Top Twins News
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MLB free agent tracker: J.D. Martinez to ink with Mets
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2024 MLB Opening Day starter tracker
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Relief Pitcher Preview: Sleepers, busts, more
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Starting Pitcher Preview: Sleepers, busts, more
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Best SPaRPs for H2H points
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Clean X-rays on pitching hand
Rotowire
X-rays on Alcala's pitching hand showed no broken bones after he was hit in the hand by a line drive in Wednesday's game, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Alcala's index and middle finger on his right hand were sore after the game, but sounds like he could be ready for Opening Day. Alcala has had a strong spring and looks back to full strength after two injury-plagued seasons. He threw just 17.1 innings last season with an ugly 6.23 ERA and missed more than four months with a stress fracture in his right forearm. He threw just 2.1 innings in 2022 due to an elbow injury that required season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery. He's likely to win a spot on the Opening Day roster due to injuries to Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) and Jhoan Duran (oblique).
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Twins' Max Kepler: Pectoral issue seen minor
Rotowire
Kepler, who was scratched from Wednesday's spring training game due to left pectoral tightness, had an MRI that didn't reveal any major issues, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "It seems like [Kepler] is in a pretty good spot," said manager Rocco Baldelli. "We got some imaging done. We didn't find anything concerning on the imaging, which is great."
While it's a relief he's not facing a significant issue, it's a little worrisome that his sore pectoral warranted an MRI. Kepler will likely play sparingly in spring action the next week but sounds like he'll be ready for Opening Day.
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Twins' Brooks Lee: Exits game with back spasms
Rotowire
Lee was removed from Thursday's Grapefruit League game versus the Nationals due to a lower-back spasm, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
See AlsoTwins Broadcasters | Minnesota TwinsAstros vs. Twins score, highlights: Carlos Correa leads Minnesota to dominant Game 2 win to even ALDSMinnesota Twins game today: TV schedule, channel, and moreLee grounded into a double play in his lone plate appearance before exiting. Consider the young infielder day-to-day for the time being. Lee is expected to begin the season at Triple-A St. Paul.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Exits appearance with injury
Rotowire
Alcala was removed from a Grapefruit League appearance Wednesday versus the Tigers with a right hand injury, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The reliever had a comebacker deflect off his pitching hand before going into his glove. He initially stayed in, but it affected the grip of his pitches, so he was removed. Consider Alcala day-to-day for now.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Scratched with pectoral tightness
Rotowire
Kepler was scratched from the Twins' Grapefruit League lineup Wednesday because of left pectoral tightness, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
It's not clear when or how Kepler suffered the injury, but it was clearly enough of an issue that he didn't feel well enough to give it a go Wednesday. Consider the outfielder day-to-day for the time being. Gabriel Gonzalez took Kepler's spot in right field.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Returns to lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Buxton (back) is starting at designated hitter and batting second for the Twins in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.
Buxton had to be scratched from the lineup Monday because of back tightness, but he's set to return to action Wednesday. The 30-year-old has had a very productive spring training, posting a 1.074 OPS with one home run. He'll be the Twins' primary center fielder in 2024 but will also see time at DH.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Likely to make MLB bullpen
Rotowire
Alcala looks set to begin the season in the Minnesota bullpen with injuries to Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) and Jhoan Duran (oblique), MLB.com reports. He has a 2.16 ERA this spring with a 10:3 K:BB in 8.1 innings.
Alcala has had a strong spring and looks back to full strength after two injury-plagued seasons. He threw just 17.1 innings last season with an ugly 6.23 ERA and missed more than four months with a stress fracture in his right forearm. He threw just 2.1 innings in 2022 due to an elbow injury that required season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery. He could become part of the setup mix if his fastball can come close to averaging in the high-90s as it did earlier in his career (97.4 mph average in 2021).
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Twins' Josh Staumont: Velocity bouncing back
Rotowire
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-mph average 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. It's also possible he begins 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
Rotowire
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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3B Preview: Sleepers, busts, more
CBS Sports Chris Towers
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2B Preview: Sleepers, busts, more
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Catcher Preview: Sleepers, busts, more
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Sent to minor-league camp
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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 Stewart are worthy short-term fantasy darts, though it's possible manager Rocco Baldelli won't settle on one guy.
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Twins' Louie Varland: Looks on track for rotation
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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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Injuries
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| J. Duran RP Jhoan Duran RP | Oblique |
| M. Kepler RF Max Kepler RF | Pectoral |
| A. DeSclafani SP Anthony DeSclafani SP | Forearm |
| J. Alcala RP Jorge Alcala RP | Hand |
| C. Thielbar RP Caleb Thielbar RP | Hamstring |
Full Injuries
