So far, health problems on the MN Twins’ pitching staff have remained in the bullpen. Neither (LHP) Michael Tonkin or (RHP) Brock Stewart will be available to manager Rocco Baldelli this weekend, but the bullpen as a whole has a ton of high-end talent and maybe even more depth.

But the relief core isn’t the only group within Minnesota’s pitching staff that has high aspirations. And without a doubt, the Twins’ starting rotation is not getting enough attention, as of Opening Day Eve. In fact, one might argue that the Minnesota Twins have one of the better rotations in baseball… and some are.

Minnesota Twins starting rotation should be a strength

The Minnesota Twins starting rotation has been set for a week and a half. Pablo Lopez is the ace and he’ll get the ball on Opening Day. Saturday, he’ll be followed by a combination of Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober, then into Simeon Woods-Richardson and Chris Paddack round out the group.

The top half could be really good, if Lopez is himself and the Ryan + Ober combo prove what their early career numbers show, which is two of the best young pitchers in all of baseball. The depth, from there, are all guys who hold top-3 starter talent — Paddack, SWR, Matthews, Festa.

The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman is all in on the Minnesota Twins rotation, too. When he looks at the team, as a whole, it’s the starting staff that stands out to him as the possible difference-maker in 2025.

“The Twins, like the Jays, have a solid rotation with López, Ryan and Ober able to match up with most teams’ top three starters. López had 15 wins last year and logged a 4.08 ERA over 185 1/3 innings. Ober won 12 games with a 3.98 ERA in 178 2/3 innings, and Ryan went 7-7 with a 3.60 ERA. Woods-Richardson and Paddack both have more potential — can they offer more production this year than they’ve delivered so far in their major-league careers?”

Aaron Gleeman – The Athletic

You could certainly call Gleeman a homer, as someone who has covered the Twin as a fan for two decades. Nonetheless, he is always fair in his assessments, just like we are here, at Minnesota Sports Fan. Not only that, but nobody is more plugged into what the Twins are doing at all levels of the organization than Aaron Gleeman.

Thus, his opinion on the matter holds a lot of weight. As does, in a much different way, his colleague over at The Athletic — former MLB general manager, Jim Bowden. Unfortunately, Jim is not on the same page as Aaron, when it comes to Minnesota’s starting staff.

The Joe Ryan Experience: It was good. pic.twitter.com/z6TW4XGgmd

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 2, 2023

In his starting rotation rankings, which dropped Wednesday, Bowden placed the Minnesota Twins starters at No. 16 (out of 30), below average compared to the rest of the league.

“Much like in 2023, the Twins’ starting pitching will carry them this season. Led by a strong front three of Pablo López, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober, with Triple-A reinforcements Zebby Matthews, David Festa and Andrew Morris waiting in the wings as high-upside in-season depth, the Twins’ rotation will have a top-five ERA in the AL after ranking 11th last year.”

Jim Bowden – The Athletic

16th in baseball is a wildly low ranking, when considering everything mentioned above. Lopez earned Cy Young consideration during his first season with the Twins, and some projections have him vying for the same award this season.

Pablo may not be Tarik Skubal, Detroit’s ace, who most currently consider the best starting pitcher in baseball (the Tigers finished ahead of the Twins in Bowden’s rankings). But beyond Skubal, I’d take the Twins’ starting rotation any day of the week.

And if the bottom-half of their rotation lives up to the higher-end of expectations, this team could have the best 1-5 staff in the AL. Simeon Woods Richardson has proven that he can hang in the big leagues and Chris Paddack has the talent to be a front-rotation starter.

Chris Paddack, 80mph Hammer. ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/tFunTNYgzM

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 10, 2024

Fangraphs writer Ben Clemens can’t help but drool at what he sees in the MN Twins rotation, which he has as the 5th-best in baseball. Paddack and SWR don’t have to do all of the heavy lifting on their own. David Festa and Zebby Matthews both pitched at the big league level last season. Each will begin at Triple-A, but their talent is endless.

“This is the first team on the list that I don’t give much chance of ending the year as the best rotation in baseball. The Twins succeed with depth more so than dominance; their top eight options are all solid, which gives them plenty of insurance against injury, but they don’t have a run-vaporizing ace or two to kick things up a notch…It’s a deep group of arms, even if it’s not as top-heavy as your average top five rotation.”

Ben Clemens – Fangraphs

Minnesota Twins rotation depth is in a great spot

After his first two blowup outings last summer, Festa returned to the big leagues with vengeance, posting a 3.81 ERA across 54 1/3 innings. Then, there’s Zebby Matthews, who made his debut last season too. He probably needs more seasoning, but was exceptional this spring, with a 12/1 K/BB and no runs allowed in 9 1/3 Grapefruit League innings.

Zebby Matthews in his final Spring Training outing:

4 IP / 2 H / 1 R / 0 BB / 6 K

He averaged 97 MPH on 20 FBs and topped out at 98.1 MPH on the day ⛽️#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/rKO13UywBr

— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) March 25, 2025

Beyond that tandem, the St. Paul Saints will have an very good group. Marco Raya, Andrew Morris, and Cory Lewis are all expected to make starts. Then there’s recently added to the 40-man roster Travis Adams. If Minnesota is forced to shuffle the rotation, they have ample options.

This season, Minnesota Twins fans will watch their favorite baseball team in a different way than ever before. The debacle that was Bally Sports North is no more. Now, those watching gameday Twins broadcasts will do so on a new offering called Twins.TV, which will make games more widely accessible to fans in the local Twin Cities viewing market than ever before.

No longer do you need a TV subscription to a select few cable/satellite/streaming providers. If you have $19.99 to spare per month, you can subscribe to watch Minnesota Twins games through Twins.TV on the MLB App, which is available on all smart TVs and smartphones.

