There’s no shortage of uncertainty around the Twins right now, especially when it comes to the lineup Derek Shelton will be sorting through next spring. But if you strip the roster down to the names that look truly safe, five players stand out as the clearest bets to be in the 2027 mix.
That’s the standard here: beyond a reasonable doubt. Sure, anything can happen in an offseason.
Trades happen. New additions can crowd people out.
But for these five, the path out of the lineup would have to be awfully unexpected.
Brooks Lee fits that description at infield. He might not have the loudest ceiling on the list, but it’s hard to picture him anywhere other than the Opening Day lineup.
Lee posted a .728 OPS this season and gave the Twins a league-average bat, even with a low on-base profile that was helped by a career-high 24 home runs. Once he shifted off shortstop and settled in at third base, he looked comfortable there too, finishing with 6 outs above average in roughly 100 games at the hot corner.
That combination matters. A bat in that range, paired with above-average defense at third, gives the Twins a useful regular.
There’s also room for more if his plate discipline sharpens and the power holds. Lee is listed as a general infielder because there’s at least a scenario where he slides to second if Minnesota adds a third-base-only option, though that remains a long shot.
The other infield names that might come to mind - Royce Lewis and Kody Clemens - didn’t quite clear that bar. Clemens is the more likely of the two to be back, but it’s tough to see both of them locked in as everyday players in 2027.
One could still surface at first or second, but if the Twins don’t upgrade at either spot, that offseason probably didn’t go the way they wanted. Neither player is expensive, and neither is especially young, which leaves too many possible outcomes to call them sure things.
At shortstop, Kaelen Culpepper looks like the guy. He’s still rookie-eligible next year after 128 plate appearances, and he hit .274/.328/.393 in that stretch. There were enough flashes to make people around the club feel good about what comes next, and right now there isn’t anyone forcing him off the position.
His defense gave some reason for pause at times, but the overall package was enough to hold the job. A league-average bat at short is nothing to sneeze at, and Culpepper provided that.
Maybe he hits a sophomore slump and has to take a detour to Triple-A. Maybe Marek Houston eventually nudges him to second or third.
But the most likely outcome is that Culpepper is the Opening Day shortstop.
The outfield picture starts with Walker Jenkins, the organization’s No. 1 prospect. His first stretch in the majors was rocky - he opened 4-for-45 and raised some real concern - but he finished much stronger, going .385/.400/.615 over his final 10 games. That late surge made it clear he’s very much part of the conversation next season.
Where he lines up is still open. The Twins may want him in right or left, and that probably depends on who else ends up occupying the other corner spot. Jenkins played center field exclusively in the majors while filling in for the injured Byron Buxton, and when Buxton is out, Jenkins looks like the likely replacement.
The other corner spot is where things get messy. Emmanuel Rodriguez, Luke Keaschall, and even Alan Roden could all factor in there.
Rodriguez has to be on the roster, or somebody else’s, because he’s out of options and held his own in limited late-season MLB action. Still, it’s fair to wonder whether the Twins are ready to throw him into everyday duty just yet.
Leadership did name him as part of the core they’re building around for next year, though, so he’s getting close to this group.
Then there’s Byron Buxton, who is the easiest call on the board if he’s healthy. If he’s available, he’s playing.
And until that changes, he’s the center fielder. He’s coming off labrum repair, so the status question is real, but the role question isn’t.
If Buxton can go, he’s in.
The last lock is Luke Keaschall, even though his defensive home is still a mystery. The most likely landing spots are a corner outfield job or designated hitter, with first base also in the conversation.
What isn’t in question is where he hits. He’s probably going to lead off.
Keaschall’s season got off to a rough start in 2026, but he finished by slashing .282/.374/.407, which works out to about 20% better than an average hitter. That line is good enough for one of those top-of-the-order spots, and his power ticked up as the year went on anyway. However the Twins decide to use him, he looks locked in.
The rest of the lineup? That’s where the guesswork starts.
This projection is built with right-handed pitching in mind. Jenkins may not play every day against lefties, and there isn’t an obvious platoon partner already set for him.
Austin Martin got off to a strong start in 2026, but he hit just .164 in the second half, mostly against lefties. Gabriel Gonzalez and Aaron Sabato could get a look too, though the Twins didn’t show much interest in either one down the stretch.
Catcher is its own puzzle. Victor Caratini is under contract for next season, and it doesn’t seem likely the Twins will move him or find a trade partner willing to take on the $10 million he’s owed after barely enough action late in 2026 to qualify him as a second catcher.
He still carries reasonable doubt as an everyday option, even if that’s the most likely outcome. Minnesota could also bring back Ryan Jeffers on a qualifying offer or go after another catcher in free agency who clears Caratini’s bar.
In Other News...
Twins Farm System Just Put Two Important Names On Notice
Walker Jenkins rise through the Twins system kept moving this season, and the organization made the progress official by naming the young outfielder its Minor League Player of the Year. After a strong minor league campaign and an August call to the majors, Jenkins continued to show why he is viewed as one of the most important pieces in the clubs long-term picture, pairing eye-catching offense in the minors with a promising first taste of big league action.
Adrian Bohorquez also forced his way into the conversation after a season that required him to overcome injuries before settling in and throwing well at both High-A and Double-A. The right-handers work earned him the Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Year honor, and together with Jenkins, he gave the farm system a pair of names that should keep drawing attention as Minnesota looks for more help on the horizon. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Prospect Rankings Reveal A Fast-Changing Race To Target Field
The Twins prospect picture looks a lot different now than it did a year ago, and not just because several of the organizations biggest names have already made the leap to the majors. Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper and Emmanuel Rodriguez are no longer waiting in the queue, which has reshaped the conversation around who is next in line for Target Field and how much help the system can still provide in the near future.
In the latest rankings, Hendry Mendez and Riley Quick are the clearest risers after strong seasons that boosted their standing, while Eduardo Tait slid despite some encouraging signs in his game. It leaves Minnesota with a farm system that is still producing intrigue, but with the race for the next wave of impact talent changing quickly as evaluators sort out who is truly advancing and who still has more proving to do. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Fans Sent A Clear Message The Team Cant Ignore
The numbers at Target Field told a blunt story this season, and the Twins could not paper over it with giveaways or cheaper ballpark food. Minnesota finished with its lowest full-season attendance at the park, drawing 1,733,203 fans, a drop of 35,525 from a year ago even after the club rolled out promotions designed to make games more appealing and easier on the wallet.
Tom Pohlad has already acknowledged the attendance issues, and the message from the stands is hard to miss: fans want a better product before they fully buy back in. The front office can tweak the experience around the margins, but the real fix, as Pohlad noted, has to come from stronger play on the field if the Twins are going to stop this slide and bring more people back through the gates. [Read more 🡒]