Ted Schwerzler

The Minnesota Twins have now played nine games in the 2021 Major League Baseball season thus far and are scheduled for their tenth today. They haven’t had a fully healthy roster for a full game yet, but batting order positions are starting to take shape. Where and when should we consider questioning them? For most of his tenure as the skipper for Minnesota, Rocco Baldelli has opted to bat lefty Max Kepler in the leadoff hole. He’s a non-traditional fit there as speed isn’t his game, and he is more of a power player than high batting average guy. Through nine games this year Kepler hasn’t batted higher than cleanup and he’s been slotted in as low as ninth. Looking at all options, the ideal fit for Rocco would seem to be Luis Arraez. The former second basemen turned utility man has played all over the place in 2021 and will continue to get reps in the outfield at least until Alex Kirilloff is promoted. In seven of his 10 starts he’ll have led off, but curiously he’s also batted 9th on the other three occasions. This is where the weirdness comes in. From purely a speculative standpoint it seems that Baldelli is looking to shield Luis from left-handed pitchers. Despite an .890 OPS in his career against righties, that drops to .645 against lefties. The caveat here however is that Arraez loses power and average against southpaws, but he still owns a career .371 OBP against them and is synonymous with solid at bats. Before making any determinations, it’s worth bringing up the emergence of Byron Buxton. I have long believed he was primed for a breakout 2021, and so far, that’s looking to be selling things short. Playing otherworldly, and especially at the dish, he’s now drawing starts in the leadoff spot. Traditionally that would make a lot of sense given his speed and gap potential, but things are a bit different for him in recent years. Buxton has found his power stroke. For Byron there’s a few tendencies that run opposite of what Arraez is capable of. While Byron absolutely has thirty homer power potential, he’s still not going to be the on-base asset without hitting for a relatively high average. 2020 was an outlier for sure, but the walk rate is never going to be something Minnesota’s centerfielder hangs his hat on. More alike the former leadoff guy in Kepler, Buxton is plenty capable of putting a charge into a ball and generating extra-base hits. This all may become moot in a few days when Josh Donaldson returns to the Twins lineup, but I think there’s some concrete decisions that can and should be made here. Luis Arraez bats leadoff when he’s in the lineup. It shouldn’t matter where he plays, who is pitching, or what day of the week it is. Don’t overthink it, let your table setter set the table. From there, Buxton has earned his way into the two-hole. That’s a spot occupied lately by the likes of Kyle Garlick. Minnesota is a bit stretched offensively in left field right now, and Garlick is fine, but he’s a bottom third hitter. Buxton should be batting in a run-producing position while still allowing him the ability to be on base for the bigger boppers. Donaldson is going to hit here when he returns, but then moving Buxton to third makes a good deal of sense. Lineup construction is certainly nuanced, and it really only matters in the first inning and on a relatively minute scale. That said, Arraez should be generating as many at bats as he can for Minnesota, and Buxton should always be in a spot to come up and drive runners in. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

