Minnesota Twins Acquire Infielder Jonah Bride from Marlins Amid Injury Crisis

MINNEAPOLIS (WE)— The Minnesota Twins announced Tuesday that they have acquired infielder Jonah Bride from the Miami Marlins in exchange for cash considerations, addressing a pressing need for infield depth amid a cascade of injuries. The deal comes less than 24 hours after Miami designated Bride for assignment, clearing a spot for outfielder Jesús Sánchez to return from the injured list.

The trade, which was first reported by Dan Hayes of The Athletic, fills an open 40-man roster spot vacated when right-hander Scott Blewett was designated for assignment earlier this week. More pressingly, the move coincides with a developing injury situation that has left the Twins dangerously thin across the infield.

Bride Brings a Promising Bat from the Minors

Jonah Bride, 29, has built a strong track record in the minors since 2021. Over 1,166 plate appearances, he has walked more than he has struck out — a rare feat. His walk rate stands at 17.1%, compared to a 16% strikeout rate. That plate discipline helped him post a .289/.421/.489 slash line and a 137 wRC+, making him a steady offensive contributor at the Triple-A level.

Bride made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2022. But he struggled to carry over his minor league success. In 35 games across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he slashed just .192/.296/.232. Oakland traded him to the Miami Marlins ahead of the 2024 season.

Last year, though, Bride showed flashes of both power and patience. He played 71 games for Miami, hit 11 home runs, and logged an 11% walk rate. That resulted in a .276/.357/.461 line and a 123 wRC+, earning him a spot on Miami’s 40-man roster heading into 2025.

The 2025 season has been rough. In just 45 plate appearances, Bride has only two hits. That leaves him with a .100/.200/.100 batting line and a 33.3% strikeout rate. When Jesús Sánchez returned from the IL, the Marlins designated Bride for assignment. Minnesota stepped in with a cash offer, claiming him off waivers.

Twins’ Infield Depth Ravaged by Injuries

While the Minnesota Twins’ outfield has taken a hit with Matt Wallner landing on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain, their infield is in worse shape.

Starting shortstop Carlos Correa exited Monday’s game against the New York Mets due to left wrist soreness. He told reporters the issue has bothered him since late 2024. Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune noted that Correa, a two-time All-Star, is off to a rough start. He’s hitting just .164/.227/.246 through 16 games.

On Tuesday, Willi Castro filled in at shortstop. But he left mid-game with right oblique tightness, as reported by Dan Hayes. Correa came in as a ninth-inning defensive sub but wasn’t expected to bat. Thankfully for manager Rocco Baldelli, the Twins walked off in the 10th and avoided using Correa at the plate.

Meanwhile, Royce Lewis, who started the season at third base, is still out with a hamstring strain from Opening Day. In a bizarre twist, José Miranda was optioned to Triple-A but injured his left hand. According to Bobby Nightengale, the injury happened while catching a falling case of water at Target. He’s now on the minor league seven-day IL.

Adding more trouble, Austin Martin, another utility infielder, is on the shelf with a right hamstring strain, per the MLB.com transaction log.

With Correa, Lewis, Castro, Martin, and Miranda all hurt or limited, the Twins’ infield is in chaos. For now, Ty France and Edouard Julien are covering first and second base. But the left side of the diamond is wide open.

Bride to Fill Third Base Void, Lee Could See Shortstop Time

Jonah Bride has experience at multiple infield spots, including third base, second base, and first base. However, he has not played shortstop. With the Minnesota Twins in need of infield depth — especially on the left side — Bride will likely step in at third.

That could open the door for Brooks Lee, the Twins’ top infield prospect, to take over at shortstop. This depends on whether Carlos Correa and Willi Castro need more time to recover. Lee, currently with Triple-A St. Paul, was a first-round pick in 2022 and is widely seen as the team’s future shortstop.

If Lee is called up, he and Bride could share time on the left side of the infield. The Twins are off Wednesday, giving the coaching staff a short window to assess their infield options before a key weekend series.

