It's Time to Get Proactive With These Three Young Twins Pitchers

[Cody Pirkl]

The Twins have typically been slow to transition young pitchers into traditional relief roles. While the rationale is easy to follow, they need more bullpen help in 2025. They may have no choice but to be decisive with their young arms.

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The Twins are coming off a season in which their bullpen played a big part in a historic collapse. That bullpen has plenty of remaining question marks, including whether the team could part with a foundational member to improve the overall roster. With such a small needle to thread, the Twins may have to be more aggressive in transitioning young arms to the bullpen.

That leaves the club in an interesting spot this offseason. The relief corps does not need a complete teardown, because even as-is, they're a talented unit headed into 2025. They could still use some help, though, and even if this front office valued relief pitchers at a high level (they do not), the payroll situation would prevent any significant additions. Financial restrictions could even result in a big name being traded away from this group.

The bullpen will likely include many of the names from last season. While this group carries plenty of talent, we saw it completely implode as the worst-case scenarios played out repeatedly. We know there likely isn’t any external help coming, but the Twins should look to fortify their bullpen depth from within in 2025. Three standout candidates could do just that.

Louie Varland
The Twins kept Varland in the St. Paul rotation even while multiple other pitchers were ahead of him on the MLB depth chart, and the MLB bullpen struggled. In 2025, he should be a member of the Twins bullpen from day one. After multiple years of struggling as a starting pitcher, it’s time that the Twins let his plus raw stuff play up in a role where his mistake pitches are at least thrown with 100% effort.

Varland’s tendency to leave balls over the plate could still be a problem in the bullpen, but the frequency at which he did so in the rotation led to too many untenable outings. We’ve seen his dominance for the short stretches the Twins have allowed him to be a traditional reliever. It’s time we see if Varland can be a high-end relief pitcher in 2025.

Matt Canterino
Injury struggles have overshadowed Matt Canterino’s complete dominance in his professional baseball career. He’s struck out over one-third of the opposing hitters he’s faced and posted a sub-2.00 ERA across all levels of the minor leagues, but this has been through just over 80 innings across three seasons. His health is currently in flux following a shoulder injury that ended his 2024 campaign, but as long as he’s in the organization, he’s a potential factor for the Twins because of his talent.

The Twins have tried to bring Canterino back from multiple serious injuries as a starter, and it’s gone poorly every time. It’s possible that the 6-foot-2 right-hander’s arm would give him trouble regardless of his role, but it’s pretty clear at this point that asking him to throw multiple innings has not been successful. At 26 years old and already on the 40-man roster, Canterino is out of time to build up to a starter’s workload, and every inning thrown in the minor leagues seems like a waste. If he’s healthy in 2025, the Twins should fast-track him to the big-league bullpen and hope that a change in role can keep him on the field.

Connor Prielipp
Prielipp’s story is similar to Canterino’s, in that both have the raw potential that makes it difficult for the Twins to give up on them as starters. However, the injuries are becoming too much to stick to the plan. Prielipp has dominated whenever he’s been on the mound in recent years, but those occasions have been far too rare. In 2024, he threw just over 23 innings and was dominant from the left side.

Prielipp should still be handled carefully, but one could argue it shouldn’t be as a starting pitcher. Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft, Prielipp has the kind of raw stuff to make the jump to MLB at some point in 2025, despite not having reached Double-A. While not as old as Canterino, Prielipp’s raw stuff is so compelling that it’s easy to dream of him dominating big-league hitters right now, rather than spending several years hoping he can build up a starter’s workload while using up bullets against minor-league hitters. It’s something the Twins have to at least consider in 2025.

The Twins have rarely made significant external additions to the bullpen under Derek Falvey, and when they have, they’ve typically gone very poorly. Given the financial constraints this winter, it may be time to change how they handle some young pitching in their system. While the value comparison between a starting pitcher and a reliever is obvious, the Twins should be taking steps to ensure a 2024 bullpen meltdown doesn’t happen again in 2025.