But of course, that doesn’t mean this transition will be smooth. While the games will be streamable, a service that has been in place since the start of spring training, Major League Baseball is yet to strike a deal with major cable/satellite providers like Comcast (Xfinity), Charter (Spectrum), DirecTV, Dish Network, YouTube TV and Fubo TV, which has made fans nervous.

All along, it’s been all but promised that Twins games will be available on all of those major service providers. Well, with 24 hours remaining until first pitch on Opening Day… those deals are yet to be reached

Minnesota Twins promise more TV partners by Opening Day

Don’t worry, say the Twins. According to Dan Hayes (The Athletic), among other local Twins insiders who have reported the same thing recently, the team is pretty much promising them behind the scenes that there will be a live Twins.TV channel available on all of those major platforms by 1 PM CDT on Thursday, when first pitch is scheduled between the Twins and Cards.

As they've suggested in private, #MNTwins expect #MLB to reach accord w/ local cable providers by tonight to broadcast games. MLB landed deals w/ cable for Ariz, SD and Col day before the 2024 opener. So far, 21 area providers have a Twins deal in place.

And yes fans, it stinks.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) March 26, 2025

UPDATE: The Minnesota Twins did strike a deal with most cable/satellite providers to carry Twins TV. Check if your provider is included HERE.

The current Twins.TV Broadcast faq (as of Wednesday at 12:00 pm CT) has 21 cable providers listed as carrying a Twins.TV channel. As The Athletic’s Dan Hayes points out, Major League Baseball waited until the final day prior to the 2024 regular season to announce deals with teams in Minnesota’s spot last season. SKOR North’s Judd Zulgad is reporting that an announcement is expected at some point today.

Related: New Twins Channel Debut Revealed Along with Broadcast Enhancements

The Minnesota Twins are also expected to have a weekly game (Tuesday) that will be broadcast over the air on one of four local channels. ABC is reportedly out of the running. The other options are KARE (NBC),KMSP (FOX) and WCCO (CBS).

Once the announcements are made official, then fans can flick on their television guides to figure out what specific channel Minnesota baseball games will be on. The channel will be dark every day, until just prior to first pitch and just after each contest ends. Home games will have a postgame show, but road games will not.

Do you need Twins.TV in order to watch Twins baseball in 2025?

While it’s not entirely the Twins’ fault that cable distribution hasn’t been sorted out, their communication of a new product has been shoddy at best. Fans bring questions daily asking how the new product will work. There are a few key foundational principles to be aware of regarding Twins.TV.

• Twins.TV is a streaming service. If you pay for cable, you DO NOT need Twins.TV. A channel will be made available as part of a premium subscription package. If your channel lineup includes FanDuel Sports Network (formerly Bally’s) you will have access.
• If you are a T-Mobile subscriber and get the free MLBtv package through your phone service, you DO NOT have access to blackout free Twins games in market. MLBtv is a national service. Twins.TV is a regional product designed for those in market. Twins.TV is offered at $19/month or $99/year. It can be purchased as a bundle with MLBtv for $199/year.
• If you do not live in market, (see image) you DO NOT need Twins.TV.
  • MLB.TV (MLB App) will provide access, without blackouts, to Twins broadcasts out of market as it always has.

The fallout in moving away from the regional sports network model means the Twins take a hit on a significant revenue stream. The hope would be that they can generate fan interest based on a more accessible model, and that will result in streaming subscriptions.

Related: MLB Insider Predicts a Royce Lewis Trade for MN Twins

Of course the greatest way to generate that interest would be in winning, and moving on from an ownership group that has diluted the product. There are now a few more hoops for fans to jump through in order to find the game, but there are more fans that have an ability to do so.

Rocco Baldelli set the Twins’ starting rotation over a week ago, the position players were determined shortly after, on Monday. That left one final spot up for grabs in the bullpen, mostly thanks to injuries that have disrupted the reliever plans, entering the season.

Randy Dobnak earns Twins’ final bullpen spot

Brock Stewart and Michael Tonkin are starting the year on the injured list. That opened a temporary spot int he bullpen that will initially be filled by Randy Dobnak (long relief), who had previously been cut from Minnesota Twins camp. He pitched six innings this spring and did not allow a run, posting a 7/3 K/BB.

Randy Dobnak was told he’ll handle a long relief role in the Twins bullpen to begin the season.

His slider has looked good throughout the spring.

pic.twitter.com/LAFyMyTvfq

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) March 25, 2025

Last season was Dobnak’s first in the big leagues since 2021. That’s when he suffered a season-ending injury to his middle finger that completely derailed his effectiveness as a pitcher. Last season, Dobnak threw 133 1/3 innings at Triple-A St. Paul, posting a 4.25 ERA and 1.448 WHIP.

Randy Dobnak pitched in five games for the MN Twins last season, tallying a 5.59 ERA across 9 2/3 innings. He’ll be in a similar role this time around and look to parlay his spring success into continued momentum at the big league level. Dobnak is in the final year of a five-year, $9.25 million extension he signed with the club prior to the 2021 season.

Minnesota Twins Opening Day roster is set

With Dobnak taking the final bullpen spot, the Minnesota Twins Opening Day roster is now finalized. Rocco Baldelli has 26 players that will make the journey north. Minnesota starts the year with three games in St. Louis and three against the White Sox before kicking things off at Target Field.

Baldelli is certainly hoping that Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee can get healthy sooner rather than later. Their absence gives players like Edouard Julien and Mickey Gasper an opportunity to shine however. Tonkin and Stewart being out paved the way for Varland and Dobnak to start the year at the big league level.

There isn’t a ton of ambiguity on the big league roster. Many of the starting roles have consistent options. The MN Twins bullpen, even down a key arm, is projected to be one of the best in baseball. The position player group has plenty of solid talent that is capable of producing a 90-win season.

Related: Brooks Lee Explains Latest Back Injury and Return Timeline

On the mound Minnesota has a strong top three, and a pair of back-end starters with safe floors. The Minnesota Twins experienced some late injuries during Spring Training, but the roster is in a relatively good spot to open the season.

