RHP Jorge Alcala
Statistics 2020: 16 games, 2-1, 24 IP, 2.63 ERA, 1.208 whip, 1.1 HR / 9, 3.0 BB / 9, 10.1 K / 9, 0.4 bWAR
Outlook: Often pitched in low leverage situations. If he can keep the walks down, he could stand up for a bigger role.
IN Luis Arraez
Statistics 2020: 32 games, .321 / .364 / .402, 112 OPS +, 0.9 bWAR, 121 PA, 16 R, 0 HR, 13 RBI, 0 SB, 11 K.
Outlook: Second baseman starting once may see more time in the left field than anywhere else. We know he can beat and has a career .331 / .390 / .429 slash line.
C Willians Astudillo
Statistics 2020: 8 games, .250 / .250 / .500, 100 OPS +, 0.0 bWAR, 16 PA, 4 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 2 K.
Outlook: A valuable bench piece that can secure in almost any position and will do so again in 2021. There are seven walks and 13 strikes in 317 career record appearances.
RHP Jose Berrios
Statistics 2020: 12 games started, 5-4, 63 IP, 4.00 ERA, 1.317 whip, 1.1 HR / 9, 3.7 BB / 9, 9.7 K / 9, 0.7 bWAR
Outlook: Starter # 2 has been pretty consistent over the past three years. He threw 200 1/3 innings in 2019 and made the All-Star game in 2018 and ’19.
BY Byron Buxton
Statistics 2020: 39 games, .254 / .267 / .577, 124 OPS +, 2.1 bWAR, 135 PA, 19 R, 13 HR, 27 RBI, 2 SB, 36 K.
Outlook: In the shortened 2020 season, Buxton set career highs for slugging percentage and OPS +. Health has always been a key, but he’s an elite defender and one of the fastest, if not the fastest, players in MLB. Your start center fielder.
BY Jake Cave
Statistics 2018: 42 games, .221 / .285 / .389, 84 OPS +, 0.2 bWAR, 123 PA, 17 R, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 0 SB, 44 K.
Outlook: Can play all three outfield positions and could be the left starting field player until Alex Kirilloff is back on the team.
RHP Alex Colome
Statistics for 2020 (with White Sox): 21 games, 2-0, 12 saves, 22.1 IP, 0.81 ERA, 0.940 whip, 0.0 HR / 9, 3.2 BB / 9, 6.4 K / 9, 1.0 bWAR
Outlook: Closer for Chicago had 42 saves in the last two seasons and 138 in his career, including 47 in 2017 for Tampa Bay. Has a career whip of 1,117. Should get lots of savings.
DH Nelson Cruz
Statistics 2020: 53 games, .303 / .397 / .595, 169 OPS +, 1.8 bWAR, 214 PA, 33 R, 16 HR, 33 RBI, 0 SB, 58 K.
Outlook: Turns 41 on July 1st … and shows no signs of slowing down. Had beaten over 500 for eight consecutive seasons and hit over 37 HR in each season from 2014-19.
RHP Randy Dobnak
Statistics 2020: 10 games started, 6-4, 46.2 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1.350 whip, 0.6 HR / 9, 2.5 BB / 9, 5.2 K / 9, 0.4 bWAR
Outlook: The groundball pitcher had a great spring with an increase in the number of strikers. Strange man in rotation at the moment, but should get some spot starts in addition to his role as Long Reliever.
3B Josh Donaldson
Statistics 2020: 28 games, .222 / .373 / .469, 131 OPS +, 0.5 bWAR, 102 PA, 14 R, 6 HR, 11 RBI, 0 SB, 24 K.
Outlook: After a rough, injury-ridden first season with Twins, Donaldson is looking to get back to 2019 shape as he completed 37 home races for Atlanta.
RHP Tyler Duffey
Statistics 2020: 22 games, 1-1, 24 IP, 1.88 ERA, 0.792 whip, 0.8 HR / 9, 2.3 BB / 9, 11.6 K / 9, 0.7 bWAR
Outlook: Reliable setup man has slowly changed his arsenal this off-season. He has hit 12.5 batters per nine innings for the past two years.
BY Kyle Garlick
Statistics 2020 (with Phillies): 12 games, .136 / .174 / .182, -4 OPS +, -0.4 bWAR, 23 PA, 0R, 0HR, 3RBI, 0SB, 7K
Outlook: The 29-year-old, who was called on in February for exemptions from Atlanta, had a big spring and hit five home runs to secure a roster spot. Can play both corner fields and probably your starter in left field against left-handed pitchers.
C Mitch Garver
Statistics 2020: 23 games, .167 / .247 / .264, 42 OPS +, 0.0 bWAR, 81 PA, 8 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 27 K.
Outlook: After 31 homers in 93 games in 2019, Garver was named a full-time starter. The injuries robbed Garver for most of the already shortened season. He’s backstop number 1 again.
