Ronny Henriquez is Nearing a Make-or-Break Spring With Minnesota Twins

[Cody Schoenmann]

Will the 24-year-old reliever earn a spot on the 26-man roster out of Spring Training?

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Last season, right-handed reliever Ronny Henriquez received his first extended appearance with the Minnesota Twins, finishing with a 3.26 ERA, 3.95 xFIP, and 18.3% strikeout rate over 19 ⅓ innings pitched. Sprinkled into low-, mid-, and high-leverage roles during his time with the club, Henriquez never assumed a solidified role. That said, the young hurler impressed in his first extended cup of coffee in the majors, functioning as a steady force in what became an injury-depleted unit late in the season. Now, Henriquez’s moderate success came during the team’s late-season collapse, naturally causing much of his positive output to be pushed to the wayside because, well, Twins Territory was trapped in the belly of a horrible machine, and the machine was bleeding to death. 

Still, the 24-year-old righty’s feats weren’t for naught. Right now, the Twins' bullpen hierarchy to enter the 2025 MLB regular season is projected to be the following, according to FanGraphs:

1. Jhoan Durán 
2. Griffin Jax 
3. Cole Sands
4. Brock Stewart 
5. Jorge Alcalá
6. Michael Tonkin 
7. Kody Funderburk
8. Eiberson Castellano

At this moment, FanGraphs’s projection system ZiPS expects Minnesota to have the best bullpen in baseball in 2025. Much of this projection lies in the expectation that Durán will bounce back from a lackluster 2024 campaign, with Jax, Sands, and Stewart expected to continue to be high-leverage stalwarts. Still, the way the rest of the eight-pitcher unit will be constructed is open-ended. Alcalá is a near-lock to inhabit a spot, but the team has been wishy-washy on his bullpen role and could utilize the fact that he still has two minor-league options early next season. Tonkin is also a near-lock. Yet, given that he was designated for assignment or traded five times between the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Twins last season, anything feels possible with the rubber-armed veteran hurler.

The left-handed Funderburk and recent Rule 5 draftee Castellano are projected to occupy the seventh and eighth spots in the unit. However, if they perform poorly in spring, Funderburk could begin the season at Triple-A and Castellano could be returned to the Philadelphia Phillies. Uncertainty surrounds the middle-relief corps, and fellow MLB-caliber relievers Justin Topa, Louie Varland, and Brent Headrick could earn roles with strong Spring Training performances. That said, Topa, Varland, and Headrick having minor-league options (like Alcalá and Funderburk) muddies the equation and makes it more likely they begin their 2025 campaigns at Triple-A to prioritize early season depth. 

Henriquez, however, is an outlier in the group: he can't be optioned to the minors. Considering this, the Twins could prioritize keeping him on the 26-man roster. All of that, however, hinges on him carrying over the impressive things he showed in 2024 when the team reports to Fort Myers next month.

Henriquez employs a four-pitch mix, headlined by a plus changeup he threw 34% of the time last season. He also utilizes a slider (33%), four-seam fastball (29%), and sinker (3%). Henriquez's changeup's movement profile hovers around league average. Yet, he throws it 4.6 MPH faster than an average change. (Obviously, velocity is a mixed blessing on a changeup, but it works in this case.) Given the pitch's plus velocity and steady movement profile, Henriquez has crafted a truly special offspeed out pitch. However, if his changeup isn't working, he's prone to having less-than-exceptional outings as he is forced to rely on his slider and four-seam fastball, which are both slightly below league-average pitches in terms of movement.

Henriquez throws his four-seam fastball one MPH faster than league average, so velocity isn't a concern. If he can refine his fastball and slider (the two pitches the Twins pitching development staff is known to get pitchers to maximize), he could mature into a consistently productive mid-to-high leverage arm. What also makes the 24-year-old reliever intriguing is how he tends to manufacture outs.