Baldelli will be hoping his team is ready to hit the ground running and put their late-season collapse from 2024 behind them. Minnesota is currently projected to win the AL Central division. All of that goes out the window once the games start to count though. It’s time to get it done on the field.

Back problems aren’t anything new for Brooks Lee. Last season, they cost him two months of the regular season. He didn’t make his 2024 baseball debut until May 20, and that came with the Complex League squad in Fort Myers.

Brooks Lee give his own injury update

But Lee told Dan Hayes (The Athletic) Sunday that the back issues holding him back this year are different than last year, which he describes as being much worse than what he is dealing with now. He describes it as being higher up on his back, and in his muscle, not disk.

“I feel way better than last time. Hopefully it shouldn’t take too long…It’s all muscular. I’ve obviously had the disc problems. I don’t think it has any connection to that. It’s a normal muscle spasm and a lot higher than it was last year and the times before. I kind of knew it was different, but it’s still the back.

It’s just making sure my body is aligned correctly for at least (Sunday and Monday). I’ll probably continue to do more aerobic stuff like walking. Hopefully, in five or six days I start testing for rotation and start doing a swing buildup. Last time it was three months, which is way too long. Hopefully, this is pretty short.”

Brooks Lee – The Athletic

It’s unfortunate that not all of the expected talent will join Minnesota on Opening Day. Royce Lewis, who pulled his hamstring last week, won’t be in the lineup Thursday, either. Last season, the Twins could have used Lee, when both Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa were hurt, but he was unavailable.

Related: Two New Guys Make MN Twins Opening Day Roster

This year, Lee was in position to make the Opening Day roster and play significant time at second base, after Lewis went on the IL. The 24-year-old has looked solid this spring, too batted .238/.273/.381 across 14 Grapefruit League games.

How much time Lee misses will obviously determine his path back. He will probably need a level of conditioning before getting back into game shape, as well. Minnesota has Lee working on a treadmill right now, and an absence of weeks, not months, could present him as an option for the Twins by mid-April.

Edouard Julien time again for the Minnesota Twins

As a rookie, Edouard Julien put up spectacular numbers across 109 games. His .263/.381/.459 slash line was exceptional, and he earned down-ballot consideration for rookie of the year honors. Last season, however, Julien was demoted to Triple-A, and he finished with just a .199/.292/.323 line.

Minnesota now needs a return of the rookie version of Julien, and for the Canadian to forget his sophomore season. This spring so far, he owns a .269/.345/.404 line in 17 games.

Edouard Julien hits his second homer of the game! 💪 pic.twitter.com/zaje5GRgRi

— MLB (@MLB) April 10, 2024

Things looked promising when Julien came out of the gates hot last season, as he had seven home runs by the end of April. Maybe he wasn’t attempting to be a power hitter, but something went awry with the approach. His strikeout numbers jumped (33.9 K% in 2024, 31.4 K% in 2023) while his walk rate plummeted (11.0 BB% in 2024, 15.7 BB% in 2023).

With opportunity at both second and first base early this season, the Twins would love to see Julien be a contributor right out of the gate. If he can be consistent, Willi Castro can remain a flexible player and utilize his versatility.

Manager Rocco Baldelli set the starting rotation over a week ago, but the rest of the roster has been more in flux, due to injuries all over the infield and in the bullpen. Monday, however, has brought more clarity to the Opening Day roster than anything we’ve seen since the starters were set.

Two New Minnesota Twins make Opening Day roster

In somewhat suprise fashion, two career minor leaguers were told on Monday by Rocco Baldelli that they will make the final cut for the 2025 Minnesota Twins Opening Day roster, which will be on display for the first time this Thursday, in St. Louis.

DaShawn Keirsey Jr. has also been informed that he has made the Opening Day roster.

— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) March 24, 2025

Mickey Gasper showed us a picture of a nasty cut but says he’s doing okay after getting six stitches. He was just informed he’s making the roster.

— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) March 24, 2025

The Minnesota Twins traded for Mickey Gasper over the offseason, and he spent Spring Training proving himself as every bit the versatile utility man they were hoping to get when they traded for him earlier this offseason

Gasper played in 13 games for the Boston Red Sox last season, as a 28-year-old rookie. He slashed .308/.417/.487 this spring in 17 games. Gasper is still looking for his first big league hit, but he’ll have an opportunity to play multiple positions with Minnesota as he seeks that milestone.

Mickey Gasper makes MN Twins roster after stitches

His spot on the roster was put in question, when Gasper suffered a serious cut on his ankle after he ran into shortstop Brandon Winokur going for a ground ball on the other side of 2nd base, Sunday. He needed six stitches and left the ballpark on crutches. Clearly, the MN Twins are confident he’ll be find.

Guess who’s making the Twins Opening Day roster?! pic.twitter.com/BqPFEcSJXb

— Ted (@tlschwerz) March 23, 2025

Similar to Gasper, Keirsey Jr. is a late-blooming prospect. He made his major league debut last season at 27 years old. The outfielder went just 2-for-13 but launched his first big league home run. This spring Keirsey Jr. owns a .275/.375/.375 line in 18 games.

DeShawn Keirsey Jr makes Twins roster too

Still, DaShawn Keirsey Jr’s spot on the roster has been more in question. Outfield hasn’t hasn’t seen the same injury issues as the infield. All he had to do was beat out former first round pick Austin Martin, who was optioned down to Triple A on Monday. Keirsey Jr, a former 4th round draft pick out of Utah, gets rewarded for a strong spring.

What also hurt Keirsey’s chances of making the roster was his left-handedness. Both Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner are left-handed. The Twins would have preferred another righty option in the outfield.

Related: Failed Twins Experiment is Back in the AL Central

Nonetheless, Baldelli & Co opted to bring his best talent, not lineup fit. Keirsey Jr. and Harrison Bader on either side of Byron Buxton in center field would make for arguably the best defensive outfield in baseball.

