2026 Minnesota Twins Opening Day Roster Projection (2.0)

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Luke Keaschall, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins now have just six Grapefruit League games left, meaning more roster cuts are coming as they prepare to kick off the 2026 regular season on March 26 in Baltimore. On Tuesday, Derek Shelton sent three more non-roster players packing, which leaves Twins big camp at 42 players, as of this evening.

Now that the World Baseball Classic has come to a close, Byron Buxton will soon return. Unfortunately, Joe Ryan never joined the team and made his second spring start Monday. Barring any unforeseen setback over the next week, he will take the mound on Opening Day vs the Orioles, being Pablo Lopez is done for the year.

Minnesota Twins Opening Day 26-Man Roster Projection – March

Back in late February, I took a stab at the Minnesota Twins Opening Day roster. Deciding on 26 players that early was incredibly difficult. Now, the path to who travels north on March 25 is much more clear.

MN Twins Catchers (2): Ryan Jeffers, Victor Caratini

Nothing has changed here from late February. Victor Caratini signed a two-year deal this offseason and is locked in. He’s going to be Ryan Jeffers’ backup. Caratini is just 5-for-32 (.156) this spring, but has a homer and a 4/4 K/BB.

The MN Twins don’t have a great defensive answer at first base, which means multiple players will cycle through. Caratini should get plenty of time there as well.

Jeffers is 7-for-35 (.200) but was never in jeopardy of losing his job this spring. He’s expected to start at least 100 games behind the dish.

This leaves Alex Jackson the odd man out. Minnesota is on the hook for his $1.35 million contract unless a team claims him on waivers. He can’t be sent to Triple-A without passing through waivers first as he’s out of options. If he does clear, then he’ll serve as depth with the Saints.

Infielders (6): Josh Bell, Luke Keaschall, Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Kody Clemens, Orlando Arcia

No changes here either. Luke Keaschall has had a tremendous spring and is batting .400. After his strong rookie campaign, it would be awesome to see him keep things rolling in year two. Shelton absolutely needs the youngster’s bat to play atop his lineup.

Keaschall is going to get time in the outfield this year. He has done some work out there this spring and the results haven’t been great, but time should help.

The only question on the dirt is who wins the backup shortstop job. Right now I think that’s Arcia. He’s no longer the All-Star he was in 2023 with Atlanta, but he’s a veteran that can handle the glove. Offensively there is plenty to be desired, but his primary competition is Ryan Kreidler and Tristan Gray.

Kreidler has a career 11 OPS+ in 89 MLB games while going 4-for-33 (.121) with an 11/3 K/BB this spring. Gray had a 91 OPS+ in 30 games last season with the Rays, but is just 6-for-33 with an 11/5 K/BB this spring. The latter is a better option, but Arcia can be rostered for a month or two and it doesn’t matter how much he plays.

By early summer, we should have a good idea if Brooks Lee is any more capable, or how close Kaelen Culpepper is to taking over.

Outfielders (5): Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Alan Roden, James Outman

We finally have a change. Alan Roden is in while Austin Martin is out. That’s a reflection of the utility man suffering a concussion earlier this week. I have no idea how soon he could be back, but know everyone does and should be cautious with head injuries.

If Martin is able to return for Opening Day, then I think it’s Outman that could be on the bubble. The Minnesota Twins don’t like to lose players for nothing, and Outman was the return for Brock Stewart from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the deadline.

Outman has no options remaining though, and Roden does. Roden has earned a way onto the roster though, going 12-for-36 (.333) with a double and a homer. No coincidentally, Shelton has had him play center field plenty too. That will be required of at least one backup outfielder.

The final two outfield spots are in flux between three players, and that’s how I’d handicap it.

MN Twins Rotation (5): Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley, Simeon Woods-Richardson, Mick Abel, Zebby Matthews

The Minnesota Twins are already down Pablo Lopez and David Festa for starters. It would behoove them to shut Bailey Ober down as well. It looks as though his body is failing him, and the stuff genuinely looks awful.

Last season Ober owned a 5.10 ERA (4.90 FIP) and struggled with mechanics that sapped effectiveness. He has never thrown hard, but is now basically soft-tossing meatballs. He could argue that he has allowed just two runs in 8 2/3 innings this spring, but that would be a disingenuous representation of a small sample size.

It has seemed like the final rotation spot was a battle between Zebby Matthews and Mick Abel. Matthews has allowed nine runs (seven earned) in 11 innings this spring, but has looked crisp at times. Abel has arguably been the Twins best pitcher allowing just two runs in 13 1/3 innings while striking out 17 and walking one.

Abel takes another turn on Thursday. If that goes well, he’ll have a good case to make on Zebby, but both are infinitely better options than Ober right now.

Bullpen (8): Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda, Justin Topa, Cole Sands, Andrew Chafin, Liam Hendriks, Kody Funderburk, Eric Orze

This group seems set to me too. The Minnesota Twins carrying three lefties would be interesting, but Rogers is a lock, and Hendriks looks positioned to make the team. Funderburk has given up just one run in 6 2/3 innings while striking out seven.

Maybe the Twins don’t believe Hendriks is there quite yet and want him to get a bit more ramp up at Triple-A St. Paul. There has been suggestions he’d be the closer if he makes the roster. I’m not sure I see that, but I think the stuff has been good enough to suggest he can be capable back in the big leagues.

Minnesota traded for Eric Orze early in the offseason. He had a 3.02 ERA (4.05 FIP) with Tampa in 41 2/3 innings last year. He’s allowed five runs in just 6 2/3 innings this spring and has an 8/6 K/BB. That definitely leaves the door open for someone if the Twins are willing to pull the plug.

Dan Altavilla and Matt Bowman are the two veteran options, but they missed time in camp playing in the World Baseball Classic. Meanwhile, Cody Laweryson is back and has allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings with a 5/1 K/BB. He showed well down the stretch last year for the Twins too, and that’d be my pick to round the group out.

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