Ten positions in ten days: First Base

As we count down to opening day, we’ll be taking a look at each position for the Twins, the presumed starter, and the other options in the organization. Today we’ll be looking at first base.

The Presumed Starter: C.J. Cron

Cron is another new face, the Twins claimed him off waivers from the Rays this winter, and later signed him to a one-year deal. Last season in Tampa, he hit .253/.323/.493 and stroked a career-high 30 dongs. He also appeared in a career-high 140 games—prior to 2018 he played for the Angels, and had to split time with Albert Pujols. Despite Cron providing 2.1 WAR last season, Tampa still didn’t find a spot for him. This season with the Twins, ZiPS projects him to hit .259/.317/.476 with 24 dingers, racking up 1.5 WAR.

The Bench Guys: Tyler Austin

Austin was the return from the Twins trading Lance Lynn to the Yankees last season. He was out of options, so there was some question if the Twins would find room to roster Austin. Fortunately for him, the Twins are carrying a deep bench going into 2019. Austin hit .230/.287/.480 with 17 homers last year. ZiPS has him at .231/.298/.460 and 21 dongs for 2019. He is also projected for more playing time than the Twins likely have available, so take those numbers with a grain of salt.

Next up... Catcher