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Walker JenkinsEmmanuel RodriguezKaelen CulpepperConnor PrielippEduardo TaitDasan HillGabriel GonzalezKendry RojasRiley QuickMarek HoustonCharlee SotoAndrew MorrisBrandon WinokurHendry MendezMarco RayaQuentin YoungKyle DeBargeCJ CulpepperKhadim DiawJohn Klein

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Through the first month of the 2026 season, the Twins’ lineup has been a mix of early surprises, consistent contributors, and slow starts. With both traditional stats and advanced metrics in mind, these confidence rankings reflect current production and how sustainable each player’s performance looks moving forward, as well as my not-so-professional opinions. After all, we'd be kidding ourselves if we pretended that confidence isn't influenced by our subjective senses of each player. 13. James Outman There isn’t a ton to say here. Outman last had an above-average OPS+ in 2023 when he finished third in the N.L. Rookie of the Year voting. His current role on the team is as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner. Let us all hope it stays that way, because more James Outman at-bats would not be good for the Twins. 12. Matt Wallner Wallner was projected to be one of the Twins’ best bats this year, and now that it's almost May, fans are calling for Wallner to be removed from the roster in favor of one of the top prospects in St. Paul. Wallner’s current strikeout rate renders even a great slugger inviable, but worse, his groundball rate has soared to 50%, well above the 44.2% MLB average. The Forest Lake native’s defense has been atrocious, too. Wallner likely doesn’t have a ton of time to turn his season around with top prospects waiting in St. Paul. The bat speed is still there—kind of—but the 28-year-old must rediscover his 2024 form to rocket back into the top half of this list. 11. Luke Keaschall One of the bright spots down the stretch in 2025, Keaschall has been abysmal so far this season. He currently has the lowest OPS of the Twins’ qualified hitters, at .551. The advanced metrics don’t back him up, either, with his xwOBA, average exit velocity, and hard-hit percentage all far below average. Keaschall doesn’t strike out, whiff, or chase often, but he doesn’t walk much, either, so his quality of contact will need to improve as the season progresses. 10. Kody Clemens Like Keaschall, Clemens is struggling to repeat his impressive 2025. Following a 19-homerun year for the Twins, Clemens is currently slashing .194/.275/.371, with 3 homers in 70 plate appearances. He’s striking out at a 30% rate. Still, Clemens’s advanced metrics signal he has gotten slightly unlucky so far, with both his xSLG and xBA being higher than his actual values. His average exit velocity and barrel percentage are still very high as well, so I’m on the side of still giving Clemens some time to figure it out. Be it at first base or second, he's a better defender than the obvious alternatives. 9. Royce Lewis The No. 1 overall pick in 2017, Lewis is slashing .196/.308/.393 with 3 homers in 65 plate appearances so far this year. He, too, is striking out at a 30% rate, but unlike Clemens, his advanced metrics don’t reveal any signs of bad luck so far. One positive to see is that his walk rate is way up, to 12.3%. Lewis did spend some time on the injured list with a knee injury, and the 26-year-old should have plenty of time to figure it out this year—although he's already feeling the pressure from the next guy up on this list. 8. Tristan Gray The Twins acquired Gray from the Red Sox in late January. After making the team out of spring training, Gray has been good off the bench, slashing .292/.340/.500 with 3 home runs in 54 plate appearances. Somewhat startlingly (unless, I guess, you've been watching the Twins over the last 20 months), Gray seems to be a material threat to Lewis's playing time; the organization might just have him climbing their own confidence rankings. 7. Victor Caratini This may be a hot take considering Caratini’s slash line is currently .222/.318/.278, but hear me out. Caratini’s line hides a few things. First, his xBA is .046 points higher, at .268, and a similar story can be told about his xwOBA, which is higher than his wOBA by .075. While his average exit velocity, barrel percentage, and hard-hit percentage are all low, he is getting unlucky so far, so we should expect some positive regression. Second, the 32-year-old’s approach is solid right now, with his chase percentage, whiff percentage, and strikeout percentage all easily better than average. Caratini is a good, veteran hitter who put up a 111 OPS+ in 2024 and a 102 OPS+ in 2025, and I think he will be around those numbers come year's end. Caratini may not be the most dynamic hitter on the Twins, but by September, I think he will be one of the most consistent and sneak into the top 5 of this list. 6. Trevor Larnach Larnach’s name was floated around everywhere this offseason, given the abundance of left-handed outfielders the Twins have and the amount of money he was due. However, he began the season with the team and has been solid so far, slashing .259/.419/.397 in 74 plate appearances. Larnach hasn’t played much, given the number of lefties the Twins faced early in the year, but there are some positives to see in Larnach’s game so far. His walk rate is currently 5th in MLB, and his expected stats are all above his actual stats. Larnach has been around a league-average hitter the past 4 seasons, so it's fair to expect this level of output going forward, though the walk rate will probably diminish at some point. 