The Minnesota Twins have played just a handful of games in the 2021 Major League Baseball season. Among the greatest takeaways from them is that Byron Buxton is good at baseball.Sure, we’re dealing with an incredibly small sample size at this point. As of this writing, the Twins centerfielder has a whopping 14 at bats. In that run however, he’s posted a ridiculous 1.580 OPS and each of his five hits have gone for extra bases. While dealing with incredibly small sample sizes, there’s two areas of focus that should be keyed in on through the first month. Both of them tie directly back to plate discipline and pitch recognition. First and foremost, it didn’t take long for Buck to correct the lunacy that was two walks in 135 plate appearances a season ago. He matched that total on Opening Day against the Brewers. A 36/2 K/BB was never going to be a sustainable level of production, and while he’s not an on-base savant, there’s plenty of opportunity there. More importantly than the walks themselves is the pitches that Buxton has offered at. Through the first four games he’s played in this season, he’s registered just a 14.3% whiff rate and 28.6% chase rate. Again, we’re dealing with very small sample sizes, but the former is exactly in line with career norms (which represents a 3% decrease from 2020) and the latter is a 6% improvement. Byron has struggled when expanding the zone, as one would expect, but he’s sat on pitches this year to the tune of an insane 71.4% hard hit rate. If you’ve been watching the career arch for a few years now, things we’re trending in this direction. Byron posted an .827 OPS in 2019, and then followed up with an .844 OPS last season. It’d be pretty crazy to see him finish anywhere near 1.000 on the season, but a bump to .875 or so would have him in an otherworldly class on its own. During the six previous seasons Byron Buxton has competed at the Major League level he’s earned MVP votes while generating a .728 OPS and the .844 mark last season. I have been harping on him being a dark horse candidate for 2021 because any amount of offensive production above league average is going to get him noticed alongside of his defense. Everyone in the American League must overcome the generational talent that is Mike Trout, but if a player has the tools to do it, Buxton encompasses those traits. For years, the question Minnesota had to answer was whether or not Buxton could contribute at a serviceable clip. He scuffled through a .672 OPS during his first four seasons and 1,074 plate appearances. Since then, however, the Georgia native owns an .859 OPS across 442 plate appearances. The question is no longer if Buxton is good, but rather to what heights he’ll reach. This is absolutely a superstar player, and it’s become more imperative than ever for the Twins to keep him on the field. It really doesn’t matter what individual accolades Byron racks up, although they’ll likely be reflective of jaw-dropping production for the team. Instead, it’s more than clear that the former number one prospect in baseball is coming into his own and the entirety of Major League Baseball should be put on notice. No longer is the storyline how fast Byron Buxton is, and that he plays exceptional defense. Sure, he can beat out an infield single or steal a base with ease, but he’s also going to be racking up extra-base hits, trotting in a slow jog, and doing everything at a level any other organization would covet at an unheralded level. With no extension yet in place, expect him to increase that price tag in the season ahead. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

It was a beautiful Easter Sunday in Milwaukee for the Minnesota Twins as they pounded out eight runs against the Brewers. One notable takeaway was what backstop Mitch Garver did in sending a ball over the fence. A season ago the Twins got just 23 games from their catcher that posted a .995 OPS a season prior. Garver dealt with an intercostal strain most of the year and he simply was not the same hitter. Typically pulverizing opposing fastballs, he saw 217 of them in 2020, and it resulted in little success. Of those offerings, he swung 86 times, whiffing 29 times, or nearly 34% of the time the bat left his shoulder. Beating him with heat was far too easy. Rewinding for context, Garver saw a whopping 839 fastballs in 2019 and swung at 303 of them. Of those 303 swings, he missed just 48 times, or just north of 15%. A jump of over 50% year over year is substantial, and while the now 30-year-old backstop may not be the .995 OPS hitter he was in 2019, he’s also certainly not the .511 OPS hitter he was in 2020. Now fast forward to that pitch from Adrian Houser in the 5th inning of Sunday’s game. The Brewers starter attacked Garver with a first pitch fastball registering at 94.3 mph, one of the hardest balls he threw all day. After taking a walk in his first plate appearance, Garver sat on the heat and clubbed the pitch 102 mph going the opposite field and leaving over the right field wall. In 2019 when things were going right for Mitch, he posted a 47.3% hard hit rate and went up the middle or opposite field roughly 50% of the time. Last season the hard-hit rate dropped to 41% and he used the opposite field a measly 13.9% of the time becoming essentially a dead-pull hitter. That’s a logical strategy for someone dealing with core muscle issues, given the necessity to cheat and get the bat around. At the end of the day, it was just one swing and maybe it ends up being a small footnote rather than indicative of what’s to come. I’d be willing to be however, that Mitch is in line for a season with an OPS back north of .800, and Minnesota will have two of the best hitting catches in baseball while being anchored by the man known as Sauce. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

