As the calendar turns to September, the Minnesota Twins will shift their focus from the current season's standings to the future composition of their roster. The annual expansion of active rosters from 26 to 28 players, which includes a limit of 14 pitchers, offers a valuable opportunity for evaluation. For a team out of playoff contention, these callups are not about providing reinforcements for a pennant race but are instead crucial auditions for 2026. The two players added must already be on the 40-man roster, making the decisions a strategic look at who is closest to contributing.
Who will the Twins promote to the big leagues this September?
On the pitching side, the most significant addition may likely be a familiar face: the return of Pablo López from the injured list. His starts would be geared toward re-establishing his health and rhythm ahead of a sure-to-be unpredictable offseason from the front office. David Festa could get another start or two. The Twins have several options to filter through their bullpen. Arms like Pierson Ohl and Travis Adams, who have shuttled between St. Paul and Minneapolis, are logical candidates to provide innings and give the high-leverage relievers a rest. A more intriguing option would be to give top prospect Marco Raya a brief cameo. A few low-pressure major league appearances would allow Raya to get his feet wet, providing the organization with an in-game look at his development against the highest level of competition.
For the position player spot, the decision will reveal the front office's priorities. If the goal is simply depth, adding catcher Jhonny Pereda to spell Ryan Jeffers would be a practical move if the Twins keep Christian Vasquez on the IL. A callup for infielder Jose Miranda may serve as a final evaluation to see if he's in the team's 2026 plans. However, the most compelling choice would be promoting top outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez. While DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Carson McCusker have been up and represent safer depth options, promoting Rodriguez would generate excitement and give the organization a critical look at a potential cornerstone player.
Non-40-man players like Kyler Fedko, Walker Jenkins, Aaron Sabato or my guy Payton Eeles have had strong seasons and would bring curiosity. The procedural hurdle of adding them to the roster makes their promotion somewhat unlikely, but not impossible. Ultimately, the Twins' September choices will be a clear signal of their intentions, using the expanded roster not for a final push, but as the first step in building their next competitive team.