Now in the month of March, the Minnesota Twins will play baseball games that count in a matter of weeks. Hopefully they turn things up a notch, as the Grapefruit League record currently stands at a paltry 2-8.

As we continue to barrel down the path towards Opening Day, Derek Shelton will need to continue making roster decisions. The 26-man collection must be assembled prior to first pitch in Baltimore on March 26.

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Latest MN Twins cuts include top prospect

We’re still early enough in Spring Training where the roster cuts are largely prospect related. There shouldn’t be much expectation for controversial or surprise moves at this point. That belief certainly tracks with the latest round of roster moves. Minnesota now has 59 players left in camp.

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Andrew Cossetti, Ricardo Olivar, and Christian MacLeod are all depth prospects. Raul Brito has pitched in 221 games across nine minor league seasons, but the 28-year-old has never made it to the big leagues. He was in Triple-A with the San Diego Padres last season.

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Obviously the most notable name is Walker Jenkins. He was never going to make the big league roster for Opening Day. However, his hamstring injury cost him multiple weeks of readiness, and also takes away the opportunity to remain in big league camp.

Jenkins got just seven at bats in Grapefruit League action. He’s now injured at the same time he was dealing with an ankle problem last spring. Injuries have been a bugaboo. This one isn’t expected to be long term, but he needs to get back on the field, stay healthy, and make a case for promotion from St. Paul.

If there was a somewhat surprising name to be sent packing so soon, it would be Andrew Bash. I pegged him as a potential fringe arm to make the bullpen. He was Buffalo’s (Toronto Triple-A) best pitcher last season, and posted a 2.57 ERA across 84 innings.

Bash was a non-roster invitee, but he’s still a guy that should be worth watching in St. Paul. When the MN Twins need to shuffle their relief core, he could put together a resume worthy of consideration.

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Royce Lewis returns for Minnesota Twins

After Royce Lewis underwent an MRI following some tightness in his right side, the Minnesota Twins gave him a few days of rest. There was nothing indicated on the MRI, and he was back in the lineup on Tuesday. Lewis also played in a back-to-back Wednesday while batting fourth and playing as the designated hitter.

Minnesota’s lineup will go this season, largely in the same vein as Lewis does. The Twins need their slugger to be the threat he wasn’t last season. After an 83 OPS+ over 106 games last year, Lewis hired a private hitting coach and wants to recreate the 149 OPS+ from 2023.

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If Lewis can rebound, he’ll be a dangerous bat in the middle of the order. Shelton is leaning on his holdover players to do the heavy lifting. Lewis is among those being counted upon most.

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