After his breakout 2025 season, Kody Clemens appears to be the Twins’ presumptive starting first baseman in 2026. While there’s good reason to believe he can continue to produce, the team would be better off if he were pushed into a utility role.

Clemens had a lackluster career before the Phillies traded him to the Twins for cash in April. He had a high strikeout rate and a low walk rate, without the requisite power to make up for them. To make matters worse, he was 29 years old, so there wasn’t much reason to expect a turnaround. Yet, the son of one of the game’s greatest pitchers became a bright spot in an ugly season for Minnesota.

Why Clemens Can Continue to Rake
Clemens improved his walk rate a bit, but the main change that drove his improvement was a 2-mph increase in bat speed, which took him from below-average to average. Swinging harder led to upticks in his Barrel rate, hard-hit rate, and other batted-ball quality metrics.

These metrics show that his production was not a fluke, and there’s a chance he can replicate it. Notably, his .331 xwOBA was above-average, outpacing his actual results, suggesting some positive regression to come.

It’s easy to understand why Clemens is a big part of the Twins’ vision for 2026. Beyond the offense, he was also an excellent defender at first base—and has been throughout his career, making it even more sensible for him to take over the position. In the best-case scenario for the team, though, he would occupy a smaller role.

Red Flags in the Second Half
While Clemens had the best year of his career in 2025, there were some negatives in it. For one, while the metrics suggest his performance is sustainable, he dropped off in the second half. It’s possible that the chaotic trade deadline impacted him. He was atrocious in August, right after the deadline, indicating that that theory may have some merit.

Beyond the raw numbers falling, he also saw his hard-hit rate dip in the second half, which is a real cause for concern. In addition to his poor second half, Clemens is also a player with as steep a dropoff against same-sided pitching as you’ll see. Put simply, he cannot hit lefties at all.

This limitation will force Derek Shelton to pinch-hit for him early in games, leading to whoever his platoon partner is at first being burned early and having to face a nasty righty later in the game. Given his second-half struggles and inability to hit left-handed pitchers, planning on Clemens at first base should not be the plan.

The Right Role for Clemens
As you’d imagine, a 29-year-old journeyman whom the Twins got in exchange for cash has limitations. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a helpful player as they try to improve on their mess of a 2025.

Clemens can hit righties for power, and his batted-ball data indicates that will continue. He can also defend at an average or better level at first, in the corner outfield spots, and at second base. The Twins should put him in a position to succeed by making the necessary roster moves to have him serve as a utility man. That means adding a first baseman, whether through free agency or trade.

Doing so will allow Clemens to thrive and take pressure off him to keep hitting in 2026. The new first baseman would slot into the middle of the lineup, and Clemens could move to the bottom third. Beyond that, should Clemens continue to hit, he can slot in at second or left field, should Alan Roden or Luke Keaschall struggle.

As we’ve seen with Willi Castro, a utility man who can hit is very valuable for a team. Their presence maximizes everybody else’s impact. That’s the role that Clemens should be in, rather than being one of the league’s worst-hitting first basemen. 

Would you like to see Kody Clemens as a first baseman, utility man, or something else for Minnesota in 2026?