Bride’s Roster Implications and Long-Term Outlook

Jonah Bride is out of minor league options. That means the Twins must keep him on the 26-man roster or risk losing him on waivers. He also has less than two years of MLB service time, making him a potentially cost-effective, controllable asset — if he performs at the major league level.

He isn’t expected to fix the team’s offense alone. The Twins rank in the bottom third of the league in batting average, slugging, and on-base percentage. Still, Bride’s plate discipline and versatility offer short-term upside.

If he finds a rhythm at the plate, he could become a valuable utility player — even after the starting infielders return. With a track record of walking more than he strikes out, Minnesota is betting on a bounce-back.

Twins Still Have Work to Do

Even with Jonah Bride on board, the Minnesota Twins face a tough task. Keeping their postseason hopes alive amid an early-season injury crisis won’t be easy. Minnesota sits second in the AL Central with a 9–8 record. They’re behind the Cleveland Guardians but have more injuries than any other team in the division.

Their starting pitching, led by Pablo López and Joe Ryan, has been strong. The bullpen has also held up, especially behind closer Jhoan Durán. But unless the offense heats up — and the infield settles down — the Twins could fall into a midseason slump.

Bride might help. But he’s just one part of a bigger puzzle. Manager Rocco Baldelli and the front office are scrambling to keep things together with duct tape and grit.

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Bride’s Offensive Profile: Patience Over Power

While Jonah Bride’s overall batting line in the minors is impressive, a deeper look into his profile reveals a hitter who thrives on patience and plate discipline rather than raw power. Since 2021, Bride’s on-base percentage (OBP) has consistently hovered near or above .400 in the minors — a remarkable feat in today’s strikeout-heavy environment.

His career minor league walk rate of 17.1% suggests he has an advanced understanding of the strike zone, often working deep counts and forcing pitchers to throw strikes. However, his isolated power (ISO) has been more modest, typically ranging between .150 and .180, indicating he’s more of a line-drive and gap-to-gap hitter than a true slugger.

In 2024 with the Marlins, Bride managed to surprise observers by clubbing 11 home runs in 71 games — a notable uptick in power production. Whether that’s sustainable remains to be seen, but if the Twins can get even league-average production from him while he holds down third base or fills in elsewhere, it would be a welcome boost.

Defensive Metrics: Versatility Is the Key

Defensively, Bride grades out as an average-to-slightly-below-average fielder, depending on the position. According to Baseball Savant, he has posted neutral defensive run saved (DRS) figures at third base and second base in limited major league time. Though not flashy, he’s a steady and capable defender — and right now, that’s exactly what the injury-depleted Twins need.

He’s also logged over 500 innings at third base and more than 300 innings at second base in the minors, with a sprinkling of appearances at first base. While he hasn’t played shortstop, his experience around the infield makes him a candidate for late-game defensive shifts or double switches.

Upcoming Schedule: Critical Stretch for the Twins

Upcoming Schedule: Critical Stretch for the Twins
The Twins are entering a pivotal two-week stretch that could set the tone for the rest of their season. After an off day on Wednesday, Minnesota will open a weekend home series against the Detroit Tigers, followed by matchups against the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers.

With seven of those 10 games coming against divisional opponents, Minnesota has an opportunity to gain ground in the American League Central standings. But with a thin infield and Carlos Correa’s status uncertain, depth options like Bride could end up playing significant innings during this crucial stretch.

Brooks Lee: Waiting in the Wings

One of the most intriguing questions for Twins fans is whether the club will turn to Brooks Lee, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, to stabilize the infield.

Lee, currently playing for Triple-A St. Paul, has started the 2025 season red-hot. In 14 games, he’s slashing .342/.417/.513 with 4 doubles, 2 homers, and a 10.6% walk rate. He’s also committed just one error across 89 innings at shortstop, flashing reliable leather to match his polished approach at the plate.

