Projecting the 2027 Twins Lineup

A lot has changed for the Twins over the last calendar year, which impacts who projects to be in the team’s lineup in four years. The Twins traded away Luis Arraez, even though he looked like a core piece of the lineup for years to come. Minnesota also handed out the largest free-agent contract in team history, a move that will have long-term ramifications. Below, you will see Minnesota’s projected lineup and each player’s age during the 2027 campaign. 

Catcher: Ryan Jeffers (30)
Entering last season, Jeffers’s stock was low enough for the Twins to sign veteran catcher Christian Vazquez. Jeffers responded in a big way, leading AL catchers in wRC+, and the Twins have been shopping Vázquez, along with other veteran players. In previous seasons, Jeffers was known as a strong pitch-framer with positive run totals. His framing was worth -3 runs and ranked in the 25th percentile in 2023, though. The Twins also added Jair Camargo to the 40-man roster after a strong season at Triple A. By 2027, he has an excellent chance to serve in a regular backup catching role. It will be interesting to see if Jeffers can continue to build off his solid offensive season and take on more of a full-time catching role. 

First Base: Edouard Julien (28)
The Twins have an influx of young infielders at multiple positions, which will force the team to make several decisions about players' future defensive homes. Julien has been a second baseman for most of his professional career, and he made strides on the defensive side of the ball throughout his rookie turn in MLB. However, he will continue to be a below-average defender, so the Twins will start playing him more regularly at first. In last year’s projection, Alex Kirilloff appeared to be part of the team’s long-term plan at first base, but his injury history makes it harder to include him in the 2027 lineup.

Second Base: Royce Lewis (28)
Minnesota will have an interesting defensive decision with the following three names in this lineup. All three have played shortstop for the majority of their professional careers, but age and injury history will eventually force them to move around. Lewis will enter the 2024 season as the team’s primary third baseman, after shifting to that position last year. In 416 2/3 innings at third, Lewis was worth 2 DRS and 2 OAA. He has a strong enough arm and is very athletic, so that he can shift to another defensive position later in his career. 

Shortstop: Carlos Correa (32)
Correa was a Gold Glove finalist in 2023, even while battling plantar fasciitis. His OAA ranked in the 62nd percentile, and his arm strength ranked in the 74th percentile. According to SDI, Correa was the AL’s ninth-best shortstop with a -2.7 SDI in 2023. Will a 32-year-old Correa continue to be a viable option at the infield's most demanding position? Minnesota will have other, younger options to take his place at shortstop, but there is no perfect fit if age pushes Correa to third base. He will want to stay at a premium position for as long as possible, but his days as a shortstop will be coming to an end by 2027. 

Third Base: Brooks Lee (26)
Lee is considered Minnesota’s second-ranked prospect, after finishing last season at Triple A. All three national top-100 lists ranked him in their top 45 entering last season, and he projects to rank higher entering 2024. He posted an .808 OPS with 39 doubles and 16 home runs in 125 games last season. Mostly, he’s played shortstop so far in his professional career, but many expect him to move to third base as he adds to his frame. Lee is on pace to make his big-league debut in 2024, and the Twins hope he is part of the team’s long-term core.

Left Field: Emmanuel Rodriguez (24)
In many organizations, Rodríguez would be the top-ranked prospect, because of his ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball. The Twins added him to the 40-man roster this winter, which puts him one step closer to making his big-league debut. He spent all of 2023 at High A, where he hit .240/.400/.463 with 38 extra-base hits and 92 walks in 99 games. Rodríguez has one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in the organization. 

Center Field: Walker Jenkins (22)
The Twins selected Jenkins with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, and he’s already considered one of baseball’s best prospects after a memorable pro debut. He hit .362/.417/.571, with 12 extra-base hits and six stolen bases in 26 games. There is some question about whether or not Jenkins can stick in center field, as he has slowed a bit while adding more muscle to his frame. Earlier this winter, I projected that Jenkins is on the fast track to the big leagues, with the potential to debut during the 2026 season. 

Right Field: Matt Wallner (29)
Wallner is a prototypical right fielder, with a powerful left-handed swing and a cannon for an arm. Max Kepler has occupied right field for the Twins for seven years, but Wallner can take over right away if Kepler is traded this winter. The Forest Lake native showcased some strong offensive skills during his rookie season with a 139 OPS+, striking out 80 times in 76 games. Minnesota has depth in their corner outfield spots, so it will be interesting to see if the team includes Wallner or Rodríguez in a trade for starting pitching. 

Designated Hitter: Byron Buxton (33)
The Twins are hopeful that Buxton’s most recent knee surgery puts him back on track to appear in the outfield. However, his lengthy injury history will make him a full-time DH in 2027. Last season, injuries limited him to DH duties, and he posted an OPS+ below 115 for the first time since 2018. Buxton is under contract through the 2028 season, so the Twins need to find a way for him to provide value to the club. 

Who do you think fits into the team’s 2027 lineup? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

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— 2024 Lineup
— 2025 Lineup
— 2026 Lineup