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Matt Wallner Matt Wallner Solid start to spring Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 11:21 PM Wallner went 2-for-3 in Friday's Grapefruit loss to Boston. He's hitting .290 (9-for-31) with a home run this spring. Analysis: It's reassuring to see Wallner having a good spring as a terrible spring in 2024 resulted in a slow start to the regular season and an early demotion to the minors. Wallner looks set to start in right field and could have a breakout season after some bad luck last year. Wallner reduced his problematic strikeout rate below 30% for the first time in his career (29.1%) and had the best contact rate of his career (66.1%), but had just a .775 OPS with a .228 BABIP likely playing a factor.
Kody Funderburk Kody Funderburk May not make Opening Day roster Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 11:04 PM Funderburk may not make the Opening Day roster with four left-handed relievers competing for a spot in the bullpen, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Funderburk has a 1.59 ERA and 6:1 K:BB ratio in 5.2 innings this spring. Analysis: It's odd that Funderburk is on the roster bubble considering he's having a strong spring and coming off a strong second half. He had a 2.61 ERA and a 21:8 K:BB ratio in 20.2 innings after the All-Star break last year. Still, he's seen as behind veterans Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda and Andrew Chafin. It seems unlikely the Twins would have four left-handed relievers in the bullpen, so Funderburk may be the odd man out. A trade of one of the lefty relievers also seems like a possibility.
Ryan Kreidler Ryan Kreidler Could win roster spot Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 10:59 PM Kreidler appears to be the leading candidate to win a utility infield role with the Twins, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. Analysis: He'd made the team based on his glove as he's hit just .138/.208/.176 over parts of four major-league seasons and is only a career .236/.342/.401 hitter in the minors. The Twins don't have a clear backup shortstop on the roster, so Kreidler is battling Orlando Arcia for the backup shortstop role.
Alan Roden Alan Roden Hot spring may not win roster spot Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 10:55 PM Roden went 2-for-5 in Friday's Grapefruit loss to Boston. Despite hitting .323 (10 for 31) with a home run this spring, both Matthew Leach of MLB.com and The Athletic project Roden to not make the Opening Day roster. Analysis: James Outman is having a strong spring and is out of options, so it's thought the Twins will send Roden to the minors to begin the season. However, the Twins outfield situation is still in flux. The team has too many left-handed hitting outfielders and a trade late in spring training seems possible. Roden could still win a role as a strong-side platoon player in left field if he wins a spot over Outman.
Mick Abel Mick Abel Ends scoreless streak Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 10:47 PM Abel gave up two earned runs over 3.1 innings with four strikeouts and one walk Friday, ending a ten-inning scoreless streak. He has a 1.35 ERA with a17:1 K:BB ratio in 13.1 innings this spring. Analysis: Abel is likely competing with Zebby Matthews for the fifth starter role. It was his first speed bump in otherwise stellar spring. A high walk rate (6.5 BB/9 in the majors last season) has been a problem, so his great control this spring is encouraging. He's making a strong case to begin the season in the rotation, but he'll likely be the odd man out since he has minor league options left. Still the competition between him and Matthews will likely come down to the final week of spring training.
Liam Hendriks Liam Hendriks Throws scoreless inning Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 11:12 PM Hendriks (elbow) threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout Thursday and has a 2.25 ERA and 2:2 K:BB ratio in four innings this spring. He averaged 93.6 mph on the six fastballs he threw during the outing. Analysis: Hendriks has looked healthy this spring but his velocity is down from a 94.9 mph average fastball in 2025 and 95.4 mph in 2023. It's not clear if Hendriks will even make the Opening Day roster at this point, but he's still potentially in the closer mix. Still, the signs for Hendriks are encouraging after undergoing right elbow ulnar nerve transposition with posterior interosseous nerve release surgery in September.
