A series of cuts over the weekend, including some rather surprising ones, brought further clarity to the expected Opening Day roster for the Twins. It feels safe to say that at least 23 or 24 spots are accounted for, with some lingering uncertainty at a few positions heading into the final days of camp. 

This will be our last update on spring training usage, highlighting who’s played where and who’s pitched when over the past seven days (Monday through Sunday). As the Twins prepare themselves for the start of meaningful action on Thursday, let’s see what we can deduce from Derek Shelton‘s decision-making.

(Total spring starts are listed next to each player; starts in the past week are in parentheses.)

Catcher

The Twins used a traditional two-catcher rotation, and Jackson did not get any starts as the Twins reportedly shop him around.

First Base

Bell still leads the team in starts at first base, but made only one in the past week. Will he be there on Opening Day? I assume it’ll be either him or Caratini against lefty Trevor Rogers, with the other at DH.

Second Base

Keaschall batted leadoff on Sunday in a lineup that sure seemed like a regular-season tune up. A sign of things to come? His skill set is an obvious fit.

Third Base

It would have been convenient if Urshela accepted an assignment to Triple-A, where he could wait on hand as third-base depth behind the oft-injured Lewis, but he chose to re-enter the open market instead. The fact that Arcia has made only one 3B start all spring is, to me, an indicator that he’s not making the team, because if he does he’ll be the top backup there. Wouldn’t you want to get a little more of a look at now his skills and reactions play? 

Shortstop

Brooks Lee: 18x (5x)

Orlando Arcia: 5x 

Tristan Gray: 4x (1x) 

Ryan Kreidler: 3x 

Lee has made four more starts at shortstop this spring than anyone else has made at any single position — a fitting reflection of Minnesota’s deeply lacking depth.

Left Field

Martin returned to the lineup on Sunday after a concussion scare earlier in the week sidelined him for a few days. He’s going to start in left fielder against left-handed pitchers (including on Opening Day) and he’ll be a handy asset on the bench. The question is how much he can expand his role beyond that. Roden was optioned to Triple-A on Sunday, ensuring that Outman will make the Opening Day roster as fourth outfielder.

Center Field

James Outman: 8x (2x) 

Alan Roden: 7x (2x)

Byron Buxton: 6x (2x)

Austin Martin: 5x 

Ryan Kreidler: 2x 

Walker Jenkins: 1x

Emmanuel Rodriguez: 1x

Buxton returned to the starting lineup on Friday after his run with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, where he played … somewhat sparsely. It would come as no surprise if he takes a little extra time to consistently find his timing compared to some others. “I need at-bats,” Buxton said over the weekend. “I’m not off. I feel like I’m a couple of clicks off, but it ain’t nothing where I’m worried.”

Right Field

Matt Wallner: 13x (3x)

Alan Roden: 6x 

Trevor Larnach: 4x 

James Outman: 2x

Ryan Kreidler: 2x (1x)

Austin Martin: 1x (1x)

Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x

Kyler Fedko: 1x (1x)

It’s been a great spring for Wallner, who’s swinging a hot bat and looking solid defensively in right. He’s primed to be the starting right fielder in almost every game, regardless of matchup. 

Designated Hitter

Josh Bell: 8x (3x)

Matt Wallner: 4x (1x)

Trevor Larnach: 4x (1x)

Gio Urshela: 3x 

Royce Lewis: 2x 

Byron Buxton: 2x

Alex Jackson: 1x (1x)

Victor Caratini: 1x

Ryan Jeffers: 1x

Luke Keaschall: 1x

Emmanuel Rodriguez: 1x

Gabriel Gonzalez: 1x

Hendry Mendez: 1x

Bell has started at first base more than anyone else this spring, but he’s also gotten twice as many DH starts as anybody else. I don’t know how much meaning to attach to that but I tentatively expect we’ll most often see him at DH and Clemens at 1B against right-handers.

The Pitching Carousel
Last week I noted that both Liam Hendriks and Andrew Chafin were often among the first relievers entering games, meaning that they were getting chances to face relatively legitimate spring competition. When you see that trend, you can conclude that either: A) they’re gearing up for high-leverage roles and the team wants them primed for those match-ups, or B) they’re being closely evaluated and the team wants to see them against the best hitters possible.

It turns out that it was the latter, and through this assessment, neither was deemed up to snuff. Both Hendriks and Chafin were granted their releases on Friday, with team officials citing their lack of consistency as the cause. I can give the Twins some credit for being honest with themselves and not simply deferring to veteran status, but it leaves the bullpen pretty light on bullpen depth and experience. 

Here’s how the pitcher usage sequences played out in six games over the past week.

Monday: Joe Ryan, Anthony Banda, Cole Sands, Justin Topa, Chafin, Kody Funderburk 

Tuesday: Bailey Ober, Hendriks, Eric Orze, Zak Kent

Thursday: Mick Abel, (Luis Quiñones), Hendriks, Dan Altavilla, Matt Bowman

Friday: Simeon Woods Richardson, Topa, Banda, Taylor Rogers, Sands

Saturday: Ryan, Orze, Altavilla, Cody Laweryson

Sunday: Taj Bradley, (Logan Whitaker), Funderburk, Bowman, Trent Baker

Ryan is lined up to start against the Orioles in the season opener on Thursday. From there, it looks like he’ll be followed by Bradley, Ober, Abel and Woods Richardson. Zebby Matthews was optioned to Triple-A on Friday, where he will stand by as the next man up.It sure looks like Altavilla is going to make the team, but the leverage hierarchy is still a bit tricky to figure out. Topa might be the closer?

Share your thoughts on final roster decisions and emerging roles as we head into the final days of spring camp.