TT roundtable: 2026 Twins season preview

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 03: Byron Buxton #25 of Team USA signs autographs prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic exhibition game presented by Capital One between Team USA and San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images Welcome one and all to Twins Opening Day! As always, we will have our game thread up this afternoon to make predictions about the rest of the season based off a single game, but for now you can read our predictions before a single game is played.

All your favorite Twinkie Town writers have pitched in their thoughts. Leave yours as well! Who will be the Twins’ best hitter in 2026?

Ben Jones: Byron Buxton this, Luke Keaschall that. How about Matt Wallner? He has major flaws but he’s also not that far away from being one of the best hitters in baseball, frankly.

Wallner has his best season as pro, hits 45 dongs, and leads the team in every major offensive category including, yes, strikeouts. Matt Monitto: Seeing a lot of buzz for a Luke Keaschall breakout, and I have to agree with it, especially if he bats leadoff ahead of Buxton: that would suggest pitchers go after him to avoid facing Buck with men on, giving him more chances to hit. Zach Koenig: I think we may have seen the apex of Buxton in 2025.