Twins Spring Battles: The Backup Shortstop

It seems that in recent years, the Twins have had very few classic roster battles in spring training. Part of this decline is due to the fact that spring training performance isn’t taken as seriously as it once was, but the Twins have also had a pretty set roster coming into camp for a few years. The “battles” on the offensive side tend to be “which of this pool of guys could be the 13th man on the bench,” which came more down to preference between very different roles. For instance, would Mickey Gasper’s bat or DaShawn Keirsey’s speed be more useful? (Because look, not all of the questions had a right answer.)

This year, though, the Twins have a specific need: backup shortstop. After an offseason of collecting fringe major-league talent (and letting some of it, like Vidal Bruján, pass right through without ever actually donning the uniform), they have three options to fill the spot. Each has a unique profile, so it’s unclear that their talent level will be the deciding factor. However, this is one of the battles in camp least adulterated by outside factors like minor-league options or deferring to seniority.

Orlando Arcia: The Veteran
Arcia is in Twins camp on a minor-league deal worth $1.25 million if he makes the team out of camp. He has an opt-out clause, so if the Twins don’t add him to the 40-man roster, he may be able to re-enter free agency.

Just two seasons removed from an All-Star nod, Arcia is the biggest name of the bunch. He spent a couple of seasons in Atlanta, hitting fine (100 OPS+ between 2022 and 2023), but his offense has fallen off a cliff over the last two seasons (.599 OPS, 64 OPS+ between 2024 and 2025). His peak was league-average, so there’s not much room to fall offensively.

Once lauded for his defense, Arcia has slipped a bit upon entering his 30s. Stepping in for Dansby Swanson in Atlanta, he registered 7 outs above average (OAA) at shortstop over 2,591 innings between 2023 and 2024, but clocked in at -2 OAA in 173 innings at shortstop in 2025. He was still a plus defender at second base (3 OAA in 115 innings) and third base (1 OAA in 115 innings), but he’s not getting any younger, and his primary function would be playing shortstop.

Arcia has played mostly shortstop and second base this spring and has put together a solid enough spring, with a .780 OPS. Obligatory “spring training stats don’t mean anything,” but if he’s looking good enough at shortstop, he might have the inside track on the spot, since the Twins can keep the other two choices. They both have minor-league options. Nothing about Arcia's batted-ball data suggests a significant change in who he is, though he's made more contact this spring than he has in recent big-league seasons.

Ryan Kreidler: The Glove
Kreidler was claimed late in 2025 from Pittsburgh and has lasted the entire offseason on the 40-man roster. The 28-year-old is getting big-league opportunities for one reason: he can pick it at short. He's probably the best shortstop defender in the organization who’s not named Marek Houston.

For a team with a starting shortstop (Brooks Lee) who has major defensive questions, Kreidler can provide some stability. He’s registered 2 OAA at the position in 253 big-league innings. He can also play a solid center field, league-average by OAA at 0 in 117 innings there last season. The eye test matches the stats, though he lacks the raw speed you look for in a center fielder.

The issue? The dude has never hit. In his best season, 2022, he slashed .178/.244/.233, for a 39 OPS+, where 100 is average and higher is better. This is saying he was less than half as productive as an average hitter—in his best year. Funny enough, he was worth positive WAR by both Fangraphs and Baseball Reference for that season, and would have been a 1-2 WAR player if given 300 plate appearances. That might tell you something about his defense. I guess it might also tell you something about WAR's utility in edge cases.

He’s only got 211 MLB plate appearances in his career, and if he can hit even a little, he could be an adequate bench player who can play both shortstop and center field when needed. But it’s difficult to see him mustering even 2024-2025 Arcia-level offense at this point in his career. He’s played all three infield positions (other than first base) and both center and right field this spring, but he’s only got a .469 OPS in 30 (meaningless) spring training plate appearances. He's making slightly better and more frequent contact than has been his wont, but there hasn't been a breakout or visible overhaul.

Tristan Gray: The Hitter
Now, “The Hitter” might be overselling it a bit with Gray, but compared to the other two options, hitting is his defining trait. Gray was acquired for minor-league catcher Nate Baez this winter, and he’s stuck around on the 40-man roster, like Kreidler, indicating that the Twins have some lasting interest in him.

Gray turns 30 this season, and he’s registered 122 plate appearances in his three-year MLB career between Tampa Bay, Miami, and Oakland. He’s also been in the Pirates, White Sox, and Red Sox organizations. He slashed .231/.282/.410 last season, and his OPS was just 9% below league average. He plays all four infield positions.

He’s played 80 or fewer big-league innings at each infield position, but he’s been worth 0 OAA at first, 0 OAA at second, -2 OAA at third, and 1 OAA at short. I’m listing these for consistency in this writeup. The sample is too small for the stats to be meaningful. But the scouting report suggests that Gray could be serviceable at shortstop—not standout by any means, but potentially serviceable.

One knock against Gray is that he’s left-handed, which adds another lefty to a roster crowded with lefties. However, the other infield positions are currently manned by Luke Keaschall and Royce Lewis, which would give Gray opportunities to give them days off against righties in addition to his normal days backing up Lee. He’s split his time evenly between second, third, and short this spring. If the Twins think he can hit a little and play a decent enough shortstop, he might be a better fit than the light-hitting options. And here’s your meaningless spring training stat: .648 OPS. He's swung and missed disturbingly often for Grapefruit League action and isn't hitting the ball especially hard, but he has plus bat speed, which the other two can't say.

The Verdict: I Don’t Know
Funny enough, at the time of writing, all three have exactly five appearances at shortstop this spring. I could see it going any way. I think I’d say 1) Kreidler, 2) Arcia, 3) Gray, but I could also see a world where Gray makes the team alongside one of the other two, due to injuries. In less than a week, we'll know for sure.