Taking a Different Stab at the 2021 Opening Day Roster

Having spent the week down in Fort Myers, I’ve witnessed some heartbreak as top prospect Alex Kirilloff was re-assigned to minor league camp. While he definitely did himself no favors in the statistical department, the Twins also seek to gain a year of service time should they keep him in St. Paul for a matter of weeks.

On the flip side, the bullpen was among the chief areas of concern for me, and we’ve gotten additional clarity there. It doesn’t appear Lewis Thorpe will need to begin the year in the majors, and the pair of Brandon Waddell and Derek Law have really run with their opportunity as non-roster invitees.

Without waiting until things all become finalized, here’s my third and final revision to the Opening Day roster projection. If you so choose, you can find number one here, and number two here.

Starting Pitchers (5): Kenta Maeda, Jose Berrios, Michael Pineda, J.A. Happ, Matt Shoemaker

This group sees no change from the last go round. Randy Dobnak has looked untouchable this spring, and I think he’s pitched his way onto the Major League roster despite being bumped out of the rotation. J.A. Happ may not be ready for his first turn or could be a candidate to use Dobnak as a piggyback option. Maeda looks poised for another run at the Cy Young, and Berrios is pushing his arrow straight up.

Relief Pitchers (9): Taylor Rogers, Alex Colome, Tyler Duffey, Hansel Robles, Jorge Alcala, Cody Stashak, Randy Dobnak, Caleb Thielbar, Derek Law

We’ve got our first change and it comes in the form of both addition and subtraction. Gone is Lewis Thorpe, who was granted a fourth option and is eligible to be sent to the minors without first passing through waivers. That opens the door for one Derek Law or Brandon Waddell. However, I have thought all along the Twins would open with a 14 man pitching staff, it just remained to be seen how that would work itself out. Caleb Thielbar is healthy which was an uncertainty and will take one of the two spots, then it becomes who and how Minnesota wants to juggle the 40 man. Law has been untouchable and should have the inside track.

https://twitter.com/TFTwins/status/1374527609602777088

Catchers (2): Mitch Garver, Ryan Jeffers

This group stays the same, although there’s a turtle-shaped infielder that can hack it behind the dish if need be. Rocco Baldelli would be afforded the opportunity to start both of his outstanding backstop tandem with La Tortuga on the roster.

Infielders (5): Miguel Sano, Jorge Polanco, Andrelton Simmons, Josh Donaldson, Luis Arraez

It sounds like the Twins are fine with Jorge Polanco being the lone backup at shortstop, which is to the detriment of someone like J.T. Riddle. Luis Arraez is going to get at bats spelling both Polanco and Donaldson in the infield, while also occasionally mixing out in left field. Willians Astudillo starts on the farm in this configuration, although he could be kept if the pitching staff opens with 13 arms instead.

Outfielders (4): Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Jake Cave, Brent Rooker

Just one additional outfielder makes it for the Twins and that winds up being Jake Cave. Brent Rooker isn’t great defensively, but that bat can play and the drop-off from Cave is hardly substantial. Expect them to form a platoon of sorts out of the gate, and the progression could lead to a promotion of Kyle Garlick prior to seeing Alex Kirilloff. Minnesota could also try and squeeze Garlick through waivers to open a 40-man spot, but that may prove difficult after his torrid spring.

Designated Hitter (1): Nelson Cruz

Yes, he's here.

As an added bonus, here’s my stab at the Opening Day lineup against the Brewers and Brandon Woodruff.

1. Max Kepler LF

2. Josh Donaldson 3B

3. Jorge Polanco 2B

4. Miguel Sano 1B

5. Mitch Garver C

6. Byron Buxton CF

7. Andrelton Simmons SS

8. Brent Rooker RF

9. Kenta Maeda P

Take a look at Cody's roster projection here. How would yours differ?

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