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[Cory Engelhardt]

Agreed on both Varland and Canterino. I can't get there with Prielipp yet.

[chpettit19]

I'd use Varland as a 2 inning weapon out of the pen from now on.

I don't know if Canterino can even stay healthy as a pen option at this point, but I'd never throw him for more than 1 inning at a time for the rest of his life.

I'm really not sure what I'd do with Prielipp. If there's any reason at all to believe he could throw 140+ or 150+ innings in 2026 then I'm following whatever path gets me there.

[nicksaviking]

17 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Agreed on both Varland and Canterino. I can't get there with Prielipp yet.

If they are able and willing to let Prielipp go at least five innings regularly by May, I'm OK keeping him as a starter. If his innings are going to be limited again all of 2025, just make the switch now.

But I completely agree with the premise of this article, while not always the case, this organization has waited too long with many of the starter-to-reliever conversions. If Sands or Jax had been converted a year earlier, that would have been one extra year of positive production out of the pen in place of negative production in the rotation. I think these situations should be treated like Occam's Razor, if the player is significantly more likely to end up as a reliever, just switch him to a reliever.

[TopGunn#22]

I agree on all three.  This is "hidden treasure" in the Twins farm system.  Varland has used up all his chances to be a SP.  It's BP from this point out.  And I agree, as a 2-inning guy he has even more value. 

Canterino has been one of my favorite prospects but he just can't seem to stay healthy.  The Twins struck gold when they moved Duran to the pen.  I say, follow the same path and get 50 innings or so out of him for a couple seasons and see how it goes.  With his raw stuff, any bullets he uses in the minors are wasted.

Prielipp is slightly different in that he could still have a little runway to use as a SP.  But getting him up to the big leagues and letting him get his feet wet in the BP doesn't automatically disqualify him as a possible SP in a couple of years.  We've seen Reynaldo Lopez and Seth Lugo as 2 tremendous examples that guys can move from the pen into the rotation and be awfully.  darn.  GOOD. 

And with these three guys, this brings me to Griffin Jax.  If you gave all three of these guys spots in the BP I think you'd be able to transition Jax to a #3 or #4 spot in the rotation.  And I think it would go quite nicely.  A plan like this would allow the Twins to dangle SWR or Matthews in a deal to fill a glaring need, like 1B or C.  I think you could get more for SWR than Matthews at this point and I like Matthews as a prospect better.  I'm leaving the #5 spot for Festa.  I liked what I saw last year in spurts.  I think he's got the highest ceiling.  

[DJL44]

I am ready to cut bait on Canterino and acquire a pitcher who can actually play baseball.

Before people pencil in Varland for two-inning stints they should make sure he can pitch effectively in a one-inning role.

I'm fine with letting Prielipp begin the season in the minors as a starter. He's not going directly to MLB. If he's doing well in Double-A, then I would have no problem moving him to the major league bullpen for the last half of the season.

[old nurse]

The fruit was so low that a midget picked it. 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

If they are able and willing to let Prielipp go at least five innings regularly by May, I'm OK keeping him as a starter. If his innings are going to be limited again all of 2025, just make the switch now.

But I completely agree with the premise of this article, while not always the case, this organization has waited too long with many of the starter-to-reliever conversions. If Sands or Jax had been converted a year earlier, that would have been one extra year of positive production out of the pen in place of negative production in the rotation. I think these situations should be treated like Occam's Razor, if the player is significantly more likely to end up as a reliever, just switch him to a reliever.

I agree with the need to make some switches, but when Sands and Jax were in the rotation, the Twins were DESPERATE for any good starting pitcher.  Luckily the times seem to have changed.  

[jmlease1]

23 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

If they are able and willing to let Prielipp go at least five innings regularly by May, I'm OK keeping him as a starter. If his innings are going to be limited again all of 2025, just make the switch now.

But I completely agree with the premise of this article, while not always the case, this organization has waited too long with many of the starter-to-reliever conversions. If Sands or Jax had been converted a year earlier, that would have been one extra year of positive production out of the pen in place of negative production in the rotation. I think these situations should be treated like Occam's Razor, if the player is significantly more likely to end up as a reliever, just switch him to a reliever.