Minnesota can also utilize Keirsey Jr.’s speed on the basepaths. He went 3-for-4 stealing bases during Grapefruit League action. Last season, at Triple-A St. Paul, Keirsey Jr. went 36-for-43 on stolen base attempts.

Offensive/Defensive depth chart set for Minnesota Twins

Austin Martin’s transition to the outfield is still a work in progress. Last season, Martin was worth -13 defensive runs saved -7 outs above average, while playing outfield. That hurt him this spring, when competing with Keirsey Jr.

More time at St. Paul will give Martin an ability to continue refining his new position. Across 16 Grapefruit League games, Martin slashed .275/.333/.325. Minnesota begins the regular season on Thursday March 27th in St. Louis against the Cardinals First pitch is set for 3:15pm CT.

Both Brooks Lee (back) and Royce Lewis (hamstring) will start the year on the injured list for the Minnesota Twins. The former should be back sooner than the latter, but Baldelli will be hoping he gets a pair of his top talents back in short order.

Over the next week and a half, Rocco Baldelli has the task of trimming 14 more players from the MN Twins’ roster. Many positions have been locked in for a while now, but a handful of roster battles could go right down to the Spring Training wire.

Who makes the Minnesota Twins Opening Day roster?

The Minnesota Twins kicked off big-league camp with 55 players in the mix, including the full 40-man roster and 16 non-roster invitees. As of Monday, 40 players remain. Don’t trust my math, but with 26 spots available on the Opening Day roster, that means they need to cut 14 more guys in the next 9 days.

So without further ado, here is my updated (2.0) Minnesota Twins 26-man roster predictions, following a few unwelcome surprises over the last week.

Catcher (2): Christian Vazquez, Ryan Jeffers

• Just missed the cut: Jair Camargo, Patrick Winkel, Jeferson Morales, Diego Cartaya

Starting behind the dish, no changes here from my first projection. It was a lock that this duo would start the season on Rocco Baldelli’s roster once Christian Vazquez wasn’t traded this offseason. Both Ryan Jeffers and Vazquez appear healthy, and the Twins are counting on a stronger, more productive year from their catching tandem.

Related: Former Twins Slugger Turned Pitcher Granted Release From Rival

In 2024, Ryan Jeffers came out swinging, but cooled off, ending with a .226/.300/.432 slash line. His 103 OPS+ was above the league average, though it didn’t match the 133 OPS+ he posted in 2023. Christian Vazquez, meanwhile, really struggled to a .221/.248/.327 slash line last season, leaving plenty of room for improvement.

Cartaya had just nine plate appearances in eight Grapefruit League games after being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He started the Spring Breakout game, and should see plenty of action at Triple-A.

Related: Minnesota Twins Set Starting Rotation, Announce Third Round of Roster Cuts

Arguably the best performance by a catcher this spring has come from prospect Jeferson Morales. In 14 games the Venezuelan native slashed .450/.542/.700 with two doubles and a home run. He’s not highly-regarded, but had a .290/.367/.453 slash line between Double and Triple-A last season. It’s possible he emerges as a depth option for the Twins.

First Base (2): Ty France, Jose Miranda

• Just missed the cut: Mike Ford

Another locked-in spot belongs to Ty France, who is set to play, and play often. Rocco Baldelli made that clear right away, and France backed it up by tearing through Grapefruit League action. In 12 games, the former All-Star boasts a .469/.514/.813 slash line, complete with two home runs.

A trip around the bases for Ty?

Call it the Tour de France 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/6SOgUeUxC0

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) March 8, 2025

Jose Miranda is slated to see most of his action at first base this year, serving as a key depth piece fpror the Minnesota Twins. Through 12 games, he’s hitting .303/.375/.424. After posting an insane hitting streak last season, he’s aiming to build on the .284/.322/.441 line he delivered across 121 games in 2024.

Mike Ford remains in camp, though he was getting extra reps in with the Single-A team on the back fields Sunday. He is not a threat to make the roster, and should stick around at Triple-A to provide roster depth.

Second Base (3): Willi Castro, Edouard Julien, Mickey Gasper

• Just missed the cut: None

Sunday brought a major shakeup at this position when Royce Lewis pulled up lame with a left hamstring strain. The gifted third baseman is likely to miss some time, forcing Rocco Baldelli to find a new starter at third. For now, it also keeps Willi Castro anchored at second base.

Brooks Lee told Gerrit Cole to go sit back down. pic.twitter.com/rVrMeGq6QG

— Ted (@tlschwerz) March 6, 2025

That’s good news for Brooks Lee, who has had a tough time dislodging Willi Castro from the starting lineup. In 13 games, Lee’s hitting .256/.275/.410 with two home runs. As a rookie last season, he managed a .221/.265/.320 line over 50 games, hampered by injuries that dulled his impact. Still, The Athletic’s Keith Law sees him as a breakout candidate this year.

Related: MLB Insider Tags Former Minnesota Twins Top Prospect as Breakout Star

At first, I pegged Edouard Julien for a return to Triple-A. He’s hitting .286/.375/.429 through 13 Grapefruit League games, signaling a possible push for a bounce-back year after a lackluster 74 OPS+ (100 is league average) across 94 games last season. I suspect Rocco Baldelli might lean toward using him as a platoon bench bat, which could open the door for Mickey Gasper to snag the final bench spot as a versatile switch-hitting utility player.

Mickey Gasper’s posting a .310/.432/.448 line across 12 spring games, showcasing his value with positional flexibility and a relentless work ethic. He debuted in the big leagues with Boston last season, going hitless in 18 at-bats, but his minor-league track record stands out. In 70 Triple-A games, he boasts a .920 OPS, paired with a .392 OBP over 407 minor-league contests.

