The Minnesota Twins officially began their spring training on Thursday when pitchers and catchers arrived at camp in preparation for the 2026 season. Position players will follow gradually over the weekend, building toward the first full-team workout scheduled for the following Monday. The Twins will start exhibition play with a game against the Gophers on Friday, February 20, and then face the Boston Red Sox the next day in their first Grapefruit League matchup. This spring training carries heightened significance as the Twins look to address numerous roster questions ahead of Opening Day in Baltimore on March 26.
Following a disappointing 92-loss 2025 campaign and a turbulent offseason with significant changes off the field, expectations remain cautious but uncertainty is high. The team faces many pivotal decisions during the coming weeks as it attempts to rebuild and clarify its competitive direction for the season.
Critical Competitions for Key Roster Positions
One of the most important battles centers on the backup shortstop role. Brooks Lee, a candidate for this position, has yet to demonstrate consistent ability or durability, making the depth behind the starting shortstop a crucial concern. The primary contenders competing for this spot include Ryan Kreidler, Tristan Gray, and Orlando Arcia, with Arcia needing to secure a place on the 40-man roster to be considered seriously.
On the pitching front, the top three starters—Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, and Bailey Ober—are expected to maintain their roles at the front of the rotation. However, the 4th and 5th starting pitcher slots remain wide open for contention. Experienced arms like Simeon Woods Richardson and Taj Bradley currently seem to have the edge, but less established pitchers such as Zebby Matthews, David Festa, and Mick Abel have the potential to upend the hierarchy with strong performances if they remain healthy throughout spring.
In the outfield, the Twins appear set to begin with Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner as the corner outfielders against right-handed pitching, while Byron Buxton will man center field. However, the team requires a reliable backup capable of covering all three outfield positions. This role could come down to one player among Austin Martin, Alan Roden, and James Outman, all competing for limited available roster space.
The bullpen structure is partially established, with roles already held by proven major league relievers such as Cole Sands, Taylor Rogers, Justin Topa, Eric Orze, and Anthony Blanda, assuming health. This leaves three bullpen spots open to competition among current members like Kody Funderburk and Travis Adams, alongside numerous non-roster invitees and starters transitioning into relief roles. The pattern of usage during spring games will be essential in determining which pitchers earn these critical bullpen positions.
Players’ Health and Recovery: A Major Factor
Several pitchers’ health will be essential to monitor during spring camp. Bailey Ober’s mechanics faltered last season, partially due to lingering injuries, and his velocity and effectiveness during camp will reveal whether he has regained form after offseason rehabilitation. Similarly, David Festa’s 2025 season was cut short by a diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome. Festa avoided surgery and completed a relatively normal offseason, making his ability to recover fully vital for the Twins’ pitching plans, either as a starter or reliever.
Cory Lewis, invited as a non-roster player, brings intrigue with his knuckleball but will miss at least the first two weeks of spring due to a moderate subscapularis (shoulder) injury. Matt Canterino, recovering from shoulder surgery, is also not expected to pitch this spring but remains present in camp to stay engaged. Though his professional innings count is low, his talent and raw pitching ability continue to offer hope.
Royce Lewis remains another player to watch closely. Despite no known current injuries, his injury history includes a hamstring setback during last year’s spring training that limited his early season availability. After a promising finish last season, the focus will be on how he appears physically after an offseason dedicated to building strength and resilience.
Spring Storylines Drawing Attention in Minnesota Camp
One of the most urgent projects for the Twins’ coaching staff, led by Derek Shelton, is reconstructing an effective bullpen. With numerous high-leverage relief roles needing to be filled amid many unknowns, the bullpen’s final composition is a pressing priority. While spring exhibition games traditionally offer limited insight, this year’s largely open bullpen spots demand close examination of player usage and performance during March’s games.
The absence of three key veterans competing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC)—Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, and Byron Buxton—complicates cohesion and leadership development during early spring camp. The Twins chose to retain these All-Star talents instead of pursuing a deeper rebuild, valuing both on-field competitiveness and their presence as clubhouse leaders. However, their WBC commitments mean much of spring training will proceed without these foundational players, creating challenges but also offering more opportunity for others to earn playing time and showcase their abilities.
The one good thing about that this spring is because of the WBC, and we’re losing three starters to the WBC, we’re going to be able to evaluate guys in more meaningful innings. And what I mean by that is, the challenge with evaluating pitchers, especially starting pitchers, in the spring is who they face. Because all of a sudden they end up piggybacking or pitching innings 4-6 and then they get guys that may be in Double-A or Triple-A because Major League players have rotated out. This spring we’re going to have the ability to evaluate because three of our top guys are pitching for their country.
– Derek Shelton, Twins Manager
Another critical focus is the shortstop position, the team’s top-priority competition throughout camp. Since parting ways with Carlos Correa, the Twins have struggled to establish stability here. According to FanGraphs’ projections, Minnesota ranks last in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) at shortstop. Brooks Lee’s health and development will be particularly important, with the possibility that either Tristan Gray or Ryan Kreidler could roster as the Opening Day starter if Lee falters. Additionally, prospect Kaelen Culpepper could push for a quicker ascent if he delivers strong performances.
Prospects constitute the most encouraging aspect of the spring, offering optimism despite current roster uncertainties. Emerging talents such as Culpepper, Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Connor Prielipp, and Gabriel Gonzalez will feature prominently during camp. These players are on the cusp of major league opportunities and provide a compelling reason for fans to follow many of the Twins’ 25 spring games that will be streamed throughout February and March.
After a difficult and uncertain offseason, Minnesota’s spring training carries a weight of anxiety and hope. The combination of youth competition, health concerns, and the necessity to fill key roles means the next six weeks will be intense and unpredictable. As the Twins prepare to open the regular season, monitoring these developing storylines will be essential to understanding the team’s future direction and competitive potential.
