Having Survived Career-Threatening Injury, Could Josh Staumont Embrace the Deathball?

[Ted Schwerzler]

When the Minnesota Twins signed Josh Staumont in the last days of 2023, it was the first guaranteed deal they had agreed to all winter. It remains so. A guarantee of less than $1 million reflects uncertain health, but Staumont has a chance to be among the gems of their bullpen.

Image courtesy of © Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

When the Minnesota Twins signed Josh Staumont in the last days of 2023, it was the first guaranteed deal they had agreed to all winter. It remains so. A guarantee of less than $1 million reflects uncertain health, but Staumont has a chance to be among the gems of their bullpen.

A former second-round pick by the Kansas City Royals back in 2015, Josh Staumont has spent the entirety of his career within the same organization. Rather than go through the arbitration process with him a second time, the Royals decided to non-tender Staumont in November, largely because it's not clear when he'll be ready to pitch again.

Staumont underwent surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome, and while that has been a death knell for some pitchers, the diagnosis is almost an umbrella term for two different ones. As outlined in a piece by Jesse Dougherty at the Washington Post, a couple of different procedures can produce vastly different results. Rather than thinking he’s the next Stephen Strasburg or Matt Harvey, Staumont’s outlook could be something closer to Merrill Kelly.

In a recent conversation with KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, Staumont discussed his surgery and the process in depth. Beyond that, he mentioned how he’s doing with the rehab process and how good he feels about his health going forward.

Had an enjoyable conversation today getting to know new #MNTwins reliever Josh Staumont. I'll post the full 30 minutes later, but here's a snippet on the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he underwent last summer. He's doing great now. pic.twitter.com/bTXP3ld8eG

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) January 24, 2024

That’s where the exciting news begins for the Twins.

Staumont posted a 6.09 ERA over the past two seasons, with a 4.08 FIP. His 25.3% strikeout rate was impressive, but the 15.9% walk rate did him in. He is a guy who doesn’t give up many home runs, but his control and command had all but disappeared. The aforementioned Kelly posted a 4.42 ERA with a 4.51 FIP in his rookie season, before undergoing vascular TOS surgery after five starts in 2020. In the three years since, Kelly has been a consistent force for the Arizona Diamondbacks, posting a 3.66 ERA and 3.85 FIP, including higher strikeout and lower home run rates.

Staumont is a bit younger than Kelly was when he had surgery, but it’s the previous performance that Minnesota is looking to return. If a clean bill of health gets him back to where he was, that is production to the tune of a 2.93 ERA, 3.95 FIP, and striking out over a quarter of opposing batters. Even before his numbers dipped, the former Royals reliever struggled a bit with walks, but the peripherals all worked as a dominant, high-leverage arm.

Last season was the first time Staumont averaged less than 96 mph on his fastball, and it was the second straight year of decline. He had popped up to 98 mph on his fastball in 2020, and 99 mph on his sinker. Talking with Staumont at length on Friday evening during TwinsFest Live, he expressed excitement about where he is at in rehabbing the injury, and why he believes in his success going forward. Having had nerves and muscle fibers that were previously interrupted with their positioning inside of his body, he feels more free throwing than ever. Despite not having surgery until the middle of last season, he suggested having had to pitch with a different feel for a while--a common refrain from pitchers who deal with TOS. That part excites him, as he sees a blueprint where he can get batters out using both an old and a new arm slot.

Recently, Brian Menéndez of Baseball Prospectus wrote about a new pitch dubbed the "deathball." While the sweeper took over the scene in 2023, it does require a lower arm slot, and Minnesota may have interest in working with the high-slot Staumont on a different pitch. The article describes the deathball as "different from a traditional curveball in that it is thrown with less emphasis on efficient topspin, though the emphasis on vertical movement remains." Jordan Montgomery is the biggest-name pitcher to highlight this offering, and while it does have action that can relate to a traditional 12-6 curveball, Menéndez noted a few key differences being a gyro component and higher velocity.

New Minnesota teammates Jordan Balazovic and Jhoan Durán threw a deathball last season, and the pitch isn't something new for the Twins staff. As an organization that has had success elevating pitchers to new heights, taking a healthy version of Staumont and augmenting a key weapon for him (in this case, his slider, which is the pitch that could morph into a deathball by keeping it a little closer to 12-to-6 in shape, and which he already started throwing more often last year) could have a significant amount of value. Durán having that offering with a nearly-unhittable fastball and splinker is an unfair arsenal. Staumont's could see a velocity resurgence after going under the knife, but Minnesota may also just be interested in adding to his repertoire.

The former Royals reliever told me how excited he was to have a shot at free agency, and was somewhat surprised at the amount of interest he received. Being able to pick from multiple offers from teams with World Series aspirations was rejuvenating, coming from an organization that had lost for so long, and Minnesota was a place he immediately was drawn to. What those discussions revolved around, beyond just dollars, was likely a key factor in him making this his home for 2024. We'll see if another pitch is added when spring training rolls around, but for now, there is plenty of upside for the lone Twins free agent acquisition.

At this point, Rocco Baldelli doesn’t need a closer or setup man. With Durán, Griffin Jax, and Caleb Thielbar all penciled in as back-end arms, any additions only add to the group's depth. Last year, the Twins added Brock Stewart as a non-roster minor leaguer, and he worked his way into that mix. Staumont figures to slide in below each of those names on the bullpen depth chart, but he's very much on it.

It’s easy to overlook a relief addition as something that provides little splash. Minnesota hasn’t spent on the bullpen outside of Addison Reed (which went poorly) under this front office, and it’s been the upside plays they have hit on most. If Staumont is truly feeling good, and we’ll see that in action soon enough, he could be among the most impactful additions of the offseason.