Pretty good guy for Gasper to get help from too. pic.twitter.com/2YcJC56sVL

— Ted (@tlschwerz) March 17, 2025

On Monday morning, the Twins had Mickey Gasper taking reps at first base, adding to his versatility. While it’s not typically a must-have, his ability to serve as an emergency catcher could be a valuable roster bonus.

Shortstop (1): Carlos Correa

• Just missed the cut: None

When you have Carlos Correa, there is really no need for a contingency plan. He doesn’t have a third foot to deal with plantar fasciitis, and he has been a superstar when healthy.

The 86 games Correa played in 2023 marked his lowest total in a full season since 2019. Yet, in that limited action, he delivered a stellar .310/.388/.517 slash line with 14 home runs. He’s proven himself every bit the superstar Minnesota expected when they inked him to that second contract.

Related: Carlos Correa’s ‘Shocking’ Therapy Regimen Revealed

It has been a dismal spring for Correa, but the 11 Grapefruit League games should be taken with a grain of salt. He is batting just .103/.250/.103 with no extra-base hits. He has a 12/6 K/BB, and judging by the amount he is staring at pitches, it seems he is doing plenty of pitch tracking work.

Third Base (1): Brooks Lee

• Just missed the cut: Armando Alvarez
  • Injured List: Royce Lewis

In the initial roster projection, Willi Castro was slated as the starting second baseman. That seemed like a locked-in choice until Royce Lewis got hurt. Now, either Brooks Lee or Castro will have to step up at third base. With Opening Day looming, there is not enough time for Lewis to recover, and he’ll start the season on the injured list.

Here’s the video of Lewis’ injury. pic.twitter.com/jn0rhlRixs

— Ted (@tlschwerz) March 16, 2025

Castro has been all over the field this spring, just as he was last season. His versatility earned him an All-Star nod as a utility player, and he’s posted a .200/.368/.367 line across 12 Grapefruit League games. His 102 OPS+ in 2024 fell just short of the 105 OPS+ he recorded during his debut season with the Twins

Brooks Lee seems better suited for third base, and the Twins have more options to cover second. Long term, I see Lee settling in at the hot corner, so why not get him comfortable there from the start?

Related: Willi Castro Takes Chuck Knoblauch’s Painful Minnesota Twins Throne

It’s logical that Jose Miranda could see some time at the hot corner while Lewis is out. Armando Alvarez is depth that should stick at Triple-A St. Paul. He made his major league debut last season for the Oakland Athletics.

Outfield (4): Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, Harrison Bader

• Just missed the cut: DaShawn Keirsey Jr., Austin Martin

Minnesota chose not to bring any non-roster outfielders into Grapefruit League play. Their top-tier options are already strong. Byron Buxton’s health remains key, but he’ll be supported by two reliable sluggers in the outfield.

Just another Matt Wallner appreciation post! pic.twitter.com/cpdNiSdM0z

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) March 15, 2025

Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach will log plenty of time in the corners. Larnach might also see a good chunk of at-bats as the designated hitter, while Harrison Bader adds another elite glove to the outfield mix. The former Met, a Gold Glove winner, notched 10 Outs Above Average last season. Though his -2 Defensive Runs Saved was a drop from the 15 he posted in 2021, Bader could still prove to be a huge asset in left field.

Related: Twins Turn to Interesting Choice at Leadoff

With Lewis sidelined, the Twins seem to need more infield depth than outfield support. That likely sends Austin Martin back to Triple-A, while Willi Castro shifts to the fifth outfielder role. The former first-round pick has posted a .233/.314/.267 line this spring. He’s not a game-changer at the plate, but Minnesota appears set on keeping him in the outfield for now.

It won’t hurt Martin to get more reps before returning to the big leagues. With Bader on the team, he doesn’t have to be stretched in center. He’ll be the first player recalled if there is an outfield injury.

Rotation (5): Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, Chris Paddack

• Just missed the cut: None

With the latest roster cuts, the Minnesota Twins have narrowed their rotation down to five pitchers. While the exact order is still up in the air, one thing is certain: Pablo López will take the mound as the Opening Day starter. How the rest of this group shakes out will be worth watching as the season nears.

Pablo López hasn’t exactly dazzled in Grapefruit League play. He’s posted a 7.98 ERA over 14 2/3 innings with an 18-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Last year, he struggled similarly with a 7.00 ERA across 14 spring innings. With one more start likely before Opening Day, he’ll aim to sharpen up and build on the 4.08 ERA he delivered for Minnesota last season.

Related: Chris Paddack in Danger of Losing Starting Job for Twins?

Chris Paddack might just be the biggest wild card in this mix. Which version of him Minnesota gets remains anyone’s guess. He hasn’t been effective since his standout rookie year in 2019, and injuries have plagued him ever since. Fortunately, the Twins have solid rotation depth waiting at Triple-A St. Paul to back him up.

Bullpen (8): Griffin Jax, Jhoan Duran, Danny Coulombe, Cole Sands, Brock Stewart, Jorge Alcala, Louie Varland, Justin Topa

• Just missed the cut: Scott Blewett, Darren MaCaughan, Anthony Misiewicz, Huascar Ynoa, Eiberson Castellano
  • Injured List: Michael Tonkin

There is no questions regarding the back end of the Minnesota Twins bullpen. Both Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran are locked in. I’d prefer to see a bit more velocity from Duran this spring, but it’s possible he’s just a different pitcher now and makes it work anyways.

Griffin Jax struck out the side as his stuff looked immaculate

Jax already had the best sweeper in baseball and now his changeup looks fantastic. He is one of the best RP in MLB pic.twitter.com/sBGjX6clOj

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) March 16, 2025

Danny Coulombe is locked in as the lone lefty and Cole Sands should again be a middle-relief option with leverage upside. There is concern about Brock Stewart after he felt a hamstring tweak, but the Minnesota Twins supposedly aren’t worried at this point. Jorge Alcala should also be back in a low-leverage role.

