Last week the Minnesota Twins informed Rule 5 Draft pick (RHP) Eiberson Castellano he would not make the team. In the Rule 5 Draft bylaws, a drafting team ( in this case the Twins) must pay the originating team (the Phillies) $100,000 to take away one of their unprotected, eligible prospects (Castellano).

But if that Rule 5 pick, however, is removed from his new team’s 26-man roster during the next year league year, he goes on waivers for other teams to add to their active roster. If no team claims him, the released Rule 5 draft pick is offered back to his original team for half ($50,000) of what they were paid for him.

Eiberson Castellano clears waivers, leaves Minnesota Twins for Philadelphia Phillies

And that’s exactly what happened to Castellano on Tuesday, after 29 other teams passed on claiming him for their 26-man roster before the start of the 2025 MLB regular season. He was offered back to the Phillies, who paid half of the Twins’ money back, in order to get Castellano back in their organization.

Twins Rule 5 pick Eiberson Castellano cleared waivers and was returned back to the Phillies.

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) March 25, 2025

This spring, Castellano worked 10 2/3 innings across seven games. He allowed ten runs (nine earned) on nine hits. The part that sank him was a 13/10 K/BB rate. If there’s something a Rule 5 pitcher absolutely cannot do during Spring Training, it’s give up free passes.

There was some thought that Castellano could secure the final bullpen spot after both Michael Tonkin and Brock Stewart went down. He would have operated as a long man for a unit that should be among the best in the big leagues. Baldelli certainly couldn’t have that arm allowing games to blow up worse though. Dobnak had a 7/3 K/BB in six scoreless innings this spring.

Last season in 103 2/3 innings between High-A and Double-A for the Phillies, Castellano posted a 3.99 ERA with an 11.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9. It’s likely he rebounds just fine and sees success repeating Double-A and moving up to Triple-A.

Related: Old Friend Makes Minnesota Twins Final Opening Day Roster

It’s always difficult to make the leap to the big leagues as a Rule 5 selection. There is always a reason that the original club didn’t see value in adding the player to their 40-man roster. Castellano’s experience with the Twins could springboard him into a nice season.

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.

Prior to the game, the Twins provided a couple of injury updates that helped bring clarity to what will soon be their finalized Opening Day roster. Among the likely bubble players expected to make the 26-man was newly acquired utility infielder and catcher, Mickey Gasper.

MN Twins Mickey Gasper injured on poor play

Unfortunately he got a bit overzealous on defense Sunday, while playing second base against the Boston Red Sox, and it cost him. It happened in the second inning, when Gasper tracked a ground ball up the middle way too far beyond the other side of second base.

Instead of letting Brandon Winokur make an easy play from shortstop, Gasper cut off his teammate unexpectedly, resulting in Winokur’s left cleat cutting through his teammates leg. Gasper told Phil Miller (Star Tribune), as he walked off the field in crutches, that his self-inflicted spiking resulted in six stitches.

Mickey Gasper may have cost himself an Opening Day roster spot on this play after needing stitches. pic.twitter.com/AmDSMDE1f2

— Ted (@tlschwerz) March 23, 2025

Rocco Baldelli on Mickey Gasper's six-stitch cut: "It's about as bad a cut as I've seen on a baseball field, but it also was stitched up and right now it's closed. We'll keep it clean and let it heal and see what he's capable of this week." #MNTwins

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) March 23, 2025

Rocco Baldelli has seen what Mickey Gasper — who at 29 years old finally made his big league debut last season — can do during a very good Spring Training. Earlier today, Gasper started the game with a solo home run, his second of the spring, which pushed his slash line up to a pretty ridiculous .308/.417/.487, in 39 at bats. His production and positional versatility is why the Twins were likely inclined to roster him in the first place.

Related: MN Twins Opening Day Roster Starting to Take Shape

Though the ankle injury shouldn’t have lingering effects, the reality is that the body needs time to heal. It seems unlikely that Gasper’s skin would seal in the four days allotted before Opening Day in St. Louis. There’s no sense in putting him out there only to have them come open again.