Could Staumont take off with a slight adjustment or two? Where would you slot him into the lower rungs of the team's relief ladder? Sound off below.

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[DJL44]

I hope he is throwing well this spring. 

Duran, Jax, Stewart, Thielbar, Topa, Staumont, Funderburk leaves one spot open for Alcala, Winder, Sands or Jensen. I wouldn't mind finding one more reliever to keep them all in St. Paul to begin the season.

[Karbo]

I hope he comes back strong, but as is the case, I'll have to see him in game action. For under 1 mil spent It looks like a low risk, high reward signing if he can return to the form from a few years ago.

[nicksaviking]

I hope the Twins found a diamond in the rough, but his control was brutal even before he was injured. If it's at all still a question during spring training, I don't think he breaks camp with the team.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

So what is positive,  he feels the best he has in 18 months,  feels the shoulder is much more open.  Does sound like simpler side of the 2 surgery options,  maybe even a variation of the 2 main ones.  Does not appear to have the extreme negative outcomes of say a Harvey or Strasburg.  

Now he does discuss having a different feel for the ball.  For someone who struggled with control that is a bit of a concern.  

The hope is that the velocity remains,  he feels better and then he ends up with a couple more variations on pitches.   I always thought he had immense ability and looked like one of the best pitchers we faced during the year.  He does tend to let his emotions get to him,  similar to a Pagan.  When going well, does well, when struggling tightens up a bit.  Ultimately if he can figure that out a bit,  he could really take it to the next level.  Several ifs here, but I really like the signing.  Tons of upside for $1 million.  

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

32 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I hope he is throwing well this spring. 

Duran, Jax, Stewart, Thielbar, Topa, Staumont, Funderburk leaves one spot open for Alcala, Winder, Sands or Jensen. I wouldn't mind finding one more reliever to keep them all in St. Paul to begin the season.

One other name is Varland.  See if we keep him as a starter,  or he is a long reliever.   Lots of competition in that reliever staff.   The depth of the staff is so much better than what we have had for the last 4-5 years.  

[Parfigliano]

Saw Balazovic and Duran all last year and never heard one pitch called a "deathball".  Announcers should overuse that term this year.

[DJL44]

9 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

One other name is Varland.  See if we keep him as a starter,  or he is a long reliever.   Lots of competition in that reliever staff.   The depth of the staff is so much better than what we have had for the last 4-5 years.  

The rotation is too shallow to move Varland to the bullpen. Paddack and DeSclafani are both injury concerns. Varland will get 25 starts just like Ober did last year.

[spanman2]

Pitchers and catchers before you know it...lets go!

[ashbury]

"If healthy" seems to be the mantra for this front office.

[HerbieFan]

Classic example of a low-risk, high-reward signing....which I'm always in favor of!

[Fatbat]

Sounds like we are on the hunt for having 7-8 closers. Every inning needs outs. 

[Major League Ready]

The optimist in me looks at the potential if Alcala, Staumont, and Topa perform to their abilities.  We have a shot at the best BP we have had in a long time. 

[jmlease1]

Never trust players comments about their health, how they're feeling, etc prior to spring training. It's as meaningful as hearing that someone is coming in in the "best shape of the life". 

we'll see if he's healthy when he takes the mound against live competition and whether he can control his pitches. until then, he's just one of several guys competing for one of the last couple of spots in the bullpen. Right now he's competing with Alcala, Funderburk, Winder, Balazovic, Sands, etc for those last spots. I'd argue he's behind Alcala and Funderburk but possibly above Winder, Balazovic, and Sands.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

22 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Never trust players comments about their health, how they're feeling, etc prior to spring training. It's as meaningful as hearing that someone is coming in in the "best shape of the life". 

we'll see if he's healthy when he takes the mound against live competition and whether he can control his pitches. until then, he's just one of several guys competing for one of the last couple of spots in the bullpen. Right now he's competing with Alcala, Funderburk, Winder, Balazovic, Sands, etc for those last spots. I'd argue he's behind Alcala and Funderburk but possibly above Winder, Balazovic, and Sands.

You can honestly tell in that video he feels a ton better.  A singular statement can mean squat.  If you can't see in that video the improvement,  but also the detail he goes into the procedure,  it sure looks like he has a chance to come back healthy.  I am more willing to be optimistic.   

[Major League Ready]

28 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Never trust players comments about their health, how they're feeling, etc prior to spring training. It's as meaningful as hearing that someone is coming in in the "best shape of the life". 

we'll see if he's healthy when he takes the mound against live competition and whether he can control his pitches. until then, he's just one of several guys competing for one of the last couple of spots in the bullpen. Right now he's competing with Alcala, Funderburk, Winder, Balazovic, Sands, etc for those last spots. I'd argue he's behind Alcala and Funderburk but possibly above Winder, Balazovic, and Sands.

I see the pecking order (right now) the same way as you.  However, the relief and optimism in that video is telling unless you think he is a really good actor, there is reason for us to be optimistic regarding his health.  He will still need to get control of his pitches.

[sampleSizeOfOne]

20 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

diamond in the rough

A mixed golf and baseball phrase?

It took me longer than i care to admit to figure out that a diamond couldn't be on the fairway or the green because its a sand trap.

.But in golf a foul ball isn't just a do over.

And pros only use woods? The squeeze bunt is on as he pulls out his putter...

 

Oh right. Something on topic.

Welcome to the Twins, Staumont! Hope ya birdie up more than ya bogey down!

[rick kayser]

A deep bullpen can certainly lessen the pressure on a starting pitcher. Also, the thought of facing a group of hard throwers can create a sense of impending doom on a lineup to score before the 7th inning. We are adding a veteran arm at a minor cost. A good signing.