Kody Funderburk Reflects on Twins Debut (VIDEO)

[Seth Stohs]

He began his 2023 season with the Wichita Wind Surge, but Kody Funderburk’s campaign ended on the first Minnesota Twins team roster to win a playoff game in nearly 20 years. We asked the southpaw to reflect on that journey, with a particular focus on his time in the majors.

Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

By August 28th in many Minnesota summers, sports fans are excited about the Vikings and Gophers football seasons. Students are excited about the upcoming school year, starting right after Labor Day. However, in 2023, the Twins were well on their way to running away with the American League Central title. The pitching staff was one of the best in baseball. After a rough first half, the Twins’ offense was one of the best in the league in the second half. Things just felt different. 

Across the river in St Paul, players were enjoying their typical Monday off day. When minor-league baseball re-aligned before the 2021 season, teams began playing six-game series. Mondays are either travel days, or a regular day off. The Saints had completed a six-game split in Omaha and were back home on Sunday night. On Tuesday, they were beginning a new set against Columbus.  

Kody Funderburk had been pitching very well for the Saints all season. In 37 games, he was 4-1, with five saves and a 2.60 ERA. In 52 Triple-A innings, he had just 15 walks and an impressive 75 strikeouts. 

However, no one knew if he would be called up to the Twins. He acknowledges that he was never a big pitching prospect. He was a 15th-round pick back in 2018. He had solid numbers working his way through the system, primarily as a starting pitcher. In Low A, he posted a 4.68 ERA in 50 innings. In High A, he posted a 2.96 ERA over 48 2/3 innings. He spent a lot of time at Double A, where he went a combined 14-5 with a 2.55 ERA in 137 2/3 innings. He made 17 starts at that level, but midway through the 2022 season, he was moved full-time to the bullpen. Despite those excellent numbers, including strikeouts, he wasn’t added to the 40-man roster and went unselected in the Rule 5 draft the past two years.

Funderburk began the 2023 season with five games and nine innings in Wichita. He had a 1.00 ERA, and quickly moved up to the Saints. He pitched great, but did the Twins think he could help them down the stretch? 

“In my head, I was just trying to keep the same mentality," said Funderburk of his thinking at the time. "The only way I’m going to guarantee (more) opportunities is to continue doing well.” 

So, after sleeping in a bit on the off day, Funderburk and his wife had made plans to go to The Great Minnesota Get Together (aka, the State Fair). They began to get ready in the early afternoon.

“Around 3:00, I looked at my phone and had five missed calls from Toby (Gardenhire)," Funderburk recalled. "I thought, ‘This is probably the call I want it to be,’ because I really only talk to Toby around the field and in the clubhouse.” 

Funderburk called his manager to see what was going on. It was The Call. 

“(Gardenhire) said, ‘Congratulations, you’re going to the big leagues. We think it’s for the Tuesday game. Let me get back to you.” 

At this point, Funderburk, his wife, a couple of teammates, and their wives were excited for the 26-year-old lefty. 

Just a few minutes later, the phone rang. It was Gardenhire again. “He said, 'Actually, it’s for the game tonight, and you need to get over there as fast as you can.'”

Twins games during the week begin 30 minutes earlier than their 7:10 PM start times on weekends. 

“My wife and I scrambled and got ready really quick.," Funderburk said. "Got things together. Got over to the field.” 

Upon entering the home clubhouse at Target Field, Funderburk walked into manager Rocco Baldelli’s office. His message to the lefty?

“Be ready to pitch."

Kenta Maeda made the start. After a scoreless first inning, he gave up four runs in the second. Fortunately, the Twins put up a six-spot in the bottom of that inning. The big hit was a Royce Lewis grand slam. Maeda gave up single runs in the top of the third and the fourth. However, Matt Wallner hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third. A three-run Jorge Polanco blast in the fourth provided insurance. 

So, as the fifth inning began, the Twins had a 10-6 lead, but Maeda’s day was done. Funderburk found himself jogging in from the bullpen, set to make his big-league debut.

“With it being so quick (from getting the call to getting to the stadium and then into the game), it just kind of ripped the Band-Aid off. I really only had a couple of hours.

“I was just thinking I just have to trust my stuff. It has worked in Triple A. Hopefully, it works now.”  

It certainly worked that night. Funderburk showed his stuff, and his work during PFPs (Pitchers' Fielding Practice). The first batter he faced was veteran lefty Kole Calhoun. He grounded out to the mound. Next up was Ramon Laureano. Funderburk got him on a called third strike. Andres Gimenez was next, and grounded back to the mound for the third out—a one-two-three inning in his major-league debut. 

Next, Funderburk needed to be ready to keep pitching. He was asked to work the sixth inning as well. He struck out both Will Brennan and Gabriel Arias to start the inning. Bo Naylor then popped out to shortstop Carlos Correa for the third out of the inning. Two perfect frames. 

Who could ask for anything more? Rocco Baldelli and Pete Maki didn’t. They turned the game over to Josh Winder, who faced nine batters and got nine outs. Funderburk was the winning pitcher in his major-league debut. Winder recorded his first career save.  

