Projected Twins starting lineup and pitcher vs. Gophers (February 23, 2024)
Twins baseball is back, as Spring Training kicks off against the Minnesota Gophers on Friday.
Spring hasn't yet sprung, but the Minnesota Twins are down in Fort Myers getting ready to hopefully barrell even deeer into October than last season.
Last year saw the team's best postseason run since 2002, as the miserable 19-year losing streak ended and there was brief hope that the Twins could mount a World Series journey. It wasn't met to be, but the foundation for true contention this season was seemingly laid.
That's what we're hoping to probe this spring, as Twins failed to meaningfully improve the lineup with external moves but have plenty of talent coming up that could counteract the inactivity. We're still in the infancy of Spring Training but all eyes are on Brooks Lee and whether he can convince the team he deserves a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Austin Martin is also another prospect with high expectations. More so than Lee, Martin projects to be an important past of the lineup this year adding depth in the outfield and giving Minnesota a right-handed bat it's been looking for since last trade deadline.
Minnesota Twins starting lineup vs. Minnesota Gophers (February 23, 2024)
Friday marks the unofficial start of the Twins Spring Training schedule. Minnesota has action on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a game that most consider to be the first game of their spring slate, but that's a tremendous dismissal of the team's exhibition game against the University of Minnesota.
It's a cool crossover game, with the Gophers heading down to Fort Myers following four games in the Baseball Classic to start their season. Friday's game won't count for anyone, but it'll serve as a nice tune up for both squads.
For the Twins, it means running out some players we've all been waiting to get a good look at.
Here's a look at the first lineup of the Twins season ahead of Friday's Spring Training exhibition game against the Gophers.
Batting Order | Player | Position |
|---|---|---|
1 | Brooks Lee | SS |
2 | Christian Vazquez | C |
3 | Matt Wallner | LF |
4 | Jose Miranda | DH |
5 | Trevor Larnach | RF |
6 | Emmanuel Rodriguez | CF |
7 | Yunior Severino | 1B |
8 | Nikko Goodrum | 2B |
9 | Michael Helman | 3B |
SP | Chris Paddack | SP |
Chris Paddack will make his first start since coming back from an injury that wiped out almost all of his 2023 campaign. Paddack re-joined the Twins late in the year and played in the postseason, but he figures to be a big piece of the puzzle this year.
The lineup is packed full of up-and-comers who Twins fans will be getting their first good look at. Yunior Severino lit up Triple-A with his power last year, while Emmanuel Rodriguez is someone we've seen before but might be seeing a lot more of in the near future.
And then there's Brooks Lee, who is talking what could be his first steps toward earning a spot on the MLB roster.
If nothing else, Friday means the Twins are officially back in our lives the game serves as a mini celebration of Minnesota baseball to boot.
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