5. Brooks Lee In a somewhat insane turn of events, Brooks Lee leads qualified Twins hitters in OPS so far this season. Despite this, Lee’s advanced metrics are all still bad, and his expected statistics (xwOBA, xBA, and xSLG) are all at or below the 18th percentile in MLB, as well as being below his actual values. Lee turning around his season has bought him some time in the big leagues, although his defense at short hasn’t improved. Since these confidence rankings are based on the present, Lee is this high. However, it wouldn’t surprise me (or probably anyone else) in the slightest if Lee regressed back to what we saw for the majority of last year, which would consequently drop him on this list. 4. Josh Bell Tied for the team lead in RBI, Bell has been solid for the Twins, slashing .235/.333/.378, with 3 homers in 114 plate appearances. Bell is another Twin who has expected stats above his actual ones—especially the slugging percentage, which is .029 points ahead of his actual number. The 33-year-old slugger is above-average in strikeout rate and walk rate, and while his average most likely won’t clear .250, he should hit around 20 homers. By season's end, Bell should finish as one of the best hitters on the Twins—if he is still on the team. Should he exceed that 20-homer number by a large margin, Bell could find himself at number 1 on this list. 3. Byron Buxton After a slow start, Buxton is starting to get untracked. He's slashing .229/.292/.450 in 120 plate appearances, and he's hit 6 home runs. A .742 OPS isn’t what fans or management expect from the superstar center fielder, but this is the clear best hitter on the Twins, in my opinion. Despite the slow start, the two-time All-Star is the best bet to level off at a high plateau on this benighted roster. The 3rd spot on this list goes to Buxton, not only for his production so far this year, but out of respect for what he represents as a Twin. He is the most dangerous hitter in the lineup, day in and day out, and Buxton will look to get back to his “usual” production as we move into the summer months. 2. Austin Martin Martin has been a breath of fresh air so far this season, slashing .327/.500/.455 in 76 plate appearances. The style of baseball Martin is playing is different than what has been asked of him in the past. His chase rate and walk percentage are elite, albeit with some matchup advantages players to whom we might compare them don't enjoy. While Martin’s power statistics and advanced metrics aren’t strong, those aren’t his strengths, and the team has recognized that now. Out of all the hitters on the team right now, I’d choose Martin if I needed a base runner. While the abundance of lefties to start the season has helped the former 5th overall pick, Martin’s performance has driven fans to ask if he should be starting every day. 1. Ryan Jeffers A free agent at the end of the season, Jeffers is the best hitter on the Twins so far this season. His .282/.414/.465 slash line in 88 plate appearances accounts for an .879 OPS, which would lead the team if he were qualified. His approach has gotten better, with his chase rate, whiff rate, strikeout percentage, and walk percentage all improving this year. His xwOBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, and barrel percentage have all increased as well, ranking at or above the 76th percentile in MLB. The advanced metrics support his start at the plate, and time will tell if he can keep this up, but to me, getting Jeffers to sign an extension should be a priority as the season progresses. Whether he is a Twin in 2027 or not, the rest of the season should be fun, getting to watch Jeffers in the box and behind the plate. As the season progresses, these rankings will inevitably shift with adjustments, injuries, and regression, both positive and negative. For now, they offer a snapshot of where each hitter stands and what the Twins can realistically expect from their lineup as they push deeper into May and beyond for 2026. View full article

