2024 Spring Training X-Factors: Cleaning Up the Minnesota Twins' Defense

During the 2023 season, the Twins had three Gold Glove finalists, including two players (Pablo López and Carlos Correa) who are still on the roster. Other players on the roster also rank well in advanced fielding metrics, but some clear holes can be addressed with strategic changes. Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of how the Twins can clean up their defense. 

Catcher
Christian Vázquez was one of the American League’s best defensive catchers last season, ranking in the 79th percentile in Fielding Run Value. He also ranked in the 70th percentile or higher in Blocks Above Average and Framing. As he ages, the Twins must track his usage to see if he continues to be effective behind the plate. Ryan Jeffers saw a dip in his defensive numbers last season, so he has a chance to help the Twins clean up their defense. His Blocks Above Average, Caught Stealing Above Average, and Framing ranked in the 25th percentile or lower. It was the first season in which he was below-average in framing, after previously being known for that skill.
Best Defensive Option: Vázquez, for now

First Base
The Twins rotated through multiple options at first base last season, including Joey Gallo and Alex Kirilloff. Minnesota hoped Kirilloff would be an average defensive first baseman, but he posted a -6 Fielding Run Value in 2023. This winter, the Twins added Carlos Santana to the first base mix. Santana is coming off a season in which he was a Gold Glove finalist at first base, with defensive metrics to match. Other players, including José Miranda and Edouard Julien, might also fit into the team’s plans. Neither of those players projects to be above-average at first base, though, so Santana is the team’s lone hope to improve at the position in his age-37 season. 
Best Defensive Option: Santana

Second Base
Minnesota traded Jorge Polanco, the team’s long-time second baseman, and Julien is expected to begin the year as the team’s regular starter at second. Polanco averaged a -8 OAA over the last two seasons, but Julien has also struggled at second. His numbers improved in the second half of the year, after he put in more work with the big-league staff. He had a -2 OAA in the middle of August and ended the season at 0. Brooks Lee, one of the team’s top prospects, should be big league-ready by midseason, and would be a strong option at second with his experience as a shortstop. 
Best Defensive Option: Lee, but not right away

Third Base
Royce Lewis is the incumbent at the hot corner, and was learning third base last season after playing shortstop for most of his professional career. By the season's end, he moved from a negative OAA in August to a positive OAA. With an entire offseason, Lewis will be even better in 2024. Miranda struggled at the start of last season (-6 OAA), which impacted the team’s overall performance at the position. The Twins no longer view Miranda as a regular third base option, which should help the defense improve. If Lewis misses time, Kyle Farmer and Lee are other third-base options.
Best Defensive Option: Lewis

Shortstop
Carlos Correa was a Gold Glove finalist last season, but he posted a negative total according to SABR’s Defensive Index. He has been considered a strong defensive player throughout his career, including winning a Platinum Glove during the 2021 season. He hopes to return to his previous form if he fully recovers from the plantar fasciitis that plagued him throughout the 2023 season. During the playoffs, Correa made multiple strong defensive plays, including throwing out a runner at home, picking off a runner at second base, and making a challenging play in the hole. The Twins have multiple shortstop options behind Correa on the depth chart, including Lewis, Farmer, and Lee, but if their highly-paid superstar is now as healthy as he seems, they shouldn't need them much.
Best Defensive Option: Correa

Left Field
Willi Castro finished fourth among AL left fielders in SDI last season and had a positive OAA at second base, third base, and shortstop. Matt Wallner is expected to be the team’s regular left fielder, which is a downgrade defensively, even though he has a powerful arm (100th percentile). Left field is the position most likely to see a decline in 2024. One intriguing option is to move a younger player with a solid defensive skill set to the position. Austin Martin is close to being ready and can play multiple defensive positions. If the Twins want left field to improve, turning the position over to Martin helps improve the defense, but he’d be a downgrade offensively compared to Wallner. Maybe, especially in the second half, a platoon of the two that contains a defensive component or consideration (rather than just handedness at bat) will be the best solution.
Best Defensive Option: Martin

Center Field
Asked at Twins Fest about a potential return to center field in 2024, Byron Buxton declared to fans, "I'm back." The Twins are optimistic about Buxton being in the center field mix, but even the most optimistic outlook would have him starting around half the team’s games in center. Castro and Martin will shift to center if Buxton misses significant time. Last season, the Twins got tremendous defense from Michael A. Taylor, including an OAA that ranked in the 95th percentile for the whole league. He is still on the free agent market, so resigning him could help the team improve their overall defense depth at all three outfield positions. 
Best Defensive Option: Buxton

Right Field
Max Kepler has been one of the AL’s strong defensive right fielders throughout his career. Last season, his OAA ranked in the 86th percentile even though he had some injuries in the first half. It was a down year for Kepler defensively, even though he ranked well in multiple areas. In baseball terms, he is starting to get older, but there is a strong possibility for his defensive numbers to return to his pre-2023 levels. Minnesota will likely also use other players in right field, including Wallner and Castro. 
Best Defensive Option: Kepler

While they were still roughly average overall, the Twins got major negative ratings in Defensive Runs Saved at first base and shortstop in 2023. With Santana on board and 

What defensive area has the most room for improvement in 2024? Can the Twins clean up the club’s defense in other ways? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.