Sands basically never made the rotation; I'm not sure how much earlier they reasonably could have converted him. he still profiled out as a potential starter in 2021 when he was in AA; I'm not sure why anyone would have sent him to AAA and made him relieve yet. yes, he had some injury issues, but nothing major like Canterino or Prielipp. he got called up in 2022, didn't look great as a starter, got some relief tries, and then got sent back down. He made the transition to the bullpen full-time in 2023 and did ok for the twins but walked too many guys, and took a step forward in 2024.

Jax it's a little of the same thing: should the Twin not have tried him in MLB as a starter? Because he only started for us for one season. Sure, maybe he makes it to MLB faster as a reliever, but keep in mind that when jax was coming up we were desperate for starting pitching because the cupboard had been pretty bare. We've got a ton of depth in the high minors right now for starters, but in 2021 we were still so thin that we were banking on JA Happ and Michael Pineda.

the value is so much higher if a guy can start that it's hard to give up on him (especially when performing in the minors) and convert to relief before you know if they can't hack it in MLB.

[Fatbat]

Is there any reason that Varland/ Canterino/ Priellip/Raya can’t be used in the pen this year if thats what works for their development and down the road, move to a SP during an offseason if thats whats best for production?  I understand lots of things go into those decisions but RP’s seem to just be failed SP’s.  Can anyone explain why young arms that aren’t ready for 150-200 innings per season can’t be developed and used out of the pen until they show the durability and pitch mix to go 6-7 innings? 

[Mike Sixel]

I want Preillip in the pen this year. Get value. If he's healthy, he can be stretched out next year. It's not like he's pitching a ton of innings this year

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

Sands basically never made the rotation; I'm not sure how much earlier they reasonably could have converted him. he still profiled out as a potential starter in 2021 when he was in AA; I'm not sure why anyone would have sent him to AAA and made him relieve yet. yes, he had some injury issues, but nothing major like Canterino or Prielipp. he got called up in 2022, didn't look great as a starter, got some relief tries, and then got sent back down. He made the transition to the bullpen full-time in 2023 and did ok for the twins but walked too many guys, and took a step forward in 2024.

Jax it's a little of the same thing: should the Twin not have tried him in MLB as a starter? Because he only started for us for one season. Sure, maybe he makes it to MLB faster as a reliever, but keep in mind that when jax was coming up we were desperate for starting pitching because the cupboard had been pretty bare. We've got a ton of depth in the high minors right now for starters, but in 2021 we were still so thin that we were banking on JA Happ and Michael Pineda.

the value is so much higher if a guy can start that it's hard to give up on him (especially when performing in the minors) and convert to relief before you know if they can't hack it in MLB.

But neither of them profiled as starters. At least not competent ones. Jax couldn't miss a bat in college let alone the minors and Sands FB topped out at about 91 MPH as a starter. At least guys like Ober and Ryan had something to dream on. If the velocity, repertoire, movement or control don't look like starter material, just make the switch in AAA. If a pitcher is missing just one of those things, becoming a MLB starter too rarely pans out.

[nicksaviking]

48 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Is there any reason that Varland/ Canterino/ Priellip/Raya can’t be used in the pen this year if thats what works for their development and down the road, move to a SP during an offseason if thats whats best for production?  I understand lots of things go into those decisions but RP’s seem to just be failed SP’s.  Can anyone explain why young arms that aren’t ready for 150-200 innings per season can’t be developed and used out of the pen until they show the durability and pitch mix to go 6-7 innings? 

I wouldn't say it's not possible, but I'd think the preparation is completely different. You don't have a pitching schedule as a reliever so you aren't preparing through the week the same as a starter. But more importantly, it's like the difference between preparing for the 100M dash compared to the mile. Relievers throw max velocity on every pitch. I have to think reverting back to pacing oneself would be both difficult and frustrating.