Image courtesy of William Parmeter Every season, the roster turns over a little more, and suddenly the familiar faces that once filled Target Field are scattered across the baseball map. But the whirlwind of the 2025 trade deadline sped that process up in a hurry, sending a wave of Twins to new homes and adding even more names to the “where are they now?” file. Some are thriving in new roles, some are hanging on in unexpected places, and a few might make you do a double take when you see the uniform they’re wearing now. So where did they all go? From former fan favorites to short-term contributors you may have forgotten, here’s a look at where ex-Twins have landed in 2026. Starting Pitchers Jose Berrios, traded to the Blue Jays for Simeon Woods Richardson and Austin Martin back in July 2021, is currently rehabbing an elbow injury in Single-A Dunedin. With two rehab starts now under his belt, he will look to get back in Toronto soon and help the Jays push for a World Series appearance once again. Sonny Gray lasted two years in Minnesota, earning an all-star nod with the team in 2023, and this offseason the 36-year-old was traded from St. Louis to Boston. He has made five starts so far, pitching to a 4.30 ERA (4.49 FIP) with 13 strikeouts in 23 innings. Gray is a middle of the rotation arm for the Red Sox behind ace Garrett Crochet and will look to keep up his success from his two years with the Cardinals. He just went on the Injured List this week. Chris Paddack, traded to the Tigers near the deadline last year for catching prospect Enrique Jimenez, signed with the Marlins this offseason and is a back end of the rotation arm for them. The Sheriff has pitched in five games this year and has a 6.38 ERA (4.64 FIP). He currently leads the majors in losses with four. Zack Littell left the Twins organization in 2020 and has bounced around before making a playoff start for the Reds last year. He waited a long time to receive a major-league deal this winter, eventually signing a one-year deal with Washington in March. He is off to a rough start, giving up a league-leading 11 home runs with a 7.56 ERA (8.62 FIP). Randy Dobnak was a fan favorite in Minnesota for many years and even started a playoff game at Yankee Stadium. He was also traded with Paddack to the Tigers and became a free agent at the end of last season. He quickly signed a minor league contract with the Mariners. He is currently in Triple-A Tacoma, where he has started five games with a 6.00 ERA over 24 innings of work. Relief Pitchers A few relievers from last year’s team lead the way here, with two of them having great success with their new teams so far. Louis Varland hasn’t given up an earned run with the Blue Jays yet in 2026 (0.00 ERA, 0.92 FIP in 13 innings), and Jhoan Duran has pitched masterfully in Philadelphia, saving five games while posting a 1.35 ERA (0.75 FIP). However, he is currently on the injured list with an oblique injury. The flip side of those deadline bullpen deals from Deadline 2025 would be Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart. Jax has struggled with the Rays so far in 2026, possessing an 8.00 ERA (7.59 FIP) in nine innings so far. As for Stewart, he pitched in four games for the Dodgers last season before suffering a right shoulder injury that sidelined him the rest of 2025 and has continued into 2026 so far. Stewart began a rehab assignment with Single-A Ontario about a week ago, so he will look to make a difference at the big-league level again soon. As for other former Twins in bullpens across the league, Caleb Thielbar is pitching well in his second season with the Cubs. Emilio Pagan has been with the Reds for three seasons, saving 32 games for them in 2025 with six already this season. Jorge Alcala pitched for the Twins, Red Sox, and Cardinals in 2025, but with his struggles he now resides in the Blue Jays minor league system with Triple-A Buffalo. Finally, Steven Okert wasn’t great for the Twins when he was acquired for Nick Gordon back in 2024. The now 34-year-old was solid for the Astros last season and is off to a good start yet again with a 3.00 ERA (3.98 FIP) in 12 innings so far. Catchers One of the Twins’ primary catchers the past three seasons, Christian Vazquez rejoined the Houston Astros, the team he was traded to at the 2022 trade deadline. Vazquez serves as the backup to Yainer Diaz and is hitting great to start the year, slashing .343/.425/.629 with two home runs (one less than he had all last year in Minnesota) in 41 plate appearances. Acquired in the Josh Donaldson deal, Gary Sanchez has been a member of the Mets, Padres, Brewers, and Orioles, and currently is the backup to William Contreras in Milwaukee. Sanchez is raking to start the year, hitting .216/.,385/.569 with five home runs in 65 plate appearances. Sanchez is walking more as well, providing lots of value for an injured Brewers squad. A member of the 2019 “Bomba Squad”, Mitch Garver was traded in 2022 to the Rangers for Ronny Henriquez and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Garver spent two seasons with Texas (where