That's how you start a game, Mickey 👏 pic.twitter.com/tsQ2fVNSOc

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) March 23, 2025

The injury is unfortunate for Gasper. He got just 23 plate appearances across 13 games last year for Boston, but is still searching for his first hit. Across 407 minor league games, Gasper owns a .392 on-base percentage, and he posted a 1.062 OPS in 48 Triple-A games last season. There may still be an opportunity with Minnesota, but it’s a larger uphill battle at this point.

What are the Minnesota Twins roster options?

After Royce Lewis went down with a hamstring injury there was a path for Gasper to make the Opening Day roster. The reality that Brooks Lee will begin on the injured list all but guaranteed it. Now with an additional opening, the Twins will need to figure out their plans.

Austin Martin and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. were the most likely bubble candidates with two players for just one spot. They could now both be kept as additional outfield options. Martin isn’t really an infielder anymore, and Willi Castro could then focus solely on the dirt.

That may leave Rocco Baldelli’s roster construction a bit lopsided with both Lewis and Lee unavailable. The only other versatile infielder remaining in camp is Armando Alvarez, who signed a minor league deal this offseason. He made his major league debut with Oakland at 29 years old last season, but hit just .200/.243/.257 this spring. Mike Ford is around, but plays only first base.

Related: Minnesota Twins Pitcher to Begin Season on Injured List

It’s possible the Twins opt to find another option on the waiver wire. They could recall a previously optioned 40-man player, but the only minor league options there are catchers Diego Cartaya and Jair Camargo. This is an unfortunate way for an otherwise fun spring to end for Gasper. The third notable infield injury also puts Minnesota in something of a bind.

Brock Stewart is not going to be in the bullpen this week, after he suffered a hamstring injury earlier in camp. He’s back on the mound and pitching in spring games again, but he is being handled carefully after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. 

Then, there’s former top prospect Brooks Lee, who was scratched from the MN Twins’ lineup last week with a back injury, a chronic issue he’ll have to learn how to maintain if he’s going to have a successful Big League career. But with Opening Day taking place this week in St. Louis, the final 26-man roster is starting to take shape.

Minnesota Twins make decisions on Brooks Lee and Eiberson Castellano

After Lee was scratched on Thursday, the MN Twins suggested his status was day-to-day. Unfortunately, his chronic back pain will not allow him to return that early, and it’s almost certain, at this point, that he too misses Opening Day.

#MNTwins roster starting to take shape. Rule 5 pitcher Eiberson Castellanos has learned he won't make the team. Brock Stewart and Brooks Lee are starting the season on the IL.
Four players for three spots on position side.
One reliever job up for grabs.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) March 23, 2025

Lee struggled during his first season at the big league level. Across 50 games as a rookie, the 2022 No. 8 overall pick batted slashed a frustrating .221/.265/.320 with 10 extra-base hits (three home runs) and a 27/11 K/BB.

As a prospect, Lee has crushed fastballs. He’s a pure hitter who makes a lot of solid contact. That got lost last season, which could have been a byproduct of his back issues. The hope would be that Minnesota can get him right quickly this time around, and he can be a viable option for the majority of the season.

Related: Minnesota Twins Pitcher to Begin Season on Injured List

Another announcement came with the Lee news in the form of a Rule 5 decision. Eiberson Castellano was the Phillies minor league pitcher of the year last season and got scooped up by Minnesota. Across 10 2/3 innings during Grapefruit League play, Castellano put up a 13/10 K/BB and sealed his fate.

The Twins likely wanted to carry Castellano, but they needed to see enough from him to warrant it. Now Minnesota must expose Castellano back to waivers. If he clears, then they could attempt to work out a trade with Philadelphia. They did have preliminary talks prior to selecting him in the Rule 5 Draft, so that remains a possible outcome.

What do the Minnesota Twins do with their bullpen?

Things have changed quite a bit since our latest roster projection. Royce Lewis is going to begin the year on the injured list. Stewart and Lee will join him there. Minnesota needed to make eight more decisions as of Saturday night. Castellano and Lee cross two off that list.

The bullpen options remaining in camp include veterans Scott Blewett and Anthony Misiewicz. The former pitched for Minnesota last season and has had a good spring. He has a 5/2 K/BB across six innings. However, Blewett has been informed he will not make the team.