Last season, Sands, Tonkin, Stewart, and Alcalá all generated significantly below-league-average groundball rates. Most of their outs were manufactured through strikeouts or flyouts. Evidently, this approach worked well for these four arms, as they were all effective medium- to high-leverage arms when healthy. However, the team would be wise to diversify the unit's skillset. Durán and Jax manufactured near-elite groundball rates last season. Yet, they are elite relievers who operate exclusively in late-inning, high-leverage situations. While having an elite primary set-up reliever and closer is a welcomed luxury, the team would benefit from rostering a mid-leverage right-handed reliever with a plus groundball rate. Henriquez, who generated a 53.3% groundball rate last, could fit the bill.

Topa and Funderburk are also mid-leverage relief options who generate groundballs at a well-above-league-average rate. Again, if Henriquez, Topa, and Funderburk all impress this spring, the team would be wise to give Henriquez the final bullpen spot to prioritize early-season depth. Nevertheless, Henriquez is entering his fourth season in the Twins organization, and despite being a name those who follow the team have long been cognizant of, he has yet to earn a solidified role in the club's bullpen. If he performs well this spring, he could be rewarded with an opportunity to become a fixture in Minnesota's bullpen. However, if he performs poorly, his time in Twins Territory could come to an uneventful conclusion.

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[Linus]

He has shown flashes of potential and at 24 years old I hope he gets a run.  I like actual performance to determine a players fate not the opinion of a FO type.  There are certainly enough question marks in the back end of the bullpen to give the guy a chance.

[DJL44]

Moderately effective at 24 and still has some untapped upside potential.

[ashbury]

When I play Out of the Park as general manager, this is the kind of pitcher I look to get rid of from the 40-man during the off-season.  Guys who are still trying to establish themselves, but no longer have minor-league options, are roster hazards once the regular season starts.  If they get off to a bad start, they don't have the track record to let you choose to ride it out until they figure things out, and they can't be stashed in the minors at will so as to let them do that figuring-out thing, and it's the wrong time of year to work out a trade.  Trade them in November and don't look back.  Or if there is no trade market for the player, because trade value plummets once the options are exhausted, just DFA them and get it over with, using someone with more potential as replacement; if the player is lost on waivers, oh well, no looking back for that either. 

Not having someone better you want to protect is kind of a red flag at that point anyway. Or conversely, if you believe this one guy is about to break through and be solid, you the GM had better be right.

OOTP is just a game, though, and written by people who necessarily embed their own point of view.  Still, if "24-year olds with live arms and no minor league options" were one of those desirable "market inefficiencies," some real-life bottom-feeder team would have tried to corner the market by now and achieved great things.  😀

[Cory Engelhardt]

I have a difficult time not having a healthy Topa (if that is a thing) and Varland both a clear step ahead of Henriquez, at least when drawing out potential 13 man pitching staffs in my head. At least he will get a shot to show where he is at this spring. Cross that bridge when we get there I suppose.

[Cody Schoenmann]

19 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I have a difficult time not having a healthy Topa (if that is a thing) and Varland both a clear step ahead of Henriquez, at least when drawing out potential 13 man pitching staffs in my head. At least he will get a shot to show where he is at this spring. Cross that bridge when we get there I suppose.

It really comes down to MiLB options. I agree that Topa and Varland are likely better but if those two and Henriquez perform similarly during Spring Training the FO would be wise to prioritize depth early in the season.

Edited January 17, 2025 by Cody Schoenmann

[tony&rodney]

Perhaps Spring Training can be a real competition, an evaluative time for pitchers  angling for a spot in the bullpen. By mid March there should be some delineations between arms such as Henriquez, Castellano, Topa, Varland, Headrick, and Funderburk. Unless the Twins add a top or excellent reliever via trade (possible), I see these six pitching for one of two spots if all of the top six (Duran, Jax, Stewart, Alcala, Sands, Tonkin) are 1. still on the roster and 2. healthy and throwing well.

Henriquez could be traded for Castellano if the Phillies and Twins see this as an option. Hopefully the Twins don't decide to keep either of Headrick or Funderburk based solely on being left handed. Transactions can still take place.