he won a World Series ring) before going to the Mariners where he remains the backup catcher behind Cal Raleigh. Garver hit .209/.297/.343 with nine home runs in 290 plate appearances in 2025 and will look to contribute meaningfully to a Mariners team that should be pushing for the World Series. Other former Twins catching out there are Mickey Gasper, currently in the Red Sox organization at Triple-A Worcester, and Jhonny Pereda, who is with the Mariners in Triple-A Tacoma. Infielders Carlos Correa leads the way here. Back where he belongs in Houston, Correa is slashing .284/.366/.386 in 101 plate appearances in 2026 and will look to turn the Astros around as they are currently in last place in the A.L. West after missing the playoffs last year. A return to form for Jorge Polanco was a welcomed sign for Mariner fans in 2025, and his .821 OPS earned a new shiny deal with the Mets for 2026. Polanco isn’t off to a great start in the Big Apple, slashing .179/.246/.286 in 61 plate appearances so far. He is on the IL and missed this week's series with the Twins. After two years with the Twins, Kyle Farmer went to the Rockies for the 2025 season and is now with his home-state Atlanta Braves. A bench middle infielder at this point in his career, Farmer slashed .227/.280/.365 with Colorado last year and will look to help a Braves team that appears to be one of the best in baseball early in 2026. A foursome of former Twin first baseman are still bouncing around the league. Carlos Santana is on the D-Backs now with his best offensive days well behind him. Ty France is on the major league roster for the Padres, with Jose Miranda in the same organization but with Triple-A El Paso. A surprising name to many would be Tyler Austin, who is back in MLB after 5 seasons in Japan. Austin signed a major league deal with the Cubs over the offseason but has yet to appear due to a right knee injury. Last but certainly not least, Alex Kirilloff is now on to real estate due to his numerous injuries over his time with the Twins. A once top prospect, it seems Kirilloff is now living his best life as a real estate agent in Florida, and all Twins fans should be happy for a guy who consistently put his body on the line to compete for our club. Outfielders Harrison Bader was a member of the vast group leaving the Twins at the deadline last year, dealt to the Phillies to bolster their outfield. Now in San Francisco, Bader isn’t having the offensive success so far that he had with the Twins and Phillies last year, slashing .115/.145/.192 in 55 plate appearances. As for other former Twins in the outfield, there aren’t many. Max Kepler hit poorly for the Phillies last season, and the now free agent was handed an 80-game suspension back in January for using a performance enhancing substance. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. made his way to the Braves organization, currently slashing .206/.236/.353 in Triple-A Gwinnett. Michael A. Taylor filled in admirably for Byron Buxton in 2023, and after spending 2024 with the Pirates and 2025 with the White Sox officially retired this offseason. He reunited with the Twins as an outfield coach, spending time with the big-league club in Spring Training and will travel to the minor league affiliates during the 2026 season. Former reliever Ryan Pressly did the same thing this spring, retiring from the game and then joining the Twins organization as a roving instructor Looking across the league, the 2026 baseball landscape has familiar names popping up in new places, each with their own winding path since leaving Minnesota. The frenzy of the 2025 deadline only accelerated that movement, reshuffling the Twins’ roster a ton. Some of these players are still making an impact on contenders, others are grinding through injuries or Triple-A stops, and a few have already moved on to life beyond the game. Together, they tell the story of how quickly things change in baseball, especially in Minnesota, and how a roster, no matter how memorable, is always just moving along. View full article

Image courtesy of © Peter Aiken-Imagn Images The 2025 trade deadline was an eventful one for the Twins. By letting go of some key contributors (Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and more), they received a mix of prospects and controllable big-leaguers. One of those players, Taj Bradley, has already been a positive contributor. However, another acquisition from the deadline made the Opening Day roster, and it hasn’t been as fruitful a start for James Outman. Outman was acquired in a trade with the World Series champion Dodgers on July 31, in which the Twins sent Brock Stewart to Los Angeles. Stewart pitched in only four games for the Dodgers post-trade, allowing 2 earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. He’d then miss the rest of the season due to a right shoulder injury, which resulted in surgery. As for