The Minnesota Twins enter the 2021 Major League Baseball season a repeat champions of the AL Central Division. What must happen for them this year to consider the campaign a success?I often find myself pondering what I would prefer as a fan. Would something like what the Kansas City Royals accomplished be enviable? That is, achieve mediocre or worse results for the better part of multiple decades only to then find yourself as World Series winner for a fleeting moment. Or would something like what Twins fans have grown accustomed to be more desirable. Consistently be in the mix, win the division a handful of times, but never really have enough to take the next step? Given the reality that just one team finishes their season with a victory, I find the latter more appealing. In 2021 though, we all need more. No, that’s not to suggest that it’s World Series or bust for Rocco Baldelli’s club. As good as Minnesota is, their roster doesn’t rival that of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Opening Day. Having roughly a 25% chance to win the World Series come October from the get-go is a crazy thought, especially with the nuance expected to play out over 162 games. What I am willing to suggest however, is that a three-peat isn’t enough, and neither is a Postseason victory. You may have heard that the Twins are 0 for their last 18 Postseason games. They last recorded a victory in the playoffs on Oct. 5, 2004. Would it be great to snap that streak? Certainly, but that also isn’t enough. Those 18 defeats don’t reside in succession across teams, just as a singular win does little in terms of taking a step forward. No, this team needs more. For 2021 to be defined as successful for the Minnesota Twins a Postseason series victory needs to be achieved. This club currently feels like a post-hype sleeper. The Chicago White Sox were the darlings of winter, and despite the blow dealt by Eloy Jimenez’s injury, their train is well off the tracks. Minnesota is now two years removed from the Bomba Squad, and Major League Baseball has actively attempted to thwart power production. Regardless of how this team generates run production and ultimately wins game, they could embrace somewhat of an underdog mentality. Let national publications pick against the Twins. Allow oddsmakers to count this team as somewhat of a longshot. Realistically though, they’re getting a chance to run it back with a team that couldn’t have been more hyped going into 2020. The season was cut short, injuries forced a debut in an elimination game, and thinks rarely went right for long. Despite all of that the wins still came at nearly a 100-victory clip stretched over 162 games, and the front office remains one of the greatest pursuers of development across the game. Nothing about the 2019 or 2020 teams was accidental in terms of talent and being define by quick Postseason exits is hardly indicative of repeatable outcomes. As is the case with every franchise, things will need to break right over the course of a full 162 game season, but even the average scenarios should have Minnesota right in the thick of things. Forget the streak, a win doesn’t move the needle, a series victory is on top with a couple being strung together defining all it takes to bring it home in October. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

