How will Twins sort out outfield with plethora of options?

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins have too many outfielders. It’s a good problem, but it’s still a puzzle to solve. There’s not a single outfielder whose role on the 2027 team is completely clear. The closest is Byron Buxton, who will be the primary center fielder as much as he is able, but health questions make him something of an unknown . Beyond that, it’s wide open. Minnesota has seven outfielders who saw significant time in the second half of the season -- not including Matt Wallner, who has probably played his last game in a Twins uniform. Here’s a look at those seven players and how their roles and skills fit together … or maybe don’t. Byron Buxton Most likely role: Primary center fielder, with time at designated hitter Everything starts with Buxton. He’s the biggest presence in the clubhouse, and when healthy he’s the team’s best player. Unfortunately, Buxton was compromised throughout the second half in ’26 before undergoing right hip surgery. Buxton strongly prefers playing center, and he’s still a good one if not statistically elite (+3 Outs Above Average in ‘26). So when Buxton plays the outfield, he’ll play center. But there are two related considerations with him: the ramp-up as he comes back from surgery, and maintenance as the year goes on. It appears likely that even if Buxton stays healthy, he’ll likely get more games at DH next year. Luke Keaschall Most likely role: Starting left fielder or right fielder Keaschall made what seems to be a permanent transition to the outfield this year, and while there were hiccups, it did appear that he got more comfortable there as the year went on. He graded near average in limited time in right field (-1 Outs Above Average). And then there’s Keaschall’s bat, which dictates that he’s going to be in the lineup somewhere. Over the final weeks of 2026, Keaschall became entrenched as the right fielder, but it wouldn’t be shocking to see him move to left next year. He’s likely to play just about every day, and it also seems likely that the Twins will prefer to keep him primarily in left or right as he continues to learn the outfield, rather than moving him back and forth. Walker Jenkins Most likely role: Starting right fielder or left fielder, No. 2 center fielder With a shorter track record, Jenkins ( Twins’ No. 1 prospect , No. 13 overall in MLB) is less proven than Keaschall, but Jenkins is just about as certain to be in the lineup almost every day to start the season. He may get some off-days against tough lefties, but Jenkins impressed in his brief debut, and there’s no doubting his massive potential. Jenkins will likely be the main alternative to Buxton in center and will start in one of the corners when not. His arm and outfield experience probably make him a better fit in right with Keaschall moving to left, but one way or another, the two homegrown products are probably the main corner outfielders. Trevor Larnach Most likely role: Left field and DH against right-handed pitching, unless he is traded Larnach mostly stayed healthy and had his best offensive season in a while, but for a second straight winter, the 29-year-old runs a risk of being squeezed out. The club reportedly had a trade in place that would have sent him to Houston at the Trade Deadline before it fell through. Larnach is a less capable defender than Jenkins and less athletic than Keaschall. He prefers playing the outfield but may be best suited at DH. There’s a good chance he could be dealt for bullpen help. Emmanuel Rodriguez Most likely role: ? Rodriguez is the biggest question of anyone on this list. A former Top 50 prospect, Rodriguez made his debut after a string of injury-marred seasons in the Minors. He has power, speed and the ability to play center field. Rodriguez also strikes out a lot and likely will be prone to slumps. Get the latest from the Twins Have the latest news, ticket information, and more from the Twins and MLB delivered right to your inbox. Sign up The 23-year-old is also out of options. So the one thing the Twins can’t do is send him to the Minor Leagues. That means Rodriguez could be trade bait. He could also play his way into being in the lineup nearly every day. Austin Martin Most likely role: Backup/platoon at all three spots Martin played his way into the starting right-field job for a while, then struggled at the plate and saw his playing time diminish. He appears stretched in center but can play there when needed, though he is probably best served as a platoon partner for Jenkins and bench option. Alan Roden Most likely role: Backup/platoon corner outfielder Roden can hit. He’s pretty much always hit. He has a good approach and a nice swing, and he’s more athletic than his build would indicate. The problem is that opportunities will be limited if everyone stays healthy.