plate appearances. It’s a small, unprojectable sample, but if this white-hot stretch was truly Jenkins turning a corner, there’s no reason not to find everyday at-bats for one of the top prospects in all of baseball. He has nothing left to prove in Triple-A, and has the potential to be one of the best hitters in the Twins’ lineup. If Jenkins doesn’t make the opening day roster, the Twins must have made a significant addition to the outfield mix.

Emmanuel Rodriguez

It’s a shame Emmanuel Rodriguez wasn’t healthy earlier in the season, as he may have been called up months before he actually debuted. He struggled in 48 plate appearances, striking out in a third of his at-bats and hitting below the Mendoza line. He flashed some of the raw ability that once made him a top prospect before injuries derailed his ascent through the minor leagues. He also had great process and got quite unlucky according to some of his underlying metrics.

 

Rodriguez posted a minuscule .270 wOBA, but his xwOBA of .354 would have been among elite company if he qualified. Byron Buxton posted a .343 xwOBA in 2026, for example. His expected slugging, barrel rate, hard-hit percentage, and bat speed were all at the 90th percentile or better. The swing-and-miss will always be an issue in his game, but it looks like bad luck kept Rodriguez from bursting onto the scene. Unlike the other two options, the Twins don’t have much choice but to carry Emmanuel Rodriguez on the opening day roster. He is out of options, meaning their failure to do so would expose him to waivers, where another team would happily snatch him up for nothing. Hopefully the Twins believe in ERod’s underlying numbers, because if he’s with the team in 2027, he will have to be on the opening day roster.

It seems possible that, by breaking down each of these three rookies individually, they will not only make the Opening Day roster but also have a near-everyday role from day one. It’s an unorthodox approach for competing teams, but one the Twins could certainly justify given what we’ve seen in their debuts.

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Should all three of these rookies be trusted right away on opening day? Do Culpepper or Jenkins need more seasoning in the minor leagues? Let us know below!

Image courtesy of Kelley L Cox, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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[mikelink45]

Rodriguez has not gained my trust but the other two have.  ST will sort them out. 

[terrydactyls]

If the Twins do not trust these three players, they will be in horrible shape for 2027.  Welcome back Tristan Gray and Ryan Kreidler.  Brooks Lee goes back to SS and Royce Lewis covers 3B.  Is James Outman still available?

[Linus]

They have to - they have no other reasonable choice. In a way it gives me comfort in that they are finally headed in a productive direction and I don’t see the FO being able to screw this particular piece up. 

[Andy MacPhail]

You put in the right order. Culpepper should step in & contribute. Jenkins was developed right; he might have his up & downs & wonder about his ability to stay on the field as well as Emma. I like Emma best as Buxton back up, but how his hitting translates in MLB is questionable. In the MiLB, he may think he doesn't need to change but, in the MLB, he'll need to see that he'll need to adapt. He can be a force once he does.

[DataNerd]

I don't think trust is the right word, but we are not currently a great team and hoping these guys turn out is easily our best shot at being a WS team in the next few years.

[Patzky]

5 minutes ago, DataNerd said:

I don't think trust is the right word, but we are not currently a great team and hoping these guys turn out is easily our best shot at being a WS team in the next few years.

I'd say trust but verify. Our experience has been that they will not succeed based on the experience with Wallner, Miranda, Julien, Kirilloff. But there is not actual connection between any of these players. I'm hopeful but these are the questions that we need to ask as Twins fans. What plan B will we have in place?

[NYCTK]

27 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Rodriguez has not gained my trust but the other two have.  ST will sort them out. 

I will never "trust" any player with a 30%+ strikeout rate, because the wild swings in production will be infuriating. But unlike Wallner, at least he can play defense. So worst case scenario, he's a competent 4th OF. I don't see him as a building block but happy to see him get playing time. 

I like the other two rookies though! 

[SE23]

Having no options left, Emma's status is the most awkward of the 3. But we have enough roster flexibility to sit him down if he scuffles at times. As someone said above, he'll need to make adjustments on the fly. He has less margin of error than the other 2, who can be sent to St Paul for reset as necessary.

[Nashvilletwin]

The question is not if the Twins can trust these three rookies; rather, the real question is will they stick with them and invest in them through the entire year.

They are rookies - they will stink from time to time and possibly over some relatively long stretches.  But will the coaching staff and front office go delusional again and mess up their continual development or will they stay with the plan to build for the future?

The single biggest issue/failure with the Twins organization over the past decade has been transitioning young proven minor league talent into every day average or above major leaguers.  These three players - and you can throw Houston and eventually Lackey (and Lee and Keaschall to a certain extent as they are not out of the woods yet) in there as well - are the future of this team as a contender over the next five years.  They can’t afford to take a short term point of view in what will likely be a truncated season anyway.

