Three Reliever Options the Twins Hope Can Return From Injury in September

[Cody Christie]

Yesterday, the Twins missed out on multiple reliever options on the waiver wire, so now the team's focus turns to internal options. Minnesota hopes these three arms will be able to return from injury and bolster the bullpen for the stretch run. 

 

Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

The Twins have relied heavily on specific relievers throughout the 2023 campaign, including Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Emilio Pagan, and Caleb Thielbar. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has different levels of trust in these players, which makes it tough to employ a bullpen strategy from one close game to another. For most of the season, the Twins have needed this group to be flawless, which is a tall task for any bullpen. 

Minnesota had an opportunity to add to the bullpen group at the trade deadline. However, the club's only move was to ship Jorge Lopez to the Marlins for Dylan Floro. Floro's Twins tenure has gone imperfectly, as he has allowed seven earned runs in ten innings with a 2.00 WHIP and 13.5 H/9. The Twins front office might have been a little gun-shy when pulling the trigger on another reliever trade after trading multiple prospects for Lopez at last year's trade deadline. Instead, the team hopes these three players can effectively return from injury and join the bullpen picture. 

Brock Stewart, RHP
Stewart was a revelation in the Twins bullpen earlier this season. In 25 2/3 innings, he posted a 0.70 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and 12.3 K/9. It was his first taste of the big leagues since 2019 after multiple arm issues, including Tommy John surgery and a second procedure to remove a bone spur. Stewart initially landed on the injured list on June 27th with soreness in his right forearm. At the time, the Twins hoped he'd be able to return shortly, but there have been setbacks throughout his ramp-up process. 

Stewart threw a 15-pitch bullpen session on August 25th and reported feeling good the following day. He threw all fastballs during the session and sat between 88-91 mph. His next bullpen session was on Monday, August 28th, and he will likely need another bullpen session after that. Stewart told reporters that his target return date is September 10th as a best-case scenario. Returning then would give him a couple of weeks to prove he can be effective for the team's postseason roster. 

Chris Paddack, RHP
Last season, Kenta Maeda was returning from Tommy John surgery, and the Twins talked about adding him to the bullpen for the stretch run. Unfortunately, Minnesota fell apart in September, and there was no reason to rush Maeda back to the big leagues. Paddack is 15 months removed from Tommy John surgery and has been ramping up his workload in Fort Myers. According to reports, he has been hitting 95 mph, which is a good sign for his progression. Paddack told reporters he expects to begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Fort Myers on September 6th and he hopes to be ready for big-league action on September 22nd.

Minnesota signed Paddack to a three-year extension in January, so he is part of the team's long-term plans as a starter. He likely hasn't built up to a starter's workload at this point in his recovery, so switching to the bullpen is intriguing. His pitch mix has traditionally included a four-seam fastball, a changeup, and a curveball. For his career, he has held left-handed batters to a .686 OPS, while righties have posted a .735 OPS. It would be interesting to see if he can add more velocity to his pitching arsenal if he is being used in a relief role. 

Jorge Alcala, RHP
The Twins hoped Alcala would take the next step and become an integral part of the bullpen picture. He was placed on the IL back in the middle of May with a stress fracture to the radius bone in his right forearm. It is an uncommon injury for pitchers, making his timeline tough to predict. He's also been limited to 12 appearances over the last two seasons, so he seems the least likely contributor among this trio of pitchers. 

Alcala told reporters last Friday that he has thrown five bullpen sessions and is lined up to pitch another one later this week. One of those sessions included throwing live BP to Byron Buxton and Alex Kirilloff before they headed to St. Paul on a rehab assignment. "I'm hoping he'll be available towards the end of the season," president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. "We're not ruling that out, but we don't have a timeline yet."

Which pitcher can be most helpful to the Twins bullpen? What are the chances any of these injured players impact the team's postseason chances? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

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[DJL44]

I have no confidence Alcala will be good if he returns. He doesn't have a strong track record of success.

[FlyingFinn]

Noticed that Jovani Moran went on the IL in St. Paul with the dreaded "forearm strain."

I don't think Paddack will be ready to help this year. Stewart really could though. Putting some combination of Maeda/Ober/Keuchel/Ryan in the bullpen could be more help in the playoffs than the not quite ready Alcala and Paddack.