[stringer bell]

It wouldn't surprise me if the IL is in use early in 2025, as it was in 2024. Further, I think Tonkin could be DFA'd and outrighted and if he were claimed, no real loss. Finally, I don't think being left handed is enough for Funderburk to stick. He'll need to be as good or better than the other options for the BP.

I agree with Cory that Varland and Topa are likely ahead of Henriquez as well, but if the young man out of options shows enough, they'll find a way to keep him. They will likely need all eleven bullpen arms and probably more going through the season. 

 

[stringer bell]

6 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

I see these six pitching for one of two spots if all of the top six (Duran, Jax, Stewart, Alcala, Sands, Tonkin) are 1. still on the roster and 2. healthy and throwing well.

It's hard for me to see Tonkin as a lock for a roster spot. 

[DJL44]

41 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I have a difficult time not having a healthy Topa (if that is a thing) and Varland both a clear step ahead of Henriquez, at least when drawing out potential 13 man pitching staffs in my head. At least he will get a shot to show where he is at this spring. Cross that bridge when we get there I suppose.

Varland was clearly worse than Henriquez in 2024. We'll see about 2025.

[DJL44]

21 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Transactions can still take place.

This is true. I think it is quite possible the Twins trade from their reliever stockpile to acquire a position player.

[NYCTK]

52 minutes ago, ashbury said:

When I play Out of the Park as general manager, this is the kind of pitcher I look to get rid of from the 40-man during the off-season.  Guys who are still trying to establish themselves, but no longer have minor-league options, are roster hazards once the regular season starts.  If they get off to a bad start, they don't have the track record to let you choose to ride it out until they figure things out, and they can't be stashed in the minors at will so as to let them do that figuring-out thing, and it's the wrong time of year to work out a trade.  Trade them in November and don't look back.  Or if there is no trade market for the player, because trade value plummets once the options are exhausted, just DFA them and get it over with, using someone with more potential as replacement; if the player is lost on waivers, oh well, no looking back for that either. 

Not having someone better you want to protect is kind of a red flag at that point anyway. Or conversely, if you believe this one guy is about to break through and be solid, you the GM had better be right.

OOTP is just a game, though, and written by people who necessarily embed their own point of view.  Still, if "24-year olds with live arms and no minor league options" were one of those desirable "market inefficiencies," some real-life bottom-feeder team would have tried to corner the market by now and achieved great things.  😀

You're not off base. But this is also a team that tendered a contract to Tonkin. The Twins front office does not seem to be very adept at roster construction. The fact that the 40 man roster is already full is further evidence of that. 

[ashbury]

2 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

The Twins front office does not seem to be very adept at roster construction.

IKR?  Why don't they just hire me with all my OOTP chops and credentials?

[tony&rodney]

22 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

It's hard for me to see Tonkin as a lock for a roster spot. 

Initially, I had left Tonkin off the Twins roster. I can't exactly defend my switch to putting him on the roster. Something about how Tonkin fits as the #8 guy who can fill innings whenever called on and return if needed the next day makes him unique among the options within the Twins pen. Tonkin has a rubber arm and he is generally effective. Finally, he is a veteran who has a wealth of experience, which can be useful. 

However, if the Twins want to trade Christian Vazquez for Robert Suarez or Jason Adam (unlikely) or if the Twins make another deal for a strong relief pitcher, Tonkin is on the bubble. It sure seems like he has been on that bubble quite a bit in his career and it also seems understandable.

[NYCTK]

13 minutes ago, ashbury said:

IKR?  Why don't they just hire me with all my OOTP chops and credentials?

Does Tonkin make it to May 1st before being DFA'd?

Taking bets now. 

