FORT MYERS, FLA. – The Twins didn’t finalize their 26-man Opening Day roster as they departed for Kansas City on Tuesday, but it appears set after they cut seven nonroster invitees from major league camp.
They have 13 healthy position players and 14 pitchers remaining after they assigned pitchers Matt Bowman and Jeff Brigham, catchers Brian O’Keefe and Chris Williams, and infielders Michael Helman, Niko Goodrum and Anthony Prato to the minor leagues. Josh Staumont, one of the 14 pitchers left in camp, might begin the season on the injured list after he sustained a knee injury Monday and underwent examinations Tuesday.
Staumont “didn’t come in feeling great,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Tuesday. “He wasn’t moving great today.”
Among the position player group, there are no surprises. The Twins will carry two catchers (Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vázquez), six infielders (Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, Carlos Santana, Alex Kirilloff and Kyle Farmer), four outfielders (Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Matt Wallner and Manuel Margot) and one utilityman (Willi Castro).
The rotation has been set since Anthony DeSclafani felt more pain in his elbow. Pablo López will start Thursday in Kansas City with Joe Ryan scheduled to pitch Saturday and Bailey Ober on Sunday (Friday is a built-in off day). Louie Varland and Chris Paddack round out the five starters.
In the bullpen, Griffin Jax, Brock Stewart, Jay Jackson, Steven Okert, Kody Funderburk, Cole Sands and Jorge Alcala were all informed they made the roster. Daniel Duarte, a nonroster invitee to camp, is the leading candidate to fill the last spot.
“Duarte is going to come to Kansas City with us,” Baldelli said. “We’re going to hold off on making any official roster announcements, but he had a really nice spring and put himself in a great position. … Every other spot on the team is locked in and I’ve spoken with all those guys.”
Duarte is not on the 40-man roster, so the Twins would need to clear a spot to add him. After pitching last season for the Reds, he was traded to the Rangers for cash considerations. The Twins picked him up off waivers in February, then designated him for assignment later in the month. He cleared waivers and was invited to camp as a non-roster player.
