Twins position breakdown: Corner outfield

Max Kepler debuted in 2015 and cemented himself as the Twins’ right fielder a season later. But it seems as if the outfielder — among the longest-tenured Twins alongside center fielder Byron Buxton — has now played his final game in Minnesota.

With Kepler now a free agent, there are open corner outfield spots for Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach to flank Buxton in center — unless the Twins make an offseason move to address the outfield.

2024 RECAP

Kepler this season was coming off a strong second half to his 2023 season, but he wasn’t able to sustain that level of performance in 2024.

He began the season by fouling a ball off his right knee on Opening Day, an injury that landed him on the injured list days later. He ended the season on the injured list, as well. Kepler developed left patellar tendinitis and while he was rehabbing, felt soreness near his hip that prevented a return.

The right fielder seemed to acknowledge before the season ended that it was unlikely he would be back in 2025. He is an unrestricted free agent, and the Twins have little financial wiggle room. He reflected on his time in Minnesota fondly.

Over in left field, Wallner had a tough start to the season, leading to a demotion to Triple-A before he returned in July to become one of the Twins’ most-productive hitters. He finished the year hitting .259 with a .894 OPS and a 149 OPS+ (100 is a league-average hitter).

Trevor Larnach also had a productive season, posting a 116 OPS+. He played the most innings in left of any Twins hitter last season, while Wallner would shift to right when Kepler was not on the field.

Austin Martin, Willi Castro and Manuel Margot, whose mutual option the Twins declined, were among the others in the corner outfield mix, particularly in left. Alex Kirilloff, who recently retired, played some corner outfield, too, and late callups Michael Helman and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. were briefly used there, as well.

2025 OUTLOOK

With Kepler expected to be out of the picture, the Twins could pencil Wallner and Larnach ∞ both left-handed hitters — into spots to start the year, but the team could benefit from adding another productive right-handed batter who can play across the outfield, as well. That might be something they’re on the lookout for this winter.

They also have prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez coming soon. He finished the year at Triple-A, and while he is a primarily a center fielder, he could shift to a corner at the major league level to accommodate Buxton.

Rodriguez recently underwent a procedure on his thumb, which plagued him throughout the year, but could be in the outfield conversation at some point next season. Castro, Martin, Helman and Keirsey Jr. could all figure in in some way or another, as well.