Twins Video
The Twins have a little bit of everything in left field: a bat-first starter, a glove-first backup, multifaceted depth, and prospects waiting in the wings. This position has the makings of a strength for Minnesota, despite some skepticism from projection systems.
TWINS LEFT FIELDERS AT A GLANCE
Starter: Trevor Larnach
Backup: Harrison Bader
Depth: Willi Castro, Austin Martin, DaShawn Keirsey Jr.
Prospects: Emmanuel Rodriguez, Kala'i Rosario, Jeferson Morales
Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 13th out of 30
Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 21st out of 30
THE GOOD
After three seasons of failing to break through and establish himself in the big leagues, Trevor Larnach finally had it click last year. He didn't make the Twins out of camp but was called up quickly, and before long he was consistently batting near the top of the order against right-handed pitchers. Over the course of the season, he was one of Minnesota's most dependable hitters, and one of the few who didn't utterly collapse in the second half.
Relative to some of the unknowns and question marks in the Twins lineup, Larnach seems like someone we can count on to hit this year. Always known for making quality contact, his success in 2024 was driven by a drastic reduction in strikeout rate, which maintained throughout the season. He produced a 116 OPS+ with an above-average walk rate and 90th-percentile exit velocity.
"He was someone that would put the ball in play when we needed him to," Rocco Baldelli told reporters this spring. "He does a little bit of everything. He hits the ball hard. He can put some balls in the seats, which is still something that you’re looking for from your team." The manager mentioned that the team has "pretty high aspirations" for Larnach in his age-28 season.
Indeed, Larnach's bat will be crucial to the Twins as they look to rejuvenate their offense following the meltdown last August and September. And while his glove rated poorly in 2024, this likely owed in part to a turf toe issue that bothered him throughout the year – he reportedly "solved" it by shaving the spike underneath his big toe.
Even if his defense improves, Larnach will likely see a fair amount of time at designated hitter; last year he led the team in starts at both LF (47) and DH (49). He'll also probably sit frequently versus left-handers, against whom he made just 23 of his 400 plate appearances. When Larnach is not in left field, the top choice figures to be newcomer Harrison Bader.
A former Gold Glover in center field, Bader should be an elite defensive asset when playing left, giving Twins pitchers a big advantage on days where he's out there alongside Byron Buxton. Bader hasn't played in an outfield corner since 2018 because he's so good in center, but if things go to plan this year we should see plenty of his skills on display in left. The downside of Bader is that he's not much of a hitter, but if he mostly starts against southpaws this weakness is mitigated.
Naturally, there's also a chance Bader will be needed to take over in center field for the oft-injured Buxton, which is a big part of the reason the Twins signed him for more than $6 million. Fortunately, there's plenty of secondary depth in left field. Utilityman Willi Castro was Minnesota's Opening Day starter there last year, and it might be his best position. Left is also probably Austin Martin's best position. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. will be a handy outfield valve at Triple-A.
The prospect to watch here is Emmanuel Rodriguez. Sidelined in camp by an ankle injury, he probably starts the season in St. Paul, where a strong first half could put him in play for a call-up, especially if attrition strikes in the Twins outfield or Larnach struggles. Luke Keaschall could also potentially factor in.
THE BAD
There is seemingly a lot to like at this position for the Twins: good starter, proven depth, high-upside prospects. Yet FanGraphs projects Minnesota to rank 21st out of 30 teams in WAR from left fielders. Why the muted expectations?
Much of it comes down to Larnach and his track record. There were plenty of positives in his performance last year, but the fact remains: Larnach has produced a mediocre 2.6 fWAR through 300 major-league games, and he's now 28. He still hasn't shown he can shake the nagging injuries, which affected him last year though he played through them. Even if his toe is healthy he might be best suited for DH.
If Larnach gets hurt or plays a bunch at designated hitter, the Twins could find offensive production in left field difficult to come by. Bader was a solid hitter at one point but slashed .239/.284/.360 over the past three seasons and posted an 86 OPS+ with the Mets in 2024, floundering in the second half like so many Twins players. Castro and Austin Martin can hold their own defensively in the outfield but aren't likely to be standout bats. Keirsey, Rodriguez and Keaschall are intriguing but none have any MLB experience.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The drop-off in offensive impact from using Larnach against right-handers compared to Bader, or really any of the team's other left field options, is substantial. That's why it's vital for Larnach to stay healthy and show enough with his glove to make the team feel comfortable playing him in the outfield regularly.
If those things don't happen, the Twins should have no trouble running out capable starters in left, but their ceiling at the position will be capped – unless a rising prospect like Rodriguez or Keaschall can enter the scene and make noise.
Share your thoughts on the outlook at left field below and check out the rest of our Position Analysis series:
Recommended Comments
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now