Following the game, Bally Sports North’s Audra Martin interviewed Funderburk and Royce Lewis. When she asked Lewis to describe Funderburk’s debut, he implored the crowd, “Give it up for Fundy!” And the crowd did just that. 

“That was pretty special. You guys have talked to Royce a bunch. He is a special, special guy—an incredible, incredible talent on the field. The grand slam stretch was absolutely unbelievable. (He has) some of the best talent I have ever seen, but also, to go with it, he is a plus-plus person," Funderburk said.

Be ready to pitch. 

The next night, the Twins went into extra innings, and in the 10th inning, with two runners on base, Funderburk was called on to face Calhoun again. This time, Calhoun won the battle, hitting a three-run home run. 

“That maybe was my big-league moment, my 'Welcome to the big leagues, Rookie!' But you’ve got to learn through it. It gives me confidence that Rocco trusted me in those spots and thought I could handle it enough. And what happened happened."

Funderburk was charged with one run on the homer. The other two runs were inherited runners. Then came September. Counting October 1st, he pitched nine more games and 9 2/3 innings. He gave up zero runs, and did not allow another inherited runner to score, either. He gave up five hits and five walks--too many free passes, but he also had 16 strikeouts. If you like Win Probability Added (WPA), Funderburk had games of 0.110, 0.214, and 0.325, showing that he was put into challenging situations late in games and came through. 

“I knew my role coming in there at the end of the year was to help that last month, whatever way that meant," Funderburk said. "If it meant pitching in the fifth inning of a blowout game or in the eighth inning like I did in Texas of a real close game. Whatever role it was, I knew down the stretch I was going to take whatever opportunity.” 

He learned much from Dallas Keuchel in St. Paul and in his time with the Twins. After the Calhoun homer, Emilio Pagan approached him, put his arm around him, and said, “'Hey man, I hope you give up a bunch more, because you’ll be pitching for a long time up here.'” 

“T-Bar (Caleb Thielbar) is just a great model for how I should be," Funderburk said of the primary southpaw in the Twins pen. "He’s a lock-down, left-handed, high-leverage guy for the late innings. Just to watch him go about his work.” 

“The guy I mostly hung out with and really talked to was Louie Varland. Great teammates. I really like Louie as a person and as a player," Funderburk went on. "He’s like Royce. Great player. Great person. We talked about a lot of things.” 

This was Funderburk’s sixth season in the organization. He’s been a part of a lot of good teams and seen how the organization develops players and people. He also fully understands the narrative behind the 0-for-18 playoff streak, and he noted that being a part of the pennant chase and the playoff run was meaningful. The players knew it, and they felt they had something special. Getting the first win against Toronto (and then winning that series) was special. He wasn’t on the roster for the Astros series, but noted that just being around the atmosphere was something he’ll never forget.

It was only a month, but Funderburk experienced a lot in his short time in the big leagues. It's all stuff he can draw from in the future. In Part 2 of this story (and video), we'll discuss Kody Funderburk's pitching journey that led him from an unlikely prospect to the big leagues.

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[Cory Engelhardt]

This is great Seth. Thanks!

[Karbo]

Looks to be a key part of the pen going forward.

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, Karbo said:

Looks to be a key part of the pen going forward.

He sure seems to have enough stuff to be on the roster for years to come. Needs to throw strikes, but his strikeout capability seems to be there. I have a bunch of confidence in this guy………hope he gets an opportunity from the jump this year!

[Mike h]

Really good story, really good writing   I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[roger]

Thanks for another great read, Seth.

I didn't know a lot about this guy when he arrived last fall.  As I think about the pen for next year, he remains one guy I forget about.  Do the Twins need a second lefty?  Yes.  Can it be Funderburk?  Don't know why not. 

Do you think he has what it takes to be better than average in any of several roles next year?

[Althebum82]

What a heartwarming story of someone who seemingly has a "head-on-straight" approach to things.  It has been a treat to watch him so far.   Thielbar is a good role model for him to emulate, things do not always go well, but a little humility and a lot of perseverance can pay off in the long run as it has for Caleb.

[Blyleven2011]

6 hours ago, roger said:

Thanks for another great read, Seth.

I didn't know a lot about this guy when he arrived last fall.  As I think about the pen for next year, he remains one guy I forget about.  Do the Twins need a second lefty?  Yes.  Can it be Funderburk?  Don't know why not. 

Do you think he has what it takes to be better than average in any of several roles next year?

Tbar  is getting  older and I think this is his last year of arbitration and free agent to follow , we need someone  just as good as tbar , so why can't it be him ...

[DocBauer]

As a converted position player, his story is very interesting! Makes you wonder if the FO was that smart, or just lucky, LOL.

But seriously, he was OK in the minors and really took off after a full conversion to the pen. I think it could be argued that he had proven enough that he should have auditioned earlier in 2023 than he did.

NOT going to expect greatness from him, but the milb numbers were great, and in SSS last year he just LOOKED like he belonged. I think he's part of the 2024 pen and beyond, as long as he doesn't suddenly lose control. I was impressed.