Twins Postseason Report

The Twins ended the season with a 77-85 record, about where they were predicted to finish when the year began. Now comes the fun offseason, where everyone can play General Manager, dispose of players we’ve seen enough of and slot in roster spots for 2027. The Twins played into this game by calling up four of their top prospects in the final month, giving us a taste of what could be the future. Before I begin my autopsy, let me offer two caveats. As one commenter pointed out, most teams not in the playoff chase will call up four or five prospects in the later months of the season, and while many will stick, most will just be average players who won’t significantly affect the team’s fortunes. The second point is that everyone in baseball, it seems, gets injured; so any projection of the future must recognize that no one, however good, is likely to be available all year. This is certainly the case for the Twins’ prospects, all of whom missed substantial time in their Minor League careers and can’t be counted on playing full seasons to come.

Pitching If there is cause for optimism for ’27 it resides in the Twins’ starting rotation. Although Pablo Lopez, returning from injury, and Joe Ryan, if he’s not traded, are the two leaders based on salary, the potential staff ace is Taj Bradley. Almost as good since he came over from Baltimore is Dean Kremer, although you wonder why the Orioles let him go. Conor Prielipp was long considered the best hope from the farm system, and he has shown the same potential in the Bigs. Zebby Mathews had the Twins’ best month–5-0 in August–but hasn’t been consistent. Still, that’s five proven starters. Of course, the Twins needed 11 starters to get through the year. Mick Abel looked great before getting hurt; Kendry Rojas has purportedly the best stuff of anyone; and David Festa has also excelled in the Minors. All should be healthy for the start of next year, providing competition and depth. Then don’t go to sleep on Bailey Ober, who pitched the best single game for the Twins this summer and continues to bounce back from being counted out.

The lack of dependable relievers was the team’s Achilles heel for the season’s first half, but an almost total makeover in midseason gave Manager Shelton some comfort that if he got a lead and five or six good innings from the starter he could manage the rest of the way to a win. There are no sure things here, but some places to start. Yoendrys Gomez saved 22 straight games before suddenly becoming hittable. Will he be the closer again or will that role go to a committee? Shelton kept putting Andrew Morris in high-leverage situations and it didn’t always work out, but apparently he sees a future there. Jeff Hoffman has the best past and for awhile near the end gave me the most confidence. A.J. Minter was also reliable until the final weeks, but he’s a free agent and may be gone. Kody Funderburk keeps improving and will be given the lefthander’s role, especially as Taylor Rogers appears to be at career’s end. Tommy Nance is okay but could be improved upon. As usual, the Twins will bring in more potential relievers and see what spring training sorts out, but one or two surprise additions, a la Gomez this year, could make the relief staff quite respectable.

Hitting This is where the Twins need help, especially if they lose Ryan Jeffers, their regular number three hitter, to free agency. Trevor Larnach wasn’t great, but his .268 average was 30 points above others in the lineup, and at one point he was hitting .289. He will undoubtedly be released, as the Twins have three other lefthanded-hitting outfielders on the rise. Brooks Lee was better this year than last, and there’s a chance he could improve more, but the ceiling isn’t that high. Kody Clemens was arguably the Twins’ MVP, based on his clutch hitting and defensive play, but .240 and 27 homers will carry only so far. The one sure highlight is Luke Keaschall, who is exciting and has room to grow. Plug him in at leadoff and leave him there.

The big open question mark rests on the new blood: Kaelen Culpepper, Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez and, to a lesser extent, Alan Roden. Called up late in the year they each showed signs of offensive potential. They also struck out a lot. And they are young. Certainly Jenkins and Culpepper will be given a shot at a regular spot in the lineup. Will they perform at an above-average level? Will it happen so soon in their careers? That’s the hope and that could make the Twins contenders. If Byron Buxton comes back and the Twins want to keep Austin Martin as a righthanded bat, there won’t be room for everyone. This is why Larnach and Matt Wallner will be gone and Rodriguez, out of options, will have to greatly impress in the spring. That will be something to watch.

Then there are the two former mainstays who make you wonder: Buxton and Royce Lewis. As physically gifted as Buxton is, I won’t miss him when he’s gone, and is some respect he does more harm than good. He hits about zero in the clutch and strikes out way too much, while commanding a high spot in the batting order based on reputation. He is also injured half of every year, which contributes to a makeshift character in the roster. Lewis is also living on a reputation and gets a hit just when you think him hopeless. He doesn’t have the power numbers usually required for a first baseman and, like Buxton, is too easy to strike out when chips are down. It’s too bad Josh Bell can’t handle first base because his bat would fit well there and free up the DH spot for one of the extra outfielders. I’d like to see him back, but if history is any guide the Twins will find another one-year free agent (see Ty France, Carlos Santana) for one or both of these roles. This is a big need and will make a difference.

The Twins must think well of Alex Jackson because they kept him on the roster while not playing him for the last two months of the season, once Jeffers returned from the IL. We know they are locked into Victor Caratini, who is serviceable but not much more. One gets the impression that the Twins think they can get through 2027 with the tandem of Caratini and Jackson while their three exciting catching prospects work through the Minors and are ready by ’28. This won’t make or break the season.

Defense If the Twins’ defense was average I wouldn’t give it a separate heading, but they graded out near or at the bottom of the league, so there is a clear need, and chance, to improve.  Keaschall was terrible in center and at second, Lee and Larnach were below average at short and left, respectively (Wallner was at the bottom when he played right), neither Twins catcher could throw out a base stealer, and Lewis was learning to play first. The only plus defender was Clemens, regardless of where he played, although he wound up the regular second baseman. Jenkins and Rodriguez promise to improve defense in left (or wherever they’re slotted), and Keaschall will get more comfortable in right, although why he’s not put in left, where his poor arm would be less a liability, is a mystery. Lee is a better third baseman than shortstop and Culpepper seems competent at short with a great arm, although I wish he wouldn’t take the extra step before he throws. Having a settled lineup in the infield from the season’s start will have to help; and of course if Buxton is healthy he will be a plus in center, although he is no longer nonpareil there.

In sum, hope springs eternal as we wait till next year. The realistic observer is hoping that all the 23-year-olds will get in a full year of Major League experience, not get hurt and become a corps needing only, say, a catcher and a top reliever to not only win the division but play in a World Series in 2028 or 2029.