The Twins will open the season on April 7th at Target Field. Which 28 players will be there? The WCCO Radio staff has projected the opening day roster.
Outfielders:
Byron Buxton
Max Kepler
Alex Kirilloff
Brent Rooker
The Twins outfield looks fairly set with a Buxton/Kepler/Kirilloff opening day lineup. The fourth outfielder position will look a little different as Jake Cave was taken off the 40-man roster and re-signed to a minor league contract. The position seems to be Rooker’s to lose as he can also spell Miguel Sano at first base. Trevor Larnach can also contend for the fourth outfielder position with a strong spring.
Infielders:
Carlos Correa
Miguel Sano
Jorge Polanco
Gio Urshela
The Twins have quite a bit of depth in the infield going into the season. The Twins filled their need for shortstop by signing one of the best in the game, Carlos Correa. They also shored up this base by trading Josh Donaldson for Gio Urshela. While Urshela may not have the offensive production, he is an upgrade defensively. Royce Lewis has already been optioned to St. Paul and the Twins don’t seem to be in a hurry to bring Jose Miranda to the bigs…yet.
Utility:
Luis Arraez
Nick Gordon
Arraez’s bat and ability to play just about anywhere in the field make him the logical choice as the Twins’ super-utility player. With the expanded roster, the Twins will likely carry one more infielder. While Nick Gordon is on the 40-man roster and has big league experience, the Twins could add Tim Beckham to the 40-man or go with touted prospect Jose Miranda in the role.
Catchers:
Ryan Jeffers
Gary Sanchez
Jose Godoy
Ryan Jeffers should open the season as the everyday catcher while Sanchez will likely fill the DH hole. Jose Godoy was claimed by the Twins off of waivers, could start the season in the big leagues as depth, but will likely be sent down when rosters are cut to 26 on May 1st.
Pitchers:
Sonny Gray
Joe Ryan
Dylan Bundy
Bailey Ober
Jorge Alcala
Taylor Rogers
Tyler Duffey
Joe Smith
Cody Stashak
Caleb Thielbar
Lewis Thorpe
Griffin Jax
Jharel Cotton
Jovani Moran
Jhoan Duran
This is where the Twins have their biggest question marks. Will they go into the season with a starting rotation consisting of Gray, Ryan, Bundy, Ober and Cotton/Thorpe? Or will they look to make a move for a top line starter as has been rumored. It has already been reported that the team plans to stretch out Lewis Thorpe into a long reliever, but will those plans change if they don’t land another starter? Will the former Oakland and Texas pitcher Jharel Cotton steal the fifth spot? Is one of the Twins’ top pitching prospects, Josh Widner ready? Or could non-roster invites Devin Smeltzer or Jake Faria have an impressive spring and fight their way on the 40-man?
The bullpen will consist of a trio of Joe Smith, Tyler Duffey and Taylor Rogers in the back end of games. Who will bridge the middle innings? The Twins seem comfortable with mainstays Stashak and Thielbar…but which of the group of Jax, Moran and Duran will breakout this spring? Other names to watch are Jhon Romero and non-roster invites Danny Coulombe, Ian Hamilton, Juan Minaya and Trevor Megill.
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