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Top Twins News

  • Twins' Josh Staumont: Velocity bouncing back

    Staumont reached 98 mph with his fastball in his last outing Saturday after only reaching 92-93 mph earlier in the spring, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He's given up two earned runs with four strikeouts and five walks in 4.2 innings this spring.

    He had an 95.8 average mph fastball last season. Staumont is working his way back after undergoing thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in July. He has a minor-league option left, so he may begin the season in Triple-A as he builds back to full speed. However, he could begin the season in the majors with injuries to Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) and Jhoan Duran (oblique).

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  • Twins' Kody Funderburk: Looks set to make MLB bullpen

    Funderburk looks set to begin the season in the Minnesota bullpen with injuries to Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) and Jhoan Duran (oblique), Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

    Funderburk and Steven Okert will be the primary lefties in the Minnesota bullpen with Theilbar sidelined. Funderburk had a 2.60 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with a 75:21 K:BB across 37 appearances (two starts) at Triple-A last season. He then had a 0.75 ERA in 12 innings with the Twins. He had the best strikeout rate of his career last season at Triple-A (13.0 K/9) with a strong walk rate. He could stick in the major-league bullpen if he has a strong start to the season.

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  • Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Sent to minor-league camp

    The Twins reassigned Balazovic to minor-league camp Monday.

    Once of the Twins' more promising starting pitching prospects, Balazovic made the full-time move to the bullpen in 2023. Though he reached the big leagues for the first time last season, Balazovic struggled to distinguish himself, posting a 4.44 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 17:12 K:BB in 24.1 innings. Balazovic will remain in the Twins organization for 2024 despite being outrighted shortly before spring training, but his lack of a 40-man roster spot will work against him in his efforts to rejoin the Minnesota bullpen.

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  • Twins' Jose Miranda: Sent down to St. Paul

    The Twins optioned Miranda to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

    The addition of Carlos Santana pretty much blocked Miranda's path to an Opening Day roster spot. He's probably best off going back to the minors for a while, anyway, following offseason surgery to remove scar tissue from his right labrum and rotator cuff.

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  • Twins' Trevor Larnach: Optioned to Triple-A

    The Twins optioned Larnach to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

    Larnach is a major-league caliber player but there's not room for him on the Twins' roster right now. He'll play regularly at St. Paul while waiting for another opportunity with the big club.

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  • Twins' Brock Stewart: Could get closing chances early on

    Stewart and Griffin Jax are viewed as the most likely candidates to handle save situations for the Twins in the first few weeks of the season after president of baseball operations Derek Falvey announced Monday that Jhoan Duran (oblique) will begin the campaign on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

    Falvey didn't comment specifically on the Twins' plans at closer sans Duran, but Stewart and Jax represent the team's top-performing bullpen arms from 2023 that were retained heading into 2024. Though he spent considerable time on the shelf while tending to a sore elbow, Stewart was dominant when he was available last season, pitching to an 0.65 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 39:11 K:BB in 27.2 innings. Jax's numbers (3.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 68:19 K:BB in 65.1 innings) weren't quite as impressive in comparison, but he has multiple seasons under his belt as a reliable relief arm for Minnesota in addition to possessing a much stronger track record on the health front. That might be enough to give Jax the early edge on save chances over Stewart, who still profiles as a decent late-round dart in mixed leagues and AL-only leagues in any case.

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  • Twins' Griffin Jax: Could fill in at closer

    Jax and Brock Stewart are likely to fill in at closer for the Twins while Jhoan Duran (oblique) is sidelined, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

    Jax has turned into a weapon out of the Twins' bullpen over the last two seasons, posting a 3.60 ERA and 146:39 K:BB over 137.2 innings, collecting five saves along the way. He's also been dominant this spring, yielding just two hits and no runs with a 10:0 K:BB over six frames. Both Jax and Brock Stewart are worthy short-term fantasy targets, and it's possible manager Rocco Baldelli won't settle on one guy.

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  • Twins' Louie Varland: Looks on track for rotation

    Varland is expected to open the season in the Minnesota rotation after president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday that Anthony DeSclafani (forearm) will open the season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

    Varland has been a standout performer this spring with no runs allowed and 11 strikeouts against one walk through 11 innings in the Grapefruit League, but the fact that he has two minor-league options remaining was seemingly working against him in his competition with DeSclafani and Chris Paddack for the final two spots in the Opening Day rotation. However, with DeSclafani having been diagnosed with a forearm strain following a minor-league spring start over the weekend, Varland looks like he could have an extended runway in the Minnesota rotation. Expect Varland's average draft position to surge in the wake of the DeSclafani injury, given that the young right-hander had previously fared well in his initial starting opportunities in the big leagues last season with a 3.51 ERA through his first seven outings with Minnesota in 2023. He faded soon after and was eventually optioned to the minors, but he pitched well down the stretch upon rejoining Minnesota in a bullpen role last September. With Varland having now carried that late-season momentum into spring training, he may be in better position to enjoy sustained success as a starter in the big leagues over a longer period of time in 2024.

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  • Twins' Byron Buxton: Back injury considered minor

    Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday that Buxton's back injury is minor and the outfielder is expected to return to the lineup soon, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

    Buxton was a late scratch from Monday's lineup, but it sounds like the club is just being cautious. The Twins are off Tuesday, but it sounds like Buxton could return as soon as Wednesday. He's 8-for-24 with one home run and two triples at the plate so far this spring.

