Minnesota Twins DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews (hip) tossed three shutout frames in his return on Wednesday. Matthews allowed just one base runner (via a base on balls) and tallied five punchouts. The young right-hander was dealing with a minor hip injury but appears to be past this given his strong performance. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during camp as he could have a chance to claim the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Last season, Matthews made his MLB debut and logged 37 2/3 innings with a high 6.69 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. He tallied 43 punchouts while holding a strong 4.3 percent walk. In the minor leagues, he held a 2.60 ERA with a 0.87 WHIP across 97 innings across High, Double, and Triple-A. If he opens the season at Triple-A St. Paul, Chris Paddack will likely claim the final spot in the rotation.

The Athletic's Dan Hayes writes that if all of the Minnesota Twins options at second base -- a group that includes Willi Castro, Edouard Julien, Brooks Lee and Mickey Gasper -- are healthy going into the 2025 regular season, the team would likely give the bulk of their plate appearances at the keystone to Castro, the club's reigning MVP. However, due to a potential injury to another position player, Castro could be needed elsewhere, and the Twins are leaving their options open. The 27-year-old has been a super-utility man in Minnesota, playing every position except for catcher and first base while hitting .251/.334/.395 with 47 steals since 2023. Gasper, Lee and Julien have all impressed this spring, but Castro is the biggest lock for consistent playing time over the course of the entire season. Castro offers modest power and speed but is most useful in fantasy for his eligibility at second, third, shortstop and outfield.

Minnesota Twins second basemen Brooks Lee and Edouard Julien are the favorites to make the team out of camp and share duties manning second base for Minnesota. The Twins also have super-utility man Willi Castro, who can play the position as well, but would likely see time all over the field after playing five different positions last season for the Twins. Lee made his MLB debut in 2024 with mixed results but is showing well this spring and comes with 2B, 3B, and SS eligibility on Yahoo, while Julien draws lots of walks and hit as many as 16 homers back in 2023. Neither one makes for a great fantasy option at the moment, though, unless one secures the position for themselves.

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez (ankle) was assigned to minor-league camp on Sunday. The 22-year-old has been dealing with an ankle sprain and will begin his 2025 season in the minor leagues. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he was able to take live batting practice earlier in the week. If he does face any setbacks, he should be cleared to play at the start of the Triple-A regular season. Last season, the 22-year-old appeared in just 47 games but made a significant impact. In 37 games at Double-A, Rodriguez held a .298/.479/.621 slash line with 12 doubles and eight home runs. During his brief seven-game taste of Triple-A, Rodriguez tallied six hits. If he can take the next step in his development at Triple-A, he should push for a late 2025 MLB debut.

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez (ankle) participated in live batting practice on Friday and could return to games sometime next week. Rodriguez suffered a sprained ankle earlier in camp but is nearing a return to action. The 22-year-old also missed a significant portion of last season due to a thumb injury that required surgery. Last summer, Rodriguez spent most of his time at Double-A where he appeared in 37 contests and held a .298/.479/.621 slash line with 12 doubles and eight long balls. Across his first seven games at the Triple-A level, Rodriguez tallied five hits with only one of them going for extra-bases. During the 2023 season, Rodriguez logged 99 games with High-A and posted a .240/.400/.463 line. When healthy, fantasy managers should expect the 22-year-old to open the season with Triple-A St. Paul. He could push for a MLB debut later in the summer if he enjoys a strong start.