[DJL44]

6 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

But more importantly, it's like the difference between preparing for the 100M dash compared to the mile. Relievers throw max velocity on every pitch. I have to think reverting back to pacing oneself would be both difficult and frustrating.

It totally changes the location on your breaking ball if you throw it 2 MPH faster. It takes repetitions to refine command.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

The value is so much higher if a guy can start that it's hard to give up on him (especially when performing in the minors) and convert to relief before you know if they can't hack it in MLB.

Even if a pitcher profiles as a reliever long-term I want him starting in the minors to get more innings. Maybe they only go 3 innings per start (like Raya) for 90-100 innings a year. That's more than the 60 innings they would get as a minor league reliever.

[bean5302]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

If they are able and willing to let Prielipp go at least five innings regularly by May, I'm OK keeping him as a starter. If his innings are going to be limited again all of 2025, just make the switch now...

I'd be pretty surprised if the Twins stretched him out that fast. I'd suspect they'd follow something closer to the Raya plan where the 5.0 inning, 80 pitch starts don't happen until July, keeping in mind Raya threw 97.2 innings last year. Getting Prielipp to 100 innings would be huge as he'd probably be basically good for what is a pretty typical starter workload these days. If Prielipp breaks down throughout the season, switching to the 'pen is a viable solution.

[Fatbat]

34 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I wouldn't say it's not possible, but I'd think the preparation is completely different. You don't have a pitching schedule as a reliever so you aren't preparing through the week the same as a starter. But more importantly, it's like the difference between preparing for the 100M dash compared to the mile. Relievers throw max velocity on every pitch. I have to think reverting back to pacing oneself would be both difficult and frustrating.

Which leads to another question, is it viable to have 4 guys team up to throw 3-4 innings each in the SP rotation instead of back of the rotation guys trying to throw 5-7 innings and burning out in August or blowing a lead the 3rd time around the batting order. 
Have  SP 4a/4b & 5a/5b plan and prepare to pitch all out every 5th day.  Get 9-12 outs and then bring in the mid inning bridge guy to get another 9-12 outs. 

[High heat]

Varland  should be handed a MLB reliever spot and let him work up or down the bullpen pecking order.  
 

Canterino moved the bullpen if he looks good in spring can earn a spot.  No need to waste bullets in AAA, he is just like Brock Stewart. 
 

Prielipp should go to AA and start.  Can keep him on an inning limit.  After mid season if he is healthy and effective you can think about moving him to the bullpen to the the major league club.

[Doctor Gast]

2 hours ago, Fatbat said:

Is there any reason that Varland/ Canterino/ Priellip/Raya can’t be used in the pen this year if thats what works for their development and down the road, move to a SP during an offseason if thats whats best for production?  I understand lots of things go into those decisions but RP’s seem to just be failed SP’s.  Can anyone explain why young arms that aren’t ready for 150-200 innings per season can’t be developed and used out of the pen until they show the durability and pitch mix to go 6-7 innings? 

That is my reasoning also. That's not that they can't work on their secondary pitches while they are in the pen. IMO like Duran as soon it was apparent that he couldn't be a starter, they should have made that conclusion a long time ago with Canterino, even though he had the repertoire. I would say the same for Priellip, that his arm isn't healthy enough, he should thrown in the pen last season until his arm should say otherwise. I completely agree on how they have used Raya, he has the stuff but doesn't have the arm to be a SP. That's why he has been able to move up the ladder w/o getting hurt. If he can maintain his stuff through AAA. I can see him being an opener for the Twins towards the end of the season to help out the rotation.

Like Jax, Varland has the arm but not the stuff. I was totally against Varland wasting his bullets in AAA, while the Twins needed him in the pen. Jax could be experimented in the rotation now as Varland could once he figure his stuff out.

[DJL44]

25 minutes ago, High heat said:

Canterino moved the bullpen if he looks good in spring can earn a spot.  No need to waste bullets in AAA, he is just like Brock Stewart. 

