2021 Minnesota Twins player capsules

RHP Jorge Alcala

2020 Stats: 16 games, 2-1, 24 IP, 2.63 ERA, 1.208 WHIP, 1.1 HR/9, 3.0 BB/9, 10.1 K/9, 0.4 bWAR

Outlook: Pitched often in low-leverage situations. If he can keep the walks down, could be in line for a bigger role.

UT Luis Arraez

2020 Stats: 32 games, .321/.364/.402, 112 OPS+, 0.9 bWAR, 121 PA, 16 R, 0 HR, 13 RBI, 0 SB, 11 K

Outlook: One-time starting second baseman might see more time in left field than anywhere else. We know he can hit, owning a career .331/.390/.429 slash line.

C Willians Astudillo

2020 Stats: 8 games, .250/.250/.500, 100 OPS+, 0.0 bWAR, 16 PA, 4 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 2 K

Outlook: A valuable bench piece who can back up at nearly any position and will do that again in 2021. In 317 career plate appearances has seven walks and 13 strikeouts.

RHP Jose Berrios

2020 Stats: 12 games started, 5-4, 63 IP, 4.00 ERA, 1.317 WHIP, 1.1 HR/9, 3.7 BB/9, 9.7 K/9, 0.7 bWAR

Outlook: No. 2 starter has been fairly consistent last three years. He pitched 200 1/3 innings in 2019 and made the All-Star Game in 2018 and ’19.

OF Byron Buxton

2020 Stats: 39 games, .254/.267/.577, 124 OPS+, 2.1 bWAR, 135 PA, 19 R, 13 HR, 27 RBI, 2 SB, 36 K

Outlook: In shortened 2020 season, Buxton set career highs for slugging percentage and OPS+. Health has always been a key, but he’s an elite defender and one of fastest, if not the fastest, players in MLB. Your starting center fielder.

OF Jake Cave

2018 Stats: 42 games, .221/.285/.389, 84 OPS+, 0.2 bWAR, 123 PA, 17 R, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 0 SB, 44 K

Outlook: Can play all three outfield positions and could be the starting left fielder until Alex Kirilloff is back with the team.

RHP Alex Colome

2020 Stats (with White Sox): 21 games, 2-0, 12 saves, 22.1 IP, 0.81 ERA, 0.940 WHIP, 0.0 HR/9, 3.2 BB/9, 6.4 K/9, 1.0 bWAR

Outlook: Closer for Chicago had 42 saves in the last two seasons and 138 in his career, including 47 in 2017 for Tampa Bay. Owns a career WHIP of 1.117. Should get a lot of save opportunities.

DH Nelson Cruz

2020 Stats: 53 games, .303/.397/.595, 169 OPS+, 1.8 bWAR, 214 PA, 33 R, 16 HR, 33 RBI, 0 SB, 58 K

Outlook: Turns 41 on July 1 … and shows no signs of slowing down. Had slugged over .500 in eight straight seasons and hit 37+ HR each season from 2014-19.

RHP Randy Dobnak

2020 Stats: 10 games started, 6-4, 46.2 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1.350 WHIP, 0.6 HR/9, 2.5 BB/9, 5.2 K/9, 0.4 bWAR

Outlook: Groundball pitcher had a great spring with an increase in strikeouts. Odd man out in rotation currently, but should get some spot starts in addition to role as long reliever.

3B Josh Donaldson

2020 Stats: 28 games, .222/.373/.469, 131 OPS+, 0.5 bWAR, 102 PA, 14 R, 6 HR, 11 RBI, 0 SB, 24 K

Outlook: After rough, injury-plagued first season with Twins, Donaldson looks to get back to 2019 form when he hit 37 home runs for Atlanta.

RHP Tyler Duffey

2020 Stats: 22 games, 1-1, 24 IP, 1.88 ERA, 0.792 WHIP, 0.8 HR/9, 2.3 BB/9, 11.6 K/9, 0.7 bWAR

Outlook: Dependable setup man added a slow change to his arsenal this offseason. He’s struck out 12.5 batters per nine innings over the last two years.

OF Kyle Garlick

2020 Stats (with Phillies): 12 games, .136/.174/.182, -4 OPS+, -0.4 bWAR, 23 PA, 0 R, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 7 K

Outlook: The 29-year-old, who was claimed off waivers from Atlanta in February, had a big spring, hitting five home runs to help him claim a roster spot. Can play either corner outfield spots and probably your starter in left field against left-handed pitchers.

C Mitch Garver

2020 Stats: 23 games, .167/.247/.264, 42 OPS+, 0.0 bWAR, 81 PA, 8 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 0 SB, 27 K

Outlook: Tabbed to be the full-time starter after hitting 31 homers in 93 games in 2019, injuries robbed Garver the majority of what was already a shortened season. He’s the No. 1 backstop again.

