The Twins are adding veteran shortstop Orlando Arcia to their infield competition during spring training.
Arcia, 31, agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league camp on Saturday, Jan. 3, a person familiar with the deal told the Minnesota Star Tribune. The Venezuela native, who was the starting shortstop for the Atlanta Braves in 2023 and ’24, played in 76 games last year for Atlanta and the Colorado Rockies.
In 2025, Arcia hit .202 with three homers and 13 RBI in 203 at-bats. Atlanta released him at the end of May, and he quickly signed with Colorado, where he failed to produce much offense despite playing his home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field. His .529 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) was a career low.
Arcia has experience at all four infield positions, including his first MLB starts at first base last year. But he gives the Twins some needed shortstop depth. Brooks Lee is the presumed starter, though he must improve his consistency, and Ryan Kreidler is the only other player on the 40-man roster with an ability to play shortstop. Ryan Fitzgerald was designated for assignment on Jan. 2 when the Twins traded for Miami first baseman Eric Wagaman, and the Twins must place Fitzgerald on waivers before he can remain in the organization on a minor league roster.
Kaelen Culpepper, the Twins’ first-round pick in 2024, could be a long-term solution at shortstop, but he finished the 2025 season at Class AA Wichita and likely will require some seasoning with the Class AAA St. Paul Saints.
Arcia, who debuted in 2016 with the Milwaukee Brewers, was an All-Star in 2023 when he posted a .741 OPS for Atlanta after signing a three-year, $7.3 million contract extension with the club. His offensive numbers dipped in 2024 (.625 OPS), though he still played in 157 games, before he lost his job last year.
He is the younger brother of Oswaldo Arcia, the outfielder who played 251 games for the Twins from 2013 to ’16.