Last time we saw Canterino he was walking nearly 6 batters per 9 innings in Double-A. He's never pitched in AAA. I would recommend he start there to pitch with the automated strike zone.

[DocBauer]

While the Twins haven't actually said anything yet, I think Varland has pretty much made the move to the pen ar this time. It's the right thing for the Twins, and for his career. He's got the stuff to blow batters away. He's got the ability to throw 2 innings at times. And while he might have a tendency to leave the ball over the plate too often on a bad day, I'd rather that bad day be 1 IP and 1 HR, and not 4 IP and 3HR. Medium leverage spot, probably, to be begin with until he hopefully/probably earns a set-up role.

Canterino's shoulder needed therapy and rehab I guess, and not a procedure. That's a good thing. And he's well over a year removed from his TJ. If there's any chance his body finally stays healthy, he should absolutely be in the pen. Fewer pitches more often just might work better for him. Can you imagine 50-60 IP from him? 

Sorry, but at 24yo in 2025, I just can't give up on Prielipp's potential in the rotation yet. Good chance he gets a couple innings at extended ST to get "warmed up" and then go to AA. From there it's a gradual buildup of innings per start/number of pitches per start with the goal of getting him to 90, maybe 100 if everything goes really well. If he can get to 90IP this season he can target 120-130 in 2026 at age 25. That means, as a 26yo in 2027 he's looking at something like 150-170 IP. He can always be moved to the pen at any time. But to wait until 2026 to try and start building up his arm? I don't see it. Keep him in the rotation for now.

Additionally, I believe Headrick should be in the pen, if he isn't already. He's got some solid velocity, experience facing RH batters as a starter, is probably behind 3-4 starters at AAA right now, and as a LHRP, he's got a great opportunity in the Twins pen. 

I'd also think hard about moving Nowlin to the pen in 2025, at least part time. He's been inconsistent game to game in his career, but he's flashed some really good stuff and generally high K numbers. But he's probably behind Matthews and Morris for sure, and maybe Lewis and Raya as well. He could piggyback games to stay somewhat stretched out, get in multiple innings to keep working on his stuff, and might be a Twin the second half of next year if he shows a little more control. And again, there's need and opportunity for a solid LH in the pen, or two.

[Mike Sixel]

51 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

While the Twins haven't actually said anything yet, I think Varland has pretty much made the move to the pen ar this time. It's the right thing for the Twins, and for his career. He's got the stuff to blow batters away. He's got the ability to throw 2 innings at times. And while he might have a tendency to leave the ball over the plate too often on a bad day, I'd rather that bad day be 1 IP and 1 HR, and not 4 IP and 3HR. Medium leverage spot, probably, to be begin with until he hopefully/probably earns a set-up role.

Canterino's shoulder needed therapy and rehab I guess, and not a procedure. That's a good thing. And he's well over a year removed from his TJ. If there's any chance his body finally stays healthy, he should absolutely be in the pen. Fewer pitches more often just might work better for him. Can you imagine 50-60 IP from him? 

Sorry, but at 24yo in 2025, I just can't give up on Prielipp's potential in the rotation yet. Good chance he gets a couple innings at extended ST to get "warmed up" and then go to AA. From there it's a gradual buildup of innings per start/number of pitches per start with the goal of getting him to 90, maybe 100 if everything goes really well. If he can get to 90IP this season he can target 120-130 in 2026 at age 25. That means, as a 26yo in 2027 he's looking at something like 150-170 IP. He can always be moved to the pen at any time. But to wait until 2026 to try and start building up his arm? I don't see it. Keep him in the rotation for now.

Additionally, I believe Headrick should be in the pen, if he isn't already. He's got some solid velocity, experience facing RH batters as a starter, is probably behind 3-4 starters at AAA right now, and as a LHRP, he's got a great opportunity in the Twins pen. 