[thelanges5]

The weak*** AL Central had Tom chasing “meaningful” games and buying at the deadline. I understand that injuries also played a part, but would’ve liked to have given these guys some more time in the MLB. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

I think the most likely result is that Culpepper and Jenkins are everyday players at the start of the year, with Emma competing with Alan Roden for playing time. A lot depends on when Buxton will be ready to play. It may not be until next May, so that would give them a month to really sort through this during the regular season. The other possibility is that Roden could and probably should learn to play 1B. Let’s all remember that offensively Roden had the best year of all four in roughly the same number of at bats. All very small sample sizes of course, but I think the Twins will give him a shot to win a job and at least give him a roster spot, especially since he has so far been able to hit left-handed pitching. I would love to see him compete for the 1B job, especially if they plan to leave Clemens at 2B.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

It seems entirely reasonable to give all three of these guys an extended look.  The sample size so far means very little, and all of them (even Emma) have shown flashes of being very good.  Investing the time and energy into these three is an excellent use of resources.  If everything goes well for them, we might be threatening for a playoff spot.  If it goes poorly, we are no worse off than we were this year.  

PLEASE do not sign or trade for an outfielder!

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

41 minutes ago, Patzky said:

I'd say trust but verify. Our experience has been that they will not succeed based on the experience with Wallner, Miranda, Julien, Kirilloff. But there is not actual connection between any of these players. I'm hopeful but these are the questions that we need to ask as Twins fans. What plan B will we have in place?

The biggest difference in this group compared to the last group is age (including Keashall), All these guys are actually young, (AK was only 23 and improving until the injury) the rest were all 24 or older when they debuted, and regardless how much hope people have on this site about older guys figuring it out, the probability is still very, very low that guys trying to figure it out in the majors (with little or no options) during theiir prime years turn out to be anything more than a platoon or depth, compared to guys with the skills to be trying to figure it out in their earlier 20's. All three of these guys will likely struggle this year at times, but the hope should be that 1 turns into an all star type player, one is better than average major league player and third sticks around as depth until his controlled years end. And the next couple of prospects continue to fill in. 

[Mike Sixel]

Why wouldn't they? The best run teams would. Is this a real question?

[tony&rodney]

50 minutes ago, Patzky said:

I'd say trust but verify. Our experience has been that they will not succeed based on the experience with Wallner, Miranda, Julien, Kirilloff. But there is not actual connection between any of these players. I'm hopeful but these are the questions that we need to ask as Twins fans. What plan B will we have in place?

None of Wallner, Miranda, Julien, or Kirilloff owned a glove or were very capable running. We can add Larnach to that list. We can have more confidence in this group athletically.

It is possible that not all of the rookies will be regulars when the dust settles. However, as noted above the Twins have no choice but to play these guys. I would add Marek Houston asap. It seems like the best idea to let them play. I would suggest that the Twins need to add a free agent like Brandon Lowe. The rookies cannot be the only plan.

[Galen]

Ya gotta trust somebody

[dxpavelka]

Sadly, not only CAN they trust them, but by not calling them all up months earlier in 2026 than they did, they have put themselves in a position where they MUST trust them in 2027.  After the bloodletting at the 2025 trade deadline 2026 SHOULD have been about seeing what as many young guys as possible were capable of doing at the big league level. The headline proposes a trick question.  The issue is that they will be rookies in 2027.  These three guys should have used up their rookie status early in the 2026 season.  It is very frustrating that this team so seldom finds itself in the position of having players perform at a high level in the big leagues at an early age. How fun would it be to go out to the ballpark and see a Kevin McGonigle or Konnor Griffin or JJ Wetherholt or Jacob Misiorowski or Parker Messick or Roman Anthony or Nick Kurtz or Drake Baldwin wearing the HOME jersey rather than the other jersey?  I don't know what it is about coaches (not just the Twins) in this town, that they are never able to trust a rookie.  Every single coach / manager in this town if asked to trust a young player gets that look on his face like he has ten seconds to take a dump and he's twenty seconds from the closest s@!#@!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

7 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

Sadly, not only CAN they trust them, but by not calling them all up months earlier in 2026 than they did, they have put themselves in a position where they MUST trust them in 2027.  After the bloodletting at the 2025 trade deadline 2026 SHOULD have been about seeing what as many young guys as possible were capable of doing at the big league level. The headline proposes a trick question.  The issue is that they will be rookies in 2027.  These three guys should have used up their rookie status early in the 2026 season.  It is very frustrating that this team so seldom finds itself in the position of having players perform at a high level in the big leagues at an early age. How fun would it be to go out to the ballpark and see a Kevin McGonigle or Konnor Griffin or JJ Wetherholt or Jacob Misiorowski or Parker Messick or Roman Anthony or Nick Kurtz or Drake Baldwin wearing the HOME jersey rather than the other jersey?  I don't know what it is about coaches (not just the Twins) in this town, that they are never able to trust a rookie.  Every single coach / manager in this town if asked to trust a young player gets that look on his face like he has ten seconds to take a dump and he's twenty seconds from the closest s@!#@!

