The Minnesota Twins have designated catcher Alex Jackson for assignment, a roster move necessitated by the return to a standard 26-man active roster following the Field of Dreams Game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The special contest allowed both clubs an extra player for one day, and Minnesota activated center fielder Byron Buxton from the injured list to fill that temporary spot. With the roster needing to shrink again the next day, Jackson became the odd man out.
Jackson, who has been in the major leagues since making his debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2019, joined the Twins via trade from the Baltimore Orioles last November in exchange for minor-league infielder Payton Eeles.
He agreed to a one-year, $1.35 million contract for 2026 but was designated for assignment once during spring training after the club signed Victor Caratini to serve as the primary backup to Ryan Jeffers.
Jackson cleared waivers at that time and accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A St. Paul, where he continued to provide organizational depth.
His path back to the majors opened in mid-May when Jeffers suffered a fractured hamate bone. The Twins selected Jackson’s contract, and he spent the ensuing weeks as Caratini’s understudy. Upon Jeffers’ return around the All-Star break, Minnesota carried three catchers for a stretch.
That arrangement proved temporary. With both Jeffers and Caratini healthy and forming one of the stronger catching tandems in the American League, Jackson’s presence on the 26-man roster became redundant.
Because he is out of minor-league options, the club could not simply option him to St. Paul without first removing him from the 40-man roster.
In 29 games with Minnesota this season, Jackson posted a .303 batting average with a .333 on-base percentage and .409 slugging percentage, collecting one home run and five RBI across 69 plate appearances. Those numbers marked a clear improvement over much of his career body of work.
Across 189 major-league games spanning six organizations—the Braves, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays, Orioles, and Twins—Jackson has hit .174 with 12 home runs and 37 RBI. The 30-year-old right-handed hitter has long been valued more for his defensive capabilities and occasional power than for consistent contact.
The Twins will place Jackson on waivers in the coming days. Given his remaining salary and service time, there is a reasonable chance he clears and accepts another outright assignment to St. Paul, remaining available as injury depth.
Other clubs seeking a third catcher with major-league experience could also take a chance on claiming him. For Minnesota, the decision prioritizes roster flexibility as the club continues its push in the American League Central.