Related: Minnesota Twins Bullpen Harboring Dark Horse Stud Nobody is Talking About

If both Michael Tonkin (guaranteed) and Justin Topa (possible) start the season on the injured list, then there are two additional spots. Louie Varland will certainly get the first one. He has a 5/1 K/BB and hasn’t surrendered a run in 8 innings this spring.

Castellano would be the last man in the pen and needs Topa to occupy a spot on the injured list if he’s going to make the team. The 2024 Phillies minor league pitcher of the year was taken in the Rule 5 Draft. He must remain on the 26-man roster all year or be offered back to Philadelphia. He has a 12/8 K/BB 8 innings this spring while allowing six runs, but the upside is understandable.

Topa returned to the bump on Monday against the Pirates. He threw an inning while allowing a home run and striking out two. It will be important how he responds the next day. If there’s a final uncertain roster spot, this is it.

Here’s the video of Lewis’ injury. pic.twitter.com/jn0rhlRixs

— Ted (@tlschwerz) March 16, 2025

As we have seen in recent seasons, the Minnesota Twins go as Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa, and Byron Buxton go. Since those three joined the same roster, they have gone as their health has, which has led to a rocky three seasons with one very high peak and two devastatingly low valleys.

Royce Lewis to miss Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins

And now here we are again, just over a week out from the start of the MLB regular season, and it’s being reported that an MRI on the hamstring injury he suffered Sunday revealed it as a “moderate” strain, whatever that means. What we do know is that he’s likely to miss Opening Day.

“The Twins third baseman has a moderate sprain of his left hamstring, an MRI taken Monday morning confirmed, and the Twins have ruled him out for the March 27 season opener in St. Louis.”

Star Tribune

Related: Minnesota Twins Set Starting Rotation, Announce Third Round of Roster Cuts

Despite this being Royce Lewis’ fourth big league season, he has played on Opening Day just a single time. His injury history is well documented, and the soon-to-be 26-year-old continues to be plagued by them. When healthy, he has shown an ability to be one of the best on the planet.

Optimism surrounding Lewis’ latest injury…?

After a pair of Opening Day hits last year, one of which left the yard, Lewis suffered a quad injury in game 1 of 162 that kept him out of the Minnesota Twins 2024 starting lineup until June 4. This time around, Lewis told the Star Tribune’s Phil Miller that this injury is “not even close” to as serious. In the end, time will tell whether or not that is true.

Last year Lewis tumbled down the stretch and ultimately finished with a .233/.295/.452 slash line. That said, he has hit 31 homers in his last 140 big league games and remains a legitimate star. The prospect luster may have worn off, and he certainly hasn’t distanced himself from the health concerns.

Related: Former Twins Slugger Turned Pitcher Granted Release From Rival

There’s a talent so much more significant than a prolific grand slam hitter. The Twins need him to be a middle-of-the-lineup constant. Lewis being off the roster opens a spot for Brooks Lee, but no one would love more than for him to miss the minimum.

Rocco Baldelli is surrounded by many familiar faces this year. The offseason saw little spending, and while there might still be some moves, the players currently in camp are poised to claim most of the roster spots. Over the next few weeks, the primary question will be: where will each player fit in the lineup?

Who makes the Minnesota Twins Opening Day roster?

The Minnesota Twins invited 55 players to big league camp. That includes the entirety of the 40-man roster and 16 non-roster invitees. They have just 26 spots on the active roster and will need to trim players as camp goes on. By position, this is where things stand from the jump.

Catcher (2): Christian Vazquez, Ryan Jeffers
Others: Jair Camargo, Diego Cartaya, Alex Isola, Patrick Winkel, Jeferson Morales

This position seems secure unless there’s a trade involving the more expensive veteran, Christian Vazquez. Vazquez is in the final year of his $30 million contract. He was considered by the San Diego Padres in trade, but that possibility appears to have passed. His .221/.248/.327 slash line from last season was dismal, particularly given the efforts he made last offseason to improve his swing

Ryan Jeffers has his 8th home run of the year! pic.twitter.com/I1ApUwHpVJ

— MLB (@MLB) May 9, 2024

Last year, Baldelli was inflexible with the division of playing time between his catchers. Ryan Jeffers started strong but tapered off, finishing with a .226/.300/.432 slash line. His 103 OPS+ was above league average, yet it fell short of his 2023 mark of 133 OPS+. He deserves to be given every chance for a 60-40 or even a 75-25 split this season.

Should the Minnesota Twins find a trade partner for Vazquez, or need to make a depth move, the combination of Cartaya and Camargo are next up. Camargo debuted last season. Cartaya is a former top prospect looking for a fresh start.

First Base(2): Ty France, Jose Miranda
Others: Mickey Gasper, Mike Ford, Yunior Severino

Arguably the most uncertain spot on the diamond is first base. The Minnesota Twins no longer have Gold Glove winner Carlos Santana, whom they lost in free agency. It wasn’t until the final hour before Spring Training that they signed Ty France to solidify the position.

They also have Jose Miranda, who bounced back well last season offensively with a .284/.322/.441 slash line. He was a hitting machine for a while but tailed off to end the season. The Twins would love to see consistency from the youngster hitting, but he will need to show defensive improvement if he’s going to factor in.

Play No. 34 of 2024: Jose Miranda matches an MLB record by recording a hit in 12 consecutive at-bats! pic.twitter.com/w3nQ6uY4dJ

— MLB (@MLB) December 5, 2024

Related: Minnesota Twins Release Spring Training Non-Roster Invite List

In limited action last year Miranda was neutral from a defensive metrics standpoint. As a rookie, in nearly 600 innings at first base, he was worth -6 DRS (defensive runs saved) and -4 OAA (outs above average). That’s a problem for a position of strength last year.

France brings plenty of questions on his own. Last season he was worth -8 DRS with a -12 OAA mark. That doesn’t speak to any defensive improvement. Despite being an All-Star in 2022, he was below league-average offensively for the Mariners and Reds last season.