Can they? Yup

Should they? Its debatable because the FO painted themselves into a corner with their dithering. What a waste of two seasons in 2025 and 2026!

[SE23]

23 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

None of Wallner, Miranda, Julien, or Kirilloff owned a glove or were very capable running. We can add Larnach to that list. We can have more confidence in this group athletically.

It is possible that not all of the rookies will be regulars when the dust settles. However, as noted above the Twins have no choice but to play these guys. I would add Marek Houston asap. It seems like the best idea to let them play. I would suggest that the Twins need to add a free agent like Brandon Lowe. The rookies cannot be the only plan.

Putting a veteran presence and big bat like Lowe in the middle of this young lineup is important. He can carry his weight defensively as well.

[LastOnePicked]

17 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

How fun would it be to go out to the ballpark and see a Kevin McGonigle or Konnor Griffin or JJ Wetherholt or Jacob Misiorowski or Parker Messick or Roman Anthony or Nick Kurtz or Drake Baldwin wearing the HOME jersey rather than the other jersey? 

The fact that this team hasn't produced a Rookie of the Year in over 30 years is a sign of their deep developmental problems. Smaller-market teams should be producing these candidates at far higher rates.

[MeleMouth]

There is no such thing as "trusting" a baseball player, or at least it's very rare.

Kirby Puckett is probably the last Minnesota Twin that, at the beginning of a season, could be "trusted" to stay healthy and put up good numbers, but even he, at this time of the year after his last season, could not be "trusted, because he suffered an unexpected illness that ended his career at the end of the next spring training, when he had been playing great.

Right now, these three players should be considered the starters at their positions in spring training. They should hold their jobs as long as they are playing adequately or demonstrating progress. 

However, all three of them have injury histories and have had runs of inadequate performance. Certainly, if healthy, they are probably the most talented players in the organization at their positions, but that does not mean that future performance can be "trusted." 

To the people who think the team's pattern of giving opportunity to mediocre veterans instead of young players is a problem, I agree with you, but that problem is not one of trust. Instead, it's an effort by management to avoid blame if things go wrong. In traditional organizations, if something goes wrong while playing veterans, the ready-made story is to blame the veterans - "they've done it before, but they let us down this year" - but if something goes wrong while playing rookies, the instinct is to blame the person who decided to play the untested players.

[LastOnePicked]

The single biggest issue is this: get a staff who can help them avoid serious injuries. Work with Rodriguez on sliding. Work wth Jenkins on throwing. Stop throwing young players out of position just because you need a roster stopgap.

They all have real talent. They've entered an organization with about the worst track record in MLB for prospect development. Hopefully, Shelton and his staff can make some adjustments to the approach.

[GNess]

Up to a point what other reasonable choice do they have? If the top draftees aren't worth an extended look it brings the entire scouting/evaluation operation into question. Plus, optimistically all three seem to have some legit promise.

[jimmyc]

Yes

[HerbieFan]

I'd much rather watch all 3 go through the growing pains of adjusting to the big leagues than watching the dregs we've seen fill roster spots in the past.  Ryan Kreidler is a pro, just not a very good one.  Guys like Tristan Gray are exactly who they are.  With all due respect I don't want to see any of those types occupying roster spots.  It's time for the kids.

[Parfigliano]

3 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

If the Twins do not trust these three players, they will be in horrible shape for 2027.  Welcome back Tristan Gray and Ryan Kreidler.  Brooks Lee goes back to SS and Royce Lewis covers 3B.  Is James Outman still available?

Manny Margot or bust.

[weitz41]

3 hours ago, Linus said:

They have to - they have no other reasonable choice. In a way it gives me comfort in that they are finally headed in a productive direction and I don’t see the FO being able to screw this particular piece up. 

You underestimate the power of the dark side...

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, SE23 said:

Putting a veteran presence and big bat like Lowe in the middle of this young lineup is important. He can carry his weight defensively as well.

Buxton, Lee, Lewis, the catchers, Clemens are plenty of veteran leadership. Now, talent, yes. But this idea the Twins are young just isn't true. 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

None of Wallner, Miranda, Julien, or Kirilloff owned a glove or were very capable running. We can add Larnach to that list. We can have more confidence in this group athletically.

Maybe I am alone on this, but who would have thought that of those five players, Larnach would have the best career as a Twin?  I certainly wouldn't have!