NEWS: Twins Claim Relief Pitcher Ryan Jensen On Waivers

[Matthew Trueblood]

The Twins have a new pitcher on their big-league roster. It's unlikely to be an impact addition, but the bullpen mix just got incrementally deeper.

Image courtesy of © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

After his time on waivers was extended by the closure of MLB's offices from Christmas through New Year's day, righthander Ryan Jensen now has a new home. The Twins claimed him on waivers, where the Miami Marlins placed him last month. Jensen, 26, was the Cubs' first-round pick back in 2019, and was a member of three different organizations in 2023. He's yet to reach the big leagues.

The Twins claimed righthander Ryan Jensen off waivers from the Marlins. He was in AA and AAA last year with the Cubs and Mariners.

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) January 4, 2024

Jensen is a minor addition, to be sure. He had excruciating control problems in 2023, after moving to the bullpen in search of more intensity in his stuff. The Cubs added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the 2022 Rule 5 Draft, but they ended up waiving him at midseason, and he finished the campaign in the Mariners system. 

At his best, he can reach the upper 90s with his fastball. The shape of that pitch isn't great, though, and he's yet to find a secondary offering that makes it work. He was a swingman early in his college career at Fresno State, but an established and successful starter in his draft year. By the time the Cubs took him 27th overall, they did so in the hope that he would blossom into a mid-rotation starter. That, obviously, never happened, and he's struggled to throw strikes with an expanding mix at the upper levels of the minors.

This one feels like a pure bet on the arm and the athleticism that made Jensen attractive half a decade ago. That doesn't mean it's bad. Indeed, the Twins probably intend to try a major streamlining of his repertoire: junking his lousy sinker, emphasizing his cutter and a fastball with relative cut, and maybe adding a sweeper or true slider. At worst, they spent one of a few open roster spots on a temporary basis. At best, they might have someone very much in the vein of Cole Sands, but with more talent than Sands has. 

What do you make of Jensen? Are you feeling confident about the Twins' middle-relief depth?

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[Dman]

I get the sense that Jensen will end up on waivers again, but I get picking him up since he has two options left and throws hard.  The problem is he appears to be a one pitch pitcher unless something has recently changed.  From what I read if he can find a second pitch that he can control he will be a solid pen arm, but he has had quite a while to get there and hasn't yet.  Not an arm I would want clogging the 40 man, but likely someone they can try and get through waivers at some point.  Let the games begin.

[dberthia]

Thus far this has been an incredibly disappointing off-season, and this move does nothing to alter that view.

[jmlease1]

6 minutes ago, Dman said:

I get the sense that Jensen will end up on waivers again, but I get picking him up since he has two options left and throws hard.  The problem is he appears to be a one pitch pitcher unless something has recently changed.  From what I read if he can find a second pitch that he can control he will be a solid pen arm, but he has had quite a while to get there and hasn't yet.  Not an arm I would want clogging the 40 man, but likely someone they can try and get through waivers at some point.  Let the games begin.

As the 39th or 40th man on the 40-man roster he might be worth taking a shot at, if the staff think that there's something that could be unlocked. Easy enough to waive if you need the roster spot, upside if he can figure something out. he seems too wild for me, but I don't mind the move.

Wonder if he's another of the group of players whose career development got screwed up by missing a minor league season due to the pandemic? he advanced really fast and then crashed into a wall at AA.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

This is the kind of under the radar move that teams (including the Twins) do all the time.  There's a pretty good chance it's a nothingburger, but there's also a greater than zero chance that he could be a useful part of a bullpen.  In Jensen's case, it is obviously a bet on the talent level that made him a first rounder a few years back.  If nothing comes of it, OK, but it's worth the shot.   This is a normal winter signing. 

[Rosterman]

At worse, the Twins send him thru waivers after everyone has their 40-man rosters pretty well set, thus allowing the Twins to stash him in St. Paul. A lot of teams passed on him for the Twins to get a claim.

[Dman]

21 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

As the 39th or 40th man on the 40-man roster he might be worth taking a shot at, if the staff think that there's something that could be unlocked. Easy enough to waive if you need the roster spot, upside if he can figure something out. he seems too wild for me, but I don't mind the move.

Wonder if he's another of the group of players whose career development got screwed up by missing a minor league season due to the pandemic? he advanced really fast and then crashed into a wall at AA.

Yeah below is part of what Fangraphs had to say about him last year and looking at his numbers it seems accurate. There's always a chance something clicks but not even having an average second offering feels like a longer way to go than most arms.

 "Lackluster command of his secondaries and a violently effortful delivery that features a long arm action were perhaps always likely to push him to the ‘pen. Even though none of those pitches are very good, it’s possible Jensen’s repertoire depth will enable him to work in a multi-inning relief role. He certainly has the stamina to sustain plus velocity for multiple innings, but most big league relievers have at least two plus pitches, and he has been searching for a second one for a while now."

 

[SteveLV]

Article says he has 2 options left, so no need to put him through waivers to send to St. Paul, no?

[weneedneshek]

3 minutes ago, SteveLV said:

Article says he has 2 options left, so no need to put him through waivers to send to St. Paul, no?