We are just one sleep from Opening Day, and I feel comfortable suggesting we’ll have a season that begins tomorrow. I say that because I prefaced this piece last year by writing, “I’m doing this a bit earlier than normal this year, and that could wind up being a silly decision depending on injuries and how Spring Training plays out.” That was on March 4, eight days later Covid shut down baseball. At any rate, fans are in the stands and the world is trending back towards normal. Despite a truncated season the Los Angeles Dodgers did as expected and emerged victorious with a World Series trophy. They are the odds-on favorites going into 2021, and it isn’t much of a surprise given the additional firepower they’ve brought in. Tampa Bay will look for a return trip to the World Series, but 162 games should allow for more nuanced results to take shape. This is an exciting rookie class, especially from a Minnesota perspective, so individual awards will be worth watching as well. Here’s the 2020 picks which included a correct World Series champion and NLCS matchup. Let’s get into it for 2021. MVP: American League – Mike Trout (Dark Horse Byron Buxton) National League – Juan Soto (Dark Horse Bryce Harper) It’s maybe unfair to pick Trout every year but given he’s literally the best the game has ever seen, it’s also incredibly hard to go against him. He posted a down year in 2020 and still wound up with a .993 OPS and a career worst fifth place finish in the AL MVP race. There are some contenders in the American League, and I like bounce back years for guys like Gleyber Torres and Alex Bregman, but this is Trout’s award until further notice. As a longshot the Twins Buxton makes sense. If he’s ever healthy for a full season, an OPS around .840 and his defense will get him a substantial number of votes. On the National League side, I’m going with a pair of players tied to the Washington Nationals. For a winner, it’s Juan Soto nabbing his first of what should be multiple individual awards. Sure, he’s got a Silver Slugger, but missing out on the Rookie of the Year would be vindicated with a quicker MVP than Ronald Acuna Jr. Soto is an anomaly in that he not only hits for ridiculous power, but also has now shown he can do so with an exceptional average. The plate discipline has always been there but the league leading 1.185 OPS a year ago was bananas. I liked Harper to take this award home last year as he had settled into Philadelphia a bit more, and then oddities hit in regards to the season. He’s a polarizing player, but ultimately underrated, and I think we get another award to substantiate that reality. Cy Young: American League – Kenta Maeda (Dark Horse Eduardo Rodriguez) National League – Jack Flaherty (Dark Horse Walker Buehler) I can understand if the Maeda pick looks homerish, but he’s coming off a second place finish a season ago and there’s no reason to believe he slows down. The Twins ace was untouchable this spring, and it seems people are sleeping on Minnesota with all of the White Sox hype this offseason. Maeda has long been a dominant arm and being hidden in Los Angeles didn’t get him his due. Another season like he had last year and he’s just a slight step back from Shane Bieber or Gerrit Cole away from taking the crown. Boston initially tabbed Rodriguez as their Opening Day starter prior to a bout of dead arm. He’s a feel-good story in returning from Covid-19 complications last season, but he’s also an incredibly good pitcher. I don’t know what to make of the Red Sox, but their ace should provide little to worry about. In the National League Central we may see more mediocrity than any other division in baseball. Both the Brewers and Cardinals would appear to be favorites, but neither have much to separate them from anyone else. If there’s a diamond in the rough for me, it’s Flaherty. He has looked the part since his debut, and another step forward would classify him as the type of ace any team would covet. It’s also probably not fair to dub Buehler as a dark horse, especially after picking him in this space a season ago. However, he’s working behind both Clayton Kershaw and Trevor Bauer for the Dodgers and a meteoric rise should be in the works. Rookie of the Year: American League – Jarred Kelenic (Dark Horse Wander Franco) National League Ke’Bryan Hayes (Dark Horse Dylan Carlson) Seattle all but admitted they are manipulating Kelenic’s service time, which is both unfortunate and understandable. The reality is that he’ll be there sooner rather than later though, and all the kid has done is rake. Kelenic put on a show this spring and was already successful at Double-A in 2019 as a teenager. The bat is going to play, and he should be a difference maker for Seattle as soon as May. I like Randy Arozarena in this space a decent amount but went with Franco as the dark horse anyways. The Rays have some exciting young options once again, and the greatest thing holding Franco back could be how soon he reaches the majors. Having watched Hayes in person a few times this spring it was apparent that he’s special. Third base is such a smooth position for him defensively, and that seems to help a young player acclimate if the bat wavers at any point. He hits rockets all over the place, and in a National League landscape that lacks top tier names, he should establish himself as the guy. St. Louis has a lot to like in Carlson, especially the power his bat brings to the plate. There’s probably going to be a few slumps throughout the season, but a few nice stretches of homer production could push him to the top of the leaderboard as well. Postseason: American League – Angels, Twins, Yankees Wild Card – Blue Jays, White Sox National League – Dodgers, Cardinals, Braves Wild Card – Padres, Mets ALCS – Twins over Yankees NLCS – Dodgers over Mets World Series – Dodgers over Twins I really liked this matchup a year ago and nailed half of it, time to go back to the well. Yeah, the Twins haven’t won a Postseason game in forever, but a post-hype situation seems like the perfect spot for them. Minnesota can not only win a game this year but take a couple of series on the way to representing the American League in the World Series. Too much is being made of a White Sox team without depth and looking at young volatility. Houston gets left out of the Postseason altogether but could both overtake the Angels or one of the Wild Card spots. I don’t love the Yankees going to the ALCS, regardless of who the face, because of the pitching staff. That said, you know they’ll add when warts present themselves during the course of the regular season. It shouldn’t e pre-determined in baseball with the season as long as it is, but I’m not going to be the one to pick against the Dodgers. They have a third starter that is one of the best arms in baseball, and a former top prospect that may struggle to find a real role anywhere. In short, the team is loaded. I don’t have much belief in anyone coming out of the NL Central, but the East should be a blast with Atlanta again being great and the Mets having overhauled their roster. San Diego is going to be a fun team all year and the coasts of the National League could really be where some of the best baseball is played. A repeat World Series winner for the first time since 2000, and the first back-to-back World Series victor from the National League since 1976, it’s happening. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

