Before the Arizona Fall League began I started beating the drum for Eddie Rosario to make the Twins out of spring training in 2015. The signing of Torii Hunter as a free agent makes an already long shot into a near impossibility, barring injury. That is all right because we can project and predict all we want on Twins Daily and only highlight when we are right!

Since Hunter's acquisition has occurred, I decided I would try to project again who will come north with the 2015 Twins. Here's my latest take:

Pitchers: (12) Phil Hughes, Kyle Gibson, Rickie Nolasco, Alex Meyer, Justin Masterson, Mike Pelfrey, Lester Oliveros, Brian Duensing, Caleb Thielbar, Michael Tonkin, Casey Fien, Glen Perkins.

Catchers: (2) Kurt Suzuki, unknown backup catcher acquired in Pinto trade

Infielders: (7) Joe Mauer, Brian Dozier, Danny Santana, Trevor Plouffe, Kennys Vargas, Eduardo Escobar, Eduardo Nuñez.

Outfielders: (4) Oswaldo Arcia, Jordan Schafer, Shane Robinson, Torii Hunter

I originally was going to include Milone in the starting rotation and Meyer or May in the bullpen. Milone has an option remaining and I think the Twins will want to see what they have with Meyer, who has still not thrown his first major league pitch at age 25. They've seen a bit of May and both he and Milone will get a shot. I also believe the Twins will sign one veteran for the starting rotation. I have been calling for Masterson since before the '14 season was over. He's my pick to have a Hughes-like breakout.

In the bullpen, two hard throwers are in line to get a real shot this year--Tonkin and Oliveros. Pelfrey succeeds Swarzak as the long man, hopefully getting little work in the first month or so. It wouldn't surprise me to see Big Mike get another shot at starting. If he's fully healthy, Pelfrey can be more than serviceable. That just hasn't happened in his two-year tenure with the Twins. Young reinforcements are on the doorstep for the bullpen. I hope the Twins are willing to transition to younger, harder throwers as the season progresses.

I have not named a backup catcher to Suzuki. I think the Twins will be looking to trade Pinto or trade for a backup catcher that fits with Suzuki--that would be a youngish defense-first LH hitter. I don't know if such a guy exists, but if the Twins can find such a player, they can and should snap him up.

Barring a trade, the starting infield is set. Santana gets the nod at short, although other factors could move him back to the outfield. Escobar is the utility guy, who gets starts at second, short and third. Nuñez is the 25th man, capable of starting at short, third, and left, also right and second in a pinch.

I have stated that Aaron Hicks must have AAA time to prove himself, rebuild his confidence and master the next level that he hadn't handled up to now. That means a platoon of minor league signing Shane Robinson and waiver claim Jordan Schafer are my center fielders. I expect Rosario or Hicks to claim the job from Schafer by Memorial Day, but when the Twins open in Comerica Park on Bert Blyleven's birthday, I'm going with the non-prospects to start the season.

I expect much better performance from the back end of the rotation, enough the negate any regression Hughes might suffer and enough to lift the Twins close to contention and with a surprise or two, above .500.

Here's my opening day lineup assuming Verlander gets the nod for the Tigers:

SS Danny Santana

RF Torii Hunter

1B Joe Mauer

3B Trevor Plouffe

LF Oswaldo Arcia

2B Brian Dozier

DH Kennys Vargas

C Kurt Suzuki

CF Jordan Schafer

P Phil Hughes