All Things 2026 Minnesota Twins In-Season Thread

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Imagine if Angel Hernandez was still around. His games would be 4 hrs long.

He could be the first to the ABS

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Nice article about Taj in The Athletic and the improvements/progress being made,

Twins starter Taj Bradley leans into mixing ‘art with science’ in rotation competition

Bradley is an early favorite to claim one of the Twins' open rotation spots, but he'll soon leave camp to join Team Mexico for the WBC.

www.nytimes.com

A few snippets -

“They (Maki & Hawkins) simplified a lot of stuff for me,” Bradley said. “It’s all in one, all encompassing. It’s a good mix of coaches and mentors that you can throw all into one person and be a great pitcher from it.”

But now Bradley is more comfortable, and the Twins’ staff is tailoring their coaching to his learning style and making small mechanical tweaks, like staying consistent between the windup and the stretch or how to hide the ball as long as possible from hitters.

Bradley made his spring training debut Sunday against an Atlanta Braves lineup packed with regulars, including stars Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Austin Riley. He allowed one run in three innings, striking out five and walking none.

Bradley is younger than Simeon Woods Richardson, Zebby Matthews and David Festa, and just five months older than Mick Abel, yet he has already logged 385 1/3 career innings in the majors. At the same time, the other four have 528 innings combined, nearly half of which are by Woods Richardson.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Nice article about Taj in The Athletic and the improvements/progress being made,

Twins starter Taj Bradley leans into mixing ‘art with science’ in rotation competition

Bradley is an early favorite to claim one of the Twins' open rotation spots, but he'll soon leave camp to join Team Mexico for the WBC.

www.nytimes.com

A few snippets -

“They (Maki & Hawkins) simplified a lot of stuff for me,” Bradley said. “It’s all in one, all encompassing. It’s a good mix of coaches and mentors that you can throw all into one person and be a great pitcher from it.”

But now Bradley is more comfortable, and the Twins’ staff is tailoring their coaching to his learning style and making small mechanical tweaks, like staying consistent between the windup and the stretch or how to hide the ball as long as possible from hitters.

Bradley made his spring training debut Sunday against an Atlanta Braves lineup packed with regulars, including stars Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Austin Riley. He allowed one run in three innings, striking out five and walking none.

Bradley is younger than Simeon Woods Richardson, Zebby Matthews and David Festa, and just five months older than Mick Abel, yet he has already logged 385 1/3 career innings in the majors. At the same time, the other four have 528 innings combined, nearly half of which are by Woods Richardson.

More Taj . This is excellent news and a sign of maturity.

Taj Bradley to stay with Twins, won’t pitch for Team Mexico in World Baseball Classic​

Taj Bradley to stay with Twins, won’t pitch for Team Mexico in World Baseball Classic

Bradley informed Team Mexico he won't pitch in the WBC, citing personal reasons and a commitment to the Twins after Pablo López's injury.

www.nytimes.com

Citing personal reasons and a commitment to his team, pitcher Taj Bradley informed Team Mexico he won’t pitch for them when the 20-team tournament begins on March 6. Following the season-ending elbow injury to pitcher Pablo López last week,

Bradley is slotted as either the No. 2 or No. 3 starter in the Twins starting rotation this season.

 

[howeda7]

He's someone I'd trade if he has a good first half.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Can Marco Raya become a bullpen fixture?​

The way Marco Raya has attacked the strike zone this spring is a good sign from the 25-year-old right-hander. After moving to the bullpen late last season, Raya entered this spring focused on relief work.

The Twins think Raya, who has averaged 4.1 walks per nine innings over his career, has the stuff to challenge hitters in relief. Raya struck out one in a scoreless inning against the Detroit Tigers on Monday, throwing strikes on seven of nine pitches. He also threw strikes on 10 of 13 pitches when he struck out the side against the University of Minnesota Gophers in Friday’s exhibition opener.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

He's someone I'd trade if he has a good first half.

