It's Time for the Twins to Promote Alan Roden

The Minnesota Twins have reached the point where waiting on Alan Roden simply doesn't make much sense anymore. When they acquired Roden and Kendry Rojas from the Toronto Blue Jays at last year's trade deadline in exchange for Louis Varland, the move was viewed as one that could help both the present and the future. Rojas arrived as a talented young starting pitching prospect with plenty of upside, but Roden was the more polished, major league-ready player. The Twins didn't trade for him because they thought he needed another full season in Triple-A. They traded for him because they believed he was close to helping them win games.

Unfortunately, Twins fans barely got to see him after the trade. Roden appeared in only 12 games before suffering a thumb injury that ended his season, putting his Twins tenure on hold almost as soon as it began.

He responded well to the setback this year in spring training, where it became increasingly apparent that Roden deserved a spot on the Opening Day roster. He spent camp competing with James Outman for the final outfield job, and it was hard to argue that Roden hadn't outperformed him. Instead, the Twins opted for roster flexibility. Because Roden still had minor-league options remaining (while Outman did not), Roden was sent to St. Paul, despite looking like the better baseball choice. The decision was understandable from a roster management perspective, but it always felt temporary. Roden appeared to be first in line whenever the Twins needed another outfielder, and that opportunity looked like it was only days away—before another injury derailed his season. In April, Roden tore the labrum in his right shoulder, forcing him back to the injured list just as the door to the majors was beginning to open.

Now he's healthy again, and he's reminding everyone exactly why the Twins wanted him in the first place. Since returning from injury on June 6, Roden has been one of the most productive hitters in Triple-A, batting .333 with six home runs. Just as encouraging has been his approach at the plate. He's drawn 14 walks while striking out only 12 times, continuing to show the advanced strike zone awareness that has defined his professional career. He has also spent a significant amount of time playing center field, giving the Twins another layer of prospective defensive flexibility.

The timing could not be better, because this lineup desperately needs another hitter capable of getting on base. Since the start of June, Trevor Larnach and Luke Keaschall are the only Twins with an on-base percentage above .350. Too often, this offense has struggled to sustain rallies because hitters are expanding the strike zone instead of forcing pitchers to work. Roden has built his entire offensive profile around doing exactly that. He consistently puts together competitive at-bats, works deep counts and reaches base—skills that translate to success regardless of whether he is hitting home runs.

At 26 years old with nearly 1,500 career minor-league plate appearances, Roden has nothing left to prove in Triple-A. The Twins acquired him because they believed he was major league-ready. Every additional week he spends dominating minor-league pitching feels like a week that accomplishes very little for either Roden or the organization. If anything, keeping him in St. Paul now seems to contradict the very reason they targeted him.

His fit extends well beyond the batter's box. Byron Buxton returned to center field on Saturday after missing the entire Houston series because of another hip aggravation. While Buxton remains one of the best players in baseball when healthy, the Twins also need to acknowledge that they cannot expect him to play every day for the remainder of the season. That was underscored Sunday, when he left the game after the top of the first inning.

Right now, their backup plan has been moving Ryan Kreidler from shortstop to center field whenever Buxton is unavailable. Kreidler is more than capable of handling center, but that move creates another problem by forcing Tristan Gray into the lineup at shortstop. Gray owns just a 67 OPS+ this season, and his defense has left plenty to be desired. Instead of weakening two positions at once, the Twins could leave Kreidler where he is strongest defensively while allowing Roden to handle center field against right-handed pitching and on days when Buxton serves as the designated hitter.

It's a move that strengthens both the lineup and the defense while giving Buxton the flexibility to stay healthy over the final three months of the season. Roden's left-handed bat makes him a natural platoon partner in center field, and his disciplined offensive approach fills one of the biggest holes on the roster.

The Twins need another quality hitter, another capable center fielder, and another reliable way to keep Byron Buxton fresh. Alan Roden checks every one of those boxes. Roden needs to find his way onto the roster, and soon.

Do you think the Twins should finally call up Alan Roden, or would you make a different roster move? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!