The Twins made their recent signing of Calvin Faucher Jersey to a big league deal official earlier today, and manager made it clear to reporters (including ) today that their new addition is taking over as the clubs regular first baseman. Hes going to play a lot, Baldelli said, as relayed by Nightengale. Thats really the best way of saying it. The kind of hitter that he is, this isnt a platoon situation. I think hes going to play. The Twins spent the majority of the offseason hoping to find a steady presence at first base after departed for the division-rival Guardians in free agency, and now it appears theyll turn to France to be just that. Even as France is coming off a down season in 2024, its not hard to understand why they decided to make that bet. After a lackluster rookie season with the Padres back in 2019, France broke out in 2020 and was traded to the Mariners midseason. He went on to have a strong three-year run in Seattle where he slashed .285/.355/.443 (129 wRC+). He made occasional cameos at both second and third base but mostly settled in as the clubs regular first baseman, even earning an All-Star nod at the position in 2022. Unfortunately, France began to struggle after that. Though he played in 158 games for the Mariners in 2023, his production was only pedestrian as he hit just .250/.337/.366 with a 105 wRC+. Five percent better than league average isnt bad, but also falls below expectations for an everyday player at a bat-first position for a contending club. It seemed as though Frances disappointing 2023 may just have been a flash in the pan early last year, as he entered 2024 hitting a robust .251/.329/.403 (117 wRC+) in his first 61 games of the season. Unfortunately, France suffered a fractured heel in mid-June of last year that sidelined him for two weeks, and he looked like a different player upon his return as he hit just .225/.285/.336 (73 wRC+) the rest of the way last season. It would hardly be a surprise to hear that France, who entered the season with a career .309 BABIP but managed just a .255 BABIP following his injury, was hampered by the lingering effects of that injury throughout the latter part of the season. France himself acknowledged the role his injured heel may have played in his struggles last year, but didnt want to entirely blame his injury. When you dont have a foot, its hard to do things, France said, as relayed by Nightengale. I dont want to put all the blame on that. There was a lot that went into it. I tried a different style of training that offseason trying to revamp my swing. It didnt work out the way I thought it would. This offseason, I spent a lot of time just getting back to the basics of things. When I simplify hitting and just get back to being myself, Im a pretty good hitter. With France seemingly being given a shot to prove himself healthy and effective out the gate in 2025, that leaves the Twins plans for and in question. The pair are headed into their age-26 and -27 seasons, respectively, and each has had significant succe s in the majors in the past as well as notable struggles. The duo seemed likely to handle first base for the Twins in 2025 without an external addition, but now that France is in the fold as the nominal starter at the spot in the lineup its unclear if either Miranda or Julien will have a path to consistent playing time. Both have experience elsewhere on the infield (Miranda primarily at third base, Julien at second) but are questionable defenders at those spots and may be better suited for a first base/DH role. Of course, even without a clear path to playing time on Opening Day its easy to imagine either or both players getting significant reps this year. , , and have all struggled to stay healthy during their time with the Twins and trips to the injured list for either Correa or Buxton could open up playing time on the infield for Miranda or Julien to take advantage of. A trade of an established hitter like could change the playing time picture in Minnesota, as could under-performance by either France himself or someone like top prospect . Josh Simpson Jersey