I'd also think hard about moving Nowlin to the pen in 2025, at least part time. He's been inconsistent game to game in his career, but he's flashed some really good stuff and generally high K numbers. But he's probably behind Matthews and Morris for sure, and maybe Lewis and Raya as well. He could piggyback games to stay somewhat stretched out, get in multiple innings to keep working on his stuff, and might be a Twin the second half of next year if he shows a little more control. And again, there's need and opportunity for a solid LH in the pen, or two.

He can easily get 90 innings in the bullpen. Especially if he pitches 2 innings per game in the minors to start. Easily. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

I like the idea of Varland being in the Pen. I'd get behind this much more than another Jackson sign or the guy we got from Miami for Gordon last season. Much greater potential imo. As for Canterino and Prielipp until they can stay healthy...... Though both are great talents. 

[bean5302]

3 hours ago, Fatbat said:

Which leads to another question, is it viable to have 4 guys team up to throw 3-4 innings each in the SP rotation instead of back of the rotation guys trying to throw 5-7 innings and burning out in August or blowing a lead the 3rd time around the batting order. 
Have  SP 4a/4b & 5a/5b plan and prepare to pitch all out every 5th day.  Get 9-12 outs and then bring in the mid inning bridge guy to get another 9-12 outs. 

Non-viable. 26 man roster.

[bean5302]

Varland gives up a ton of loud contact out of the 'pen or in the rotation, and his pitches don't move very well relative to his peers. Not all starters will automatically find success out of the bullpen just because of a minor velo bump. In Varland's case from 96 starter to 98 reliever may help him be serviceable out of the bullpen, but to expect him to go out there and be a weapon out of the 'pen seems optimistic.

I'd like Varland to be able to put up respectable numbers. Like a 3.65-3.85 ERA or something which I would consider a win.

[DocBauer]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

He can easily get 90 innings in the bullpen. Especially if he pitches 2 innings per game in the minors to start. Easily. 

Absolutely. 35-40 appearances at 2 IP per would get him there. The problem there is, IMO, they aren't STARTERS IP. 

I want him, more or less, on the Raya plan. I want him to prepare as a stater prepares. And I want him to go through the lineup twice. He begins around 50 pitches, then 60, and hopefully around 70 come mid season. That should also get him around 90, but following a starters routine and seeing the lineups he faces twice.

Moving him to the pen later on requires adjustments as well. But that's an easier adjustment to make. Yes?

[Doctor Wu]

17 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

Prielipp is slightly different in that he could still have a little runway to use as a SP.  But getting him up to the big leagues and letting him get his feet wet in the BP doesn't automatically disqualify him as a possible SP in a couple of years.  We've seen Reynaldo Lopez and Seth Lugo as 2 tremendous examples that guys can move from the pen into the rotation and be awfully.  darn.  GOOD. 

Good examples. I love the idea of Prielipp being in the starting rotation at some point, but if it truly looks like his arm is healthy now, I think some bullpen action this coming season might be a good thing. I realize he's only pitched a scant number of innings the past two years, but I don't want to see him languishing in the minors for too much longer either. 

[LambchoP]

I think our pen could be truly elite. We just need a good late inning lefty and one or two additions like Canterino or Prelipp. Looks pretty good so far as is .....

Duran, Jax, Sands

Alcala, Stewart, Varland

Topa, lefty FA, Canterino

Henriquez, Moran, Headrick, Prelipp, Raya...

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, LambchoP said:

Duran, Jax, Sands

Alcala, Stewart, Varland

Topa, lefty FA, Canterino

Henriquez, Moran, Headrick, Prelipp, Raya...

If Jax moves to the rotation you have

Duran, Alcala, Sands, Stewart/Topa (you'll get a half season out of each)

Mike Tonkin

Ronny Henriquez (he's out of options so they'll keep him all season)

Two slots for unproven rookies and pitchers other teams didn't want.

[Danchat]

Yup, fully agree with the article. Varland belongs in the pen and the odds of Canterino or Prieplipp being able to build up to being starters are so low that they should be converted to relievers immediately. They're not starting depth if they can't go a few innings without getting rocked or don't have the durability to pitch 50 innings a season.