For the first time in three years the Minnesota Twins are playing postseason baseball, but it's the 18 year losing streak that everyone is zeroed in on.
Minnesota hasn't won a playoff game since 2004, when the team went up 2-0 on the New York Yankees in the ALDS. Since then it's been nothing but misery for fans in Twins Territory, and the streak is something that hangs over everyone's head as the team embarks on another postseason journey.
As cliche as it sounds, this Twins team finally feels different. Pitching is a strength, which has been an endless search since the days of Ron Gardenhire, and the offense is heating up after hitting some rough patches throughout the season. A youth movement led by Royce Lewis and Edouard Julien has lifted the offense and created excitement heading into a postseason matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Not for nothing, but Twins have a 4-1 record against the Blue Jays in October, having played them in the ALCS on their way to winning the 1991 World Series. Let's not get that far ahead of ourselves, though, as Twins fans would settle for a single win after having watched nearly two decades of winless postseason baseball.
Almost nobody on the Twins roster is associated with the 18 year losing streak, and the roster Rocco Baldelli is taking with him to the AL Wild Card feels primed to finally get over the hump.
Minnesota Twins playoff roster 2023: AL Wild Card lineup and rotation
Unlike what teams could do in September, rosters will need to roll back to just 26 players and cut out the two extra players allowed in the final month of the season. What complicated matters for the Twins was injuries to key players like Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton -- both of whom were questionable for the Wild Card round.
Carlos Correa had been on the IL since September 20th, but was activated and guaranteed a spot on the roster.
Here's a look at what the Twins playoff roster will look like after Rocco Baldelli officially announced things on Tuesday morning.
Infield
Player | Position |
|---|---|
Alex Kirilloff | 1B |
Edouard Julien | 2B |
Jorge Polanco | 2B |
Royce Lewis | 3B |
Carlos Correa | SS |
Kyle Farmer | INF |
Donovan Solano | INF |
Willi Castro | UT |
Ryan Jeffers | C |
Christian Vázquez | C |
Outfield
Player | Position |
|---|---|
Max Kepler | RF |
Michael A. Taylor | CF |
Matt Wallner | LF |
Andrew Stevenson | OF |
Pitchers
Player | Position |
|---|---|
Pablo Lopez | SP |
Sonny Gray | SP |
Joe Ryan | SP |
Kenta Maeda | RP |
Brock Stewart | RP |
Chris Paddack | RP |
Griffin Jax | RP |
Emilio Pagan | RP |
Caleb Thielbar | RP |
Kody Funderburk | RP |
Louie Varland | RP |
Jhoan Duran | RP |