Related: Chronic Back Injury Causing Problems for MN Twins Infielder Again

The latter has 115 2/3 major league innings under his belt, and a 7/1 K/BB this spring. He is a viable option for the final bullpen spot. Minnesota will also be scouring the waiver wire to see who is released. Another path forward could be to recall someone like Kody Funderburk, who was previously cut from camp.

Misiewicz is with the Twins as a non-roster invitee. He signed as a free agent this offseason. Like Funderburk, Misiewicz is left-handed and would give Minnesota a second southpaw to pair with Danny Coulombe in relief.

Who takes the final position player spot for the Twins?

On the position player side of things it comes down to the group of Mickey Gasper, Austin Martin, DaShawn Keirsey Jr., Armando Alvarez, Edouard Julien, and Mike Ford. Gasper looked to already have an inside track, and Julien gets helped by Lee’s injury. The final outfield spot is where the most contentious battle comes.

Keirsey Jr. has had a solid spring with a .243/.356/.351 slash line. He’s a better outfielder than Martin, and is arguably the same or better speed threat. Unfortunately he’s left-handed and that puts him at a disadvantage considering Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner’s handedness.

DaShawn Keirsey Jr. drives in the go-ahead run vs. #RedSox. Twins end up with the 2-1 win.

Keirsey has more than earned a shot at considerable time in the majors this year. Opportunity awaits.#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/nMMALbHfiM

— Talkin' Twins (@TalkinTwins) March 21, 2025

Martin has batted just .243/.310/.270 across 43 plate appearances this spring. He won’t ever hit for power, but is a contact guy who utilizes his speed and has successfully stolen three bases in three attempts this spring. It seems like being right-handed will give him the role, but Minnesota could decide otherwise.

Related: New MN Twins Starting Outfielder Named 2025 Breakout Candidate

Rocco Baldelli has just a couple of days left to set his Opening Day roster. The Minnesota Twins are projected to win the AL Central this season. Even with a few bumps coming out of the spring, they are well-positioned. The good news, at least for now, is that none of these injury issues seem to be too incredibly long term.

The marathon towards October is about to kick off. Minnesota must run it in a much more complete fashion than they did last season.

They lost their first position player when Royce Lewis strained his hamstring last week. Michael Tonkin is nursing an injury as well, and will begin the year on the injured list. He was a bottom-tier bullpen option regardless. Unfortunately he’s is going to be joined by another, much higher-tier, bullpen arm as well.

Brock Stewart begins season on injured list for Minnesota Twins

Plenty of steam has been percolating about the Minnesota Twins having the best bullpen in baseball this coming year. That could be true if they are healthy. Unfortunately, that same reality existed last year and they left Fort Myers with multiple players on the injured list. The first big blow this time around comes in the form of Brock Stewart starting the year on the injured list.

“Brock Stewart threw around 20 pitches in a minor league game Saturday against the Boston Red Sox’s Class AAA club, but it’ll likely be a couple of weeks before he is pitching in a major league game.

Stewart was informed he will begin the season on the Twins’ 15-day injured list. His buildup this spring was slightly delayed after he underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery last August, and he exited an outing March 15 with a minor hamstring issue.”

Bobby Nightengale – Star Tribune

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

There was always a level of uncertainty as to whether Stewart would begin the season with Minnesota. The Twins played coy about it, but this is a pitcher that has thrown just 43 1/3 innings since 2020. It’s possible that the buildup from his offseason shoulder surgery would have kept him from Opening Day, but the slight hamstring injury is an easy way to explain it.

“We have to keep our eyes open to the end goal here, which isn’t just the start of the season. It’s the whole season.”

Nick Paparesta – Star Tribune

The good news, which has remained the case despite his many injuries, is that Stewart’s stuff stays intact. He was reportedly around 95-96 mph in the minor league game. The last two seasons with the MN Twins he has averaged 97 mph on the fastball.

He throws his heat around 43% of the time, and in 2023, generated a whiff rate near 20%. Stewart’s 2.28 ERA with the Twins makes him among the most dominant relievers in baseball. He has 59 strikeouts, and just 19 walks the past two seasons. Obviously Minnesota needs to get him to a place where he can be, and stay, on the mound.

