Kody Clemens has done enough in 2026 to force a real conversation about where he belongs in the Twins’ infield.
The bat has carried him. Clemens has piled up career highs with 26 home runs, seven triples and 76 RBIs, and his 109 OPS+ marks the first time he’s finished a season above league average. His .753 OPS ranks fifth among second basemen, and among players who mainly play the position, only Brandon Lowe has gone deep more often.
That kind of production makes Clemens hard to ignore. The problem is that his best offensive season has come with a defensive wrinkle the Twins can’t really shrug off.
He has spent meaningful time at five positions this year and has generally held his own, but second base has been the clear trouble spot. With Luke Keaschall moving to the outfield and Royce Lewis shifting to first, Clemens has been anchored at second for much of the second half - and that’s where the concerns have shown up.
The numbers back it up. Clemens has posted 0 Outs Above Average and 2 Defensive Runs Saved overall, but at second base he’s sat at -4 OAA and -4 DRS.
The issue has looked familiar, too. Like Keaschall earlier this season, Clemens has had a hard time getting to balls up the middle.
He’s got plenty of speed once he’s rolling, but the quick first step that second basemen need to beat a grounder to the spot has been a problem.
That opens the door to a straightforward fix: swap Clemens and Lewis.
Lewis has already been identified by fellow Twins Daily writer Cody Christie as a possible second baseman for 2027, and there’s at least some defensive logic behind that. Clemens has been a strong defender at first base over the course of his career, while Lewis has struggled there in 2026.
In 75 starts at first, Lewis has recorded -3 OAA. Yes, he only just moved to the position this season, and an offseason of work could change the picture.
But the Twins don’t have to wait to see if that happens.
Lewis has also shown positive defensive value at second base this year, though in such a small sample that it’s basically meaningless. Still, the fit is easy to see.
He doesn’t have Clemens’ or Keaschall’s top-end sprint speed, but he does have the quicker first step that Clemens has lacked at second. That alone could make him a better answer for the kind of plays that have given Clemens trouble.
There’s an offensive angle here, too. Lewis’ bat doesn’t really match the usual first-base profile.
That spot asks for impact offense, and while Lewis has the talent to grow into something more, his 2026 production doesn’t leave much room for error there. Clemens, by contrast, brings the sort of power that fits much more naturally at first.
None of this is settled, of course. Lewis still needs a larger sample at second, and Clemens would need to prove his bat keeps playing if he’s stationed at first more regularly.
But the basic case is already in place: Clemens has shown he can hit, and he’s been good at first. Lewis has shown at least some value at second, while first base has been a struggle.
It may also turn out that neither player is in the Twins’ long-term plans, or that they end up sharing one of those spots in a platoon. If Minnesota signs a slugging first baseman this winter, both could be squeezed back toward second. If the club passes on that and later turns to Marek Houston by mid-summer 2027, Lewis and Clemens could wind up pushed to first together.
For now, though, the simplest answer may be the cleanest one: put Clemens back at first and let Lewis get a real run at second.
In Other News...
Twins Head Into Crucial Home Series With A Growing Roster Problem
The Twins are back at Target Field on Friday night to open a series against the Texas Rangers, and the matchup comes with the kind of roster watch that has started to hang over this stretch. The schedule, pitching matchups and broadcast details are all set, but Minnesota is also dealing with a lineup picture that has become more complicated as the club tries to keep pace in a tight spot.
Texas arrives with its own injury list and the series offers another look at how both teams are handling the grind of September baseball, but the Twins bigger concern is whether they can keep enough healthy bodies available to make the homestand count. Recent team trends suggest this one could matter well beyond the three games at Target Field, especially if Minnesota cannot stabilize the roster before the pressure ramps up again. [Read more 🡒]
Bailey Ober's New Role Just Raised A Bigger Twins Question
Bailey Obers first relief appearance of his major league career came with a little extra meaning for the Twins, and he handled it cleanly. Working three shutout innings for his first save, Ober looked comfortable in a role he had not occupied before, after returning from the injured list and settling into a pattern of extended rest. It was the kind of outing that underscored both his professionalism and the clubs willingness to try something different with a pitcher it still values.
Manager Derek Shelton praised Obers adaptability, and the debut save was easy to appreciate on its own. What it also did, though, was sharpen a larger question for Minnesota about how it wants to use him going forward. If this is merely a short-term adjustment, it already has given the Twins a useful arm in a new spot. If it becomes more than that, Obers first relief outing may end up being remembered as the start of something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Have Cost Themselves Time With Byron Buxton
Byron Buxton finally underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right hip on Sept. 18, a procedure that included a labral repair, decompression and cam resection. It came after nearly four weeks had passed since his last game on Aug. 25, and the estimated recovery window now stretches roughly six to eight months, putting a familiar spotlight back on the Twins handling of one of their most important players.
What makes the situation sting for Minnesota is the timing. Buxton had been dealing with the hip issue during the season, yet the club waited before moving forward, and now there are fair questions about whether that delay could end up costing him precious time down the road. For a player whose availability has long been a central concern, the impact may not be limited to next spring, with his status for the 2027 season also worth watching. [Read more 🡒]