We've finally reached the end of Spring Training. Over a month of shaking off the rust and getting ready for the start of a new season culminates today with the final game that doesn't count with just a few days separating us from when they do.
Opening Day is on Thursday, and the Minnesota Twins will be in Kansas City to being the season against the Royals. Before we get the team breaks camp, though, there's still one more game left to be played.
It's easy to just brush today's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates off as nothing more than the last game that doesn't count -- which is technically is. Minnesota needs to iron a few things out before the season begins in a few days, and this last game of the spring could help determine a few things about the roster moving forward.
It was recently revealed that Alex Kirilloff and Jorge Polanco will start the season on the injured list, meaning there's a few gaps in the lineup that must be filled. Replacing Kirilloff at first base is a little more complicated than replacing Polanco at second, but that all still impacts things short-term for the 26-man roster.
Minnesota Twins lineup today (March 27, 2023)
Here's a look at the Minnesota Twins lineup as they prepare to close out Spring Training against the Pirates
- Donovan Solano, DH
- Jose Miranda, 3B
- Christian Vazquez, C
- Max Kepler, RF
- Joey Gallo, 1B
- Trevor Larnach, LF
- Nick Gordon, CF
- Edouard Julien, 2B
- Hernán Pérez, SS
Gallo playing first could be a sneak peek at how he might start the season in terms of where he slides into the lineup. Donovan Solano, Nick Gordon, and Kyle Farmer are likely going to platoon at second base while Polanco gets healthy and the hope is that he'll make us debut before May.
Jose Miranda is a candidate to spend time at first base with Kirilloff out, which would mean Farmer seeing more time in the lineup at third base. One guy who was on the roster bubble that now seems like a fit for the Opening Day roster is Trevor Larnach who can fill in out in leftfield if Gallo is needed at first.
There's also Edouard Julien to consider as well. He remains a bubble player heading into the final game of Spring Training but it doesn't sound like he'll get the call even if he could help the situation at second base. What that means is this could be the last time we get to see Edouard with the big league lineup until he gets called up later in the season.