5 Things the Minnesota Twins Need to Do to Prevent a Slide

When the Minnesota Twins went 1-4 after the All-Star break, it appeared that their playoff hopes were fading fast. And with that, they would go from possible buyers to probable sellers at the trade deadline. This brought woes to their fanbase, as they remembered last year’s 11-player sell-off, which led to the eventual firing of manager Rocco Baldelli.

But with two inspiring wins against the Guardians in Cleveland, two against the Athletics, and a series-opening win against the Kansas City Royals, the Twins have put themselves back in the race. However, if they want to stay there, changes have to be made to keep them competitive in the playoff hunt.

Twins Need to Call Up Walker Jenkins

It’s time to call the big fella up. His promotion would automatically accomplish two things: add some pop to the lineup, and improve the Twins defensively. He has the rare combination of speed and power. And he would provide an excellent follow-up to Byron Buxton in Minnesota’s lineup. Both Jenkins and Buxton would see more strikes, raising their offensive possibilities.

Jenkins, ranked number eight on Just Baseball’s Top 100 Prospects list, would also benefit from the tutelage he would receive from the veteran Buxton. The youngster could be the Twins’ future center fielder, and who better to learn from than one of the best in the business?

Trade Trevor Larnach

This is a tough one because Larnach is having a dream season. The once-touted prospect looked to be at the end of his time in a Twins uniform as the 2025 season closed. He was a corner outfielder who lacked power and was a defensive liability. But he’s posted a slash line of .291/.381/.453 in 2026 and contributed numerous clutch hits.

But his defense is still a glaring issue. And with fellow outfielders Jenkins, Buxton, Luke Keaschall, and Alan Roden on the roster, Larnach becomes expendable. His value will never be higher, and the Twins might be able to procure a solid reliever in return.

Twins Should Call Up Kaelen Culpepper

It’s time for the Twins to call up their future at shortstop. Culpepper was almost promoted to the big club a month ago. But just as the call-up was about to occur, he suffered a glute strain that kept him on the injured list until three days ago. He has not yet returned to playing shortstop, but that is the next step in his recovery.

But with his pre-injury performance, Culpepper, ranked number 61 on Just Baseball’s Top 100 Prospects list, proved that he is more than ready to help the Twins reach the playoffs. They will probably schedule his call-up after August 14 to retain his rookie eligibility for next season. But with their current shortstop, Ryan Kreidler, struggling at the plate of late, they may be tempted to recall him sooner.

Trade Ryan Jeffers

Many Twins fans will do a double take on this one. Jeffers is having a phenomenal offensive season. This despite missing a month and a half with a hamate fracture in his left hand. And he picked up right where he left off, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs in Minnesota’s 11-8 win against the Athletics at Target Field on Sunday. Jeffers’ name is being bandied about frequently within trade circles.

The New York Yankees are purportedly hot on his trail, as are other teams. And with Athletics’ catcher Shea Langeliers likely out for the season with a torn meniscus, the market for catchers just got more expensive. Depending on where Jeffers is headed, he could net the Twins a starting pitcher or a reliever to bolster their sagging bullpen. And they would still have Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson to handle catching duties.

Platoon Royce Lewis

This may be a tough pill for Twins fans to swallow. The former number-one overall pick in the 2017 draft has shown flashes of brilliance in his tenure with the team. But times have changed, at least for this season. Lewis’ slash line against lefties in 2026 is .209/.312/.373. And worse yet, only two of his 10 homers and six of his 33 RBI have been against southpaws.

He hasn’t exactly been lighting the world on fire, but he appears to be a rare right-handed bat that struggles against left-handed pitching.

And with Kody Clemens on board at second base and Josh Bell, Caratini, and others contributing at first base, Lewis could get a rest when facing lefties. There may be brighter days ahead for Lewis, but for now, this is the prudent action for Minnesota to take.

Looking Ahead

Besides these changes, more is needed for the Twins to stay in playoff contention. Key players such as Buxton and pitcher Joe Ryan need to stay healthy. And Clemens, Bell, and other surprise performers need to continue to score and drive in runs. But with the steady hand of manager Derek Shelton at the helm, Minnesota could continue to be one of the surprise teams of the year.