Twins can no longer ignore this outfielder as he continues with spring training

The battle in the Twins camp is suddenly interesting to watch. Emmanuel Rodriguez has been on fire early on and all eyes are understandably on top prospect Walker Jenkins, who could make it to the majors in 2026 if he continues to develop at a rapid pace.

But what about Alan Roden? He was the forgotten outfielder who came to spring training and was seen as someone who definitely won’t make the Opening Day roster. However, he made some noise early on to draw some attention to him.

We’re still in the early stages of spring training, but Roden has made such a big impression that we have to reconsider whether he’s still an afterthought, or a legitimate candidate to land a spot on the MLB roster.

Does Alan Roden deserve to be involved in the conversation about making the Twins’ active roster?

Roden, traded to the Twins last season as part of the Louis Varland deal, is 6-for-8 in spring games with a home run, four RBIs, two walks and two runs. That’s an on-base percentage of .800, highlighted by a grand slam earlier this week.

Let’s not forget that Roden, 26, tore it up with Toronto last spring. He hit .407 with four extra base hits, six RBIs, six walks and eight runs scored. Spring training is a proving ground for guys like Roden. You cannot deny him that he has made the most of his opportunities.

He didn’t get enough reps in the major leagues last year. In 55 games, he collected nine extra-base hits, giving him a batting average of .191. He started the 2025 campaign with consistent reps, hitting 7-for-his-first-21 (.333) before hitting a slump in late April.

All things considered, does Roden deserve to play in the major leagues to start the 2026 regular season? If he doesn’t cool off, it will be difficult for the Twins to keep him in the minors. But from now on, Roden should be on every decision maker’s radar. His production is impossible to ignore.