Twins Pitcher of the Month: June 2024

[Ted Schwerzler]

The Minnesota Twins still trail the Cleveland Guardians at the end of June, but a handful of pitchers combined to keep closing the gap and give Rocco Baldelli’s club a chance into the heart of summer.

 

While the starting rotation has been a strength for Rocco Baldelli in recent seasons, the group has seen some turnover during 2024. Chris Paddack hit the injured list for a reset as June came to a close, and top pitching prospect David Festa is hoping for Simeon Woods Richardson-like rookie results. It wasn’t that outfit leading the club in June though.

Bring on the bullpen.

Honorable Mentions:
#4 Bailey Ober - 5 G, 31.0 IP, 3.19 ERA, 22 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 11 BB, 34 K
While the rotation wasn’t noteworthy during June, Ober was the bright spot. He turned in his first calendar month of the season in which he didn’t allow a true clunker. There was also the complete-game performance against the Oakland Athletics, and his 10 strikeouts tied a career-high. He turned in a strong performance against the division-leading Seattle Mariners, and had the game not been blown late, Minnesota would have been victorious in four of his five starts.

#3 Josh Staumont - 9 G, 9.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 7 K
Signed after being jettisoned by the Kansas City Royals this offseason, Minnesota was hoping that Staumont could be productive after undergoing Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery. He felt positive heading into spring training, but a late injury had him starting with Triple-A St. Paul. Needing to settle in there before a promotion, June was his first full month at the big league level. Still yet to give up an earned run with the Twins, he has skirted around a 3.25 this month while allowing opposing hitters to generate just a .322 OPS off of him.

#2 Jorge Alcala - 12 G, 12.2 IP, 1.42 ERA, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 10 K
After being sent through the ringer during the first two months of the season, Alcala was finally given a chance to stick with Minnesota in June. He turned in a stellar month, and it appears this may be the year that he both produces and stays healthy. Of course Baldelli would like a wider gap between the strikeout and walk numbers, and the underlying metrics suggest some regression could happen, but Alcala has been a welcomed presence. With Jhoan Duran’s velocity down all season, it has been the rise in Alcala’s that has helped to provide more triple-digit heat.

Twins Pitcher of the Month for June 2024
Griffin Jax - 11 G, 11.0 IP, 1.64 ERA, 9 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 14 K
When Duran couldn’t go to start the season, Griffin Jax was there. As Duran has returned and struggled to be the same pitcher, Griffin Jax has been there. While working primarily as the setup man in June, Jax has been virtually unhittable. He did blow a save to end the month, but his 14/3 K/BB is beyond impressive, and he has taken his velocity to new heights in 2024. The Twins having baseball’s best bullpen was largely predicated on the depth of their high-leverage arms. While Brock Stewart and Duran haven’t been as advertised, Jax has been all that and then some.

Congrats to Jax on winning the Twins Daily pitcher of the month for June. He certainly would be a well-deserved All-Star selection in July if Bruce Bochy so chooses to include him.

What do you think? Who would have you tabbed as the Twins pitcher of the month for June?

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[Rod Carews Birthday]

What does Joe Ryan need to do to get a little love around here?  He was at least as good as Bailey Ober and probably as good as everyone else except Jax, who has been lights out.  I get some bullpen love, but “doing better than we thought they would” doesn’t equal pitcher of the month.

Jax as a relief option for the All-Star game would be great, Joe Ryan has also likely earned a spot on the team.  Whether either will be selected is anyone’s guess. 

[stringer bell]

3 minutes ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

What does Joe Ryan need to do to get a little love around here?  He was at least as good as Bailey Ober and probably as good as everyone else except Jax, who has been lights out.  I get some bullpen love, but “doing better than we thought they would” doesn’t equal pitcher of the month.

Jax as a relief option for the All-Star game would be great, Joe Ryan has also likely earned a spot on the team.  Whether either will be selected is anyone’s guess. 

Jax has been very good and IMHO the best pitcher for the Twins in the first half. Ryan has been second best (again IMHO) and while he has really good numbers, I don't think a guy with a .500 record and ERA in the low to mid-threes will be an All-Star. despite the K/BB ratio and WHIP. Jax doesn't have big numbers in either holds or saves, so I don't expect him to be named either.

 

[LambchoP]

Jax should be our closer until Duran figures some things out. Alcala has taken the next step, was cool to see him hit 101 mph the other night. If we get Stewart and Topa back soon and they pitch well enough, I think the bullpen will be ok. Where we need to improve is the lefties. Okert has been ok, Theilbar and Funderburk are just too wild and inconsistent. I hope they get someone at the deadline. Would Aroldis Chapman be fairly easy to acquire?

[mike8791]

Before we place the tiara atop Jax, what is his % of inherited runners scored?  That should be the top criteria for evaluating relievers.  In past years, Jax has been below average in this key stat.  Just wondering what this year - and June - looked like.

[stringer bell]

6 hours ago, mike8791 said:

Before we place the tiara atop Jax, what is his % of inherited runners scored?  That should be the top criteria for evaluating relievers.  In past years, Jax has been below average in this key stat.  Just wondering what this year - and June - looked like.

Jax has been mostly brought in to start innings. While I agree it is a key stat, not all strand situations are the same. Coming in with two outs and runners on and failing to get the third out is pretty much different than coming in with RISP and none out and allowing a run to score.

[JD-TWINS]

On 7/2/2024 at 10:21 AM, LambchoP said:

Jax should be our closer until Duran figures some things out. Alcala has taken the next step, was cool to see him hit 101 mph the other night. If we get Stewart and Topa back soon and they pitch well enough, I think the bullpen will be ok. Where we need to improve is the lefties. Okert has been ok, Theilbar and Funderburk are just too wild and inconsistent. I hope they get someone at the deadline. Would Aroldis Chapman be fairly easy to acquire?

Duran is the Closer! ……sometimes it makes more sense in an even ballgame to get him in the game in the 8th to have a for sure “hold”. Also, he comes in during the 8th to get through the heart of a line-up occasionally.

You’re excited (many are) about Alcala’s velocity getting to 100-101Mph & that’s great…..however, Duran’s velocity drops to 100-101Mph and he needs to “work things out.” He missed 3 plus weeks and already has thrown in 28 games. He’s thrown 26 plus innings & his WHIP is .975 - way better than year one or year two!

He’s 3-3 and he’s made maybe 5-6 pitches that were not located and subsequently drilled by the opposition. He surely could have been better! Couple times a combination of bad choices have lead to problems……(curveball to LH hitter in a 0-2 count that hung, etc.)

Duran doesn’t deserve Pitcher of the Month but he is squarely the best guy we have to Save games!!!