With an early start time the Twins and Pirates blitzed through a final dress rehearsal prior to boarding planes for Opening Day. Next time Minnesota takes the field, it will count.Final: Twins 1, Pirates 1 (F/7) Box Score | Savant Not much to take away from here on getaway day as batters clearly were attempting to put the ball in play early and often. Minnesota hitters fanned just six times and drew two walks. Following a Ke’Bryan Hayes laser in the top of the first inning, Max Kepler knotted things up with a sacrifice fly to score Luis Arraez. Neither team pushed another across, and a tie seems like a fitting end to the slate of games in which results do not count. Opening Day Lineup Tease Yesterday the Minnesota Twins made the Opening Day 26-man roster official. There has been plenty of speculation in regards to how Rocco Baldelli may assemble his group to start the year, and an interleague matchup with no designated hitter makes that all the more puzzling. Tuesday may have given us a glimpse, and despite Luis Arraez playing sparingly in left field this spring, it could be a way to insert his bat from day one. Saints Hosting the Opener Although the Triple-A season isn’t schedule to begin until May, Minnesota’s newly aligned affiliate wants Twins fans in the ballpark sooner. The St. Paul Saints announced today that they would host a watch part on April 8 at CHS Field. Twins “Stars of Tomorrow” will take batting practice on the field prior to the game, and then fans will have the opportunity to watch the big-league club take on Seattle while it’s broadcast on the video board. Given Bally Sports North has yet to come up with streaming options for many fans, the $10 ticket may be the cheapest way to view the action live. Twins Crushing Content Minnesota’s social team has been spot on all spring, but they may have saved the best for last. A few days ago, Nelson Cruz got the mic’ed up treatment and delivered as you’d expect. Today was Kenta Maeda’s turn, and it was awesome to see a different perspective and experience given the language barrier presented to Asian ballplayers. Kenta has been the Twins ace since joining the organization, and it’s very clear that he keeps his routine light when off the mound. Around the League Reported yesterday and now official, the Chicago White Sox have signed Jake Lamb to a Major League deal. There’s a Twins twist here as former reliever Nik Turley was DFA’d to make room. The Marlins are naming their ballpark. Jeets has gotten rid of the Sculpture and fish tanks, now the yard will be called loanDepot Park. Toronto is going to be interesting this year. The team on the field is pretty good, but they’re also homeless into the month of May. With Canada not yet allowing the Blue Jays to play home games in Toronto, they’ll spend their third homestand in Dunedin at the new Spring Training facility. Alanna Rizzo is rejoining MLB Network. She’ll team up with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on High Heat. MLB The Show is just under three weeks from launch, and this year they’ll get the best players involved with the action by handing them personalized plaques for making #TheShowDiamondClub. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook, or email Click here to view the article

The Minnesota Twins finalized their 26-man roster today for the upcoming 2021 Major League Baseball season. If there was a mild surprise at all, it’s in the form of Brent Rooker being optioned to Triple-A. Rooker, a former first round pick, played just seven games for the Twins last year prior to breaking his forearm. In that action he posted a .960 OPS and hit his first Major League home run. Alex Kirilloff was seen as the favorite to win the Opening Day left field job but didn’t earn it at the plate this spring. Rooker seemed like a platoon fit with Jake Cave as a fallback option, but he posted a .662 OPS that was weighed down after a hot start. Instead of the former Mississippi State product, the Twins turn to waiver claim Kyle Garlick. The former Dodgers draft pick is 29 years old and has 76 Major League plate appearances across 42 games. He owns just a .691 OPS in that stretch but has raked to the tune of an .881 OPS in nearly 500 minor league games. This spring Garlick posted a 1.011 OPS for Minnesota and was arguably the darling of camp. He also represents a better fielding option than Rooker, who is below average in the outfield. The tough reality here for Rooker is that his opportunities are quickly evaporating. He was drafted as a bat first prospect that could very quickly become bat only. Speed and efficiency aren’t in his toolkit defensively, so he’s stretched in the outfield. Footwork has been noted as a deficiency when playing first base so that could be a detractor there as well. Brent owns an .861 OPS in 259 minor league games and he posted a .933 OPS n 65 games at Triple-A back in 2019. The bat plays, but if not now, then when? As mentioned earlier, Alex Kirilloff was the assumed favorite for left field coming into big league camp. He’s 23-years-old and a top prospect. While he’ll be sent down for roughly the first month of the season, Rocco Baldelli has noted it’s not the intention to bring him up and send him back or allow him to sit. Not far behind Kirilloff is another highly touted corner outfielder in the form of Trevor Larnach. Should Kirilloff eventually transition to first, Larnach could find himself next in line to take over. It’s been apparent for some time that Rooker needed to factor in sooner rather than later. At 26 he’s hardly got youth on his side anymore, and while the bat certainly does look like it will play, it may just not work out in Minnesota. The Twins are going to be a good team in 2021, and good teams generally add more talent. Maybe it’s Rooker that is pieced out in order to lure something more useful for this roster construction. Either way, today was probably a difficult one to swallow for a guy that has already tasted some Major League success. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

