Reviewing the Bullpen Hierarchy With Two Late Inning Arms Returning

[Cody Christie]

The Twins' bullpen was one of the bright spots during the season’s first month, but it was missing multiple vital pieces. Two of the team’s top relievers are due back this week. How does that change the bullpen hierarchy?

Image courtesy of Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Things looked bleak for the Twins as the team left Fort Myers a little over a month ago. Jhoan Durán, Justin Topa, and Caleb Thielbar started the year on the IL, which tested the team’s bullpen depth right out of the gate. It would have been understandable for the relief group to collapse and take the blame for a poor start to the season. Instead, they've been terrific, to the point where the front office will have a tough decision on who should be demoted when players return from the IL.

Matt Bowman has no remaining options, and the Twins decided to designate him for assignment with Durán's activation. The Twins kept Bowman on the roster once, when Thielbar came off the IL, by sending down Jorge Alcalá, who still ranks in the team’s top five for rWAR. The front office doesn’t like to give up on players with value, so it was somewhat surprising for Bowman to be placed on waivers. There were other candidates for demotion with options remaining, and those will be the names for the team to consider with the next activation. 

As Topa nears his Twins debut, the question becomes: “Who will be sent down?” The current low man in the bullpen hierarchy seems to be Kody Funderburk, who has performed well this year. He has allowed five earned runs on 12 hits, with a 25.4 K% and an 8.5 BB% in 11 appearances. Minnesota has two other lefties in the bullpen, and Funderburk has options remaining, so he’s the odd man out. Cole Sands also has to be a candidate, even though he has been one of the bullpen’s bright spots. Rocco Baldelli has discussed the possibility of Sands getting stretched back out as a starter, which makes sense with the lack of starting pitching depth at Triple-A.  

So, what’s the hierarchy when the injured players return? Let’s dive in. 

Closer: Jhoan Durán
Durán’s velocity was diminished during spring training, which was cause for concern. He suffered a strained oblique, forcing the team to put him on the IL. His first rehab appearance also saw some diminished velocity, but Duran claimed it was because he was working on throwing strikes, and his next appearance proved that to be true. He can be, arguably, the AL’s top reliever when he is healthy, but he needs his full velocity to reclaim that title.

Set-Up Men: Brock Stewart, Griffin Jax
Baldelli has been in a unique spot with Durán on the IL. He has been able to use Stewart and Jax interchangeably in the ninth inning, while not limiting them to a traditional closer’s role. He has used them both in the middle innings, when the game seems to hang in the balance. This strategy forces the team to turn the ninth inning over to other options (named below), but the strategy has worked to this point. Many teams would be happy to have Jax and Stewart as their closer, so the Twins are lucky to have them as weapons late in close games.

Middle Innings: Steven Okert, Caleb Thielbar, Justin Topa
Like Durán, Topa has been on the IL (knee tendinitis) since the team broke camp in late March. He pitched in a set-up role for Seattle last season, but the Twins currently have better options ahead of him. Okert and Thielbar have gotten opportunities to close games because of the strategy outlined above. Adding Durán back should allow the team to use them more regularly in the middle innings for matchups that suit their skill set. 

Long Relief: Cole Sands, Jay Jackson
Sands and Jackson will often be needed for multiple innings--if Sands avoids being optioned. Jackson has one of the bullpen’s highest ERAs, but the club targeted him this winter. It seems likely that the team will stick with him, especially if he can get into lower-leverage situations. Sands began his professional career as a starter, so he has pitched more than one inning in six of his first nine appearances this season. Baldelli came from the Rays organization, which has previously used an opener, and Sands seems like a strong candidate to fit into this role if the Twins need another starting option. At the very least, he could get some programmed volume, in the form of multiple innings as part of a bullpen game when needed.

Bullpens can be fickle, as a result of small sample sizes and pitching in high-pressure situations. The front office should be commended for their approach to bullpen construction over the last two years to get these pieces in place. Minnesota has seen some bad bullpens in recent weeks, which should give Twins fans comfort knowing they get to watch one of baseball’s best relief units on a nightly basis. 

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How do you think the bullpen performs moving forward? Are you worried about Durán's velocity from this spring and his rehab? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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[Brandon]

It seems that the Twins 8 man bullpen is 11 or 12 relievers deep.  I like that!

Whats the hierarchy of the next in line to come up relievers like Bowman, Staumont, Winder, Wittigen? And I’m sure I’m forgetting someone…..

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

The bullpen is beginning to round into form, and looks like you will have ample reliable arms to count on in games.  Disappointing we will likely lose Bowman, but he is literally just an arm.  A ground ball pitcher that will struggle if teams get the ball in the air.  For the dog days of summer we look set in the bullpen.  Personal opinion is looks like we will be rotating arms at the #5 slot unless SWR grabs hold and never lets go.   Need some time for the AA starters to round into form and give more options at AAA.  So far, the plan for the season looks good, possibly trading for an arm later in the year, but looking good.   

[CRF]

Unless he's injured, or not available due to use in a prior game(s), Duran HAS to close. None of this closer by committee. 

[CCHOF5yearstoolate]

Getting Duran back is going to have a hugely positive effect for an already very good bullpen. Now you have 3 guys who you trust to shut down the heart of the opposing lineup, and a strong medium leverage corps of Okert/Thielbar/Sands. 

Sending down Kody Funderburk seems like the right option when Topa is ready. He's had some really shaky outings in the last couple of weeks and it just seems like the control isn't there. 

