Minnesota Twins Sunday Wrap-Up: 3 Questions as Spring Training winds Down

It’s Sunday again in Twins Territory, and with just nine games left over the next week and a half, the beginning of the Minnesota Twins’ season is right around the corner. The roster is mostly in place, and with the team continuing to make roster moves, the picture is almost in place.

Despite more players in motion and more games played, there are still a lot of questions that remain. With a lot more key positions up in the air, we start of this week’s Sunday Wrap-Up with a look at 3 Questions that remain with a couple weeks to go.

Minnesota Twins Spring Training Questions for the last Two Weeks:

Question Number One was originally supposed to be a pretty simple one to answer: Who starts in left field? If Alex Kirilloff looked ready, he would be starting day one. He would be the guy, unless the Twins changed their minds on service time.

Things are different now. Kirilloff, despite getting most of the opportunities in left field, has struggled to make contact, slashing .129/.182/.258. Yikes. In the meantime, Brent Rooker is slashing .381/.391/.667 and Kyle Garlick is slashing .375/.393/.917 with four homers.

Obviously, Kirilloff is the long-term answer at the position, but Rooker was a very good prospect in his own right. Kyle Garlick has a good argument as the depth guy, especially with how Jake Cave has been performing, but probably won’t make it right away.

My predicted answer? Probably Rooker. He’s simply been too good not to at least get a chance to play. Let Rooker start, let Kirilloff take a little more time in Triple-AAA, let Garlick, Cave, and Broxton fight it out for the fourth spot.

Question two is a little tougher. What to do with Lewis Thorpe? Thorpe has been absolutely excellent this year, and deserves a spot in the bullpen. Can he show enough to stick with Randy Dobnak around?

This answer is complicated, because there aren’t enough spots for everyone, but the easy solution is that he should be on the roster. One of the only left-handed options available for the Twins to use, if he can prove he still has it. He belongs around.

Lastly, the bullpen is still a question mark as well. Hansel Robles, Tyler Duffey, and Alex Colome are all locks. So are Caleb Thielbar, Taylor Rogers, and Jorge Alcala. Counting the five starters, that’s eleven pitchers.

If the Twins choose to carry thirteen pitchers, that means Randy Dobnak, Lewis Thorpe, Cody Stashak, and all of the minor-leaguer free agents are competing for two spots. You have to assume Dobnak and Thorpe have the edge, but no one is sure how it will lean.

Dobnak, Law, and Farrell currently have a statistical leg up, but that doesn’t mean they’re a lock to make the Minnesota Twins. It’s going to be a interesting final few weeks for these pitchers, and I hope a few players make the decision easier.

Around the Twins: Minnesota Twins Prospects and Performances so Far

• I know last week I gushed over Matt Canterino’s performance last week, but he kept it up in his second appearance, adding more reason that he should get a shot at the majors VERY SOON.
• If you want to know who won’t make the roster, there are some relievers and other players whose poor performances have ensured they won’t start the year with the Minnesota Twins: Chandler Sheperd, Glenn Sparkman, Shaun Anderson, Juan Minaya, Zander Wiel, and Spencer Steer.