James Outman James Outman In OF mix with hot spring Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 5:38 PM Outman is hitting .280 (7-for-25) with two home runs and six stolen bases this spring. He remains in the mix to win a spot on the major league roster though the outfield competition is still unsettled, The Athletic reports. Analysis: Outman is out of minor league options which could help his case to win a final roster spot. The Twins have a glut of left-handed outfielders, however, which could hurt his case. Outman is likely competing with Alan Roden for the final spot. Outman looked like a potential star in 2023 when he hit 23 home runs as a rookie in 151 games with a .790 OPS (and a 117+ wRC+), but he has struggled since. He hit just .147 with a .558 OPS and four home runs in 37 games after he was traded to the Twins last season. If he makes the roster in a reserve role, he could be a source of stolen bases for deep leagues.
Austin Martin Austin Martin Still in OF mix Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 5:24 PM Martin went 0-for-3 in Thursday's win over Boston and is hitting just .231 (6-for-21) with three stolen bases this spring. Despite the lackluster spring, he's still seen as making the final roster and getting regular time as a platoon option in left field, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. Analysis: Martin is a right-handed batter in a left-handed heavy outfield, so he'll likely work on the short side of a platoon in left field to begin the season. Martin has also had some playing time at second base this spring, so he could get some time there as well in a limited bench role. Martin got regular duty the final two months last season and made the most of it by hitting .282 with a 113 wRC+. While he lacks power, he had 11 stolen bases in just 50 games in the majors last season.
Bailey Ober Bailey Ober Velocity remains down Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 2:23 PM Ober allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out two over 2.2 innings during Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. According to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic, the right-hander averaged 88.8 mph with his fastball. Analysis: Ober's fastball was sitting in the lower 90s early in camp, but it averaged 89.9 mph during his spring debut last week and ticked even lower Thursday. The 30-year-old's average velocity of 90.3 mph in 2025 was a career low as he struggled to a career-worst 5.10 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, and the trend so far in spring training is a concerning development.
Cole Sands Cole Sands Remains in closer competition Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 3:30 PM Twins manager Derek Shelton said he has no idea who his closer will be this season, but Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports that Sands is still a possibility. "I'm still trying to figure it out. Sometimes, that's the answer where you're trying not to answer it," Shelton said. "I've probably done that before. But right now, I'm trying to figure it out. I don't think we have an idea of what's going to happen." Analysis: We wouldn't read too much into this report as Sands is one of a handful of candidates to close game or share a committee along with Taylor Rogers, Liam Hendriks, Justin Topa and a series of lefties including Anthony Banda and Andrew Chafin, but he has a chance to finish games. Sands had a breakout season as a reliever in 2024, but he took a step back last season with just a 21.4 percent strikeout rate, down from 29.1 percent. Sands has given up three runs in five innings with a 4:2 K:BB this spring.
David Festa David Festa Expected to begin season on IL Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 3:20 PM Festa (shoulder) remains out and is expected to begin the season on the injured list, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. Analysis: Festa was shut down in late February due to a shoulder impingement and received an injection to address the injury. At first it was thought he'd only be shut down a few weeks, but this report makes it sound like he'll be out much longer since he hasn't started any significant activity.
Julian Merryweather Julian Merryweather Begins running Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 3:13 PM Merryweather (hamstring) played catch Wednesday and did some running in front of the training staff, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. Analysis: Merryweather suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain Feb. 24 and was expected to need about 3-to-4 weeks to recover. It looks like he's candidate to begin the season on the injured list but still has time to be ready for Opening Day.
Joe Ryan Joe Ryan Makes spring debut Tue, Mar 10, 2026, 9:32 PM Ryan (back) threw three scoreless innings in his spring debut Tuesday with two walks and no strikeouts. "We'll talk and check in this week and see where we're at, but I think things are looking pretty good," Ryan said of his chances to pitch in the WBC according to Declan Goff of SKOR North. Analysis: Ryan said his back felt good during the outing where he threw 48 pitches. It remains to be seen if he'll join Team USA for the second round of the WBC, but it sounds like he has a good chance to be ready for Opening Day. Ryan was scratched ahead of his first scheduled spring start Feb. 21 when he experienced tightness on the right side of his back. An MRI revealed only inflammation and he was able to begin throwing soon afterward.
