Twins Make First Cuts of Spring Training

Sometimes teams will make cuts here and there, trimming the edges of the spring training roster until the picture for their idea of a roster begins to take shape. Other times, like this season, the first list of cuts was a big one. Seven players from the 40-man roster and nine non-roster invitees combined to make a total of 16 cuts. Here's a full list, as well as a note about where they're likely to start their year.

* = Non-Roster Invitee

Right-Handed Pitchers: Trevor May, Alex Meyer *, Lester Oliveros *, Yohan Pino *

May - He made just two relief appearances this spring compared to three in 2013, but where he walked six batters last spring he surrendered a single walk this year. You can't take much away from three innings, but walking fewer people is generally a good thing. He'll start the season in Triple-A.

Meyer - Not many appearances this spring for the potential number one pitcher of the future, but then again he threw quite a bit over the winter. He'll begin the season as the number one guy in Triple-A, likely pairing with fellow future rotation-mate Kyle Gibson as a potent #1 and #2 in Rochester.

Oliveros - Still just 25 years old, the return from Detroit for Delmon Young continues to show promise but without the polish needed to break into the top ranks of the relief corps at the Major League level. He'll be just a phone call away, though, starting the year in Triple-A.

Pino - He never really had a chance to break camp with the team, but he's had a good minor league career and deserves a few opportunities to show the organization what he's capable of. Should also start the season in Triple-A.

Left Handed Pitcher - Logan Darnell, Edgar Ibarra, Brooks Raley

Darnell - Another guy who really didn't have much of a chance to break camp with the Twins, Darnell will be one of the team's options to float back and forth between Minnesota and Rochester as needs arise.

Ibarra - No chances in the kind of games that they actually put down numbers for, Ibarra's addition to the 40-man roster was interesting but understandable. He profiles as a potential September callup, but doesn't look like a long-term option. He'll also start the year in Triple-A.

Raley - It surprised me to see his name on the 40-man roster when I was looking last week. That's my thing, not his, but he does profile like one of the players who could be usurped mid-season when certain prospects begin pushing for a 40-man roster spot. He'll start the season in Triple-A.

C - Kyle Knudson *, Matt Koch *, Stuart Turner *

Knudson - Turned 26 late last season. A good organizational guy, probably fifth or sixth on the catcher depth chart. Should start the season in Double-A.

Koch - Turned 25 in November. Has some pop in his bat and could join Knudson in Double-A, but could also return to where he finished 2013: High-A Fort Myers.

Turner - The best catching prospect in the system turned 22 in December but is a recent draft pick. He should start the season in Low-A Cedar Rapids.

IF - Jorge Polanco, Miguel Sano *, Kennys Vargas

Polanco - 3-for-11 with a double, two walks and no strikeouts this spring, Polanco certainly passes the eye test. He'll start the season in High-A but will hopefully finish the season in Double-A.

Sano - Would have started the season in Rochester and finished in in Minnesota, but will instead undergo Tommy John surgery on Wednesday in New York.

Vargas - 23-years old and with power that needs to be constantly tested against better competition to ensure its legitimacy, Vargas will start 2014 in Double-A.

OF - Byron Buxton *, Max Kepler, Chris Rahl *

Buxton - The sky is the limit. Will he still be baseball's number one prospect at this time next season? He should start 2014 in Double-A.

Kepler - He had a great start to the spring (6-for-12, double, three strikeouts and two walks), but at just 20 years old will join Polanco in High-A Fort Myers.

Rahl - A good contact hitter with marginal power and who really doesn't like a free pass, Rahl should provide Triple-A Rochester with some solid talent at the bottom of the lineup.