The Minnesota Twins dropped a 2-0 tilt against the Tampa Bay Rays, but all eyes have turned towards Thursday in Milwaukee.Final: Rays 2, Twins 0 Box Score | Savant Today’s game was originally scheduled to be started by Lewis Thorpe, who recently was granted by a fourth option and reassigned to minor league camp. Instead, it featured nine different relievers, seven of which twirled scoreless innings. Minnesota mustered just four hits on the day, but one of the most important came from Max Kepler, who picked up his first base hit since March 2, snapping a 0-for-32 skid. Both Sire of Fort Myers candidates Derek Law and Brandon Waddell continued to impress, and while Rocco Baldelli’s club dropped the game, they finished 5-3 against the reigning American League champions in grapefruit league play. Roster Clarity Becomes Certain Recently both Cody and Ted posted 26-man roster projections here at Twins Daily. Minnesota quickly made note they would head north to Milwaukee with a configuration featuring both 13 pitchers and 13 hitters. Saturday, the exact names were pointed to as well. Five players were reassigned to minor league camp, notable among them are solid big league depth options in the form of Keon Broxton, J.T. Riddle, and Tzu-Wei Lin. The moves left just 30 players in camp, with a few guys on the outside looking in. Kyle Garlick has had a great spring, though he’s cooled of late, while also being on the 40-man roster. Neither Law nor Waddell have 40-man spots, but it’s hard to argue against their performance down in Florida. Brent Rooker would seem to be looking at a platoon scenario with Jake Cave. It also appears likely Willians Astudillo will make the Opening Day roster. Injury Updates for Minnesota Fireballing prospect Edwar Colina has not been heard from this spring at all. Minnesota announced he is dealing with elbow inflammation. That’s obviously not great news given the now delayed start, and reality that he could be looked at as an impactful relief option. Mitch Garver should return to the lineup in the next day or so, grabbing a couple of extra at bats prior to Opening Day. Where Are the Former Twins? Ehire Adrianza has made the Atlanta Opening Day roster. He was a free agent this offseason and will fill in behind Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies. Rule five pick Akil Badoo has mashed all spring so this never seemed in doubt, but he has in fact made the 26-man roster. Tyler Wells is looking like a good bet to break camp with the Orioles also. Around the Game Party like it’s 2013. Matt Harvey is back in a starting rotation and operating as the #2 arm. The Dodgers are loaded. Seriously, Walker Buehler is their #3? New York is trying to make sure that Francisco Lindor never reaches the free agent market, but time could be running out prior to the season. Former Nationals top prospect Carter Kieboom is headed to the minors after missed opportunity this spring. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook, or email Click here to view the article

Garlick isn’t going to factor into the Opening Day equation. It’ll be Rooker and Cave. If Kyle pushes for time with Jake sliding when games count, then look for that swap, maybe before Kirilloff even. Alex isn’t going to come up and platoon.

I don't think there's much concern Kirilloff doesn't pan out, but he could be at 1B next year if Sano moves to DH. Larnach is probably the better fielder/more athletic of the two as well.

Sorry about the mistakes here, obviously Cruz was an omission and is making the roster. I do believe the Twins will go 13/13, which was not the case when I put this together. Law ends up missing with Willians Astudillo grabbing the last bench spot in that scenario. Both Law and Waddell have been great this spring, so it'll be quite the boost for Minnesota to have them at their disposal.

