All Things 2026 Minnesota Twins In-Season Thread

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Thought it would be interesting to see how the bullpen has been fairing as it’s improved overall to me. Based on the numbers, it’s not great, but at a minimum respectable.

Gomez is looking like a legit closer.
Morris is a contributor and likely future setup man with lively stuff.
Banda has been very good, once it got warmer and a good FA signing.
Orze is solid and pretty dependable.

My guess is once Abel is activated. That Joey Lawrence with be cut.

inside the pen has us ranked as the 24th and ahead of Detroit and KC.

insidethepen.com

MLB Bullpen Power Rankings 2026 - Best Bullpens in Baseball, Ranked

Season-long bullpen rankings across all 30 MLB teams. Weighted formula covering ERA, fatigue, save conversion, and depth. Updated daily.
insidethepen.com insidethepen.com

We’ve converted 21/31 save opportunities; Gomez is 6 out of 6 IIRC. Other blown saves in the central - Guards 6, Chi 12, KC 16 & Det 17.

Our 5.32 ERA is dead last, but has been skewed by the tryouts we’ve conducted, and it takes some duds to find a gem or two.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
Thought it would be interesting to see how the bullpen has been fairing as it’s improved overall to me. Based on the numbers, it’s not great, but at a minimum respectable.

Gomez is looking like a legit closer.
Morris is a contributor and likely future setup man with lively stuff.
Banda has been very good, once it got warmer and a good FA signing.
Orze is solid and pretty dependable.

My guess is once Abel is activated. That Joey Lawrence with be cut.

inside the pen has us ranked as the 24th and ahead of Detroit and KC.

insidethepen.com

MLB Bullpen Power Rankings 2026 - Best Bullpens in Baseball, Ranked

Season-long bullpen rankings across all 30 MLB teams. Weighted formula covering ERA, fatigue, save conversion, and depth. Updated daily.
insidethepen.com insidethepen.com

We’ve converted 21/31 save opportunities; Gomez is 6 out of 6 IIRC. Other blown saves in the central - Guards 6, Chi 12, KC 16 & Det 17.

Our 5.32 ERA is dead last, but has been skewed by the tryouts we’ve conducted, and it takes some duds to find a gem or two.
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1781748505700.gif
 

1 prospect from each team pushing for a promotion​



www.mlb.com

1 prospect from each team pushing for a promotion

It’s moving season in the Minor Leagues. It’s around this time of the season that sample sizes are big enough and organizations can recognize without much doubt which of their prospects deserve new challenges at higher levels, like the Nationals did last week with Eli Willits’ move to High-A at
www.mlb.com www.mlb.com

He’s supposed to be the real deal defensively at SS - our first rounder from last year.

Twins: Marek Houston, SS (No. 7)
The Twins just promoted cacher Khadim Diaw to Double-A Wichita and they should send Houston, their first-rounder last year, with him. The defense at short will play at any level and his hit-over-power approach is looking like it needs a new challenge. He’s been blistering hot in June, with a .425/.538/.600 line over his first 10 games this month, bring him to a .324/.397/.457 overall line with 20 steals (in 21 attempts). There’s precedent: the Twins moved 2024 first-round pick Kaelen Culpepper from Cedar Rapids to Wichita right at this time of the season a year ago.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:

1 prospect from each team pushing for a promotion​



www.mlb.com

1 prospect from each team pushing for a promotion

It’s moving season in the Minor Leagues. It’s around this time of the season that sample sizes are big enough and organizations can recognize without much doubt which of their prospects deserve new challenges at higher levels, like the Nationals did last week with Eli Willits’ move to High-A at
www.mlb.com www.mlb.com

He’s supposed to be the real deal defensively at SS - our first rounder from last year.

Twins: Marek Houston, SS (No. 7)
The Twins just promoted cacher Khadim Diaw to Double-A Wichita and they should send Houston, their first-rounder last year, with him. The defense at short will play at any level and his hit-over-power approach is looking like it needs a new challenge. He’s been blistering hot in June, with a .425/.538/.600 line over his first 10 games this month, bring him to a .324/.397/.457 overall line with 20 steals (in 21 attempts). There’s precedent: the Twins moved 2024 first-round pick Kaelen Culpepper from Cedar Rapids to Wichita right at this time of the season a year ago.
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It would be fun to have a truly great defensive shortstop playing for us! Then move Culpepper to 3rd.
 

TNGophfan said:
It would be fun to have a truly great defensive shortstop playing for us! Then move Culpepper to 3rd.
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The Twins did have one for a large stretch this decade. Unfortunately it was a very expensive option and injury prone.
 


Ope3 said:
The Twins did have one for a large stretch this decade. Unfortunately it was a very expensive option and injury prone.
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Good point. Already forgot about Carlos. For whatever reason, never fell in love with his play.
 

TNGophfan said:
It would be fun to have a truly great defensive shortstop playing for us! Then move Culpepper to 3rd.
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Per Gleeman, some scouts think Culpepper’s best position will be third. It still amazes me after all these years, how many highly drafted SS end up playing elsewhere.

Hopefully our next Greg Gagne🤞. It’s been awhile; not counting Correa as he wasn’t here long enough to be an ⚓️ and was hurt too much as well.
 

TNGophfan said:
Good point. Already forgot about Carlos. For whatever reason, never fell in love with his play.
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That 2022 season I thought Correa was rather impressive as SS. He did lead the league in fielding percentage both 2022 & 2023, but already by that 2nd year his range was on the decline.