Oh now you would

 

[Ope3]

He's someone I'd trade if he has a good first half.

Good luck with that. Fortunately as with Ryan, the MRI news was not bad for Lewis.

https://www.startribune.com/live-blog-minnesota-twins-spring-training-buxton-ryan-zoll-shelton-fort-myers/601578136

 

[From the Parkinglot]

Watched 3 batters with the twins against the Red Sox today. See ya in 2027.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Watched 3 batters with the twins against the Red Sox today. See ya in 2027.

It worked

Bookmarked

 

[Ope3]

Watched 3 batters with the twins against the Red Sox today. See ya in 2027.

Lock Out scheduled for 2027.

 

[GophersInIowa]

I didn’t know where else to post this. How can you not be romantic about baseball.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I didn’t know where else to post this. How can you not be romantic about baseball.

Perfect Place to post it, my friend

 

[GophersInIowa]

I’m pegging him, Taj Mahal and SWR to fill out the rotation behind Ryan & Ober.

I’m guessing Festa goes to the pen for good at some point in the first half if

Well maybe you’re right.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Well maybe you’re right.

is it a blue moon?

 

[From the Parkinglot]

It worked

Bookmarked

I’m gonna see them in person in 10 days. I just can’t get excited about this season.

 

[From the Parkinglot]

See him in 2027 now.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I’m gonna see them in person in 10 days. I just can’t get excited about this season.

You going to FLA?

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

See him in 2027 now.

He’ll be back by the AS break.

Manny Rodriguez keep hitting

 

[howeda7]

He’ll be back by the AS break.

Manny Rodriguez keep hitting

Grade one hamstring. I'd hope he's back by April 15th.

Rodriguez should be opening day LF and Abel #5 stater. I doubt either will.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Grade one hamstring. I'd hope he's back by April 15th.

Is that a milder version?

Rodriguez should be opening day LF and Abel #5 stater. I doubt either will.

Manny’s played very little ball due to his injuries, only 59 games in his two seasons at St. Paul and he’s only 23.

Roden, who they’ve high on, is having a good spring and was a favorite to win the LF gig going into spring - seems to me, it’s his to lose. Manny stays healthy and keeps raking, his performance with force the issue or he’ll get a chance via injury.

If Abel keeps throwing up zeros in spring training, I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t make the rotation.

FWIW -

Mick Abel is no longer an underdog to make the Twins' 2026 starting rotation

One of the final spots in the Twins' starting rotation has to be Mick Abel's to lose, now. Right? Entering spring training, Abel was basically on the outside lo

puckettspond.com

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Thought the posters who have debated Twins’ TV revenue would appreciate this snippet form Gleeman’s column today -

50,000 subs​

I asked Pohlad about the Twins’ first year offering a standalone streaming product, Twins TV, and he revealed they had “around” 50,000 subscriptions. Twins officials have previously declined to share that figure, and it’s higher than I expected, but I was able to confirm it with other sources.

By comparison, the San Diego Padres launched their own product one year ahead of the Twins and are frequently cited as MLB’s biggest streaming success story to date, reporting 45,000 subscribers in 2024 and over 70,000 in 2025. Within that context, the 92-loss Twins did surprisingly well in Year 1.

Of course, even 50,000 signups at $100 apiece is only $5 million, a fraction of the $54 million the Twins received from the since-collapsed regional sports network setup. However, they also continue to get significant revenue from traditional cable/satellite services paying to carry Twins TV as a channel.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Is that a milder version?

Manny’s played very little ball due to his injuries, only 59 games in his two seasons at St. Paul and he’s only 23.

Roden, who they’ve high on, is having a good spring and was a favorite to win the LF gig going into spring - seems to me, it’s his to lose. Manny stays healthy and keeps raking, his performance with force the issue or he’ll get a chance via injury.

If Abel keeps throwing up zeros in spring training, I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t make the rotation.