[Dman]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

When I play Out of the Park as general manager, this is the kind of pitcher I look to get rid of from the 40-man during the off-season.  Guys who are still trying to establish themselves, but no longer have minor-league options, are roster hazards once the regular season starts.  If they get off to a bad start, they don't have the track record to let you choose to ride it out until they figure things out, and they can't be stashed in the minors at will so as to let them do that figuring-out thing, and it's the wrong time of year to work out a trade.  Trade them in November and don't look back.  Or if there is no trade market for the player, because trade value plummets once the options are exhausted, just DFA them and get it over with, using someone with more potential as replacement; if the player is lost on waivers, oh well, no looking back for that either. 

Not having someone better you want to protect is kind of a red flag at that point anyway. Or conversely, if you believe this one guy is about to break through and be solid, you the GM had better be right.

OOTP is just a game, though, and written by people who necessarily embed their own point of view.  Still, if "24-year olds with live arms and no minor league options" were one of those desirable "market inefficiencies," some real-life bottom-feeder team would have tried to corner the market by now and achieved great things.  😀

I think your analysis is pretty spot on.  Having not proven himself with no options left puts him in a tough spot.  He did improve a fair bit last year though so I would like to see if he could make some slight adjustments to be even better this year, but is there going to be room for him on the 26 man?  I guess we'll find out.

[ashbury]

8 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Does Tonkin make it to May 1st before being DFA'd?

Taking bets now. 

I'll take the under, LOL.  But when you are GMing the Best Bullpen in Baseball™, details like Tonkin are unimportant. 😀

[Cory Engelhardt]

27 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Varland was clearly worse than Henriquez in 2024. We'll see about 2025.

They were used in completely different roles though. I’m not at all certain that Varland, if used in the exact same role Henriquez had in 2024, would have been worse in those innings. 

[ashbury]

5 minutes ago, Dman said:

I think your analysis is pretty spot on.  Having not proven himself with no options left puts him in a tough spot.  He did improve a fair bit last year though so I would like to see if he could make some slight adjustments to be even better this year, but is there going to be room for him on the 26 man?  I guess we'll find out.

That's the dilemma.  Relievers are up-and-down so you have to have a really good one to be willing to gamble he's more up than down.  Some of this comes down to where you are in the window of contention. To me, an arm like Henriquez is a dandy gamble for a team trying to enter a period of contention - he's at the right age where he could be an asset in 2026-28 or whatever (and if he isn't, oh well).  But you have to get through 2025 first, and if the Twins are contending then he's less good of a gamble.

Except, as mentioned, he's not the only one, with Tonkin in the picture also.  But, the Best Bullpen in Baseball™ is for another thread.

[Tjwalsh65]

21 minutes ago, ashbury said:

IKR?  Why don't they just hire me with all my OOTP chops and credentials?

I like OOTP I played a lot of it in the early years of the franchise and my son has the last 5 versions.    I know I built the Twins with a huge run of championships but I think it is much harder now.   I also play in a simulation league with all 30 teams.  I have had the Twins to the ALCS 3 times but never the Series.  Started that in 1998.  

[NYCTK]

3 minutes ago, ashbury said:

That's the dilemma.  Relievers are up-and-down so you have to have a really good one to be willing to gamble he's more up than down.  Some of this comes down to where you are in the window of contention. To me, an arm like Henriquez is a dandy gamble for a team trying to enter a period of contention - he's at the right age where he could be an asset in 2026-28 or whatever (and if he isn't, oh well).  But you have to get through 2025 first, and if the Twins are contending then he's less good of a gamble.

Except, as mentioned, he's not the only one, with Tonkin in the picture also.  But, the Best Bullpen in Baseball™ is for another thread.

Even the actual best bullpen in baseball used 17 different relievers last season. 

[NYCTK]

6 minutes ago, ashbury said:

That's the dilemma.  Relievers are up-and-down so you have to have a really good one to be willing to gamble he's more up than down.  Some of this comes down to where you are in the window of contention. To me, an arm like Henriquez is a dandy gamble for a team trying to enter a period of contention - he's at the right age where he could be an asset in 2026-28 or whatever (and if he isn't, oh well).  But you have to get through 2025 first, and if the Twins are contending then he's less good of a gamble.