Outman, he wasn’t much better for the Twins at the back end of last year, hitting .147/.221/.337 in 104 plate appearances across 37 games. The former 7th-round pick struck out 45 times last season, while only walking 8 times. His overall advanced metrics from last year weren’t great, either. His bat speed was around league average at 72.6 MPH, but his expected slugging average, average exit velocity, Squared Up%, Whiff%, and Strikeout% were all scary. His first full season with Minnesota has begun with worse results from Outman, as many Twins fans have noticed. He’s appeared in 11 games but has only amassed 15 plate appearances, hitting .000/.067/.000 with 8 strikeouts. It's been quite a fall from grace for Outman, who was third in NL Rookie of the Year Award voting back in 2023, finishing behind unanimous winner Corbin Carroll and starter Kodai Senga. Outman hit .248/.353/.437 with 23 home runs in 567 plate appearances that year, amassing 3.4 bWAR. The advanced metrics from that year look noticeably better, though Outman did overperform his batting average, slugging percentage, and wOBA by considerable amounts when compared to the expected values. Outman is obviously nowhere near his offensive output from the 2023 season, but let's try to be positive for a moment. He's been bad, sure, but he isn’t playing every day. Byron Buxton locks down the center field spot, as does Matt Wallner in right, with Austin Martin and Trevor Larnach splitting time in left. Outman’s appearances are primarily limited to defensive and baserunning situations in the later innings, which should work to some extent. Outman has been a plus baserunner during his MLB career. He’s shown that this year, stealing two bases already, and has 21 career stolen bases. Defensively, his arm strength is his calling card, as he’s been in the 78th percentile or above in each of his MLB seasons. His other defensive metrics haven’t graded out well as of late, as his OAA has dropped each year since that impressive rookie campaign in 2023. However, Outman is almost certainly still a better defender than Larnach, while Martin is around the same defensively as the former Dodger. If he were out there more often, Outman might be showing more of what he can do. The fact that the Twins have faced a disproportionate number of lefties this spring has only made the job of all their lefty batters harder. What does the path forward look like for the Twins outfield? As stated previously, Outman isn’t playing a whole lot, and that's unlikely to change. Meanwhile, beyond the active big-league roster, the team has fellow trade acquisition Alan Roden and top prospects Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez and Gabriel Gonzalez waiting for a chance at Triple-A St. Paul. How soon might it make sense to jettison Outman (he can't be optioned to the minors) and turn to one of those guys? In truth, letting Outman keep trying it for a bit makes more sense. The blockage I mentioned above will constrain any new player added to the mix. Roden, Jenkins, Rodriguez and Gonzalez all need playing time. Thus, they're better off in the minors, until something changes. Should one of the big-league incumbents get hurt, the player called up to replace them on the roster is likely to leapfrog Outman into regular duty. Unless and until that happens, though, letting Outman keep sponging up the work of the last position player on the roster is the best move. As ugly as his performance has been, he's only meant to be lightly used, anyway. Still, eventually, he has to do something right, or else be shoved aside in the name of finding wins. View full article

Image courtesy of © Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Shortstop has been a position in flux for the Twins since Carlos Correa was traded back to Houston at the deadline last year. Brooks Lee took over at that point, and while he didn’t exactly impress, the former first-rounder wasn’t replaced during the offseason and seemingly came into 2026 with the job locked down. The Twins did make a few acquisitions to augment their depth at the position. Ryan Kreidler was claimed off waivers from the Pirates back in October, while veteran shortstop Orlando Arcia was signed to a minor-league deal in January. However, both guys were sent to St. Paul as part of the last roster cuts as Opening Day approached. That left Tristan Gray, acquired in a trade from the Red Sox in late January, as the backup. Many were confused by the decision, given that Gray is another left-handed bat in a team full of them, but nonetheless, he was in Baltimore for Opening Day. Lee started the first two games in Baltimore, both times hitting in the last spot of the lineup. Both games showed similar results, with Lee striking out twice on Opening Day and once more on Saturday. One of those strikeouts came in the top of the 2nd on Thursday with the bases loaded, in a game