FWIW -

Mick Abel is no longer an underdog to make the Twins' 2026 starting rotation

One of the final spots in the Twins' starting rotation has to be Mick Abel's to lose, now. Right? Entering spring training, Abel was basically on the outside lo

puckettspond.com

Also from Gleeman’s column today-

Rojas and Roden​

Speaking of Rojas, his spring debut on Feb. 22 created a lot of buzz with two perfect innings against the Atlanta Braves. Rojas topped out at 98 mph with his fastball, flashed two nice off-speed pitches and struck out Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley. It was a far cry from last year’s Triple-A struggles.

Alan Roden, who arrived with Rojas in last year’s Louis Varland trade and made a similarly rough first impression, also looked good early in camp. Roden is a .320 hitter at Triple A and a far better outfielder than fellow lefty bats Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach. He might even play a little center field.

It’ll take a lot for Twins fans to stop being angry about trading Varland, and I’m certainly not promising Rojas and Roden will become stars. Rojas’ poor control may lead him to the bullpen. Roden is probably a platoon corner bat with limited power. But they can both be valuable contributors, and soon.

 

[howeda7]

Is that a milder version?

Yes.

Manny’s played very little ball due to his injuries, only 59 games in his two seasons at St. Paul and he’s only 23.

So? He's injury prone. Don't waste his ABs at AAA. The only way this team exceeds expectations is if guys like E-Rod and Abel pop. If he sucks for a month then send him down.

Roden, who they’ve high on, is having a good spring and was a favorite to win the LF gig going into spring - seems to me, it’s his to lose. Manny stays healthy and keeps raking, his performance with force the issue or he’ll get a chance via injury.

Shelton was reaming him out for missing the cutoff man in drills etc. I don't see the love for Roden. He's just another mediocre LH hitting OF'er they already have 6 of. He may eventually be a good 4th OF'er but I don't need to see him every day unless he rakes in AAA.

If Abel keeps throwing up zeros in spring training, I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t make the rotation.

FWIW -

Mick Abel is no longer an underdog to make the Twins' 2026 starting rotation

One of the final spots in the Twins' starting rotation has to be Mick Abel's to lose, now. Right? Entering spring training, Abel was basically on the outside lo

puckettspond.com

Keep Abel and put Zebby in the bullpen or have him be the first up in AAA.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Yes.

So? He's injury prone. Don't waste his ABs at AAA.

It’s not a finite resource.

Manny to his credit said in an article to Gleeman that for the First Time he hired a strength and conditioning coach in the offseason to work on his body get ready for spring training.

The only way this team exceeds expectations is if guys like E-Rod and Abel pop. If he sucks for a month then send him down.

That’s not sound logic. I’m not concerned about this season regarding wins and losses. I want to build it by for the future and the core. I want to see the young guys flourish in the opportunities presented to them.

You want to maximize the chances Many will be successful by bringing him up at the best time for him and his career.

The only way ai keep him, is by trading Larnach for a RH reliever

Shelton was reaming him out for missing the cutoff man in drills etc.

One drill

I don't see the love for Roden,

That’s not what’s reported by the Twins Beat writers.

He’s more athletic than Larnach & Waller and a better OFer, according to those writers and that’s the type of players the Twins want to feature in their lineup - generating offense with contact and speed.
He can play both corner spots well and possibly CF to boot according to Gleeman.

He's just another mediocre LH hitting OF'er they already have 6 of. He may eventually be a good 4th OF'er but I don't need to see him every day unless he rakes in AAA.

He’s already raked in at Triple A - .320 career hitters, per the Gleeman blurb provided . There’s nothing to be gained for him there. He’s was the featured part of the Varlsnd trade and 26, they need to find out now if he’s a contributor or not.

Keep Abel and put Zebby in the bullpen or have him be the first up in AAA.

One of three - you’re batting.333, above your normal Mendoza Line

 

[Ope3]

Thought the posters who have debated Twins’ TV revenue would appreciate this snippet form Gleeman’s column today -

50,000 subs​

I asked Pohlad about the Twins’ first year offering a standalone streaming product, Twins TV, and he revealed they had “around” 50,000 subscriptions. Twins officials have previously declined to share that figure, and it’s higher than I expected, but I was able to confirm it with other sources.

