As the Twins payroll has decreased, the players not in the starting lineup every day will need to be increasingly valuable. Backup catchers, utility infielders, and corner outfielders will be given crucial at-bats throughout the season due to rest, injuries, or certain pitching matchups. Attempting to predict who will be best off the bench in 2026 is a fun exercise in determining the Opening Day roster of the Twins.

Below you will find a list of players likely competing for a bench role with the 2026 Twins. This list will only include players currently on the 40-man roster. 

Victor Caratini (Out of Options)
Caratini signed a two year, 14-million-dollar contract with the Twins near the end of January and is FanGraphs’ pick to have the most WAR off the bench. The 32-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Astros, and this past year he hit .259/.324/.404 with 12 home runs in 114 games with Houston. His Expected Batting Average (XBA) was lower than what he finished at by a few points, but his Expected Slugging (xSLG) was higher than he ended the season with at .425. Defensively, Caratini is a solid blocker. His blocking run value was 4 in 2026 which was good for 15th in the league. However, Caratini’s throwing and framing were below average. He ranked 34th in the league with -2 catcher framing runs and 80th among catchers in average pop time to second base at 2.05 seconds. The switch-hitter will contribute a league average to slightly below league average bat as the backup to Ryan Jeffers along with some additional DH/first base opportunities, but don’t expect him to throw many people out.

Kody Clemens (Out of Options)
Clemens returns to Minnesota after contributing a slash line of .216/.284/.442 in 112 games after being acquired by the Twins in late April. Clemens hit 19 home runs and appeared at first base, second, and all three outfield spots. His advanced stats backed his play as well. Clemens’ xSLG up at .465 on the year and his average exit velocity was in the 84th percentile of MLB at 91.5 mph. Don’t expect Clemens to hit much against lefties, as he hit .192/.264/.218 off them in 2025, but expect him contribute at several positions in 2026 whether someone needs a rest day or a righty is on the mound.

Austin Martin (one option remaining)
Martin would be my pick to contribute the most from the bench in 2026. In very limited MLB time, he slashed .282/.374/.365 for the Twins last year with 11 stolen bases as well. The former first round pick won’t contribute much to the power department, as he only has two home runs in 143 games played in MLB, but his xSLG finished higher last season at .403. Martin can play left field and center field and could play second base in a pinch as well. While he may not be in the Opening Day lineup, Martin should contribute this year as a late inning defensive outfielder/baserunner and will be in the lineup against lefties, who he hit .346/.404/.481 against in 2025. 

Alan Roden (two options remaining)
The former Creighton Bluejay played in 12 games for the Twins after being acquired from Toronto in the Louis Varland trade last year because of a broken bone in his hand. In the small sample size, he hit .158/.200/.263. Roden is a good defender, finishing with a fielding run value of 3 in 2025 with an above average arm in the 80th percentile of MLB. Roden’s path for playing time is currently blocked by Trevor Larnach, but if he is moved Roden will have to compete with Martin, Clemens, and James Outman for playing time at the corner outfield spots.   

James Outman (Out of Options) 
Similar to Roden, Outman was acquired at the trade deadline from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Brock Stewart trade. He hit .147/.221/.337 in 37 games after being recalled to Minnesota and appeared at all three outfield spots. Outman has the most centerfield experience of this group, giving him an inside track to one of the last bench spots, but he will need to earn it with his bat. Similarly to Roden, his roster spot and playing time are certainly affected by Trevor Larnach.

Tristan Gray (one option remaining) 
Acquired in a February trade with the Red Sox, Gray has only compiled 122 plate appearances at the major league level since his debut in 2023, with most of them coming last season in Tampa Bay. He hit .231/.282/.410, with his better numbers coming against left-handed pitchers. Given that Tampa Bay played their games at Steinbrenner Field last year and that Gray had better numbers there, it would be smart to be cautious to view him as a serious contributor this year. However, advanced hitting measures back up his play. Gray’s xSLG was significantly higher than where he finished at .473 along with his xBA at .257. His average exit velocity and bat speed would be above average as well if he had a qualified number of at bats. While his defense isn’t great with -1 OAA in 2025, Gray has played all four infield spots during his brief MLB career, which would provide helpful versatility from a bench spot.

Eric Wagaman (three options remaining) 
Wagaman was acquired on January 2nd from Miami after playing 140 games for the Fish last year. He hit .250/.296/.378 with nine home runs. His xSLG and xBA were both higher than his actual numbers, and his average exit velocity and squared-up percentage were both above average as well, in the 72nd and 81st percentiles, respectively. Defensively, Wagaman appeared primarily at first base, while also seeing time at third base and the corner outfield spots. Given the depth in front of him at first base, he is most likely behind Martin for now in terms of being a right-handed bench bat, but only the Opening Day roster will tell.

Ryan Kreidler (one option remaining)
Derek Shelton said Saturday that Kreidler “could do both of those and be both of those” when asked about the backup shortstop and centerfield positions on the roster. Kreidler may be a bit of an unknown name, as he was claimed off waivers from the Pirates in the middle of October. Kreidler’s defensive versatility is his calling card; he’s played second, third, short, left, and centerfield at the major league level before. The bat leaves a lot to be desired, as he has a career .138/.208/.176 in 89 games. Kreidler could make the Opening Day roster, but more as a defensive substitution or pinch runner (seven career stolen bases) than a pinch hitter.

Besides these names, other bench options could be veteran non-roster invitees such as Orlando Arcia and Gio Urshela. Hypothetically some of the top prospects in the farm system could make the Opening Day roster as well, like Walker Jenkins (NRI), Kaelen Culpepper (NRI), and Emmanuel Rodriguez (40-man roster, one option remaining), but they will most likely open the year in St. Paul. Regardless, the bench will need to provide meaningful at bats, speed, and solid defense for the Twins to win consistently.