Further testing on Alcala's right forearm revealed a radial stress fracture in his right forearm, and he'll be shut down until symptoms resolve, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Park notes that the stress fracture is being described as a "pretty rare" injury for a pitcher without much injury history to draw upon. The Twins will evaluate the right-hander again in 10-to-14 days, but there's no clear timeline as to when Alcala will be ready to return. It's possible that Minnesota won't see Alcala as a part of its pitching staff until July.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Will receive MRI on forearm
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Alcala will undergo an MRI on his forearm in Minnesota on Thursday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
According to head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta, the issue for Alcala is more on the top side of his forearm, a positive development given that's typically less of a surgical concern. Alcala was placed on the 15-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, and just how long the right-hander will be out will largely be determined by the results of the imaging.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Placed on injured list
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Alcala was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right forearm extensor muscle strain, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
The 27-year-old reliever holds a 6.46 ERA and 1.37 WHIP through 15.1 innings and will now be forced out of action for at least two weeks. Alcala will be replaced on the active roster by Jose De Leon, who was selected from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Recalled from Triple-A
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Alcala was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.
Alcala was sent to Triple-A on April 21, and he gave up one run in 4.2 innings with six strikeouts and four walks for St. Paul. Alcala had surrendered six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits and five walks through 10 innings of relief. His walk rate was a concern, so his Triple-A stint isn't overly reassuring. He'll return to a middle relief role with the Twins.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Optioned to Triple-A
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Alcala was optioned Friday to Triple-A St. Paul, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Alcala had surrendered six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits and five walks through 10 innings of relief this season. Simeon Woods Richardson will join the Twins in a corresponding roster move.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Looks back to full strength
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Alcala threw a scoreless inning during Thursday's spring training loss to Toronto to lower his spring ERA to 2.35. He's averaging 95.4 mph on tracked fastballs this spring, MLB.com reports.
After giving up two runs in his first appearance, he's thrown six scoreless innings. He has 11 strikeouts, three walks and just three hits allowed in 7.2 innings. Alcala underwent season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery on his elbow in August but looks back to full strength this spring. He's expected to be a key setup man and could figure in the mix for saves with the Twins possibly using a committee approach.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Improving this spring
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Alcala threw a scoreless inning with three strikeouts in Wednesday's spring training win over Toronto. He reached 96.3 mph with his fastball.
After a rocky spring debut (two earned runs on two hits with a walk and no strikeouts over one inning), Alcala has improved. He has a 4.50 ERA with a 7:2 K:BB in four innings this spring. Alcala underwent season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery on his elbow in August, so a slow start to the spring isn't surprising. He's expected to be a key setup man and could figure in the mix for saves with the Twins possibly using a committee approach.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Rocky spring debut
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Alcala gave up two earned runs on two hits with a walk and no strikeouts over one inning in his spring debut Saturday against Tampa Bay.
It was Alcala's first competitive game since June as he struggled with injuries last season. Alcala went on the injured list in mid-April with a sore right elbow. He experienced a setback when trying to return in June, and then underwent season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery on his elbow in August. He had a rough spring debut, but he's likely rusty with the long layoff. More importantly, he's looked healthy early in spring. If he can work out the kinks, he's expected to be a key setup man and could figure in the mix for saves with the Twins possibly using a committee approach.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Throwing bullpens in camp
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Alcala (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday in Twins camp, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Alcala required arthroscopic debridement surgery last August on his right elbow, but he appears to be 100 percent now and could quickly return to a high-leverage relief role this season in Minnesota. The 27-year-old boasts a 3.39 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 87.2 career major-league innings.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Avoids arbitration with Minnesota
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Alcala (elbow) signed a one-year, $790,000 contract with the Twins on Friday to avoid arbitration, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.
Alcala was limited to just two appearances for the Twins in 2022 due to an elbow issue while eventually required surgery in August. He's expected to be ready for Opening Day and has the potential to be a high-leverage bullpen option if he can stay healthy.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Done for season
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Alcala underwent elbow surgery Wednesday and will not pitch again in 2022, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Alcala was placed on the injured list April 12 and attempted to return to the bullpen multiple times since. However, he recently had arthroscopic debridement surgery to end his campaign after just 2.1 innings. Alcala is expected to be ready for spring training in 2023.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: No sign of return from injured list
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Alcala (elbow) remains in a holding pattern and hasn't made progress after being shut down once again June 1 with tightness in his pitching elbow, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
There have been conflicting reports on whether Alcala is set to throw again or has been shut down for an extended period. Either way, it doesn't sound like he has a chance to return any time soon. Alcala has been on the injured list since April 12 with right elbow inflammation. He made a rehab appearance June 1 but was later shut down again with tightness in his pitching elbow.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Set to resume throwing
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Alcala (elbow) will resume his throwing program next week, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Alcala has been on the injured list since April 12 with right elbow inflammation. He made a rehab appearance June 1 but was later shut down again with tightness in his pitching elbow. He's still likely a long way away from returning, but at least he's showing some progress and his setback wasn't season ending.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Rehab assignment paused
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Alcala's rehab assignment has been paused since he experienced increased tightness in his pitching elbow, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Alcala made his first rehab appearance at Triple-A St. Paul on June 1 and allowed an unearned run on two hits and no walks while striking out one in one inning. Although he's eligible to return from the 60-day IL as early as Friday, he'll require more time after his rehab assignment was paused. A better idea of Alcala's return timetable should come into focus once he's cleared to resume throwing.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Kicking off rehab assignment
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Alcala (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Fort Myers on Tuesday.
Alcala has been on the injured list since April 12 with right elbow inflammation, so he'll likely require at least a handful of appearances in the minors before the Twins are comfortable activating him. The 26-year-old reliever is first eligible to return from the 60-day IL on June 10, according to Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Throws bullpen session
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Alcala (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Alcala hasn't thrown since April 10, and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list April 23. While the right-hander isn't eligible to be activated until at least June 10, he'll take a significant step in his recovery Saturday, when he's scheduled to throw live batting practice. Whether Alcala is able to return when he's first eligible isn't yet clear, but he's certainly trending in the right direction.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Shifts to 60-day injured list
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Alcala (elbow) was transferred to 60-day injured list Saturday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
A sleeper pick for saves this spring, Alcala won't be earning any until mid-June at the absolute earliest. He hit the injured list with right elbow inflammation after just his second appearance this season, and while he resumed throwing just four days later, he was shut down again shortly after that with his elbow still not feeling right. He'll now get an extended period to rest. The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the Twins to select Jose Godoy's contract.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Shut down from throwing
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Alcala (elbow) has been shut down from throwing, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Alcala made just two appearances this season before hitting the injured list with elbow inflammation. He resumed throwing Friday, just four days after being placed on the injured list, but he didn't feel right and will now back off again. Manager Rocco Baldelli said the Twins will have him "reset to zero," so this may be more than a brief pause. He'll still have to build back up once he's ready to go again, so it seems likely that he'll miss at least several more weeks.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Begins throwing
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Alcala (elbow) threw from 60 feet and 90 feet on Friday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. "I didn't feel quite where I wanted to be, but we're progressing and that's what matters. We're moving forward, so hopefully soon I'll get back," he said.
Alcala said he felt pain in his elbow when throwing a fastball Sunday, but said the pain was 20 on a 100 scale. That sounds encouraging that this isn't a major injury, but there's still no timetable for his return.