Neither Mickey Gasper or Mike Ford represent substantial upgrades as all around players. Miranda not holding them off would be problematic, and mean that he’s severely struggling. It’s a possibility that some combination of Edouard Julien, Willi Castro, and Luke Keaschall all see time here too.

Severino is a former 40-man player, but has never looked the part defensively. He struggled offensively last year, too. The strikeout problems will probably stop him from ever being anything but an all-or-nothing designated hitter.

Second Base (2): Brooks Lee, Willi Castro
Others: Luke Keaschall, Edouard Julien

Second base may be the Minnesota Twins deepest position. Former top prospect Brooks Lee should be considered the favorite to start. He played 50 games last season with underwhelming results, but should use that to develop as a big leaguer.

Brooks Lee has his first Major League hit. 👏 pic.twitter.com/PABiaMJ4JZ

— MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2024

It’s possible that Royce Lewis sees time at second base, and maybe swaps spots with Lee too. The position will see plenty of players rotate throughout it. Castro is a utility player, but best suited at second base. Julien broke out as a rookie while playing second base and will factor in there too.

Related: Exclusive: Twins Top Prospect Opens Up About Torn UCL That Eventually Ended His Season

Luke Keaschall is the most talented second baseman in the system, but he may wind up moving to first base out of need. Expect Baldelli to use this spot on the diamond as something of a revolving door until he finds consistency.

Shortstop (1): Carlos Correa
Others: None

When you have Carlos Correa there is really no need for a contingency plan. He doesn’t have a third foot to deal with plantar fasciitis, and he has been a superstar when healthy.

86 games were the least Correa has played in during a full season since 2019. In that action though, he slashed .310/.388/.517 with 14 home runs. He is every bit the superstar Minnesota believed they were getting when they signed him to a second deal.

Shohei Ohtani is denied at the plate.

Alex Kirilloff to Carlos Correa to Christian Vázquez.

Carlos Correa with a perfect 92.2 mph (!!!) relay throw home to nab Ohtani. pic.twitter.com/Vl7iLVWOSE

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) April 10, 2024

The hope is that Correa can stay healthy all year this season. He has never had the nagging back issues in Minnesota that he did in Houston. If he is going to miss time, then a combination of Lee, Castro, and potentially a yet-to-be-identified addition would take his place.

This spot on the roster is set.

Third Base (1): Royce Lewis
Others: Armando Alvarez

Minnesota is saying that Royce Lewis will be the Opening Day starter at the hot corner. He was last season, but that lasted less than one game. Healthy, Lewis is among the most exciting players in the game. Unfortunately, however, he hasn’t been able to make that a consistent reality.

Death. Taxes. Royce Lewis home runs. pic.twitter.com/Xw0QEwNsgT

— Ted (@tlschwerz) June 20, 2024

The 82 games that Lewis played in last season were a career-high. He hit .233/.295/.452 and struggled for virtually the first time as a professional. The former first overall pick still hit a career-best 16 homers, but his process at the plate was off.

Related: New Twins Channel Debut Revealed Along with Broadcast Enhancements

This offseason has been big for Lewis. He got married, reset his outlook, and is eyeing an opportunity to put the 2024 season behind him. He may not stick at the hot corner all year, but he will be a catalyst for whatever the Twins are trying to do.

Outfield (5): Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, Austin Martin, Harrison Bader
Others: DaShawn Keirsey Jr., Emmanuel Rodriguez,

There’s a reason that the Minnesota Twins don’t have a single non-roster invitee amongst their outfield group. The depth here is significant, and they should feel good about the ceiling of those involved.

Standing ovation from the crowd here for this inning-ending Byron Buxton catch.

He was slow to get up, but seemed fine as he jogged off the field — and that's when the ovation got really loud. pic.twitter.com/Is9dZpLDd7

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) August 4, 2024

Byron Buxton needs to stay healthy. That has always been part of the equation for him. He played 100 games for just the second time in his career last season. Bader presents a solid defensive backup, even if he’s an offensive question mark.

With Max Kepler on to greener pastures, Buxton will be flanked by Larnach and Wallner this season. That’s a new pairing, and a rather unproven one. Martin can fill in as a rotational option, but is better suited in center and left field with his arm limitations.

It was nice to see Keirsey Jr. given a chance last year. It would seem that he’ll be the depth center option, while Emmanuel Rodriguez could push both corner spots. His path would be much more straightforward if he was right-handed hitting.

Related: Suddenly Spend Happy Twins Want to Make More Moves

Rotation (5): Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, Chris Paddack
Others: David Festa, Zebby Matthews, Cory Lewis, Andrew Morris, Travis Adams, Marco Raya

There is zero reason to consider what the top three of the Twins rotation looks like, because it’s already set. Pablo Lopez is starting on Opening Day. Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober are the horses behind him. However, Minnesota needs better than the 4.08 ERA they got from Lopez last season. A bounce back season could have him in the Cy Young conversation.

Pablo López tossed one of the most dominant starts of the season, striking out 14 in 8.0 2-Hit IP

López has phenomenal today, perfectly executing his 5-pitch mix with brilliant command pic.twitter.com/KlU7u4Vai6

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) June 24, 2024

Ryan and Ober look like legit rotation options, and hopefully take another step forward. What Baldelli gets from Woods Richardson and Paddack remains to be seen, though. The rookie owned a respectable 4.17 ERA and the veteran was a mixed bag who missed the second half of the season with a forearm strain.

When there is a need for depth, the Twins have a couple of tested options. Both David Festa and Zebby Matthews pitched significant innings in the majors last year. Top prospect talent will also get a look during spring training, and the non-roster talent will have a chance to impress at St. Paul before earning a promotion.