The Minnesota Twins are set to take on the Milwaukee Brewers in exactly one week. That game will count and begins a string of 162 that follow suit. Who opens on the 26-man 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. 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? MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

That’s really never the case though, nor would a team operate like that.

Multiple things can be true at the same time. He had an ugly spring, but if he was intended to be the starting LF’er and now isn’t because of 30 poor ABs then that’s a bad look. I’d wager more that he wasn’t ever intended to be the starting LF, solely because Rooker and Cave both were ahead of him anyways. He could’ve played himself into the role, yes. The Twins can gain a year of service time by keeping him down, yes. A bad 30 ABs shouldn’t be enough to change a decision making process, and I’d assume that it didn’t. He’d for their hand or he wouldn’t, and he didn’t.

Maybe I’m misunderstanding you, but there are no spring training games for minor leaguers in March, and there’s no season until May. Yes, there is spring camp in April. Vastly different

The Minnesota Twins decided that Alex Kirilloff was the best option for their Postseason elimination game, but following a lackluster spring, he wasn’t a fit for the Opening Day roster. Let the second guessing commence. As Rocco Baldelli breaks camp with a 26-man roster top prospect Alex Kirilloff will not be on it. He won’t travel with the big-league club to Milwaukee, and the assumption would be that he’ll remain in St. Paul across town until sometime near May 1. This affords the Twins a business-first opportunity, but also gives them some different options in terms of roster flexibility. It should’ve been assumed that Brent Rooker would crack the Opening Day club. He had a solid showing with Minnesota in 2020 and has more than held his own this spring. Kyle Garlick could force his way into the picture with a strong Spring Training and 40-man roster spot, as could non-roster invitee Keon Broxton. The decision also leaves the door open for another utility type, namely Willians Astudillo should Rocco want the three-catcher flexibility. There’s really no problem with the Twins deciding to keep Kirilloff in the minors, but it’s certainly little more than a business first decision. Sure, he’s been beyond mediocre this spring. A .440 OPS through 31 at bats is nothing pretty, but the flip side is the reality of that sample size. He’s played in 12 games, generating a total of 33 plate appearances. Less then seven months ago he was the answer for Minnesota despite a grand total of zero plate appearances in games that tracked statistics. From a service time standpoint in the current CBA landscape, Kirilloff would afford the Twins an extra year of control if they keep him in the minors for a matter of weeks. The problem is that the CBA is set to expire following the 2020 season, and much has been made about the implications of service time and team control as a whole. In short, the entirety of the business-first side of this coin could become moot in less than 12 months. There’s no guarantee that Minnesota is worse off without Kirilloff out of the gate that they are some platoon featuring Rooker, Garlick, or Luis Arraez. However, what happens in April still counts and the division is expected to be hotly contested by the Chicago White Sox. Dream on a scenario in which Minnesota finishes second by just a couple of games, or their Postseason seeding is impacted, and it’s worth wondering if they’d have decided to start on a different foot from the get-go. Alex Kirilloff beginning the 2021 season in the minor leagues during a season in which he’d get actual at bats makes some sense. It makes much less in a year where he’ll see no game action until May, and then seemingly be determined ready by the big-league club. Here’s to hoping that whenever he debuts the mashing will commence, but the timing of questionable decision making here will be worth scrutinizing as the calendar flips forward. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