By comparison, the San Diego Padres launched their own product one year ahead of the Twins and are frequently cited as MLB’s biggest streaming success story to date, reporting 45,000 subscribers in 2024 and over 70,000 in 2025. Within that context, the 92-loss Twins did surprisingly well in Year 1.

Of course, even 50,000 signups at $100 apiece is only $5 million, a fraction of the $54 million the Twins received from the since-collapsed regional sports network setup. However, they also continue to get significant revenue from traditional cable/satellite services paying to carry Twins TV as a channel.

That's roughly at least 40,000 subscriptions more than I would have guessed willing to shell out that dough for Twins games given the vitriol towards the Pohlad's and MLB in general.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

That's roughly at least 40,000 subscriptions more than I would have guessed willing to shell out that dough for Twins games given the vitriol towards the Pohlad's and MLB in general.

It’s never occurred to you, that maybe your vitriol isn’t normative??

I love the game of baseball and watching the intricacies and oddities if has. Watching JoseMiranda tie an MLB record for most times reaching base in a row or hits (I forget which one specifically), making me smile right now. He may never get another MLB AB, but for a few games he was the best- that’s Amazing and beautiful.

 

[Ope3]

It’s never occurred to you, that maybe your vitriol isn’t normative??

While I lamented the 2025 Trade Deadline purge, my vitriol towards the Pohlad's has been pretty minimal to none (IMO), especially on the spectrum of this board.

$2 beers. All hail Tom.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

It’s never occurred to you, that maybe your vitriol isn’t normative??

I love the game of baseball and watching the intricacies and oddities if has. Watching JoseMiranda tie an MLB record for most times reaching base in a row or hits (I forget which one specifically), making me smile right now. He may never get another MLB AB, but for a few games he was the best- that’s Amazing and beautiful.

@Ope3

This dialogue made me think of this Grammy winner and Si cover. I may be dining on tonight. Thanks

 

[howeda7]

While I lamented the 2025 Trade Deadline purge, my vitriol towards the Pohlad's has been pretty minimal to none (IMO), especially on the spectrum of this board.

$2 beers. All hail Tom.

It could be deadly to have the same vitriol for the Pohlads you have for THE WILFS......

 

[howeda7]

It’s not a finite resource.

Manny to his credit said in an untruth Gleeman that god the First Time he hired a strength and conditioning coach in the offseason to work on his bodyboard get ready for spring training.

Sometimes it is. If he's got 80 games before he gets hurt again, I'd rather they be with the Twins than the Saints.

That’s not sound logic. I’m not concerned about this season regarding wins and losses. I want to build it by for the future and the core. I want to see the young guys flourish in the opportunities presented to them.

Exactly. I'm advocating the young guys get a chance. More E-Rod and Abel, less James Outman and Zebby Mathews.

You want to maximize the chances Many will be successful by bringing him up at the best time for him and his career.

The only way ai keep him, is by trading Larnach for a RH reliever

Nah. He should be here. If they trade Larnach, that's Roden's spot.

One drill

That’s not what’s reported by the Twins Beat writers.

Shelton cares about "the little things" like Gardy did. Rocco cared about peace and love and lots of rest.

He’s more athletic than Larnach & Waller and a better OFer, according to those writers and that’s the type of players the Twins want to feature in their lineup - generating offense with contact and speed.
He can play both corner spots well and possibly CF to boot according to Gleeman.


He’s already raked in at Triple A - .320 career hitters, per the Gleeman blurb provided . There’s nothing to be gained for him there. He’s was the featured part of the Varlsnd trade and 26, they need to find out now if he’s a contributor or not.

Roden will eventually get a shot. But he hasn't earned getting it over Rodriguez who has far more talent or even Austin Martin really.