Twins Bullpen Depth Helping One Prospect Focus on Starting Pitcher Role

[Cody Christie]

The Twins’ front office focused on adding bullpen depth this winter through trades, signings, and waiver claims. Injuries have already impacted the bullpen, but the team’s depth allows one young pitcher to focus on sticking as a starter.

Image courtesy of Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota’s current front office clearly has a type when it comes to drafting and developing players from the draft’s later rounds. High school arms, like Charlee Soto and Marco Raya, have been avoided by the current regime because they come with high risk, which can potentially result in a long-term reward. Instead, the Twins have focused on college arms from lesser-known schools with an ability to develop those players after they have joined the organization. One left-handed pitcher has started strongly in 2024, and it might not be long until he’s needed as a starter at the big-league level. 

The Twins drafted Brent Headrick in the 9th round of the 2019 MLB Draft from Illinois State University. During the 2021 campaign, he was limited to 16 appearances due to shoulder issues. In 63 innings, he posted a 3.71 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP and an 88-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio in Fort Myers. Minnesota moved him up to High-A for the start of the 2022 season, and he dominated, with a 2.34 ERA and 10.6 K/9 across 15 starts. His strikeout rate increased to 12.3 K/9 when he was promoted to Double-A in the second half, which made it easy to add him to the team’s 40-man roster.

Last season, Headrick began the year as a starter at St. Paul and posted a 4.68 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP. The Twins didn’t need him as a starter at the big-league level, so he was asked to pitch in a multi-inning relief role. Headrick continued to strike out more than ten batters per inning, but he allowed seven home runs in 25 2/3 frames. This spring, he talked to Twins Daily about adding a splitter to keep batters more off-balance, and so far, he’s off to a strong start with the Saints. 

In Headrick’s first start, he pitched 3 2/3 innings while allowing two earned runs, both on a home run. He struggled with command in his first appearance, with 37 of his 76 pitches thrown out of the strike zone. Batters swung at 35 of his pitches, with only five balls being hard hits and two being in the air. Eight of the 11 outs he recorded came via the strikeout, and he avoided surrendering any walks even with his location not being perfect for his first start. He didn’t use the splitter in his first start as he focused on his four-seamer, changeup, and slider. It was a solid start with some room for improvement. 

On Saturday, Headrick made his second start of the season and guided the Saints to a 3-0 shutout over Nashville. He combined for five innings on 83 pitches while limiting the Sounds to two hits. Headrick combined for seven strikeouts and three walks while having a higher percentage of pitches in the strike zone. Batters swung at 36 of Headrick’s pitches with only two hard-hit balls, and both were on the ground. His splitter has yet to appear in a game, but he has an eye-popping 15.6 K/9. Perhaps he can start integrating his splitter more regularly as he gets more practice with the pitch on off days. 

At the big-league level, the bullpen has been one of the team’s strengths this season, even with Jhoan Duran, Caleb Thielbar, and Justin Topa on the IL. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has also been comfortable having relievers regularly throw multiple innings. Headrick can continue to develop as a starting pitcher with the Saints instead of being needed as a reliever with the Twins. Shifting between starter and reliever in the same season can be challenging from a development perspective. Headrick is off to a strong start, and it will only be a matter of time before the Twins need him to start games at the big-league level. 

What are your expectations for Headrick this season? Will he continue to be used as a starter? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.  

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[GKuehl]

Headrick always looked like a better pitcher than his numbers last year. If he can use the new splitter as a putaway pitch while honing his command of the strike zone to reduce his walks and homers, he could be a decent back-of-the-rotation SP. 

[mikelink45]

Ober needs to be what we have seen in the past and Varland has to step up or it is time for another arm in the rotation.  Headrick has not impressed me in the past, but I am willing to see him get some starts if things don't change in MPLS soon. 

[jimbo92107]

First time I saw Brett Headrick last season, I thought he looked like a major starter prospect. The game didn't seem to be very hard for him. Striking out the side was like making a sandwich. 

Since then, I have sometimes wondered what happened to that guy. Apparently the game was a lot harder than he first made it look. 

[Ricky Vaughn]

IDK he's left handed so he will get plenty of chances. He also is pushing 27 so if he's going to grab a starting role it better happen this year.

[Karbo]

Would be nice to see a LH starter in the rotation. Maybe someday

[mikelink45]

We had a relief pitcher without knowing it - Miguel Sano - yesterday 0.1 innings three pitches three strikes and one out!  Who knew?

[laloesch]

"Headrick continued to strike out more than ten batters per inning"

Pretty sure that's impossible.

[Doctor Gast]

I don't think it's a bad idea to bring up Headrick earlier as a long RP to help out the rotation & short relief

[1985Fan]

If Twins manager keeps pulling his starter after 68 pitches like he did yesterday, the BP is going to be wore out before the all-star break. Headrick might be a good piggyback starter with Ober, Paddack, or Varland. He can go 3-4 innings to stay ready in case of injury and get mlb experience at the same time

[Linus]

I gotta admit articles like this drive me nuts. The guy is not young and has not shown anything consistently that would suggest that he is anything but a AAA pitcher and yet he is going to save our rotation. And on a more serious note he just went on the IL with the dreaded forearm strain. I hope he isnt headed towards TJ.