[David HK]

The Paddack idea is intriguing.  And I'd be fine shuffling Maeda to the pen.  He probably wouldn't, though...

[Craig Arko]

Don’t forget Varland.

[twinsfan02]

20 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Noticed that Jovani Moran went on the IL in St. Paul with the dreaded "forearm strain."

I don't think Paddack will be ready to help this year. Stewart really could though. Putting some combination of Maeda/Ober/Keuchel/Ryan in the bullpen could be more help in the playoffs than the not quite ready Alcala and Paddack.

If Paddack isn't ready after 15 months off he never will be and should not be on the team wasting payroll.

[jorgenswest]

1 hour ago, twinsfan02 said:

If Paddack isn't ready after 15 months off he never will be and should not be on the team wasting payroll.

15 months off? We really have a different view of the effort it takes to come back from a serious injury.

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Craig Arko said:

Don’t forget Varland.

100% he'll be the best on this list, unless Stewart is fully healthy, then it might be him. Varland should be pitching one inning at a time right now. 

[Karbo]

I  don't know if they can count on Stewart, but I think between Paddock and Varland there is some hope. Add in probably the 2 starters not scheduled and that leaves Duran, Jax, Thielbar, and Pagan which should be able to survive a 3 game series. After that is anybody's guess.

[Linus]

I think Varland would be the biggest help. I have serious doubts that Stewart will get fully healthy. Paddack is going to be rusty and pitchers often struggle when they first get back from tj. I don’t understand why people keep talking aboutAlcala. He’s been good once for 2 months. The rest of the time he’s been bad or hurt. 

[Sjoski]

Do not mind the discussion, it is where we are. Just wish we weren't having it. 

I m a g i n e ...  if you can ...Back in Feb. Falvey decides the bullpen is a priority, and spends 11 Million on that rather than Gallo.   I m a g i n e  that world if you can.

 

[Shaitan]

The clock is ticking for rehab opportunities with the shorter MiLB season.

Fingers crossed, but given Stewart's injury history, I think he'll be lucky to pitch in MLB again. I hope he proves me wrong.

[PatPfund]

If I had to guess likelihood of the three you named, I'd say Paddack is the most likely to be healthy and helpful, Alcala may be healthy, but not sure how helpful, and I'd love Stewart to be helpful, but I doubt he'll be healthy.

Varland looks to me to be the most likely help they get from St Paul. Blistering heat the other night as a reliever.

[JD-TWINS]

8 guys, maybe only 7 guys in the Pen in October. Can shuffle roster after each series.

11 or 12 man staff: Extra hitters!!

Could non-roster Ober in first 3 game series for an extra bat?

Rotation: Lopez, Gray, Maeda, & Ober

Baseline Pen: Thielbar, Pagan. Jax, & Duran

Options: Ryan, Varland, Kuechel, Funderburk

Maybe’s: Stewart

Varland & Ryan are hard throwing - 2 inning guys that can get us the 6th & 7th alternately in playoff games or the 7th & 8th.

Baseline 4 above typically handle 8th & 9th!

If Ryan keeps throwing well, deeper into September, it’s difficult not to exchange him with Ober in rotation.

[TNtwins85]

22 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

100% he'll be the best on this list, unless Stewart is fully healthy, then it might be him. Varland should be pitching one inning at a time right now. 

The reports from Gleeman yesterday were that Varland is being ramped down. His stuff in turn played up quite a bit. He threw 50 some pitches and was sitting in the high 90’s with a couple of 100’s in there. Probably gonna be a 4th or 5th option out of the bullpen down the stretch. Now that is exciting!

[stringer bell]

Any of the three listed could be a huge bonus in the dying days of the season and in October. I think Louie Varland should be considered as well and what about Bailey Ober?

 

[wabene]

30 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Any of the three listed could be a huge bonus in the dying days of the season and in October. I think Louie Varland should be considered as well and what about Bailey Ober?

 

Yeah maybe on Ober, but he does tend to start slow in his outings before settling in. 

[lecroy24fan]

21 hours ago, Shaitan said:

The clock is ticking for rehab opportunities with the shorter MiLB season.

 

The Saints play through the 24th so there is time. Plus they should be in the playoffs after that.