Projecting the 2022 Twins Opening Day Roster: Version 1.0

[Cody Christie]

Spring training was scheduled to get underway this week, but MLB’s lockout has put that plan on hold. If things were on schedule, this is what Minnesota’s Opening Day roster projects to be in 2022. 

 

Catchers (2): Mitch Garver, Ryan Jeffers
Last season, the Twins started with Garver, Jeffers, and Astudillo on the Opening Day roster. Astudillo rarely saw time at catcher, and he is no longer in the organization. Minnesota hopes Garver and Jeffers can turn into the dynamic catching duo projected for the 2021 campaign. There is also a chance the Twins trade one of these players for starting pitching, which would mean Ben Rortvedt shifts into a backup role. 

Infielders (6): Luis Arraez, Jorge Polanco, Josh Donaldson, Miguel Sano, Nick Gordon, Brent Rooker
Minnesota would pivot and move Polanco back to his previous position with no clear shortstop on the roster. This would result in Arraez taking over at second base and the team’s middle infield defense suffering. Donaldson and Sano will see time as the team’s designated hitter, while Gordon becomes a full-time utility player off the bench. Rooker can be a powerful bat off the bench even though he may not offer much defensively. Jose Miranda is the wild-card here after his breakout 2021 season. Will there be enough at-bats for him to be in the big leagues for Opening Day?

Outfielders (4): Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach
This is another group where it will be interesting to see how the team divides up at-bats. Kirilloff might be the best defensive first baseman on the roster, and he will get time at that position. Larnach doesn’t exactly fit the traditional fourth outfielder role, so the team might leave him at Triple-A and add a more veteran player. Much like with the catchers, there is a chance Minnesota includes an outfielder in a deal for starting pitching. Gilberto Celestino is an intriguing option for a backup outfielder role, especially if Buxton is on the IL at some point in 2022. 

Rotation (5): Dylan Bundy, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Randy Dobnak, Lewis Thorpe
Starting pitching is where things get rough, and a lot will depend on what the team adds in the weeks after the lockout ends. Dobnak and Thorpe can help the pitching staff next season, but forcing them into the rotation to start the year may be a recipe for disaster. Minnesota has confidence in Ryan and Ober to repeat what they accomplished in 2021, but expectations need to be tempered for both players.

It’s becoming clear that the front office is high on the organization’s pitching prospects, so the team can turn to one of those arms to fill out the rotation. Jordan Balazovic, Josh Winder, and Jhoan Duran all project to be in the Triple-A rotation, and they should all debut in 2022. Drew Strotman, acquired with Ryan for Nelson Cruz, is 25-years-old and big-league ready. 

Bullpen (9): Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey, Jorge Alcala, Caleb Thielbar, Ralph Garza Jr., Cody Stashak, Jovani Moran, Jharel Cotton, Griffin Jax
If the rotation looks like above, the bullpen will take on an even more critical role, and it will be critical to have a nine-man bullpen to cover innings. Rogers is one of the biggest keys to this bullpen’s success. While this core group improved last season, Rogers missed time due to a left middle finger sprain at the end of the season. Duffey struggled for the first time since switching to a bullpen role, so it will be vital to rediscover his previous form. 

Alcala might have finally figured it out, and he has the potential to take the next step in 2022. With the rotation’s composition, it might also be necessary to utilize an opener on a more regular basis. Cotton has a chance to bounce back next season, and there’s a chance he may shift to a starting role. Moran has a devastating changeup, and he may develop into a critical late-inning option in the years ahead. 

What changes do you predict to the team’s roster before Opening Day? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

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[gman]

That looks like a pretty rugged starting team. The middle infield would be weak defenders, Larnach starting in Minnesota instead of St Paul. The rotation period. 

I could easily see quite a bit of shuffling before the season got to old. But I don't see anything better either ready to start the season. They'll need a steady bus service from the minors.

[RJA]

Given that the offseason is still on hold,  trying to figure out a roster at this point is an impossible task.  The FO must have something up their sleeve, don't they?  As it looks like spring training is going to be abbreviated, I am not sure any of the young pitchers will have time to impress before the start of the season, so the starting rotation you listed may be it unless trades are made, and/or they spring for  Rodon. It hardly inspires excitement.  Oh my,  I wish they would have done more in free agency.

[chpettit19]

I know this is the time of year for these types of articles (Gleeman and Hayes just did one on The Athletic, too), but I don't get the point. The offseason isn't just not over, it's not even happening right now. There's a 0% chance this is the opening day roster.

[mikelink45]

That is a fun exercise because it points out that we are a last place team if this is the reality for 2022.  Kc and Detroit would love it,

[ziggy]

Seeing that starting rotation in writing makes me wince. Young guys with more potential than experience is fine but not 4 out of 5 starters.

The bullpen is fine until it needs to pitch 5 innings a day for weeks on end. 

I know the game has changed since the emphasis on metrics but this Twins team is way short on pitching and defense. The two fundamentals that don't go into slumps.

[High heat]

How about we talk about the Saints potential opening day roster.  (minus the 40man guy)  That looks like at the moment to be the only professional baseball in town in 22. 

 

[TwinsDr2021]

Miranda is on the 40 man, so I see him making the team out of spring training before Rooker, unless Rooker takes the 4th outfield spot over Laranch.

But anyway you look at it this team could easily be as bad as some of the worst Twins teams ever, question marks at every level, no chance I would pay to see this team, or even watch it on TV. I am not sure how a team could come up with a worse pitching staff than this, there is really only one for sure pitcher in Rogers (and he was injured at the end of last year). Every other pitcher is a question mark.

[miracleb]

The front office just "threw up in it's mouth" a little bit......

[miracleb]

Mainly.....the starting 5 pitchers....

[SoDakTwin]

Instead of those starting five go find the best 5 townball pitchers and roll with that.  

[Stew]

You just got polanko to all-star level. Don't change what is working. If you have try the young guys at shortstop so be it. Also you still look to trade Donaldson. If nl does dh. See if giants would use him. There third basemen will be like 37 this year. Could they rotate the two of them between 3rd and dh. Maybe we get a reliever out of the deal. Probably not any kind of starter but who knows

 

 

[LastOnePicked]

18 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

There's a 0% chance this is the opening day roster.

With this FO, I'd say the chances are higher than 0%. Maybe more like 40-50%. It'll be interesting to see what happens. I hope.

[USNMCPO]

I would say that this is not a ticket selling lineup. Long season coming (assuming that ever talk to each other)

[Blyleven2011]

Opening day is scheduled March 31st  2022 ...

 

With the lockout and delay on negotiating a new cba there will be no scheduled opening day  ..  it will be postponed for another day  ,, sorry about the sarcasm 

[Karbo]

I don't see Polo moving back to short.  I dont think Larnach starts at bigs either, and am not so sure about Rooker.