Twins Release Carson McCusker, Pursue Opportunity in Japan

The Minnesota Twins have placed outfielder Carson McCusker on unconditional release waivers, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. This decision allows McCusker to pursue a one-year contract with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, as reported by Francys Romero of Beisbol FR.

McCusker, who turns 28 in May, had a brief stint in the majors in 2025, where he appeared in 16 games and batted .172 with 30 plate appearances. His minor league performance from 2023 to 2025 was more impressive, with a slash line of .265/.335/.494, hitting 55 home runs over 1,146 plate appearances.

The Twins' roster now stands at 39 players, just ahead of the Rule 5 draft, and McCusker's release opens up opportunities for the team to make selections in that draft. The Twins' current outfield mix features Byron Buxton, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, James Outman, Alan Roden, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Hendry Mendez, and additional players who can play multiple positions.

With McCusker heading overseas, he will have the chance to secure a more stable playing opportunity and potentially leverage his success in Japan for a return to North America or other leagues in the future.