STARTING LINEUP
Meet the 2023 Minnesota Twins: A veteran roster of familiar faces and fresh talent
Two things that were needed after the struggles of last year: More experience and increased versatility. Combine that with the healthy return of several players and the result is a very different roster.
March 30, 2023 at 11:04AM
Joey Gallo
First base
Age: 29
Base salary: $11 million
Gold Glove outfielder hoping for comeback after a nightmare 2022 season (.160 average, 163 K's in 126 games) with Yankees and Dodgers.
Nick Gordon
Second base
Age: 27
Base salary: $740,000
Fifth-overall pick in 2014 finally broke through as a major leaguer, playing seven positions (including pitcher) and had surprising power.
Carlos Correa
Shortstop
Age: 28
Base salary: $32 million
Returned to the Twins after free-agent agreements with Giants and Mets fell through. Swept the team's major awards last season when he was clearly the MVP (.833 OPS).
Jose Miranda
Third base
Age: 24
Base salary: $740,000
Lived up to billing after a great minor league career, leading the Twins in RBI and establishing himself as middle-of-the-order fixture.
Trevor Larnach
Left field
Age: 26
Base salary: $740,000
Missed the final three months of the season. When healthy, the 20th selection in the 2018 draft gives the team a powerful lefthanded bat. Promising spring.
Michael A. Taylor
Center field
Age: 32
Base salary: $4.5 million
A starter for KC the past two seasons, he's a Gold Glove winner signed to play when Gold Glove winner Byron Buxton DHs.
Max Kepler
Right field
Age: 30
Base salary: $8.5 million
Only 28 extra-base hits last season, fewest of his career, make that magical 2019 output (36 HR, 90 RBI) seem long ago. No-shift rules might benefit him.
Christian Vazquez
Catcher
Age: 32
Base salary: $10 million
Caught the last out of the World Series for the champion Astros; strong defensive credentials and a decent bat for a free swinger (.261 career average).
Byron Buxton
Designated hitter
Age: 29
Base salary: $15 million
Statistics say the Twins are a much better team when Buxton plays, but hip and knee injuries limited him to 92 games in 2022, when he was an All-Star for the first time.
RESERVES
Willi Castro
Infield
Age: 25
Base salary: $740,000
After four years with the Tigers (.245 average) he was non-tendered and signed by the Twins. He replaces injured Jorge Polanco on the roster.
Kyle Farmer
Infield
Age: 32
Base salary: $5.585 million
Acquired from Cincinnati in the offseason, the converted catcher was the starter at shortstop the past two seasons for the Reds.
Ryan Jeffers
Catcher
Age: 25
Base salary: $740,000
A thumb injury hampered him as now-departed Gary Sanchez caught more games. Jeffers will try to improve on a .208 average.
Donovan Solano
Infield
Age: 35
Base salary: $2 million
Picked up during spring training as a proven hitter. "Donnie Barrels" won a Silver Slugger at second base for the Giants in 2020.
STARTING ROTATION
Pablo Lopez
Righthander
Age: 27
Base salary: $5.45 million
The Twins traded AL batting champion Luis Arraez for Lopez, who started 32 games for Miami (10-10, 3.75 ERA, 8.7 K/9).
Sonny Gray
Righthander
Age: 33
Base salary: $12.7 million
Limited to 24 starts and 119 ⅔ innings because of a hamstring injury, but a 2.38 ERA after the All-Star break showed he's back on track.
Joe Ryan
Righthander
Age: 26
Base salary: $740,000
As a rookie, he was the team's most effective starter, posting team highs in victories (13), innings (147) and strikeouts (151).
Kenta Maeda
Righthander
Age: 34
Base salary: $3 million
Veteran is recovering from Tommy John surgery, but hopes to recapture magic 2020 (Cy Young runner-up after league-best 0.750 WHIP).
Tyler Mahle
Righthander
Age: 28
Base salary: $7.5 million
After coming from the Reds in a midseason trade, he was able to pitch only four times because of arm weakness.
RELIEVERS
Jorge Alcala
Righthander
Age: 27
Base salary: $790,000
A sore right elbow eventually needed surgery, limiting Alcala to two games on opening weekend after a promising 2021 (59 games, 0.972 WHIP).
Jhoan Duran
Righthander
Age: 25
Base salary: $740,000
He's expected to be the closer after only eight save chances in '22. Hardest thrower in the majors struck out 89 in 67 ⅔ innings with a 1.86 ERA.
Griffin Jax
Righthander
Age: 28
Base salary: $740,000
The Air Force captain proved himself as a big leaguer, leading the relievers in innings pitched (72 ⅓), and had a 1.051 WHIP.
Jorge Lopez
Righthander
Age: 30
Base salary: $3.525 million
A trade-deadline pickup, he was an All-Star closer for Baltimore who struggled with the Twins (1.632 WHIP in 23 games).
Jovani Moran
Lefthander
Age: 25
Base salary: $740,000
A 2.21 ERA in 31 appearances — some longer than an inning — was impressive considering he was up and down from St. Paul quite a bit.
Emilio Pagan
Righthander
Age: 31
Base salary: $3.5 million
Given first crack at being the closer, he lost leads in key games to AL Central champ Cleveland and gave up 36 runs in 63 innings.
Cole Sands
Righthander
Age: 25
Base salary: $740,000
A starter at St. Paul last season, he begins as the long reliever for the Twins. Roughed up in 11 games last season (5.87 ERA, 1.565 WHIP).
Caleb Thielbar
Lefthander
Age: 36
Base salary: $2.4 million
Had 80 strikeouts in 59 ⅓ innings in his continuing comeback story.
INJURED LIST
Jorge Polanco
Second base
Age: 29
Base salary: $7.5 million
Following a dynamite 2021 (33 HR, 98 RBI) the former All-Star's knee tendinitis hampered production and eventually ended his season.
Alex Kirilloff
Outfielder
Age: 25
Base salary: $740,000
Full of promise, but wrist problems and surgeries have derailed his early career. When healthy, he'll be a starter at first or in the outfield.
Gerrit Cole gave up his opt-out right on Monday and will remain with the New York Yankees under a contract that runs through 2028 rather than become a free agent.
