3 players with the most to prove this Spring Training

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Major League side of the Twins’ complex at Hammond Stadium was technically still closed on Tuesday, a day before the first workout for pitchers and catchers. But there was still plenty of activity among early reports -- including young hitters who were already taking live batting practice against Minor League pitchers on the back fields.

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It’s been a busy offseason for many of these Twins as they prepare to defend their American League Central title, from Byron Buxton diligently working through his surgery recovery to Carlos Correa working on his swing earlier than he had in a long while.

As was the case this time last year, much of the Opening Day roster appears largely set, with most of the Minnesota players treating this period as an extended ramp-up. But for a few others, there’s a lot to prove this spring -- and it might have as much to do with their career trajectories as it does with their Opening Day status. Let’s take a look.

1) 1B Jose Miranda

Last season should have been Miranda’s opportunity to build on a solid rookie campaign as a core right-handed bat in the heart of the order; instead, recurring shoulder issues kept him away from the Twins’ playoff run, and the underperformance has pushed him to the fringe of the roster picture this spring.

“I wanted to be there,” Miranda said during TwinsFest last month. “Couldn’t help them out, but just trusting the process now, trying to get better, trying to be up there -- up here -- this year and help them out and try to do my thing and come back.”

With Royce Lewis now fixed at third base, the opportunity for Miranda is now at first base, where he might have figured to platoon with Alex Kirilloff -- but then, the Twins brought in Carlos Santana to take those right-handed plate appearances, leaving Miranda’s fit more of a question than ever.

Miranda is among the early arrivals in camp -- almost a week ahead of the first full-squad workout -- and after a rotator cuff cleanup surgery last October, he’ll have to show that last season’s .566 OPS was a blip to put himself more firmly into the Twins’ plans. Does that make him feel extra pressure going into this spring?

“No, not really, no,” Miranda said. “Just want to enjoy the game and just control what I can control. Just go day by day and do my thing. I know if I do my thing, I’m going to be good, so that’s it.”

2) RHP Jorge Alcala

Now that Gilberto Celestino is with the Pirates, Alcala is the final remnant of the deal that sent Ryan Pressly to the Astros at the 2018 Trade Deadline -- and the once-highly regarded hard thrower that came up at the same time as Brusdar Graterol is now 28 years old and fighting for a more consistent role that has always eluded him.

At first, when Alcala had a 2.63 ERA in 2020 and a 3.92 ERA in ‘21, the Twins wanted to see him improve with his consistency and his developing changeup when he was trying to push his way up the bullpen leverage rankings.

Now, it’s probably less about a leverage role and more about finding a consistent foothold at all. Because of the club's glut of relief acquisitions this offseason -- Justin Topa, Josh Staumont, Jay Jackson and Steven Okert -- there’s no clear fit for Alcala in Minnesota's ‘pen, especially since he’s not out of options.

At minimum, with only 19 2/3 innings under his belt across the past two seasons, establishing a baseline of health would be a good start for Alcala.

3) CF Byron Buxton

It’s kind of cheating to put Buxton on this list, but his ability to prove he can play center field on a consistent basis again is arguably the most important storyline of the spring -- and he knows it, because he needs to show that to himself, too, after a season of being held to DH only by the condition of his right knee.

That much was clear when Buxton was asked last month how often he anticipated being able to play center field.

“My body will tell me,” Buxton said at TwinsFest. “I [haven't] played center in a year. My body will tell me that.”

Buxton's body will tell him -- and it will tell the Twins and the baseball world at large, too.