LHP J.A. Happ

2020 Stats (with Yankees): 9 games started, 2-2, 49.1 IP, 3.47 ERA, 1.054 WHIP, 1.5 HR/9, 2.7 BB/9, 7.7 K/9, 1.2 bWAR

Outlook: Veteran going into his 15th season doesn’t put a lot of runners on base but won’t eat up a lot of innings either – his career high is 195 with Toronto in 2016. Should give the Twins their first consistently decent left-hander in the rotation over a full season since … Tommy Milone in 2015? Scott Diamond in 2012? Francisco Liriano in 2010?

C Ryan Jeffers

2020 Stats: 26 games, .273/.355/.436, 121 OPS+, 0.4 bWAR, 62 PA, 5 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 19 K

Outlook: Performing well last year after getting called up to the majors for the first time, the former second-round pick in 2018 appears to have cemented the No. 2 catching role.

OF Max Kepler

2020 Stats: 48 games, .228/.321/.439, 110 OPS+, 1.1 bWAR, 196 PA, 27 R, 9 HR, 23 RBI, 3 SB, 36 K

Outlook: Had a breakout year in 2019 (36 HR) and will continue to be Minnesota’s starting right fielder and perhaps continue his role as the Twins’ leadoff hitter.

RHP Kenta Maeda

2020 Stats: 11 games started, 6-1, 66.2 IP, 2.70 ERA, 0.750 WHIP, 1.2 HR/9, 1.4 BB/9, 10.8 K/9, 1.4 bWAR

Outlook: Exceeded expectations after coming over from Dodgers in a trade, finishing second in AL Cy Young voting. Will be Minnesota’s starter on opening day and presumed ace of the staff.

RHP Michael Pineda

2020 Stats: 5 games started, 2-0, 26.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 0.0 HR/9, 2.4 BB/9, 8.4 K/9, 0.3 bWAR

Outlook: Twins finally get Pineda for a full season and he’ll be pegged to take his turn every five days as the No. 3 starter.

2B Jorge Polanco

2020 Stats: 55 games, .258/.304/.354, 84 OPS+, 0.3 bWAR, 226 PA, 22 R, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 4 SB, 35 K

Outlook: The 2019 All-Star shortstop is moving over to second base – a position he hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2016.

RHP Hansel Robles

2020 Stats (with Angels): 18 games, 0-2, 1 save, 16.2 IP, 10.26 ERA, 1.740 WHIP, 2.2 HR/9, 5.4 BB/9, 10.8 K/9, -0.7 bWAR

Outlook: After a forgettable season, Robles looks to bounce back to be the pitcher who had a 2.48 ERA, 1.018 WHIP and 23 saves in 2019. Likely a setup/late-inning option for Rocco Baldelli.

LHP Taylor Rogers

2020 Stats: 21 games, 2-4, 9 saves, 20 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 0.9 HR/9, 1.8 BB/9, 10.8 K/9, -0.7 bWAR

Outlook: Another player looking to revert to form, Rogers had a 2.62 ERA and 0.976 WHIP over 137 1/3 innings from 2018-19. A lefty option in the late innings.

1B Miguel Sano

2020 Stats: 53 games, .204/.278/.478, 108 OPS+, 0.0 bWAR, 205 PA, 31 R, 13 HR, 25 RBI, 0 SB, 90 K

Outlook: Minnesota’s starting first baseman has slugged over .500 in every odd year he’s been in the majors (2015, 2017, 2019), including a career high .579 in the last 162-game season.

RHP Matt Shoemaker

2029 Stats (with Blue Jays): 6 games started, 0-1, 28.2 IP, 4.71 ERA, 1.081 WHIP, 2.5 HR/9, 2.8 BB/9, 8.2 K/9, 0.6 bWAR

Outlook: Could be an effective No. 5 starter if healthy – which has been the issue throughout Shoemaker’s career. He hasn’t thrown more than 31 innings since 2017, and that was only 77 2/3.

SS Andrelton Simmons

2020 Stats (with Angels): 30 games, .297/.346/.356, 91 OPS+, 0.6 bWAR, 127 PA, 19 R, 0 HR, 10 RBI, 2 SB, 16 K

Outlook: Elite defensive shortstop who can provide some pop at the plate on occasion. Probably will be Minnesota pitchers’ best friend.

RHP Cody Stashak

2020 Stats: 11 games, 1-0, 15 IP, 3.00 ERA, 0.993 WHIP, 1.2 HR/9, 1.8 BB/9, 10.2 K/9, 0.2 bWAR

Outlook: Control pitcher who can also strike guys out. Likely to be used mainly in middle relief, non-high leverage roles.

LHP Caleb Thielbar

2020 Stats: 17 games, 2-1, 20 IP, 2.25 ERA, 1.150 WHIP, 0.0 HR/9, 4.1 BB/9, 9.9 K/9, 0.4 bWAR

Outlook: Was dominant against lefties in his return to the majors after a five-year absence. Should have similar role in 2021.