The Twins head into 2027 with a clear strength that can carry a lot of the conversation: pitching depth. Even after dealing with a pile of injuries in 2026, they still have a rotation mix that looks sturdy on paper, with established major league arms and younger talent waiting in the wings.
At the top of that group are Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley. Bradley’s breakout season was enough to earn him the Twins Pitcher of the Year honors, and he gives the club another high-end option to go with the veteran presence of Lopez and Ryan.
The depth behind that trio is what really gives Minnesota some cushion. Connor Prielipp flashed frontline potential during his 2026 rookie campaign.
Zebby Matthews finished strong, settling in over his final seven starts of 2026. Mick Abel also remains part of the picture and is set to return after an injury-plagued 2026.
There’s more protection beyond that, too. The Twins still control Dean Kremer and Bailey Ober, giving them both back-end stability and possible trade pieces if they decide to use that pitching surplus to fix other parts of the roster.
The other major strength is the wave of young hitters coming through the system and into the lineup. Minnesota is moving into a new window built around cheap, controllable talent, and the outfield is especially crowded with options.
Byron Buxton is back to lead that group, while Walker Jenkins is projected to become an outfield mainstay and handle center field when Buxton needs days off. Luke Keaschall is likely to move to left field next season, and Emmanuel Rodriguez and Gabby Gonzalez add even more upside. Austin Martin and Kody Clemens are also there as insurance.
The infield is taking shape as well. Brooks Lee locked himself in as a foundational piece after earning a Gold Glove nomination at third base.
Kalen Culpepper, the 2024 first-round pick, moved quickly through the minors and made a strong major league debut at shortstop late in 2026. Royce Lewis is likely to shift to first base, with Clemens available to handle utility duties or second base.
That kind of young core gives the Twins flexibility as the offseason unfolds. They can let their top prospects take over the Opening Day lineup, or they can use that depth as leverage to make aggressive trades before 2027 begins.
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Behind the plate, the uncertainty is especially notable because Ryan Jeffers is set to hit free agency, leaving Minnesota without an obvious long-term answer at catcher. From there, the front office may have to get creative, whether that means adding bats through the market or reshaping the roster through trades, with infield help among the possibilities as the Twins try to balance a strong pitching base with a more dangerous everyday lineup. [Read more 🡒]
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Twins Lineup Did Its Part But This Problem Still Defined 2026
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The bullpen was part of the problem early before settling in after the trade deadline, while the rotation was repeatedly forced to absorb injuries to key arms. Pablo Lpez missed the entire season, Mick Abel was out for most of it, and Joe Ryan also lost about a month, leaving the staff shorthanded at the very time the Twins needed it to hold up the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]