An open spot remains for MN Twins

Once it was announced that Tonkin would start on the injured list it became apparent that there was room for Louie Varland in the bullpen. Now with Stewart destined for the same result, Baldelli has another spot to decide on.

Rule 5 selection Eiberson Castellano remains in camp. The Twins would love to keep the Phillies 2024 minor league pitcher of the year in the organization, but he has made it tough to trust him with his Grapefruit League performance. The 7.59 ERA across 10 2/3 innings isn’t as problematic as the 13/10 K/BB is.

If Minnesota is going to keep Castellano for mop-up duty, they can’t afford for him not to throw strikes. Scott Blewett started on Saturday and also remains in camp. He owned a 1.77 ERA across 20 1/3 innings for the MN Twins last season. Blewett was solid, if not unspectacular at Triple-A as well with a 3.79 ERA in 54 2/3 inning with the Saints. He could be the option if they don’t trust Castellano at this point.

Related: Chronic Back Injury Causing Problems for MN Twins Infielder Again

As camps wind down there should be plenty of pitchers that are released, and trigger opt outs as well. Minnesota could go that route if they aren’t convinced their internal options are the best choice. When it comes to open roster spots, this is one to watch.

But this will be one of the first seasons in Buxton’s professional career where he won’t have nine-year MLB veteran Max Kepler — who signed with the Phillies as a free agent this offseason — playing beside him in right field. The two friends played together through the minors and both broke through into the big leagues in 2015.

Now that Kepler is out, Forest Lake, MN’s own Matt Wallner — who has never gotten more than 261 plate appearances during his three MLB seasons — is in line to replace him as the Twins’ starting right fielder. What should we expect from Wallner?

Hopefully he gets off to a better start than he did in 2024, where he was demoted to St. Paul after hitting .080 in the first 13 games of the season. After 75 games getting with the Saints, Wallner was called back up by the Twins where he finished with a career-best .259 batting average and 866 OPS, thanks to his .282/.386/.559 slash line over the final 62 games.

Matt Wallner ready to rock for Minnesota Twins

During Grapefruit League action last year, Matt Wallner batted just .132/.227/.395 with a 17/4 K/BB, and the problems persisted into the regular season. This time around, Wallner’s slash line looks a lot better: .240/.309/.640. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden likes what he sees, naming Wallner as one of his 2025 “breakout candidates.”

“Wallner has walloped six home runs this spring and has a direct pathway to a full-time gig in the Twins’ lineup. He reached base at a 37 percent clip last season while posting a 149 OPS+ and hammering 13 home runs in 220 at-bats. He topped the 80th percentile in exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard-hit rate and bat speed. He also has a rifle for an arm.”

The Athletic

The Twins are now using Wallner as a leadoff hitter, which actually makes a ton of sense, especially against right-handed pitchers. Sure, he strikes out a lot (36.4% clip last season), but he also reaches takes a ton of walks, gets a lot of hits, and hits plenty of bombs. Worthy trade offs.

It’s not the end of the world if a leadoff hitter strikes out to open a game. It can be a serious momentum play if they put a ball in the seats. The top spot in the lineup isn’t the traditional slap-hitter with speed anymore. The Twins also don’t have a prototypical answer, especial without knowing what Edouard Julien’s role will be.

Matt Wallner keeps crushing!

He is now tied for most home runs in @mlb so far this spring with 6!!! pic.twitter.com/OrJLbTypfq

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) March 17, 2025

Minnesota understandably loves how often Wallner gets off his A-swing. He had a 53.2% hard-hit rate last season, and barreled the baseball 17.5% of the time. If he hits the ball in the air, nearly a quarter of the time it’s with the right trajectory and it’s going to leave the yard.

Related: 2025 Minnesota Twins Opening Day Roster Projection (2.0)

It has been a solid spring for the Twins right fielder, and he leads both the Grapefruit and Cactus League in home runs with six. If that translates into the season, and he doesn’t experience the slow start, he’ll crush the 2.1 fWAR he posted last season.

