Delving into the Twins' outfield situation

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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Twins’ biggest offensive star plays the outfield. So do two of their top four prospects. So do two of the central players they acquired in last season’s Trade Deadline. So does the player who finished second on the team in homers last year. And so do five other players on the 40-man roster.

You can probably do the math -- that’s a lot more outfielders than roster or lineup spots to accommodate them. With Spring Training just about to begin, we’re still going around the horn looking at the various units of the 2026 Twins. Today it’s the outfield.

On the 40-man roster: Byron Buxton, Gabriel Gonzalez, Ryan Kreidler, Trevor Larnach, Austin Martin, Hendry Mendez, James Outman, Alan Roden, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Matt Wallner

New arrivals: Kreidler

Departures: Dashawn Keirsey Jr., Carson McCusker

Top 30 prospects: Walker Jenkins (No. 1, No. 14 overall), Rodriguez (No. 4, No. 74 overall), Gonzalez (No. 8), Mendez (No. 25), Ricardo Olivar (No. 26), Kala’i Rosario (No. 29)

The big question: Where do all these guys play?
Center field is taken, as you may have heard that Buxton is a bit of an institution. Wallner should get the vast majority of the at-bats against right-handed pitching in right field. Larnach and Kreidler are listed as outfielders but will probably see most of their time at DH and in the infield, respectively.

That still leaves Martin, Outman and Roden, plus Eric Wagaman, maybe Kody Clemens sometimes, maybe Luke Keaschall sometimes, and at some point Jenkins and Rodriguez. All for two starting spots and probably three dedicated roster spots. Clemens and Keaschall will be on the roster, but the others are all in competition.

Martin got a lot of time in left field down the stretch last year and is the favorite to play there a good bit in the coming season. He made big strides offensively and his speedy, athletic style of play is one the club values.

Outman and Roden may be in direct competition with each other. The club seemed to favor Roden last year before he suffered an injury, and they talked him up quite a bit when he was acquired from the Blue Jays. But Outman is out of options, and somebody has to back up Buxton in center. Roden can play center, but Outman is considered the superior defender.

It still seems possible that Larnach (or someone else) could be traded, ideally for relief help, and that would open up a spot, potentially for someone like Wagaman, or for the Twins to carry both Outman and Roden. Jenkins and Rodriguez are long shots to make the roster out of camp, but both will be looking to make the kind of impression that forces the front office into a tough decision.

It's a big mix, and as with the starting rotation, there will be extra opportunities due to the World Baseball Classic. Buxton will be playing for Team USA, allowing Roden, Outman, Jenkins and perhaps Rodriguez all to show what they can do in center.