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  • Twins' Zack Weiss: Bound for injured list

    Weiss (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

    Weiss is continuing to go through his throwing progression, but he hasn't made an appearance this spring while recovering from a teres major strain, and it's not clear how long he might be on the shelf. The reliever was claimed off waivers from the Red Sox last month.

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  • Twins' Matt Canterino: Suffers shoulder strain

    Canterino will begin the season on the injured list at Triple-A St. Paul with a right subscapularis strain, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

    Canterino was sent to minor-league camp a week ago and now is hurt. It's not clear how long he might be sidelined. Injuries are unfortunately nothing new for Canterino, who missed all of the 2023 season following Tommy John surgery.

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  • Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Slated to open on IL

    Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday that Thielbar (hamstring) will begin the season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

    Thielbar had a setback with his left hamstring during Saturday's live batting practice session. There's no timetable at this juncture for the left-handed reliever's return. It's a blow to a bullpen that will also be without Jhoan Duran (oblique) at the start of the season.

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  • Twins' Anthony DeSclafani: IL bound with forearm strain

    Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said DeSclafani will open the season on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

    According to Helfand, Falvey adds that DeSclafani will have his injury assessed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, after which the Twins should have a better idea on a treatment plan for the right-hander. DeSclafani had entered spring training as a frontrunner for a back-end spot in the Minnesota rotation, but he didn't make any Cactus League appearances while the Twins eased him back after his 2023 campaign was cut short by a right elbow flexor strain. DeSclafani was able to cover 1.2 innings in a minor-league spring training game over the weekend, but his forearm apparently didn't respond well. Though DeSclafani will be eligible to return from the IL around the middle of April, given the nature of his injury and his history of arm trouble, it wouldn't be surprising if he required a long-term absence, regardless of whether or not Meister recommends surgery. Louie Varland now looks to be the leading candidate to open the season as Minnesota's No. 5 starter.

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  • Twins' Jhoan Duran: Headed to IL with oblique strain

    Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday that Duran will begin the season on the 15-day injured list with a moderate right oblique strain, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

    Duran felt a cramp in his side while warming up ahead of a live batting practice session Saturday and a subsequent MRI revealed the bad news. The fact the Twins are labeling his injury as a moderate strain would suggest that he's probably in store for longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Manager Rocco Baldelli might not settle on one closer while Duran is on the shelf, but Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart are viewed as the top candidates for saves while Duran is sidelined.

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  • Twins' Byron Buxton: Scratched with back tightness

    Buxton was scratched from the lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox due to low-back tightness on his right side, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

    Buxton has had a healthy and productive spring up to this point but has now encountered his first injury hiccup. It's not clear how long the back issue might keep Buxton out of action, but given his lengthy injury history, the Twins will surely exercise the utmost caution. Buxton is slated to return to center field this season for Minnesota after operating exclusively as a designated hitter in 2023.

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  • Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Throws another batting practice

    Thielbar (hamstring) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session without issue Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

    Thielbar hasn't been able to run at full speed with his injury, but he hasn't had issues pitching. There's still time for him to be ready for Opening Day, but he may need to show he can pitch in a major-league spring training game in the next week.

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  • Twins' Anthony DeSclafani: Throws in minor league game

    DeSclafani (elbow) threw 1.2 innings in a Triple-A spring training game Saturday with three strikeouts and two walks, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

    DeSclafani hasn't appeared in a major-league spring training game, but that could come in the next week. DeSclafani has made nice progress since feeling soreness in his right elbow at the beginning of the month, but it's not certain he'll be ready for Opening Day despite this progress. His primary competition for the fifth spot in the rotation, Louie Varland, has thrown 11 scoreless innings with an 11:1 K:BB this spring.

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  • Twins' Griffin Jax: Having strong spring

    Jax has thrown six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks this spring.

    He's in midseason form and ready to return as the primary setup man to closer Jhoan Duran. Jax's barrel rate allowed was in the 97th percentile last season (3.3 percent), while his hard-hit percentage, average exit velocity and 56.8 percent groundball rate were all well above average. He should be a significant source of holds (23 last season) this year while nabbing an occasional save when Duran is unavailable.

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  • Twins' Carlos Santana: Could bat leadoff against lefties

    Santana is likely to bat leadoff against left-handed pitchers, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. "I think he will hit leadoff. I don't know if it's going to be the whole year," manager Rocco Baldelli said this week.

    Santana looks set to be an everyday player at first base and will likely hit sixth or lower in the order against righties. Alex Kirilloff will also get time at first base, but will mostly be used at DH and will sit most days against left-handed pitchers. Santana has a career .819 OPS vs. lefties, including an .807 OPS last season. His ability to draw walks and takes pitches is viewed as a plus at the top of the lineup, but the Twins frequently change their batting orders under Baldelli, especially against lefties.

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Injuries

Player Injury
B. Buxton DH Byron Buxton DH Back
J. Duran RP Jhoan Duran RP Oblique
A. DeSclafani SP Anthony DeSclafani SP Forearm
C. Thielbar RP Caleb Thielbar RP Hamstring
Z. Weiss RP Zack Weiss RP Shoulder

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