Can MN Twins replicate Wallner with Trevor Larnach?

Coming into the season Wallner and Trevor Larnach are expected to man the corner outfield spots. The former is a breakout candidate while the latter is a former top-prospect and is looking to succeed post-hype. After being shuttled the past handful of years, Larnach got 112 games at the big league level last season.

His .259/.338/.434 slash line resulted in a 116 OPS+ to produce career-best numbers. His 1.5 fWAR was also a career-high, and it’s something to build on this season. Larnach doesn’t have the defensive upside that Wallner does, but he can also be paired with free agent addition Harrison Bader.

Related: Chronic Back Injury Causing Problems for MN Twins Infielder Again

The largest bugaboo for Larnach to date has been his inability to consistently hit for power. Minnesota picked him out of Oregon State because of his exit-velocity prowess. He has never had a 50% hard-hit rate and barreled just 10.1% of baseballs last year. There is room for new hitting coach Matt Borgschulte to get more from him, and they continue to be in the lab.

Twins slugger Trevor Larnach talks strategy with hitting coach Matt Borgshulte. pic.twitter.com/xJ8A8G2hqg

— Ted (@tlschwerz) March 13, 2025

Byron Buxton is the superstar defender in the outfield. If the Twins can get both of their corners to bop in tandem this season, then they are going to have a lineup that has next to no holes for the opposition.

Down in Fort Myers this year, they’ve lost Michael Tonkin and Brock Stewart for the start of the 2025 regular season, along with other injuries to some of their top prospects, Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez. Neither top 15 MLB prospect has returned to the field, but both expect back sooner than later.

Unfortunately, the Twins’ Opening Day “mostly healthy” designation took a big hit over the weekend, when Royce Lewis pulled his left hamstring vs the Red Sox Sunday, running to first base. We’ve since found out that the 25-year-old infielder is not going to be ready for game one of 162. Most “moderate hamstring strain” timeline projections put his return out to mid/late April, at the earliest.

When will Royce Lewis return to the Minnesota Twins?

Still, the Minesota Twins do not appear frazzled by Lewis’s latest injury or its return timeline. They see his injury as more mild compared to the quad strain that forced him to miss months of the 2024 season. Manager Rocco Baldelli joined the Foul Territory show Tuesday where he preached calm and patience.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has no doubt that Royce Lewis will make a quick return to the field.

"He's come back from more difficult things than this." pic.twitter.com/2x3xelYC5M

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) March 18, 2025

“It’s always going to be emotional dealing with stuff like this. He has a moderate hamstring strain. He is going to start the year on the injured list. That we know, and we have to let that kind of get by us, and get by the initial pain of going through it. Then, get back to work. We’re going to be there, we’re going to support him. We’re going to give him everything he needs physically and conversationally.

You don’t want him to feel that pressure. All he has to do is get healthy and play his game when he’s out there…No one that has dealt with injuries, and dealt with them the way that he has, is going to just say it’s no big deal. Of course it’s a big deal. You just have to put your head down and keep working. He’s come back from more difficult things than this. He’s a pretty quick healer too, so I have no doubt he’ll be back soon.”

Rocco Baldelli

There’s a lot to unpack here. Royce Lewis is injured again. He has played just 152 games across three big league seasons. He has torn his right ACL multiple times and has dealt with a myriad of soft tissue injuries. Lewis started 2-for-2, including a home run, before he pulled his quad muscle. That kept him out of action until June 4.

The Minnesota Twins know what sort of player they have when he’s healthy. On the other hand, Lewis has also proven himself to be somewhat emotional, at times. Rocco & Co also seem to be protecting his mental health this spring by handing him the 3rd base job without competition.

Related: 2025 Minnesota Twins Opening Day Roster Projection (2.0)

Lewis wants to be back on the field as soon as possible. He has 33 home runs and a .268/.327/.497 slash line during his career. The ceiling puts him as a perennial MVP candidate if he could remain on the field. Minnesota can’t afford for him to dictate the timeline though, and his injury must heal.

As The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman points out, Jorge Polanco missed six weeks with a moderate hamstring injury in 2023. Following that same sort of timeline puts Lewis on the shelf through April, even if he is hoping to return sooner than that. Given what he has dealt with previously, anything prior to mid-May would be a win.