Bullpen (8): Griffin Jax, Jhoan Duran, Danny Coulombe, Cole Sands, Justin Topa, Brock Stewart, Jorge Alcala, Michael Tonkin
Others: Matt Canterino, Eiberson Castellano, Kody Funderburk, Louie Varland, Ryan Jensen, Scott Blewett, Randy Dobnak, Darren MaCaughan, Anthony Misiewicz, Alex Speas, Huascar Ynoa

Right now the Twins are projected to have one of the best bullpens in the big leagues. That’s largely because of Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran. Brock Stewart has been lights out when healthy, and new addition Coulombe looked great in an Orioles uniform last season.

I asked Griffin Jax to model his vaunted sweeper and discuss the mechanics. pic.twitter.com/sS4PaESxu1

— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) July 13, 2024

Baldelli needs Cole Sands to continue developing as a reliever, and Justin Topa has to be the reliever that Minnesota believed they were acquiring in the Jorge Polanco trade.

There aren’t many straightforward ways to crack the Twins relief group outside of injury. Canterino has sat on the 40-man through injury, and he could be a quick and exciting promotion if healthy. Castellano must be on the big league roster all year after being a Rule 5 pick, so Minnesota may have a tough decision to make there.

If either Funderburk or Varland can hone things in at Triple-A St. Paul, that duo will be interesting to watch as the season progresses as well. It should be an interesting year, and we are closer than ever.

If projections are to come true, their lineup will have to be better and more consistent than it was in 2023 because the starting pitchers compiling the rotation probably will not be. For the Minnesota Twins, especially, the chances of that improvement on offense actually occuring is impossible to predict because it relies so much on players who have constantly dealt with injuries either recently or throughout their career, in Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis.

Minnesota Twins lineup looks good (on paper) to start the season

So… what if we take a look at the short-term? Instead of trying to project what might happen over the course of a 5-6 month season, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden (former GM) took a slightly different approach by ranking the MLB’s batting lineups as they are set to be written in for Opening Day (probably more so opening weekend).

Before we get into where the Twins ended up on the list, let’s take a peak at what the Minnesota Twins lineup will actually look like next week (March 28) for Opening Day in Kansas City and during the first couple of games during the 2024 season.

The Athletic Ranks Minnesota Twins Opening Day Lineup

The Minnesota Twins certainly have plenty of question marks and high end ceilings throughout their lineup. And that’s what reflects in Bowden’s rankings, where the Twins sit in 12th. Others in the AL Central all ranked in the 20s (Tigers – #21, Royals – #24, Guardians – #25, White Sox – #26). Here’s what Bowden had written on the Twins.

12. Minnesota Twins

The Twins have an interesting lineup that has a high ceiling but also a low floor. They need three of their best hitters — Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton — to stay healthy and play full seasons. They also need their young hitters led by Edouard Julien (who has special plate discipline), Matt Wallner (great power) and Alex Kirilloff (also needs to stay healthy) to live up to their enormous potential.

Jim Bowden – The Athletic

As Jim notes and everybody else knows, the Twins 2024 season from the plate will likely have a lot more to do with health, than anything else. If Buck, Correa and Lewis stay largely healthy, this lineup has the potential to be one of the most dangerous league-wide, not just in the AL Central. But that is a very big “if”.

Let’s be real, though. If the Minnesota Twins deal with a lot of injuries this season, they are in big trouble. They do not have the depth on their roster, especially in the starting rotation, to deal with bad health. They allowed Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda to leave in free agency and they brought in… nothing.

Related: Jim Bowden Tags Two Minnesota Twins for His 2024 All-MLB Breakout Team

Well, they traded for a 33-year-old one-time decent starting pitcher with injury concerns who may have won the No. 5 spot in the rotation had he been able to make it out of Spring Training healthy. He wasn’t. Andrew DeSclafani dealt with arm issues throughout camp and will enter the season on IR.

So, Louie Varland will take over that final starting role in the rotation, and the Twins are probably better off for, even after his rough outing earlier in the week. But at the top of the rotation — unless one of Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober or Chris Paddack step up as Cy Young candidates — we are going miss Sonny Gray.

In other words, the Twins’ lineup better stay healthy and produce or the 2024 season could be on thin ice. Even in the heat of summer.

The last time Kenta Maeda was on the mound, he finished runner-up for the AL Cy Young award. The options continue from there with Tyler Mahle, who might have the best stuff of anyone on the staff.

Pablo Lopez named Twins’ Opening Day starter

But on Friday, Rocco Baldelli named the Twins official Opening Day starter and none of those names came out of his mouth. Instead, he announced the newly acquired former Marlin, Pablo Lopez, as their official #1, when they start their 2023 season on March 30 in Kansas City.

#MNTwins will make Pablo López their Opening Day starting pitcher.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) March 24, 2023

The Twins traded away fan favorite, Luis Arraez, to land the 26-year-old Lopez, who finished his career in Miami with a 3.94 ERA, 1.186 WHIP, 3.77 FIP and 8.6 SO/9 in 510 IP over 5 seasons.

If you’ve read The Athletic or ESPN in the last 12 hours, you likely agree with this decision. Pablo was the only Minnesota pitcher listed by the former as a possible ace and by the latter as a top-100 player in the MLB. Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton were the only other two Twins listed on ESPN’s top-100.

According to Dan Hayes (The Athletic), Sonny Gray will start game 2, which lines him up to take the mound at Target Field for the Twins’ home opener on April 6 vs the Houston Astros. Joe Ryan will start game 3. Slotting Lopez in as the #1 also lines him up to pitch Minnesota’s second series finale of the season, vs his former team, the Miami Marlins.

Jose Miranda moving back to 3rd base

Another announcement of note from Friday came with good news surrounding the injury status of Jose Miranda, who has spent all of his playing time so far this spring as a DH or 1st baseman, due to a shoulder injury that has limited his throwing early on. Miranda will play at 3rd base, for the first time, on Saturday. In all likelihood, that’s the position he will take on Opening Day, as well.

Jose Miranda said he'll play third base on Saturday for the #MNTwins. He's the club's first baseman today.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) March 24, 2023

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan