Concussions have wiped out 30-year old lefty swinging 1B Justin Morneau’s last two years. The Twins hope he can make a full comeback in 2012. Morneau played in only 69 games for the Twins last year and he was 60 for 264 (.227 avg, .618 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 4 homers and 30 RBIs. He has now played in 1,017 games in his first nine years with the Twins and he is 1,055 of 3,749 (.281 avg, .851 OPS) with 550 runs scored, 185 homers, 709 RBIs and 4 stolen base. Morneau only made 1 error in 56 games as he continued to be a decent defensive 1B despite being a little foggy last year.

24-year old lefty swinging Chris Parmelee comes into this season as the Twins’ #9 prospect according to Baseball America. Parmelee played in 21 games in his first taste of the majors for the Twins last year and he was 27 for 76 (.355 avg, 1.035 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 4 homers and 14 RBIs. Parmelee made 2 errors in 20 games for the Twins at 1B last year. He also played in 142 games in AA-ball last year and he was 152 for 530 (.287 avg, .801 OPS) with 76 runs scored, 13 homers and 83 RBIs. If Morneau has a relapse, Parmelee will take over as the Twins’ starting 1B in 2012.

28-year old righty swinging Steve Pearce will be a longshot this spring to make the Twins. He played in 50 games for the Pirates last year and he was 19 for 94 (.202 avg, .515 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 1 homer and 10 RBIs. He has now played in 185 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 108 of 465 (.232 avg, .668 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 9 homers, 52 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Pearce had 1 error in 16 games for the Pirates at 1B last year. He also can handle a corner outfield slot defensively, which should aid him in possibly making the Twins’ opening day roster.

27-year old righty swinging Aaron Bates played in 106 games in AAA-ball for the Twins last year and he was 113 of 358 (.316 avg, .847 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 7 homers, 37 RBIs and 1 stolen base. His only major league experience came back in 2009 with the Red Sox. Bates played in 5 games for the Red Sox in 2009 and he was 4 for 11 (.364 avg, .962 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012: C+

The Twins don’t have any good alternatives behind the plate if Joe Mauer gets hurt again. He played in only 82 games for the Twins last year and he was 85 for 296 (.287 avg, .729 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 3 homers and 30 RBIs. Mauer has now played in 918 games in his first 8 years with the Twins and he is 1,096 of 3,388 (.323 avg, .874 OPS) with 545 runs scored, 84 homers, 502 RBIs and 35 stolen bases. Mauer played in 52 games behind the plate for the Twins last year and he had 4 errors and 4 passed balls. He threw out 10 of 40 (25%) base stealers last year and Twins’ pitchers had a 4.43 ERA with him behind the plate. The Twins need Joe Mauer to catch at least 125 games in 2012 or they are in trouble.

28-year old righty swinging Drew Butera has a good throwing arm but that’s his only really asset as he can’t hit a lick. Butera played in 93 games for the Twins last year and he was 39 for 234 (.167 avg, .449 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 2 homers and 23 RBIs. He has now played in 142 games in his first two years with the Twins and he is 67 for 376 (.178 avg, .481 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 4 homers and 36 RBIs. Butera played in 93 games behind the plate for the Twins last year and he had 5 errors and 7 passed balls. He threw out 20 of 70 (28.6%) base stealers last year and Twins’ pitchers had a 4.87 ERA with him behind the dish. Butera is going to have to beat out J.R. Towles and Rene Rivera this spring if he wants to remain the Twins’ backup catcher in 2012.

27-year old righty swinging J.R. Towles didn’t hit much better than Butera did last year. He played in 54 games for the Astros last year and he was 27 for 147 (.184 avg, .549 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 11 RBIs. Towles has played in 155 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 80 for 428 (.187 avg, .583 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 11 homers and 50 RBIs. Towles played in 51 games behind the plate for the Astros last year and he had 6 errors and 2 passed balls. Towles only threw out 6 of 46 (13.0%) base stealers and Astros’ pitchers had a 4.87 ERA with him behind the dish. Towles is going to need a big spring to win a job on the Twins’ roster when the 2012 season begins.

28-year old righty swinging Rene Rivera is a big time longshot to win the backup job to Joe Mauer this spring. Rivera played in 45 games for the Twins last year and he was 15 for 104 (.144 avg, .412 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 1 homer and 5 RBIs. He has now played in 98 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 49 for 254 (.193 avg, .514 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 4 homers, 15 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He is likely going to start the 2012 season in AAA-ball for the Twins.

30-year old righty swinging Ryan Doumit is going to be the Twins’ full-time DH in 2012, so they don’t want him catching if at all possible. Doumit played in 60 games behind the plate for the Pirates last year and he had 6 errors and 4 passed balls. Doumit threw out 11 of 54 (20.4%) base stealers and Pirates’ pitchers had a 4.78 ERA with him behind the dish.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: B

Besides closer Matt Capps and set-up man Glen Perkins, the Twins have a lot of question marks in the bullpen heading into spring training. Here is a look at how the Twins’ bullpen stands as of right now:

Closer: Matt Capps: 28-year old righty Matt Capps will take back over as the Twins’ closer in 2012. He pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 4-7 with 15 saves, a 4.25 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Capps has now pitched in 96 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Twins and he is 6-7 with 31 saves, a 3.59 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Capps has now pitched in 414 games (0 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 28-29 with 124 saves, a 3.51 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Capps will likely do a solid job of protecting leads for the Twins in 2012.

Set-Up Man: Glen Perkins: 28-year old lefty Glen Perkins has really taken well to pitching out of the bullpen after starting his career as a starting pitcher. Perkins pitched in 65 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 4-4 with 2 saves, a 2.48 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP. He has now pitched in 145 games (144 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 23-16 with 2 saves, a 4.41 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Perkins is likley going to have another solid year in 2012 for the Twins.

Righties: Joel Zumaya: 27-year old Joel Zumaya missed last season due to elbow surgery, but he will get a shot this spring to win a job in the Twins’ pen. He has pitched in 171 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 13-12 with 5 saves, a 3.05 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. If Zumaya is healthy, the Twins are going to have a nice reliever in 2012, as he has downright nasty stuff.

Alex Burnett: 24-year old Alex Burnett pitched in 66 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 2-5 with a 5.51 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He has now pitched in 107 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Twins and he is 4-7 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. Burnett is going to have to pitch well this spring if he wants to keep his spot in the Twins’ bullpen in 2012.

Lester Oliveros: 23-year old Lester Oliveros pitched in 10 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 0-0 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He pitched in 19 games (0 starts) overall last year for the Twins & Tigers and he was 0-0 with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Oliveros also pitched in 34 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 3-3 with 5 saves, a 4.12 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. With a good spring, Oliveros can lock up a bullpen spot for the Twins in 2012.

Jeff Manship: 27-year old righty Jeff Manship pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 0-0 with a 8.10 ERA and a 2.70 WHIP. He has now pitched in 29 games (6 starts) in his first three years with the Twins and he was 3-2 with a 5.63 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. He will have to really step up if he’s going to win a job in the Twins’ pen in 2012.

Anthony Slama: 28-year old Anthony Slama pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP. He also pitched in 27 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-2 with 1 save, a 2.92 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Slama has now pitched in 7 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Twins and he was 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP. Slama might finally get a legit chance with the Twins if he has a good spring.

Jeff Gray: 30-year old Jeff Gray pitched in 24 games (0 starts) for the Mariners last year and he was 0-1 with 1 save, a 4.89 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. He pitched in 30 games (0 starts) overall for the White Sox & Mariners last year and he was 0-1 with 1 save, a 4.28 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Gray has now pitched in 66 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 1-2 with 1 save, a 4.57 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Gray has good stuff, so he might be able to help the Twins in 2012.

Jared Burton: 30-year old Jared Burton pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Reds last year and he was 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP. He has now pitched in 164 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 10-3 with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Burton has been a decent pitcher in his career so far, so if he’s healthy, he might be able to help the Twins in 2012.

Jason Bulger: 33-year old Jason Bulger pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Angels last year and he was 0-1 with a 0.96 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. He has now pitched in 125 games (0 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 7-2 with 1 save, a 4.33 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.

Esmerling Vasquez: 28-year old Esmerling Vasquez will get a shot to make the Twins’ bullpen this spring if he clears waivers. He pitched in 31 games (0 starts) for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Vasquez has now pitched in 141 games (0 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 5-10 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Twins like Vasquez, so he might make the bullpen for 2012.

Samuel Deduno: 28-year old Samuel Deduno pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Padres last year and he was 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA and a 2.67 WHIP. He also pitched in 40 games (12 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 4-6 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Deduno has now pitched in 6 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 3.18 ERA and a 2.12 WHIP.

Luis Perdomo: 27-year old Luis Perdomo pitched in 65 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 0-8 with 10 saves, a 5.40 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. He last pitched in the majors back in 2010 with the Padres. Perdomo has pitched in 36 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 1-0 with a 4.87 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.

P.J. Walters: 26-year old P.J. Walters pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Cardinals & Twins last year and he is 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Walters has now pitched in 20 games (4 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 2-0 with a 7.24 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Walters is a big time longshot to make the Twins’ pen in 2012.

Daryl Thompson: 26-year old Daryl Thompson pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the Reds last year and he was 0-1 with a 15.00 ERA and a 3.67 WHIP. He also pitched in 26 games (24 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 4-8 with 1 save, a 4.26 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Thompson has now pitched in 4 games (3 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-3 with a 8.31 ERA and a 2.19 WHIP.

Brad Thompson: 30-year old Brad Thompson didn’t pitch at all last year. He last pitched in majors back in 2010 for the Royals. Thompson has pitched in 201 games (32 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 21-21 with 1 save, a 4.46 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. Thompson will be a longshot to make the pen this spring.

Lefties: 30-year old Phil Dumatrait pitched in 45 games (0 starts) for the Twins last year and he was 1-3 with 1 save, a 3.92 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. He has now pitched in 87 games (17 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 4-13 with 1 save, a 6.20 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP. The Twins hope that Dumatrait can pitch at least as well as he did in 2011.

Scott Diamond: 25-year old Scott Diamond will have a decent shot of making the Twins’ bullpen in 2012. He pitched in 7 games (all starts) for the Twins in his first taste of the majors last year and he was 1-5 with a 5.08 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP. Diamond also pitched in 23 games (all starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 4-14 with a 5.56 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012: D

The Twins have claimed 26-year old righty swinging outfielder Darin Mastroianni off waivers from the Blue Jays. He played in 1 game for the Blue Jays last year and he was 0 for 2 (.000 avg, .000 OPS). He also played in 123 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 131 of 488 (.268 avg, .730 OPS) with 92 runs scored, 3 homers, 36 RBIs and 34 stolen bases. Mastroianni has now played in 549 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 571 of 2,046 (.279 avg, .742 OPS) with 388 runs scored, 14 homers, 184 RBIs and 200 stolen bases. This was a good pickup for the Twins as Mastroianni is the kind of speedy, all-out hustle player that they like to collect. He will get a shot to make the Twins this spring.