Gabriel Gonzalez Gabriel Gonzalez Sent to minor-league camp Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 4:27 PM The Twins optioned Gonzalez to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday. Analysis: Gonzalez was one of nine players sent out of big-league camp in the Twins' latest round of roster cuts. Minnesota added the 22-year-old outfielder to the 40-man roster this offseason after he slashed .329/.395/.513 with 15 home runs and eight steals across stops with High-A Cedar Rapids, Double-A Wichita and St. Paul. Gonzalez is likely on track to make his MLB debut at some point in 2026, and his bat will be the key to him gaining a long-term foothold in the Minnesota lineup. He's a below-average defender who was moved off center field early in his minor-league career and is limited to a corner spot or designated hitter.
Andrew Morris Andrew Morris Dispatched to minors Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 4:17 PM The Twins optioned Morris to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday. Analysis: Morris was one of nine players sent out of big-league camp in the Twins' latest round of roster cuts. Minnesota added the 24-year-old righty to the 40-man roster this offseason after he accrued a 4.09 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 89:28 K:BB across 94.2 innings with St. Paul in 2025. Morris will slot into a rotation spot with St. Paul to begin the upcoming season and could be in line to make his MLB debut at some point later this summer.
Connor Prielipp Connor Prielipp Fails to crack Opening Day roster Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 4:14 PM The Twins optioned Prielipp to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday. Analysis: Prielipp was one of nine players sent out of big-league camp in the Twins' latest round of roster cuts. Minnesota added the 25-year-old southpaw to the 40-man roster this offseason after he accrued a 4.03 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 98:31 K:BB across 82.2 innings between stops with St. Paul and Double-A Wichita.
Marco Raya Marco Raya Sent out of big-league camp Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 4:12 PM The Twins optioned Raya to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday. Analysis: Raya was one of nine players sent out of big-league camp in the Twins' latest round of roster cuts. The 23-year-old right-hander is entering his second season as a member of Minnesota's 40-man roster but is still waiting to make his MLB debut. After logging a 6.02 ERA and 1.63 WHIP across 98.2 innings in his 30 appearances (20 starts) for St. Paul in 2025, Raya is expected to serve as a full-time reliever for the Triple-A club during the 2026 season.
Emmanuel Rodriguez Emmanuel Rodriguez Cut from big-league camp Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 4:09 PM The Twins optioned Rodriguez to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday. Analysis: Rodriguez was one of nine players sent out of big-league camp in the Twins' latest round of roster cuts. The 23-year-old outfielder is entering his third season as a member of Minnesota's 40-man roster but is still waiting to make his MLB debut. He was slowed by injuries throughout the 2025 campaign, playing just 52 games at the Triple-A level while slashing .258/.429/.423 with six home runs and nine stolen bases across 212 plate appearances.
Kendry Rojas Kendry Rojas Dispatched to minors Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 4:07 PM The Twins optioned Rojas to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday. Analysis: Rojas was one of nine players sent out of big-league camp in the Twins' latest round of roster cuts. Minnesota added the 23-year-old southpaw to the 40-man roster this offseason after he impressed across four levels between his time in the Blue Jays and Twins organizations in 2025, finishing with a 4.70 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 90:32 K:BB in 69 innings.
Byron Buxton Byron Buxton Returns to Team USA lineup Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 3:13 PM Buxton (elbow) will start in center field and bat eighth in Monday's World Baseball Classic game versus Team Mexico. Analysis: Buxton was pulled from Friday's contest versus Team Brazil after being hit on the right elbow by a pitch. He did not play Saturday against Team Great Britain, but Buxton is fine and ready to roll for Monday's tilt.