Great arm.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
Per Gleeman, some scouts think Culpepper’s best position will be third. It still amazes me after all these years, how many highly drafted SS end up playing elsewhere.

Hopefully our next Greg Gagne🤞. It’s been awhile; not counting Correa as he wasn’t here long enough to be an ⚓️ and was hurt too much as well.
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I think that has always been the the thought that he would most likely move to 3B or possibly the OF. Houston is likely the SS of the future.
 




Gopher_In_NYC said:
Has he logged any time at those positions yet?
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3B yes (and actually a few games at 2B), but not OF. I just remember the comments about him when he was drafted that it was unlikely he would remain at SS full time. He may stay there for a little bit, but likely he moves full time once Houston is ready.
 

GophersInIowa said:
3B yes (and actually a few games at 2B), but not OF.
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Wasn’t aware - thanks.
GophersInIowa said:
I just remember the comments about him when he was drafted that it was unlikely he would remain at SS full time. He may stay there for a little bit, but likely he moves full time once Houston is ready.
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A bridge SS.

That would be an odd feeling to have to leave a position you played your whole life.
 
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GophersInIowa said:
3B yes (and actually a few games at 2B), but not OF. I just remember the comments about him when he was drafted that it was unlikely he would remain at SS full time. He may stay there for a little bit, but likely he moves full time once Houston is ready.
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Part of the reason I didn't get moving Lee to 3B instead of 2B. I think long term it will be Royce at 1B, Lee at 2B, Culpepper at 3B and Houston at SS. Keashall may end up a Willi Castro bench player.
 



howeda7 said:
Part of the reason I didn't get moving Lee to 3B instead of 2B. I think long term it will be Royce at 1B, Lee at 2B, Culpepper at 3B and Houston at SS. Keashall may end up a Willi Castro bench player.
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I think the move to 3B for Lee is more short term than long term. Houston is still a year away likely.
 

howeda7 said:
Part of the reason I didn't get moving Lee to 3B instead of 2B. I think long term it will be Royce at 1B, Lee at 2B, Culpepper at 3B and Houston at SS. Keashall may end up a Willi Castro bench player.
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I think they wanted to keep Keaschall’s bat in the lineup and he’s limited defensively, at this point.
 


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GophersInIowa said:
Interesting

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In theory drastically reducing the overhead on prospects/suspects would allow the resources to be allocated to the MLB Rosters to help offset the required increases some teams will face under the Salary Cap & Floor proposal.
 




Gopher_In_NYC said:
I think they wanted to keep Keaschall’s bat in the lineup and he’s limited defensively, at this point.
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I probably like Keaschall more than most. Having a bit of a sophomore slump but getting better as season goes on. Think he can be at least average defensively as he's such a good athlete. Will steal bases and average at least high .200's before it's over. In the end, think he beats out Lee as everyday 2B. Other option, of course is he can probably play OF and I don't think Lee can.
 
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L
TNGophfan said:
I probably like Keaschall more than most.
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I like him as well and to clarify haven’t said I didn’t - keeping him in the lineup despite his struggles is a nice vote of confidence from the Twins.
TNGophfan said:
Having a bit of a sophomore slump but getting better as season goes on.
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Sophomore slumps are the norm, very few players make a splash their first season and then don’t slump. Those guys are your elite players and don’t come around that often.


TNGophfan said:
Think he can be at least average defensively as he's such a good athlete.
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Hope so, though I do think he’s limited now, per my original comment; he’s not gonna play SS/3B as he doesn’t have the arm for those throws. I think henplayed the OF in the minors.

TNGophfan said:
Will steal bases and average at least high .200's before it's over.
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Love speed in the lineup as it gives the D-pitcher another thing to worry about and manufacturing runs is good fundamentally sound ball.

TNGophfan said:
In the end, think he beats out Lee as everyday 2B. Other option, of course is he can probably play OF and I don't think Lee can.
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Lee can’t play OF, his foot speed per Baseball Savant is below average. He’s having a sneaky good season, even only batting.241 after today. Bell is 10th in the AL with 46 ribeyes and Brooks is nipping at his heels with 42.

Will be interesting to see how this all shakes out over the next few years and if how many of the ballyhooed Saints position players can come up and be regular contributors. Looks like we’re going to be good with the pitching, which has been better than I imagined.
 

I know it's way early, but, if season ended today, Shelton should get some votes for manager of the year. They've won far more games than I expected while dealing with a poor bullpen, injuries to starting pitchers and a pretty low team batting average. Don't have stats in front of me, but seems that they've hit pretty well with ducks on the pond and a bunch of big home runs.
 

howeda7 said:
Part of the reason I didn't get moving Lee to 3B instead of 2B. I think long term it will be Royce at 1B, Lee at 2B, Culpepper at 3B and Houston at SS. Keashall may end up a Willi Castro bench player.
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I'm just not convinced yet that Lewis will stick long term. He still flails away at too many pitches for me, including 4 K's today.
 




Ope3 said:
Dobber is on the bump for Omaha against the Saints in St Paul tonight.

Game is on FOX9+/Ch 29 for anyone interested.
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Possible wemay see him later in the season.

Everything I’ve seen has KC as sellers at the deadline either Wacha and Lugo possibly on the block.
 

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