Who Will be the Twins' Utility Man in 2024?

The “super utility” position is a new-age role, becoming increasingly common in MLB. Teams value guys who can play several different positions, because it gives them lineup flexibility and the ability to navigate injuries sustained by everyday players or to give days off to starters to prevent them from wearing down over a 162-game season.

Over the last three seasons, there have been 42 player-seasons throughout MLB in which a guy got at least 400 PA and did not start the plurality of his team's game at any position. This averages out to about 1.4 players per team over those three years. The Twins had two who qualified under these parameters: Willi Castro in 2023 and Luis Arraez in 2021.

Few teams, then, have embraced the utility role quite the way the Twins have. In 2022, the club's primary utility man, Nick Gordon, played in 136 of the team's 162 games. While Gordon doesn't technically meet the previously mentioned criteria due to leading the team in starts in left field, he still played all over the field, including 258 innings at second base, so I will include him under the umbrella of "utility man". When Gordon went down with a fracture in his shin in 2023, Castro assumed the utility role and went on to play in 124 games. Whether by choice or perforce, the Twins have valued the position greatly in recent years, and I expect the same in 2024. With Castro returning, Gordon healthy, and Austin Martin surging in Triple A, who should get the most playing time as the utility man?

Willi Castro
Castro enters 2024 coming off a career year. Finishing sixth on the team in bWAR with 2.6, he was a spark plug all year for a team that needed one at times in 2023. He played in every spot on the field besides catcher and first base (yes, he even pitched), and was second on the team in Defensive Runs Saved, with 5 on the year. Castro also provided value at the plate, posting an above-average OPS of .750.

The most valuable asset Castro provided to the Twins in 2023 was his baserunning ability. With 33 steals on the season, he had 20 more swipes than the next-closest Twin, Michael A. Taylor. While the Twins could replace his production at bat, his baserunning will be the most challenging skill to replace if they decide to turn to Martin or Gordon in 2024.

The downside to Castro is the narrow likelihood that he'll sustain his success. Before 2023, the only season in which he looked remotely competent at the plate in the majors was in the COVID-shortened 2020 season with the Tigers. Can Castro string together two good seasons in a row? The Twins (and Twins fans) certainly hope so, though his Baseball Savant page doesn’t look promising from a hitting standpoint.

Castro will likely get the first shot at his pseudo-starting gig in 2024, but if regression hits hard, they may be forced to choose one of their other options.

Nick Gordon
In some ways, Gordon’s 2022 was what Castro’s 2023 was. It felt like his coming-out party. He posted a .743 OPS and was fun to watch play. The energy and excitement he brings to work every day are contagious, and as a fan, it’s tough not to root for a guy like Gordon. The problem is, outside of 2022, he hasn’t been great.

In the 34 games for which he was healthy last year, Gordon posted a dreadful .503 OPS. When you pair that with the .647 OPS he posted in 2021 or his mediocre hitting in the minor leagues (high full-season OPS of .749), it makes 2022 seem like the outlier. On top of that, he’s never been much more than an acceptable fielder at any position. According to FanGraphs, in 2022, he posted -2 Outs and Runs Above Average as an infielder and was strictly average in the outfield. While Gordon may be a fan favorite, he’s an underdog to find playing time or even make the major-league roster in 2024. He could yet become a roster casualty this winter.

Austin Martin
Martin came to the Twins at the 2021 deadline as a part of the Jose Berrios trade. At the time of the trade, many regarded Martin among the top prospects in the game. As the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 Draft out of Vanderbilt, he boasted the skillset and tools to become a successful everyday big-leaguer. However, since entering the Twins organization, Martin has experienced his share of struggles.

In his first full season in the organization, Martin posted a .685 OPS, mostly at Double A, leaving many questioning whether he would pan out. Hope was restored, to an extent, when Martin posted a .936 OPS in 21 games in the Arizona Fall League. His fall performance and ability to play both infield and outfield would lead some to project Martin as a sneaky option to find his way onto the Twins roster in 2023 as a utility player.

After Martin’s 2023 got off to a rocky start, he came on strong in the second half of the season and ended with a .791 OPS on the year in Triple A. It seemed to all come together for him at the end of the season, and he showed he may be nearing his MLB debut.

The biggest con for Martin is the unknown. He’s had a roller coaster of a career in the minors, so the Twins don’t know what they’d get out of him. He possesses the skills and pedigree to be the best of the three options, but he could also be the worst, depending on whether he's able to come as advertised.

The utility position has become a staple for many MLB teams, including the Twins. Castro will likely get the Opening Day nod as the team’s utility man, due to his successful 2023 season, but there may be competition for the spot if he regresses. Gordon and Martin will fight to find playing time, and Castro's playing time might be the turf they can most easily invade.

Who is the Twins' best option to hold down the utility role for the majority of 2024? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Go, Twins!