Twins 2024 Opening Day roster projection 1.0: An early look at how things might shake out
By Josh Hill
Twins Opening Day outfield
Player | Position |
|---|---|
Byron Buxton | CF |
Matt Wallner | LF |
Max Kepler | RF |
Austin Martin | INF/OF |
Willi Castro | INF/OF |
Someone is going to get left off the 26-man roster this year, and the likeliest reason is to make room for Austin Martin.
Martin fits the Twins immediate plans more than Lee does, as he adds much-needed depth behind Byron Buxton in center and scratches the team's right-handed hitting outfielder itch. He was added to the 40-man roster last fall to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft but it also felt like a good excuse to bump him into the on-deck circle for getting called up to the majors.
If Martin does get called up, that could mean Willi Castro is on the roster bubble. It'll come down to whether the Twins value depth on the corners of the infield or outfield, which might be Castro's saving grace. Where the Twins have reasonable depth in the infield, the same can't be said for who is playing behind Max Kepler and Matt Wallner.
Trevor Larnach is a wild card to keep an eye on. He's firmly in the same territory as Jose Miranda where Minnesota needs to figure out how he fits into the future, and that could be as corner outfield depth. Again, Castro has the slight edge because of his ability to be a utility infielder in addition to roaming the outfield -- something that also bodes well for Martin getting onto the Opening Day roster.
Notable Twins starting the season in the minors leagues
- Jose Miranda, 1B/3B
- Louie Varland, P
- Brooks Lee, 2B
- Trevor Larnach, OF
- Brent Headrick, P
- Simeon Woods Richardson, P
If we're using a March Madness bracketology analogy then Miranda, Larnach, and Varland would be the first three players on the outside of the roster bubble looking in. Brent Headrick is a dark horse candidate to be in the bullpen but Varland is probably getting that spot before him.
The same goes for Simeon Woods Richardson, who might get called up if someone in the rotation gets injured but he'll have to wait in line behind Varland for that. Brooks Lee can still earn a spot on the Opening Day roster but it's far more likely that he makes his debut the same way Eddy Julien did last year after a veteran infielder goes on the IL.
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