Except, as mentioned, he's not the only one, with Tonkin in the picture also.  But, the Best Bullpen in Baseball™ is for another thread.

Oh, and don't forget Stewart and the Rule 5 guy. Though Stewart isn't really a concern. He's either on the IL or SHOULD be on the roster. 

But that's still 6 of the 8 spots that are basically inflexible. I'm gonna guess Rule 5 guy doesn't make it to May either. 

[stringer bell]

Is my memory correct? The Twins DFA'd Henriquez during the 2023 season, correct? BBRef says he signed as a free agent in November of 2023. I don't recall Henriquez being on the 40-man when he was recalled the first time in 2024.

[ashbury]

27 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Even the actual best bullpen in baseball used 17 different relievers last season. 

Totally fair, and true in spirit for all teams. With the aid of b-r.com I count 21 pitchers making relief appearances for Cleveland in 2024 but that counts Austin Hedges once.  There are visits to the Injured List, so roster management is a complex undertaking that isn't fatally compromised by there being any specific number of option-less young guys. 

The Guardians had 7 guys with 50+ relief appearances, only two of whom had ERAs even as high as 3.50, so they were a fundamentally sound bullpen; thus it's interesting that they still needed to bring 14 additional guys into games (and perforce onto the active roster, not all at the same time), due no doubt to injury more so than ineffectiveness.  I don't know their team at all, so it would be an instructive masterclass to follow their transactions from opening day to the end, keeping track of who they had to juggle in terms of roster rules. 

That's an effort I can assure you I won't be undertaking.  😀

(I didn't even mention the other side of the coin, fading veterans who can refuse a minor league assignment due to CBA rules.  I trade or DFA those guys in OOTP too, once I get a whiff of unreliability going forward.)

[Karbo]

1 hour ago, Cody Schoenmann said:

It really comes down to MiLB options. I agree that Topa and Varland are likely better but if those two and Henriquez perform similarly during Spring Training the FO would be wise to prioritize depth early in the season.

IMHO if you plan on a winning season you put your best 8 relievers on the team from the beginning. If you loose a guy that is clearly below the level the other 8 guys are its like "the cost of doing business". Let them battle it out in ST and see what happens!

[Karbo]

Didn't I hear about a year ago the Twins would have one of, if not the best bullpen in the AL? Well, that sure went well didn't it.

[jmlease1]

Henriquez looks like the perfect guy to add to a package with Vazquez/Paddack in order to acquire a RH COF/1B/DH type. Or a proven LH reliever. He's got talent, but no clear role with the Twins, and we have other relief options. But you never know when trying to work a trade.

I don't hate on Henriquez or anything, but I'm not sure he's one of the Twins 10 best relievers, let alone one of the top 8.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

They were used in completely different roles though. I’m not at all certain that Varland, if used in the exact same role Henriquez had in 2024, would have been worse in those innings. 

Varland's relief splits were lousy last year.

MLB 9.87 ERA, 1.673 WHIP .859 OPS against (17.1 IP)

AAA 7.66 ERA 1.433 WHIP .740 OPS against (22.1 IP)

That's the kind of pitcher you DFA, not the kind you put in a high leverage bullpen situation.

 

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Varland's relief splits were lousy last year.

MLB 9.87 ERA, 1.673 WHIP .859 OPS against (17.1 IP)

AAA 7.66 ERA 1.433 WHIP .740 OPS against (22.1 IP)

That's the kind of pitcher you DFA, not the kind you put in a high leverage bullpen situation.

 

I agree, he isn’t a rotation option any longer. I just know he looked really good as a bullpen option at the end of 2023. I think it’s worth seeing his stuff play up in shorter stints again. That’s something he wasn’t afforded the chance in 2024

[gmwannabe]

I'm hoping to have Connor Prielipp in the pen by mid season and being very good unless his left arm falls off of course!