the Twins eventually lost by one run. While it is an extremely small sample, Twins management and fans would love to see Lee turn it on soon, in what could be a make-or-break year for the 25-year-old. Lee’s performance was poor, but it was a bit unexpected to see him omitted from the lineup Sunday for the deciding game of the series Sunday. Gray was penciled into the 9th spot, playing short, and similarly, he came up with the bases loaded in the top of the 2nd. Gray then laced a double to right-center, taking a 98.3-MPH fastball from Shane Baz 107.3 MPH to the gap. Gray added a single off Tyler Wells later, ending his day 2-4 with a double, 3 RBIs, and a strikeout. The Twins began a series with the Royals Monday, and Lee drew the start again, going 1-3 with a single and another strikeout, bringing his line this year to .111/.111/.111, with 4 strikeouts in 9 plate appearances. The advanced metrics back up what we’ve seen, as far as any of it goes. His bat speed is the same as it was last year, and his fielding has yet to show improvement. In contrast to that, Gray provides additional value by being able to play every infield spot. His bat speed bests Lee’s. Again, it's still early in the season, but one of the more intriguing questions surrounding the near future of the Minnesota Twins may be the usage of their shortstop position. How long of a leash does Lee have? How often do we see Gray throughout the first few weeks of the season? The first series against Baltimore demonstrated that Kody Clemens will likely play first base with right-handers on the mound for the opponent, which leaves Gray as a substitute at third or second base, as well as potentially gaining more starts at short as the year progresses. Manager Derek Shelton has some experience mixing around shortstops from his time in Pittsburgh—especially the 2023 season, when he had four players make more than 30 appearances there. While the question posed can’t be answered instantaneously, the Twins should do everything in their power to set up Lee for success this year. He was a top-10 pick only four years ago and just turned 25. He dealt with injuries to his back that slowed his development, so the hope is that a full season will yield atypically large forward strides. If Lee doesn’t pan out, Gray started his regular season career in Minnesota with a bang, and could be a capable placeholder as the season progresses while former first-round picks Kaelen Culpepper and Marek Houston develop in the minor leagues. How long it might be before Gray gets that chance and the team shifts its gaze from Lee to his long-term replacements is worth watching. What are your thoughts on Brooks Lee? Does he make it to the end of the season as the starting shortstop? As for Gray, how much value could he provide for the Twins this year? View full article

Image courtesy of William Parmeter (photos of Tristan Gray, Kody Clemens, Ryan Kreidler) As the Twins payroll has decreased, the players not in the starting lineup every day will need to be increasingly valuable. Backup catchers, utility infielders, and corner outfielders will be given crucial at-bats throughout the season due to rest, injuries, or certain pitching matchups. Attempting to predict who will be best off the bench in 2026 is a fun exercise in determining the Opening Day roster of the Twins. Below you will find a list of players likely competing for a bench role with the 2026 Twins. This list will only include players currently on the 40-man roster. Victor Caratini (Out of Options) Caratini signed a two year, 14-million-dollar contract with the Twins near the end of January and is FanGraphs’ pick to have the most WAR off the bench. The 32-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Astros, and this past year he hit .259/.324/.404 with 12 home runs in 114 games with Houston. His Expected Batting Average (XBA) was lower than what he finished at by a few points, but his Expected Slugging (xSLG) was higher than he ended the season with at .425. Defensively, Caratini is a solid blocker. His blocking run value was 4 in 2026 which was good for 15th in the league. However, Caratini’s throwing and framing were below average. He ranked 34th in the league with -2 catcher framing runs and 80th among catchers in average pop time to second base at 2.05 seconds. The switch-hitter will contribute a league average to slightly below league average bat as the backup to Ryan Jeffers along with some additional DH/first base opportunities, but don’t expect him to throw many people out. Kody Clemens (Out of Options) Clemens returns to Minnesota after contributing a slash line of .216/.284/.442 in 112 games after being acquired by the Twins in late April. Clemens hit 19 home runs and appeared at first base, second, and all three outfield spots. His advanced stats backed his play as well. Clemens’ xSLG up at .465 on the year and his average exit