We need to put him through waivers if we want him off the 40 man to make room for someone else which is what I assume they meant by stash in st. paul

[Whitey333]

Triple yawns on this "addition"  boring and nothing.  The relief pitching bottom of the dumpster purge is going on.

[sweetmusicviola16]

Tyler Kinley all over again.

[Parfigliano]

A nothing burger with nothing on it

[nicksaviking]

55 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

At worse, the Twins send him thru waivers after everyone has their 40-man rosters pretty well set, thus allowing the Twins to stash him in St. Paul. A lot of teams passed on him for the Twins to get a claim.

Now that the Orioles are good, sending guys through waivers to stash them should be easier. They seemed like the one team that would claim someone every time then waive them again a week later. Seemed like it was done out of spite often times.

[Blyleven2011]

This is another dfa'd player before the season starts ...

This guy was a first round pick in 2017 ,,, the OP didn't mention  really any of his stats all in the minors ...

He has walked 24% and struck  out 27% , he can't seem to throw strikes , but who knows if our staff can harness anything  out of him , 3 other clubs didn't  .. 

Only thing he has going for him is he's has options to stash in st Paul as depth  , but he takes a roster spot and if something better comes along  he'll be dfa'd  ...

We are up to 38 roster spots , 1 starting pitcher and a 1 bullpen arm are needed , maybe found in the same trade , and maybe a quality contact hitter ...

Reaching for straws and just another dumpster diving attempt  , if Macky or minor league coaches can get him to throw strikes on a consistent  basis , they will be deemed geniuses  ....

[Parfigliano]

2 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

This is another dfa'd player before the season starts ...

This guy was a first round pick in 2017 ,,, the OP didn't mention  really any of his stats all in the minors ...

He has walked 24% and struck  out 27% , he can't seem to throw strikes , but who knows if our staff can harness anything  out of him , 3 other clubs didn't  .. 

Only thing he has going for him is he's has options to stash in st Paul as depth  , but he takes a roster spot and if something better comes along  he'll be dfa'd  ...

We are up to 38 roster spots , 1 starting pitcher and a 1 bullpen arm are needed , maybe found in the same trade , and maybe a quality contact hitter ...

Reaching for straws and just another dumpster diving attempt  , if Macky or minor league coaches can get him to throw strikes on a consistent  basis , they will be deemed geniuses  ....

Its a no risk pick up.  They get him to develop and throw quality strikes in MLB they're geniuses.  They dont nobody expected any thing in the first place so nothing lost.

[sweetmusicviola16]

The link in the article to Ryan Jensen is to the wrong Ryan Jensen.

[stringer bell]

39 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

Its a no risk pick up.  They get him to develop and throw quality strikes in MLB they're geniuses.  They dont nobody expected any thing in the first place so nothing lost.

There is some risk and cost in that he is currently on the 40-man roster. Upon reflection, I think the team will DFA him well before the regular season starts with the hope of getting him through the process and getting him to St. Paul.

[SteveLV]

I believe the Twins will also open up room with players shifted to the DL.

[Twins Takes]

And so begins the minor league depth singings...

[Fatbat]

3 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

Tyler Kinley all over again.

Possibly but no two players are the same. No two situations are the same. Its just a flier on a guy that has abilities and talent, just needs massive work and development, mental over physical. Probably lost a lot of confidence. A good sports psychologist and best friend coach/mentor may help him blossom!!

[ashbury]

4 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

This is the kind of under the radar move that teams (including the Twins) do all the time.

Many moves remain under the radar because they never reach liftoff.

Dangit, we passed up this guy when we drafted Keoni Cavaco.

[Boswell]

Must be on the recommendation of the Dazzle Man, fellow Fresno Stater!!!

[CoastiePilot08]

5 hours ago, dberthia said:

Thus far this has been an incredibly disappointing off-season, and this move does nothing to alter that view.

How dare you 

[Fat Calvin]

6 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

Tyler Kinley all over again.

Who?

[stringer bell]

3 hours ago, SteveLV said:

I believe the Twins will also open up room with players shifted to the DL.

I don't think so. The only way to open room is place guys on the 60-day IL, which IIRC isn't in place until Opening Day. On top of that, I don't know of anyone who won't be ready to play by Opening Day or soon thereafter.  

[ashbury]

12 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I don't think so. The only way to open room is place guys on the 60-day IL, which IIRC isn't in place until Opening Day. 

Spring Training, I believe.

[lecroy24fan]

1 hour ago, Fat Calvin said:

Who?

He's on first.

[stringer bell]

57 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Spring Training, I believe.

But anyone on the 60-day list misses the first 60 days of the regular season (I’m pretty sure of that) so other than clearing roster space, there is no point in placing a player on the IL. 

[Doctor Wu]

15 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

Tyler Kinley all over again.

I think Kinley had/has more talent. 

[Althebum82]

11 hours ago, ashbury said:

Many moves remain under the radar because they never reach liftoff.

Dangit, we passed up this guy when we drafted Keoni Cavaco.

Ouch.  Just ouch.  There's a name that did not exist on my radar, I had to look him up.  Looks like he has been battling injuries since being drafted, including a concussion which can derail anyone's career, whether in sports or not.  Sad.