The sound off Royce Lewis's bat is just different 💥 pic.twitter.com/MHophJ6FI2

— MLB (@MLB) February 24, 2025

No player wants a lengthy rehab, and Lewis has always pushed to get back on the field as soon as possible. With the timetable in front of him, it’s a given he’ll need at least a handful of games at Triple-A St. Paul to settle back in.

Minnesota has a late homestand with the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels at the end of April. They also return home against Baltimore on May 6. Both of those windows could be realistic opportunities for a 2025 debut.

What do the MN Twins do without Royce Lewis?

Arguably no one benefits more from Lewis’ injury than Brooks Lee. He was stuck in the competition for a starting second base job, and this gives him another place to play. He got the first Spring Training start at the hot corner once Lewis went down.

Lee hasn’t lit Florida on fire as he is batting .238/.273/.381 through 14 Grapefruit League games. Still, he could be best positioned to play third base, or at least spell multiple infield spots. Jose Miranda is also now likely to get more time on the infield than sporadic starts behind Ty France, or operating as the designated hitter.

Related: Latest Round of Minnesota Twins Roster Cuts Announced

An additional need for infield depth could push Mickey Gasper onto the roster as one of the final bench players as well. If that plays out he would likely bump Austin Martin back to Triple-A.

Minnesota has six more games to figure out what they will take north with them to St. Louis.

In this bad dream, he finds out of a devastating spring injury to one of a few cornerstone pieces to this summer’s roster, and it costs a talented Twins team their season. If that nightmare becomes reality again in 2025, after injuries to Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa caused a momentum-crippling second half collapse in 2024, it could cost Rocco his job.

Related: 2025 Minnesota Twins Opening Day Roster Projection (2.0)

That’s why Sunday was nearly as difficult for the manager as it was the player, when once-blossoming star Royce Lewis suffered a hamstring injury vs the Red Sox that will reportedly keep him off the 26-man Opening Day roster.

Rocco Baldelli makes three more cuts for Minnesota Twins

Speaking of the Twins’ current roster, which needs to be cut down to 26 players by this coming Sunday, it got another haircut on Tuesday morning, a spring trim that included catcher Jair Camargo, along with pitchers Darren McCaughan and Huascar Ynoa.

Twins made another round of roster cuts today: catcher Jair Camargo and pitchers Darren McCaughan and Huascar Ynoa.

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) March 18, 2025

Today marks the fourth notable cutdown day of Spring Training, so far, and it puts the current Minnesota Twins camp roster at 37. Just a couple days ago, the most recent round of cuts prior to Tuesday’s brought the 2025 roster down from 45 to 40 and helped solidify the starting rotation.

Newly cut MN Twins include: (P) Ynoa, (P) McCaughan, (C) Camargo

Huascar Ynoa gave up three runs on four hits across 4 2/3 innings this spring. The 26-year-old Dominican right-hander struck out four and walked a pair. Ynoa allowed five runs on ten hits but had an impressive 7/1 K/BB.

McCaughan, a 29-year-old MLB tweener prospect with 17 career big league appearances — threw six innings of Grapefruit League action for the Twins down in Florida. The results — 7.50 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 7 SO in 6 IP — were not all that impressive.

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

The only big name out of today’s round of cuts is 25-year-old catcher prospect, Jair Camargo. The right-handed hitting Columbian made his MLB debut last season, where he wound up notching five games of MLB experience (0-for-6 in 7 PA).

Unfortunately, Camargo had a tough spring, going 2-for-18 with 8 strikeouts and 0 walks. Both of his hits came in one really great game last week, where he went 2-for-2 with a 2B, HR and a walk, putting on full display what he can do, when right, and why the MN Twins still believe in him.

Jair Camargo was ripping balls in some Spring Training action yesterday 🚀

He was 2-2 with a 2B, a HR, and a BB

First swing (2B): 105.5mph
Second swing (HR): 107.8mph, 416 feet

So far in the spring, he is batting .385/.429/.769 with a 1.198 OPS‼️#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/R5VuYB2oYO

— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) March 7, 2024

Despite the Twins trading for catching depth in the form of Diego Cartaya this offseason, Camargo still seems to be the next man up. Cartaya played in the Spring Breakout game, but was part of the second round of roster cuts. If both Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez remain healthy and effective for Rocco Baldelli, the aforementioned tandem will remain at Triple-A St. Paul.