In what will likely be his second-to-last outing of the spring, Kenta Maeda again looked very sharp for the Twins. He did finally allow a run, however.Final: Braves 4, Twins 2 Box Score | Savant Twins Takeaways Standout Pitcher: Kenta Maeda (5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K) Standout Hitter: Nelson Cruz (1-3, RBI) Maeda Misses Bats If there’s been a noteworthy arm this spring it’s been Kenta Maeda for the Twins. Their Opening Day arm, and Cy Young runner up in 2020, has looked nothing short of untouchable. He did finally cede a run tonight, a homer to Postseason hero Mike Brosseau, but he racked up six strikeouts in just 5 1/3 innings. Maeda was lifted after reaching the 75-pitch mark, having to work a bit extra as Rays hitters forced deeper counts. He’ll have one more tune-up prior to things counting against the Brewers in Milwaukee. Waddell Waiting in Relief The Twins spent a good deal of roster space this offseason targeting different relief arms. Some of them were waiver claims while some were acquired through trade. Brandon Waddell is among those, and Wes Johnson noted that Minnesota has some future plans for him. Sliders have been something that this organization has branded itself on in recent seasons, and it’s a pitch Waddell is clearly looking to utilize. Tonight, he worked two innings of relief allowing no hits and fanning five. On the 13 sliders that were swung at by Rays hitters, nine of them were whiffed on. Saints Show Off the Goods Many Minnesota Twins fans have expressed excitement over the new affiliation with the crosstown Saint Paul Saints. Among the ways to show that excitement is by donning a fresh new cap. Zephyr was the previous apparel provider when the Saints were a part of Independent Baseball. Now as a Minor League entity, Saint Paul has rebranded with New Era, the official cap of Major and Minor League Baseball. Fans have been clamoring for the new caps since the partnership was announced. Today we got a first look at the navy colorway. Not yet on sale but expect that to change soon. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Since Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have taken over the Minnesota Twins revamped their overall pitching ability, that’s true. In 2021 though, part of the group gives me some pause.I’m actually all in on the starting rotation and it’s depth. I blogged about that group recently and think you could make an argument that the quality and depth is better than at any other point in the history of the organization. Where I become less certain is the bullpen, and that’s not a great thing given the relative uncertainty of pitcher volatility coming off a shortened season. As things are presently constructed, I think there’s about seven locks for Opening Day. That group consists of Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey, Alex Colome, Hansel Robles, Jorge Alcala, Cody Stashak, and Caleb Thielbar. In a unit that will likely carry eight or nine arms, that’s a good stable to count on. It also looks better than a few days ago with the re-emergence of Duffey’s velocity, and the health of Thielbar’s back. That said, what happens beyond there? A season ago Stashak was sent to the minor leagues despite solid numbers, and Thielbar was pitching in independent baseball. That’s not to suggest either won’t contribute effectively in 2021, but rather highlight the general unpredictability of relievers. Where things seem to get a bit dicey is on the depth from. Beyond that original Opening Day group, the next men up are tweeners that may not have a spot in the rotation. Does Lewis Thorpe really belong in the bullpen (assuming he gets a fourth option)? Is Randy Dobnak not better served staying stretched out at Triple-A? What about Devin Smeltzer? Organizations would prefer not to have pitching prospects be destined for relief roles, but that was very much the case for Jorge Alcala. He looked the part and has performed well since entering a Major League bullpen. Short of Edwar Colina being inserted again rather than staying on a starting track, there just isn’t that type of arm ready to contribute. Beyond that, a group of veterans will look to be the next men up waiting in St. Paul. Brandon Waddell, Derek Law, Shaun Anderson, Ian Gibault, Glenn Sparkman, and Ian Hamilton all were brought in by the Twins this offseason. Many of them have similar offerings, and none of them have incredibly high ceilings. Replacing the departed Matt Wisler would seem to be their biggest value. In any normal season I think it’s fair to suggest that pitching depth might be the thing that separates the haves from the have nots. In 2021, I think that gap could widen even more as traditional workloads are attempted to be restored. You aren’t going to have a bullpen that eight deep in stellar arms, but when there was concern regarding just two guys, the group looked plenty thin. Arms are still available although the Twins appear to be done making pacts. Shane Greene somehow is unsigned, and Jeremy Jeffress is involved in a saga entirely perplexing on its own. I don’t know that Minnesota needs to be running to the table with offers, but it couldn’t hurt to see which other veterans don’t make their respective clubs when camps break. It’s the contingency plans that have Minnesota well supported in the rotation and all over the field, developing a few more out of the pen would be a good idea. At the end of the day this is an organization that produced the third overall bullpen in terms of fWAR in 2020, and that represented the second straight year of doing so. After being a bottom third group prior, it’s more than clear the developmental staff and front office are aligned with the pieces and process at their disposal. Let’s just hope that it works out in their favor once again. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article