Twins optioned Alan Roden to Triple-A St. Paul. Seemingly suggests James Outman has made the team as a backup outfielder. Of note: Outman is out of minor-league options, while Roden is not.
Former Blue Jay Alan Roden optioned by Twins
Photo credit: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Mar 23, 2026, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 23, 2026, 12:48 EDT
A former top Toronto Blue Jay player with high potential has been optioned.
On Sunday afternoon, The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman reported that Alan Roden has been optioned to the Minnesota Twins’ Triple-A team, the St. Paul Saints, mainly due to having options.
Roden was drafted by the Blue Jays in the third round of the 2022 draft from the Creighton Bluejays. He broke out in the organization in 2023, slashing .317/.430/.459 with 10 home runs in 532 plate appearances for a 151 wRC+.
The outfielder followed that up with a strong 2024, slashing .293/.391/.475 in 530 plate appearances split between the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. Roden was always a hit-over-power type prospect, but the 2024 season saw him hit a career-best 16 home runs.
It’s not very often you’ll see a Blue Jay prospect break camp out of Spring Training, look no further than Josh Kasevich this Spring Training, but Roden did just that after 2025’s Spring Training. Over 20 games, Roden slashed .407/.541/.704 with two home runs in 37 plate appearances.
While he made the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster in 2025, Roden didn’t find success with the team when he was with them, slashing .204/.283/.306 with one home run in 113 plate appearances. Roden found success with the Bisons, slashing .331/.423/.496 with three home runs in 142 plate appearances, but ahead of the 2025 trade deadline, he was traded to the Twins.
Alongside Kendry Rojas, who was also optioned in March, the two were sent to the Twins for reliever Louis Varland and Ty France. Roden struggled in his 12 games with the Twins, slashing .158/.200/.263 with one home run in 40 plate appearances before his season ending prematurely.
This Spring Training, Roden slashed .302/.362/.395 with a home run in 47 plate appearances for a 104 wRC+. There’s a strong chance that with a good start to his 2026 season, he’ll be back up in the big leagues in no time.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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