LHP YES Happ
Statistics for 2020 (with Yankees): 9 games started, 2-2, 49.1 IP, 3.47 ERA, 1.054 whip, 1.5 HR / 9, 2.7 BB / 9, 7.7 K / 9, 1.2 bWAR
Outlook: The veteran, who is entering his 15th season, doesn’t put many runners on the base, but neither does he eat up many innings – his career high was 195 in Toronto in 2016. Should the twins give their first consistently decent left-handed rotation for an entire season since … Tommy Milone in 2015? Scott Diamond in 2012? Francisco Liriano in 2010?
C Ryan Jeffers
Statistics 2020: 26 games, .273 / .355 / .436, 121 OPS +, 0.4 bWAR, 62 PA, 5R, 3HR, 7RBI, 0SB, 19K
Outlook: The previous second-round election in 2018, which was first called to the majors last year, appears to have cemented number 2 in the second round.
BY Max Kepler
Statistics 2020: 48 games, .228 / .321 / .439, 110 OPS +, 1.1 bWAR, 196 PA, 27 R, 9 HR, 23 RBI, 3 SB, 36 K.
Outlook: Had a breakout year (36 HR) in 2019 and will continue to be Minnesota’s starting player and perhaps continue his role as the Twins’ leadoff hitter.
RHP Kenta Maeda
Statistics 2020: 11 games started, 6-1, 66.2 IP, 2.70 ERA, 0.750 whip, 1.2 HR / 9, 1.4 BB / 9, 10.8 K / 9, 1.4 bWAR
Outlook: Exceeded expectations after coming over in a trade from Dodgers and finished second on the vote with AL Cy Young. Will be Minnesota’s starter on opening day and the ace of the staff.
RHP Michael Pineda
Statistics 2020: 5 games started, 2-0, 26.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1,200 whip, 0.0 HR / 9, 2.4 BB / 9, 8.4 K / 9, 0.3 bWAR
Outlook: Twins are finally getting Pineda for a full season and he will be the number 3 starter every five days.
2B Jorge Polanco
Statistics 2020: 55 games, .258 / .304 / .354, 84 OPS +, 0.3 bWAR, 226 PA, 22 R, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 4 SB, 35 K.
Outlook: The 2019 All-Star Shortstop moves to the second base – a position he has not played in a regular season game since 2016.
RHP Hansel Robles
Statistics 2020 (with angels): 18 games, 0-2, 1 save, 16.2 IP, 10.26 ERA, 1.740 whip, 2.2 HR / 9, 5.4 BB / 9, 10.8 K / 9, -0.7 bWAR
Outlook: After a memorable season, Robles appears to be the pitcher again, with a 2019 ERA of 2.48, a whip of 1,018 and 23 saves. Probably a setup / late inning option for Rocco Baldelli.
LHP Taylor Rogers
Statistics 2020: 21 games, 2-4, 9 saves, 20 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1,500 whip, 0.9 HR / 9, 1.8 BB / 9, 10.8 K / 9, -0.7 bWAR
Outlook: Another player looking to get back in shape, Rogers had an ERA of 2.62 from 2018-19 and a whip of 0.976 over 137 1/3 innings. A left option in the late innings.
1B Miguel Sano
Statistics 2020: 53 games, .204 / .278 / .478, 108 OPS +, 0.0 bWAR, 205 PA, 31 R, 13 HR, 25 RBI, 0 SB, 90 K.
Outlook: Minnesota’s first baseman has beaten over 500 in every odd year he was with the majors (2015, 2017, 2019), including a career high of 0.579 last season of 162 games.
RHP Matt Shoemaker
2029 statistics (with Blue Jays): 6 games started, 0-1, 28.2 IP, 4.71 ERA, 1.081 whip, 2.5 HR / 9, 2.8 BB / 9, 8.2 K / 9, 0.6 bWAR
Outlook: Could be an effective # 5 starter if healthy – that has been the problem throughout Shoemaker’s career. He hasn’t thrown more than 31 innings since 2017, and that was only 77 2/3.
SS Andrelton Simmons
Statistics 2020 (with angels): 30 games, 297/346/356, 91 OPS +, 0.6 bWAR, 127 PA, 19 R, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB, 16 K.
Outlook: Elite Defensive Shortstop that can pop in on occasion. Chances are, Minnesota Pitcher will be best friend.
RHP Cody Stashak
Statistics 2020: 11 games, 1-0, 15 IP, 3.00 ERA, 0.993 whip, 1.2 HR / 9, 1.8 BB / 9, 10.2 K / 9, 0.2 bWAR
Outlook: Control mug that can hit boys too. Most likely used in medium relief, not high leverage reels.
LHP Caleb Thielbar
Statistics 2020: 17 games, 2-1, 20 IP, 2.25 ERA, 1.150 whip, 0.0 HR / 9, 4.1 BB / 9, 9.9 K / 9, 0.4 bWAR
Outlook: Was dominant against left-handers on his return to the majors after a five-year absence. Should play a similar role in 2021.
