The Twins may not be locked into a first-base addition, but a new name has entered the conversation anyway.
Right now, Royce Lewis appears positioned to open the season at first base for Minnesota. That could still change, though, if the Twins decide to move the 2017 first-overall pick this offseason after his recent struggles.
And even if Lewis stays put, the club has reasons to keep looking. Lewis can also handle second base, while Kody Clemens gives Minnesota some multi-position flexibility.
Now there’s another possible fit on the board: Ja-Wook Koo.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the 33-year-old Korean Baseball Organization star first baseman/outfielder has hired Jaron Long of Mako Corp. to represent him and wants to sign with an MLB team. Koo brings 12 years of KBO experience and just earned Korean Series MVP honors with the Samsung Lions.
He put together a huge season for Samsung, hitting .371/.458. /.581 with 15 home runs, 31 doubles, six triples and 102 RBI in 114 games.
The 6-foot-2 Koo also posted a 14.3% strikeout rate and a 13.3% walk rate. Over his entire career with the Lions, he has hit .322/.392/.518 with 201 home runs, 374 doubles, 64 triples, 984 RBI and 150 stolen bases in 1,466 games.
The catch is age. Because Koo is 33, he’ll probably be limited to a one-year MLB deal, and a minor-league contract may be the best he can get. If that’s the market, he could decide to stay in Korea instead.
There’s also the bigger question: would his game translate?
KBO competition is generally viewed as closer to the minor leagues than to MLB, while Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball is considered stronger. So even with Koo’s eye-popping production, there’s no guarantee it would carry over.
The Twins have seen this movie before. They signed KBO star ByungHo Park to a four-year, $12 million deal in the 2015-16 offseason after Park crushed the ball in Korea, hitting .343/.436/.714 with 53 home runs and 146 RBI in 140 games in 2015.
It didn’t work out in Minnesota. Park hit .191/.275/.409 over 62 games in his lone Twins season, then spent all of 2017 at Triple-A Rochester before returning to the KBO.
He eventually reestablished himself there and finished his Korean career with 382 home runs and 1,143 RBI.
Koo could turn out differently than Park, but that history still hangs over any team considering a KBO bat. For Minnesota, the appeal is obvious: a low-cost, one-year gamble on a productive hitter. Whether the Twins are the team willing to make it is another question.
In Other News...
Kody Clemens Put Twins Fans In A Spotlight They Didn't Expect
The Twins have already found themselves in the Silver Slugger conversation as a team finalist in the American League, but Kody Clemens is pulling a little extra attention into the mix. He has landed among the finalists at second base, putting his name next to Chase Meidroth of the White Sox in a race that reflects more than just one hot stretch at the plate. Clemens also spent time moving around the diamond this season, which only adds to the sense that his value for Minnesota went beyond a single spot on the field.
For Twins fans, the interesting part is how this award race frames the season from an offensive angle, especially with Clemens among the two names left standing at second. The comparison with Meidroth comes down to production, and the broader team nomination gives Minnesota a chance to see its lineup recognized in a national spotlight. Whether Clemens finishes with the hardware or not, his presence in the final round is a reminder that the Twins got contributions from some unexpected places. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Need The Trade Market For A Real First Base Fix
The Twins are already looking ahead to 2027 with offense and bullpen help on the shopping list, and the search for a real answer at first base could push them beyond the free-agent market. Jake Bauers signing elsewhere only sharpens the need, especially for a club trying to position itself to contend in the AL Central rather than patch the spot with another short-term stopgap.
One name that fits the conversation is Astros first baseman Christian Walker, whose situation in Houston could make him available if the infield picture keeps getting crowded. His 2026 performance and contract status give Minnesota a potential trade target with more certainty than a typical winter fallback, but the Twins would still need to decide how aggressively to pursue a deal and what price they are willing to pay. [Read more 🡒]
Twins May Use Rotation Depth To Fix A Bullpen Question
The Twins are weighing a familiar kind of roster shuffle this winter, one that could help them solve a bullpen issue without chasing the usual high-priced relief market. General manager Jeremy Zoll said the club values its current starting pitchers, but is open to adding another starter in free agency if it creates more flexibility elsewhere on the staff.
Minnesota has long preferred to build its bullpen through trades, internal conversions and minor-league signings rather than handing out big contracts to relievers, and this approach fits that pattern. The idea would be to deepen the rotation, then potentially shift one of those starters into a relief role, giving the Twins more options as they try to piece together the back end of games. [Read more 🡒]