Ranked as Minnesota’s No. 2 prospect (behind outfielder Walker Jenkins) by MLB Pipeline, Lee is widely considered major league-ready. If Correa’s wrist soreness lingers or Willi Castro is out longer than expected, the Twins may have no choice but to give Lee the call.

Doing so would start his service-time clock, but with the team trying to compete in a wide-open AL Central, the front office could be persuaded to prioritize wins over long-term financial maneuvering.

Other Internal Options: Thinned Out but Not Empty

Beyond Bride and the potential call-up of Lee, the Twins do have a few more names to consider in the coming weeks:

Austin Martin (IL)
Martin’s right hamstring strain has no clear timetable yet, but when healthy, he’s one of the team’s most flexible defenders, capable of playing both infield and outfield.

Michael Helman (Triple-A)
Helman, 28, is a versatile utility infielder who can play second, third, and outfield. He’s off to a solid start in St. Paul and could be promoted if the team needs a short-term depth piece.

Yunior Severino (Triple-A)
A power-hitting third baseman with limited glove utility, Severino could be a right-handed bat off the bench but is less likely to see regular playing time due to defensive limitations.

Will Holland (Double-A)
Holland has played mostly shortstop and second base and brings elite speed, but he’s not yet seen at the Triple-A level, making a call-up unlikely barring an emergency.

How Bride Fits the Twins’ Roster Strategically

Bride’s arrival gives the Twins several strategic options:

• Starting at third base while Correa and Castro rest or heal.
• Pinch-hitting against left-handers, where his approach plays up.
• Shuffling the DH spot to keep injured players off their feet while still contributing.
• Late-game defense, particularly at second and third base.

Importantly, the Twins will not need to designate anyone from the 40-man roster to accommodate Bride, thanks to the vacancy created by Blewett’s DFA. However, the active roster spot freed by Wallner’s hamstring injury makes it possible for Bride to be added without triggering another move — at least temporarily.

Roster Math: Who Could Be Next to Move?

When players like Correa or Castro are ready to return, the Twins will face tougher roster decisions. Here are a few candidates who could be impacted:

• DaShawn Keirsey Jr. – With limited plate appearances, he may return to Triple-A to make room for another infielder.
• Austin Martin – Once healthy, could create a logjam unless another IL stint opens space.
• Jonah Bride – If his bat doesn’t rebound quickly, his lack of options may force the team to DFA him, exposing him to waivers again.

Front Office Perspective: A Smart Depth Play

Twins President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey and GM Thad Levine have frequently emphasized roster flexibility and low-cost depth as a guiding philosophy. Bride fits both criteria.

While he doesn’t arrive with the cachet of a blockbuster acquisition, he provides immediate relief in a difficult spot, and the Twins didn’t have to give up a prospect or a key bullpen piece to land him. Instead, they used a small chunk of budget space to get a cost-controlled, MLB-ready utility player — exactly the kind of move contending teams make to stay afloat in April and May.

What Bride Had to Say

Bride spoke briefly with reporters after the trade was announced, expressing excitement about the opportunity in Minnesota.

“I’m just thankful to get a fresh start. I know I haven’t performed to my best in the big leagues yet, but I’m confident in what I bring. The Twins have a great clubhouse and I’m ready to contribute however they need me.”

That humble but confident tone may resonate well in a Midwest market that values gritty, team-first players. If Bride can deliver even average production at the plate and solid defense, Twins fans will quickly welcome him into the fold.

Final Word: Low-Risk, High-Upside Depth Add

In many ways, this acquisition is a classic example of smart roster management. The Minnesota Twins, battered by injuries and searching for stability on the infield, took a low-risk swing on a player who brings strong on-base skills, positional flexibility, and a track record of success in the minors.

Whether Jonah Bride turns out to be a short-term stopgap or a longer-term bench piece remains to be seen. But in a season where health has already proven elusive, having another capable infielder on hand could be the difference between surviving April and falling into early trouble.