velocity was in the 84th percentile of MLB at 91.5 mph. Don’t expect Clemens to hit much against lefties, as he hit .192/.264/.218 off them in 2025, but expect him contribute at several positions in 2026 whether someone needs a rest day or a righty is on the mound. Austin Martin (one option remaining) Martin would be my pick to contribute the most from the bench in 2026. In very limited MLB time, he slashed .282/.374/.365 for the Twins last year with 11 stolen bases as well. The former first round pick won’t contribute much to the power department, as he only has two home runs in 143 games played in MLB, but his xSLG finished higher last season at .403. Martin can play left field and center field and could play second base in a pinch as well. While he may not be in the Opening Day lineup, Martin should contribute this year as a late inning defensive outfielder/baserunner and will be in the lineup against lefties, who he hit .346/.404/.481 against in 2025. Alan Roden (two options remaining) The former Creighton Bluejay played in 12 games for the Twins after being acquired from Toronto in the Louis Varland trade last year because of a broken bone in his hand. In the small sample size, he hit .158/.200/.263. Roden is a good defender, finishing with a fielding run value of 3 in 2025 with an above average arm in the 80th percentile of MLB. Roden’s path for playing time is currently blocked by Trevor Larnach, but if he is moved Roden will have to compete with Martin, Clemens, and James Outman for playing time at the corner outfield spots. James Outman (Out of Options) Similar to Roden, Outman was acquired at the trade deadline from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Brock Stewart trade. He hit .147/.221/.337 in 37 games after being recalled to Minnesota and appeared at all three outfield spots. Outman has the most centerfield experience of this group, giving him an inside track to one of the last bench spots, but he will need to earn it with his bat. Similarly to Roden, his roster spot and playing time are certainly affected by Trevor Larnach. Tristan Gray (one option remaining) Acquired in a February trade with the Red Sox, Gray has only compiled 122 plate appearances at the major league level since his debut in 2023, with most of them coming last season in Tampa Bay. He hit .231/.282/.410, with his better numbers coming against left-handed pitchers. Given that Tampa Bay played their games at Steinbrenner Field last year and that Gray had better numbers there, it would be smart to be cautious to view him as a serious contributor this year. However, advanced hitting measures back up his play. Gray’s xSLG was significantly higher than where he finished at .473 along with his xBA at .257. His average exit velocity and bat speed would be above average as well if he had a qualified number of at bats. While his defense isn’t great with -1 OAA in 2025, Gray has played all four infield spots during his brief MLB career, which would provide helpful versatility from a bench spot. Eric Wagaman (three options remaining) Wagaman was acquired on January 2nd from Miami after playing 140 games for the Fish last year. He hit .250/.296/.378 with nine home runs. His xSLG and xBA were both higher than his actual numbers, and his average exit velocity and squared-up percentage were both above average as well, in the 72nd and 81st percentiles, respectively. Defensively, Wagaman appeared primarily at first base, while also seeing time at third base and the corner outfield spots. Given the depth in front of him at first base, he is most likely behind Martin for now in terms of being a right-handed bench bat, but only the Opening Day roster will tell. Ryan Kreidler (one option remaining) Derek Shelton said Saturday that Kreidler “could do both of those and be both of those” when asked about the backup shortstop and centerfield positions on the roster. Kreidler may be a bit of an unknown name, as he was claimed off waivers from the Pirates in the middle of October. Kreidler’s defensive versatility is his calling card; he’s played second, third, short, left, and centerfield at the major league level before. The bat leaves a lot to be desired, as he has a career .138/.208/.176 in 89 games. Kreidler could make the Opening Day roster, but more as a defensive substitution or pinch runner (seven career stolen bases) than a pinch hitter. Besides these names, other bench options could be veteran non-roster invitees such as Orlando Arcia and Gio Urshela. Hypothetically some of the top prospects in the farm system could make the Opening Day roster as well, like Walker Jenkins (NRI), Kaelen Culpepper (NRI), and Emmanuel Rodriguez (40-man roster, one option remaining), but they will most likely open the year in St. Paul. Regardless, the bench will need to provide meaningful at bats, speed, and solid defense for the Twins to win consistently. View full article