Twins' Carlos Santana: Out of lineup again Wednesday
Rotowire
Santana isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's contest in Baltimore.
Santana will take a seat for the second straight game, as he's getting a chance to regroup while he's struggled to a .135/.224/.154 slash line to start the season. Jose Miranda will handle first base for Minnesota on Wednesday.
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Twins' Carlos Santana: Taking seat Tuesday
Rotowire
Santana is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game in Baltimore.
Alex Kirilloff will get the nod at first base while Santana takes a seat. It's the second day off of the season for Santana, who is slashing an ugly .135/.224/.154 over his first 14 contests.
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Twins' Carlos Santana: Sitting out Tuesday
Rotowire
Santana is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Dodgers.
It's the first day off this season for Santana, who had been in the lineup for each of the first eight games. Alex Kirilloff will occupy first base, while Jose Miranda will get a start at designated hitter.
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Twins' Carlos Santana: Everyday duty at 1B
Rotowire
Santana went 1-for-3 with a double in Sunday's loss at Kansas City. He's started all three games this season at first base and is 3-for-11 with a walk.
Santana may get more playing time with Royce Lewis out a month or more with a quad injury as Alex Kirilloff has been used in the outfield the last two games with Willi Castro playing more third base. Santana did not bat leadoff against a left-handed starter in the season opener but could still be an option to lead off against southpaws as had been talked about in spring training. Santana looks set to play against both right-handed and left-handed pitching at first base with an occasional game at DH, while Kirilloff primarily will be used at DH and in the outfield and sit against most lefties.
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Twins' Carlos Santana: Could bat leadoff against lefties
Rotowire
Santana is likely to bat leadoff against left-handed pitchers, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. "I think he will hit leadoff. I don't know if it's going to be the whole year," manager Rocco Baldelli said this week.
Santana looks set to be an everyday player at first base and will likely hit sixth or lower in the order against righties. Alex Kirilloff will also get time at first base, but will mostly be used at DH and will sit most days against left-handed pitchers. Santana has a career .819 OPS vs. lefties, including an .807 OPS last season. His ability to draw walks and takes pitches is viewed as a plus at the top of the lineup, but the Twins frequently change their batting orders under Baldelli, especially against lefties.
Twins' Carlos Santana: Could get everyday duty at 1B
Rotowire
Santana looks set to be used against both right-handed and left-handed pitching at first base with Alex Kirilloff primarily being used at DH, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. Santana is hitting 6-for-17 with a home run in six games this spring.
When the Twins signed Santana it was assumed he'd platoon with the lefty Kirilloff at first base, but this report makes it sound like Santana could be set for everyday duty. Kirilloff would then platoon with several right-handed batters at DH. Last season marked Santana's best year at the plate since 2019, as he slashed .240/.318/.429 with 23 homers and 86 RBI between the Pirates and Brewers.
Santana signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Twins on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Last season marked Santana's best year at the plate since 2019, as he slashed .240/.318/.429 with 23 homers and 86 RBI between the Pirates and Brewers. The 37-year-old gives the Twins an experienced option in the first base/DH mix alongside younger players Alex Kirilloff (shoulder), Trevor Larnach and Jose Miranda (shoulder).