I know Cole Sands only got one out and gave up hard contact last night, but overall I've been pleasantly surprised by his start to the season. He had a 7-appearance scoreless streak where he threw 9.2 innings with 14 strikeouts and only had 7 baserunners, which is not some easy feat. 

Maybe most surprising is a continued trend of developing velocity year-on-year. In 2022, his 4-seam fastball averaged 91.6 mph, and so far this season he's averaging 94.8 mph. And the fastball has been pretty dominant, too, with a .000 batting average, 41.6% K rate and the second best expected stats in the league. The cutter has been no slouch, either, with a miniscule 12.5% hard hit rate.

However, if he's going to stay as a reliever, it might be time to trim down his arsenal. None of the splitter/curveball/sinker have been very good at all. He should just scrap the sinker (1.750 OPS against), and be a little more selective with how often he throws the splitter & curveball. Lean into your best pitches!

[Karbo]

I'm not as high on Topa as some others are. Its not like he has a long history of success yet. With that being said, I would leave him in St.Paul until he shows a little better, or he has to be called up.

[Major League Ready]

33 minutes ago, Brandon said:

It seems that the Twins 8 man bullpen is 11 or 12 relievers deep.  I like that!

Whats the hierarchy of the next in line to come up relievers like Bowman, Staumont, Winder, Wittigen? And I’m sure I’m forgetting someone…..

Alcala

[LambchoP]

I agree, have Topa pitch a few times in St Paul to see how he's looking before calling him up. Also, anyone know how Alcala's been lately? He was looking pretty good before being sent down. Overall, bullpen looks solid. Now if we could just get a solid, needle moving starter at the trade deadline:)

[JD-TWINS]

54 minutes ago, Brandon said:

It seems that the Twins 8 man bullpen is 11 or 12 relievers deep.  I like that!

Whats the hierarchy of the next in line to come up relievers like Bowman, Staumont, Winder, Wittigen? And I’m sure I’m forgetting someone…..

Nice depth!!

Bowman is gone DFA’d - Winder threw competitively the first time yesterday after coming off 60 day IL. Never heard of Wittigen?? 

Funderburk - Alcala - Staumont after Topa is activated is what my assumption is for Next Up.

[JD-TWINS]

32 minutes ago, Karbo said:

I'm not as high on Topa as some others are. Its not like he has a long history of success yet. With that being said, I would leave him in St.Paul until he shows a little better, or he has to be called up.

He threw 65-70 times last year……….. high leverage guy on a really good staff…….. Stewart threw 30 plus innings in ‘23. Neither have years of success but both were pretty good last year.

Funderburk - Alcala don’t have lengthy track records either but I have confidence in them to have a role in ‘24 if needed.

[Kenny Powers]

Personally, I would not be in any hurry to demote anyone for Topa (I see others have already mentioned this).

I tend to look at Topa's season last year as an outlier.  I don't see anything in his career (MLB or Minors) that would indicate he's anything special.  

It's only been two appearances at St. Paul.  He has an ERA of 9.00 and a WHIP of 2.00.  But even more concerning (to me anyway) is that his velocity looks like it's stuck in the low 90's.  Last season he was averaging over 95.  From glancing at pitch logs, he's struggling to hit 93 right now.  

I think there are better options than him right now.  Why demote guys who are getting it done to make room for Topa?

[thelanges5]

Alcala has only pitched 3 times since being sent down. 
 

2024 Stats

G	W-L	ERA	IP	SO	WHIP
3	0-0	4.50	4.0	5	1.50

[Patzky]

Last minute roster move sees Caleb Boushley called up and Funderburk sent to St Paul. Hmm.

[DocBauer]

3 hours ago, Patzky said:

Last minute roster move sees Caleb Boushley called up and Funderburk sent to St Paul. Hmm.

This means 2 things:

1] They have already decided Funderburk was going down in favor of Topa.

2] Boushley gives them a fresher arm for today's/Wednesday's game against the Sox.

It's May 1st. Nobody is getting cut at this point, and nobody deserves to be cut. "I'm not talking about a temporary fill in like Bowman). Jackson might be the last man in the pen, but he's also done well. 

SOMEONE has to go down to make room for Topa and it was going to be Funderburk or Sands. Alcala didnt deseve to be sent down,  and neither does Funderburk. Great depth forces decisions at times, so it's a good problem to have. The problem is, Topa doesn't need to be brought up yet, and shouldn't be until he proves something with the Saints. And one more game before a day off Thursday really shouldn't have required a need for Boushley anyway. 

[arby58]

11 hours ago, CRF said:

Unless he's injured, or not available due to use in a prior game(s), Duran HAS to close. None of this closer by committee. 

In general, sure, but the idea of using your best reliever in a high leverage situation in, say, the 8th rather than 9th inning makes sense to me. If, say, the 1-4 hitters are coming up in the 8th and you're nursing a one-run lead, bring in Duran in the 8th. If their best four hitters score 2-3 runs in the 8th, Duran will probably not get a chance to impact that game.

[HrbieFan]

23 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Nice depth!!

Bowman is gone DFA’d - Winder threw competitively the first time yesterday after coming off 60 day IL. Never heard of Wittigen?? 

Funderburk - Alcala - Staumont after Topa is activated is what my assumption is for Next Up.

Wittgenstein was just added to the minors recently. He was with Cleveland a few years ago