What is left to watch for down in Fort Myers?

The Minnesota Twins bullpen still has spots up for grabs but neither Darren McCaughan or Hauscar Ynoa were going to be an option. The latter re-signed with the organization that once dealt him for Jaime Garcia. Ynoa will head to Triple-A and look to work his way back.

Minnesota has just six Grapefruit League games left prior to kicking off the season in St. Louis against the Cardinals. They will need to trim another nine players from the roster. Both Royce Lewis and Michael Tonking remain in camp, but will start the year on the injured list.

Unfortunately, Rocco Baldelli’s group was dealt a blow on Sunday when starting third baseman Royce Lewis pulled his hamstring. He will now miss Opening Day, and who knows how long after that, the latest in a long string of injury blows that threaten to derail a young superstar’s career.

Still, the Minnesota Twins play in a below-average division that they have been projected to win for most of the offseason. With the Major League Baseball regular season just over the horizon, that remains the case. But initial MLB power rankings provide insight into what it really means to be the best team in a light division.

Minnesota Twins ranked No. 16 in premature MLB power rankings

The Athletic released their first MLB power rankings of the season this week, where they placed the Minnesota Twins tied for 16th overall out of 30 teams. While their initial ranking comes in just below the league median, it was above all other teams in the AL Central (see below).

T-16. Minnesota Twins

Playoff odds: 62 percent

[The Twins] enter 2025 with a familiar roster and two familiar concerns: Can Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis (who strained his hamstring on Sunday) stay healthy? And will ownership invest more anytime soon? The Twins have some star power, a solid pitching staff and several exciting youngsters on the rise, but the clock is ticking.

Stephen Nesbitt (The Athletic)

Because if Ty France returns to anything near his All-Star form from 2022, then nobody is going to miss Santana or his defense. Of course, it’s just spring training, but clearly France is feeling good, as he is slashing .469/.514/.813 in 12 games played down in Florida.

Realistically the Minnesota Twins offense will go as Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis do. Unfortunately, that three-legged stool is already broken, after Lewis’ injury. But Brooks Lee can step up in his absence and be a quick, legitimate fix, if he can live up to the top 15 prospect status he once garnered.

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

The bullpen is projected to be one of the best in baseball, but they too have been dealing with more injuries, of late. Then, there’s the starting rotation, which has a ton of young talent, but needs its own big three of Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober to prove itself one of the best 1-2-3 punches baseball.

MLB Power Rankings – American League Central

The Minnesota Twins aren’t the only AL Central team The Athletic doesn’t have a lot of faith in, entering 2025. This, despite the Central garnering three playoff spots in the American League last postseason (Cleveland, Kansas City, and Detroit). The Twins and Tigers are tied for 16th, with the Royals and Guardians right behind them. Of course, the White Sox remain the worst team in baseball.

Arguably the most notable reality is where the Guardians sit. After winning the division last season, they come in as the worst among competition AL Central teams. Despite starting a bit lower, it’s also the Royals that possess legitimate postseason odds.

Detroit’s strength should be the rotation with reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, and big free agent acquisition Jack Flaherty. The lineup has plenty of questions though, and Alex Bregman going to Boston was big. Kansas City has lots of high-upside talent and it’s understandable why they would be thought highly of.

Related: Minnesota Twins Superstar Suffers Spring Training Injury

Obviously, the season hasn’t started yet, so these power rankings are more for fan fodder than they are for real projections. Especially in the game of baseball, it is impossible to determine what teams will have everything go right in the future, and which will not.

What a team looks like on paper rarely translates to the exact same thing on the field. These are humans, who deal with good days, bad days and injuries, which Twins fans know all too well.

Expect these rankings to shuffle quickly. Minnesota doesn’t play Cleveland until late April while they have multiple series against the White Sox and a four-game road tilt against Kansas City early on.

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.