Why a Fast Start Is Crucial for Three Twins Hitters in 2025

Spring training is nearing its conclusion, and the Minnesota Twins are ready to embark on another season filled with high expectations. While the roster is full of familiar faces, three players stand out as crucial to the team’s success: Matt Wallner, Royce Lewis, and Byron Buxton. Each of these players faces unique challenges entering 2025, but they all share one common need: getting off to a strong start.  

Matt Wallner: Can He Pick Up Where He Left Off?  
Matt Wallner’s 2024 season was a tale of two halves. To say he struggled out of the gate would be an understatement. In 33 plate appearances, he went 2-for-25 (.080 BA) with 17 strikeouts. This disastrous start at the plate led to a demotion to Triple-A, where he was forced to recalibrate his approach. However, he looked like a completely different hitter once he returned to the big-league club. In his final 228 plate appearances, he hit .282/.386/.559 (.945) with 16 doubles and 12 home runs. Wallner provided consistent at-bats and became one of the Twins’ most productive hitters down the stretch.  

The biggest question heading into 2025 is which version of Wallner will show up. Was the first-half slump simply a case of pressing too much, or were there underlying mechanical issues that could resurface? His second-half surge suggested he made meaningful adjustments, but there’s always the risk of regression. The Twins are counting on him to provide much-needed left-handed power in a lineup that needs depth beyond its core stars. If he can carry his late-season success into April, he’ll solidify his role as a key contributor. If he struggles again, he could find himself fighting for playing time in a crowded outfield mix.  

Royce Lewis: Ready to Shake Off the Slump 
Royce Lewis has never lacked confidence. He’s made headlines throughout his career with his charismatic personality and infectious energy. That’s why it was so surprising when he ended 2024 in the worst slump of his young career, especially after boldly stating, “I don’t do that slump thing.”

Lewis has shown elite flashes at the plate, but his late-season struggles raised some concerns. In the second half, he hit .207/.270/.350 (.620) with 17 extra-base hits in 226 PA. The Twins are all in on him as their everyday third baseman, and they need him to produce like the middle-of-the-order bat they believe he can be. His power and ability to deliver in clutch moments make him a game-changer when he’s at his best.  

A strong start would prove that his late-season slump was an anomaly rather than a sign of growing pains that will linger into 2025. If he can settle in quickly and recapture the form that made him one of the team’s most dangerous hitters, the Twins’ lineup will be in great shape. But if his struggles continue, questions will start to arise about whether the team needs to adjust their expectations for him.  

Byron Buxton: The Offensive X-Factor
For years, Twins fans have wondered what Byron Buxton could do with a fully healthy offseason. Now, for the first time in over half a decade, they’re about to find out. Buxton wasn’t rehabbing from an injury this winter. He was training, refining his approach, and preparing for a season where he could hopefully be at his best from day one.

Last season, Buxton played over 100 games for just the second time in his career, a significant step forward for a player whose immense talent is often overshadowed by his injury history. He posted a 137 OPS+, the second-highest total of his career. Even so, he was out of the lineup in the second half when the Twins were free-falling out of playoff contention. 

Now, the Twins need him to be an offensive force in the middle of the lineup, and a locked-in Buxton changes the entire complexion of the team daily. His power-speed combination is elite, and when he sees the ball well, he forces pitchers to attack the heart of the Twins’ order differently. A hot start would send a strong message that he’s back to being the game-breaking player he was in 2021, rather than the injury-riddled star who has struggled to stay on the field.  

If Buxton stays healthy and starts the season strong, it will significantly boost Minnesota’s offense. If he struggles early, the team could find itself in an all-too-familiar spot of wondering how much they can realistically expect from their most talented player.  

The Twins have the pieces to compete for another AL Central title, but much of their success hinges on how Wallner, Lewis, and Buxton perform out of the gate. A slow start from any of them could lead to lineup reshuffling and increased pressure to make adjustments on the fly. On the other hand, if all three come out firing, Minnesota’s offense could be one of the most dangerous in the American League.  

With Opening Day just around the corner, all eyes will be on this trio. Can Wallner prove his second-half resurgence was real? Will Lewis shake off his late-season slump and deliver on his star potential? And can Buxton build off his healthy winter and be the game-changer the Twins need? The answers to those questions will significantly shape the 2025 season.

Which player is most important to the Twins’ start to the season? Leave a comment and start the discussion.