The Twins announced Wednesday that they’ve claimed infielder/outfielder Vidal Brujan off waivers from the Braves, who’d designated him for assignment last week. In a corresponding move, Minnesota designated catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper for assignment. The Twins’ 40-man roster remains at capacity.
Originally signed by the Rays as an amateur out of the Dominican Republic, Brujan spent four years (2019-22) holding a spot on Baseball America’s top-100 prospect list. He’s now 28 years old, out of minor league options, and has yet to hit at the major league level, however.
Brujan split the 2025 campaign between the Cubs, Orioles (one plate appearance) and Braves. The switch-hitter came to the plate 95 times overall and slashed .253/.305/.310 in that time. He’s now logged MLB action in each of the past five seasons — suiting up for the Rays and Marlins in addition to that 2025 trio of clubs — but mustered only a tepid .199/.267/.276 batting line in 645 turns at the plate.
Brujan’s once-plus speed has fallen off considerably. Statcast pegged him in the 37th percentile of big leaguers last season in terms of average sprint speed. He has decent contact skills (21.6% strikeout rate since ’22), draws walks at a nearly average clip (7.8% in that same span) and has experience at every position on the diamond other than catcher (including 3 2/3 innings of mop-up relief).
Though he hasn’t hit in the majors, Brujan has a solid track record in Triple-A, where he’s slashed .273/.356/.450 with a 10.6% walk rate and just a 16.5% strikeout rate in a little over 1000 plate appearances. Since he’s out of minor league options, the Twins won’t be able to send him to Triple-A unless he first clears waivers.
That presents something of a “logjam” of fringe-y, out-of-options players in the Twins’ bench mix. Backup catcher Alex Jackson was acquired in a trade and signed to a $1.35MM contract for the upcoming season. His spot is presumably safe. Brujan will compete with outfielder James Outman (acquired from the Dodgers in exchange for Brock Stewart this past July), former top prospect Edouard Julien and utilityman Kody Clemens — all out of options themselves — for a spot on Minnesota’s bench. It’s also plausible that the Twins simply hope to stash him as depth in Triple-A and will try to run Brujan through waivers themselves in the weeks ahead.
The 30-year-old Gasper, acquired from the Red Sox in a Dec. 2024 trade that sent left-hander Jovani Moran to Boston, loses his 40-man spot in the wake of today’s claim. He appeared in 45 games for the Twins and took 110 plate appearances, batting .158/.257/.232 with a pair of homers. Like Brujan, he’s a switch-hitter with a strong Triple-A track record but no MLB success of which to speak. Gasper raked at a .285/.385/.531 clip with the Twins’ Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul this past season and carries a lifetime .303/.406/.512 batting line at the top minor league level.
Gasper’s minor league track record, unique defensive versatility and pair of remaining minor league options could net him a look from another club, whether via waiver claim or perhaps a small trade. He’s not considered a good defensive catcher, but he’s an interesting third option at the position and is a switch-hitter to boot. Gasper has spent more time at first base than behind the plate in his pro career, and he’s also logged nearly 400 innings at second base in addition to cameos at the hot corner and in left field.
I could see gasper getting claimed too
If only for the great mustache!
Best mustache in MLB
Could be good for Gasper, if only to give him the chance to provide catching depth during ST and at AAA for a team closer to contention than the Twins.
I’m glad they kept Pereda over Gasper he actually was a solid hitter last year and hopefully will be a bench bat next year. We can definitely afford to lose Gasper but Brujan hasn’t done a whole lot so I don’t really see the plan here.
Still they could have claimed Fitzgerald again. Better him than either of these guys imo
Mickey Gasper was my favorite person in the whole universe.
And he still can be!
You’ll be pleased to learn that Designated allows him to stay in this universe even as he’s removed from the Twins’ 40 man roster.
Vidal Brujan prevented Kyle Schwarber from becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 5 home runs in a game.
Can he pitch out of the bullpen?
Yes, about as well as he frames pitches and hits.
No and he can’t hit relief pitching either
Low key the mariners need to get Edouard Julien to be their backup 2b/utility. Hes not been good the past two years which will make him cheap and he’s a high obp guy which the Mariners need.
Not a bad insurance policy to have around for the price, I would think
By high obp guy I mean that’s one his stronger skills. I see his low obp over the past 2 years!
Well, no hit utility infielders with no options are not exactly a rare commodity
Can’t hit and can’t play the field. Eddie is a one tool player.
You mean he can drive the bus?
I haven’t seen anything else he can do to help a team.
Clemens hit well enough last season to hold a spot. Between 1B/DH with Bell there should be a spot for him unless the Twins add another player
Like throwing out a used tissue to keep used Charmin.
Why not DFA Julian instead of Gasper?
Oh Mickey not so fine
If truth be told, I was also a big fan of Vidal Brujan who may have peaked as a 20 y/o back in 2018 in High-A ball when he had 55 swipes, 112 runs, 63 walks, and an .862 OPS in 475 AB. And yes, I may be the 1 owner that houses Brujan in AL-only in 2026. Also Brujan prevented Kyle Schwarber from becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 5 home runs in a game when he came in to pitch for the Braves in the 8th inning of a 19-4 game. He got Schwarber to pop out to left field.