Twins Oft-Injured Outfielder Could Make Permanent Move To Infield

The Minnesota Twins have made some changes to their roster this offseason, not the least of which was the trade of batting champion Luis Arraez. But they've also added Michael A. Taylor and Joey Gallo to the outfield, and when top prospect Royce Lewis returns at midseason, he'll also likely join the outfield.

All of that means that oft-injured outfielder/1B Alex Kirilloff, hopefully finally recovered from his prolonged battles with wrist injuries, will likely need to slide over to first base on a more full-time basis, to find playing time when he returns. That's the word from Twins beat writer Do-Hyoung Park, who says Kirilloff's recovery from wrist surgery is coming along just fine.

Alex Kirilloff started swinging in early January and says he's taking 50-60 swings a day now. Says he's on track with what the doctors wanted to see.

Says he's hoping for "mostly a normal" Spring Training, but the aim is obviously the most possible healthy regular season games.

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) January 28, 2023

Park says that Kirilloff, once a top prospect, has graduated to taking 50-60 swings a day, and is on track with where the doctors had hoped he'd be at this point.

The 25-year-old former first-round pick says he's hoping for "mostly a normal" Spring Training. 

Kirilloff has played 47 of his 100 games in the majors at first base, and the Twins outfield is still a very crowded place, with Byron Buxton, Taylor, Gallo, Max Kepler, Nick Gordon, Trevor Larnach, and Lewis. 

Photo: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports