Minnesota Twins Continue to Collect Pitchers with Oddities

[Cody Christie]

Small and mid-market teams must be creative in their roster-building approach. For the Twins, three players highlight their infatuation with collecting pitchers with oddities. 

 

Image courtesy of William Parmeter

Many franchises search for unconventional ways to gain a strategic advantage. The Minnesota Twins have continued that trend in their recent approach to building a pitching staff. Instead of relying solely on high-octane velocity or wipeout-breaking stuff, the Twins have accumulated a stable of pitchers who bring unique attributes to the mound. Whether it's an unusual background, extreme physical traits, or an offbeat pitch, Minnesota has built pitching depth that is anything but ordinary.

Joe Ryan: The Water Polo Warrior
Joe Ryan ’s journey to becoming a staple of the Twins’ rotation didn’t follow the usual path of a top draft pick or blue-chip prospect. Tampa Bay drafted him in the seventh round of the 2018 MLB Draft, and he joined the Twins in the trade for Nelson Cruz. The former water polo player has translated his unique athletic background into one of the most deceptive fastballs in baseball. Water polo requires players to generate power from unconventional angles while keeping their arms above the water, and those skills have transferred seamlessly to Ryan’s delivery.

“Joe’s treated himself really well this offseason. He looks good and strong and mobile like he always is,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “I think he’s looking to come back this year and put together a full slate of — a full season’s worth of innings and produce the way he did or even better than last year. He had an awesome year going last year before he suffered the issue but he’s come in fully healed and looked great.”

Ryan’s fastball averaged in the low 90s earlier in his career, but he bumped up his velocity last season to 94 mph. His fastball also plays like an elite pitch due to its riding action and high release point. His ability to command it up in the zone has made it more effective, and his increased velocity has helped him achieve a Fastball Run Value in the 90th percentile. After an up-and-down 2024 season, Ryan enters 2025 as a key piece of the Twins' rotation. If he can further refine his secondary offerings, there’s no reason he can’t take another step forward and solidify himself as a frontline starter.

 

Bailey Ober: The Towering Enigma
Bailey Ober is a pitcher who defies traditional scouting expectations. Standing at a towering 6-foot-9, Ober isn’t the flamethrower one might expect from someone his size. Instead, he thrives on deception and precision. His elite extension (97th percentile) means he is releasing the ball closer to home plate than almost any other pitcher, making his 91-93 mph fastball play much harder than the raw velocity suggests.

Baldelli recently spoke about Ober. “He has been as reliable of a pitcher as we have had in the last few seasons. He makes excellent small adjustments. He is a tremendous strike-thrower. You just know you are going to have a really good chance to win a game almost every time he touches the ball.”

Ober’s ability to command the strike zone and induce weak contact has allowed him to succeed in a league where velocity often dominates. He took significant strides in 2024, proving he can be a reliable innings-eater. As he heads into 2025, the expectation is that he’ll continue to be a mid-rotation stabilizer. If he can stay healthy and maintain consistency, there’s no reason he can’t push toward being a top-of-the-rotation presence for a Twins team with playoff aspirations.

Cory Lewis: The Knuckleballer in Waiting
Perhaps the most intriguing of Minnesota’s unique arms is Cory Lewis, a rare prospect in today’s game due to his ability to throw a legitimate knuckleball. While the pitch isn’t his primary weapon, it’s a fascinating wrinkle in an arsenal that already features solid secondary pitches. The Twins took a gamble by drafting Lewis in 2022, but his development has been promising so far.

Lewis talked about his famous pitch earlier this spring. “I use it like any of my other secondary pitches. It slowly became like a two-strike pitch. But, I mean, I'll throw it whenever. I throw it about 20% I think. So, not anything crazy, like 50 or 60%, like a traditional knuckleballer.”

Knuckleballers are notoriously difficult to project, but Lewis has shown enough ability to remain on the starting pitcher track. While it remains to be seen how much he’ll rely on the knuckleball at the big-league level, its mere existence gives him an added layer of unpredictability. If he makes his MLB debut in 2025, he could offer a completely different look to opposing hitters. Plus, every fan likes a good knuckleball.

The Twins enter 2025 with a rotation that continues to evolve, and these three pitchers will play pivotal roles in its success. Ryan has the tools to ascend to true ace status if his secondary pitches take another step forward. Ober remains a steadying force, and if he continues to miss barrels, he could put together his best season yet. Lewis is the wild card, and his path to the majors is uncertain. When he debuts, he could be one of the most unusual pitchers the Twins have had in years.

Minnesota is building a pitching staff with rare and fascinating attributes. In a league where teams are always searching for an edge, the Twins are leaning into uniqueness, and 2025 could be the year it all pays off.

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Should the Twins continue to collect pitchers with oddities? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

 

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[bean5302]

Can we stop pretending Joe Ryan was developed by the Twins someday? The Twins were interested in Ryan because the team was desperate for starters as Falvey had failed to draft/develop for years and Ryan had just pitched 11 starts with a 3.63 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 3.40 xFIP for Tampa Bay's AAA club and gone to the Olympics. The front office wasn't interested in Ryan because he was unique. They were interested in Ryan because he was MLB ready and looked serviceable.

This front office drafts pitchers who don't project as MLB caliber because of poor velocity, they draft them in later rounds where they're a dime a dozen, then the development staff focuses on adding 5mph to the pitchers fastball velocity hoping the pitcher's arm can handle it. Standard M.O. The team does seem to lean on the philosophy more than other front offices.

[Fatbat]

1 hour ago, bean5302 said:

Can we stop pretending Joe Ryan was developed by the Twins someday? The Twins were interested in Ryan because the team was desperate for starters as Falvey had failed to draft/develop for years and Ryan had just pitched 11 starts with a 3.63 ERA, 3.24 FIP, 3.40 xFIP for Tampa Bay's AAA club and gone to the Olympics. The front office wasn't interested in Ryan because he was unique. They were interested in Ryan because he was MLB ready and looked serviceable.

This front office drafts pitchers who don't project as MLB caliber because of poor velocity, they draft them in later rounds where they're a dime a dozen, then the development staff focuses on adding 5mph to the pitchers fastball velocity hoping the pitcher's arm can handle it. Standard M.O. The team does seem to lean on the philosophy more than other front offices.

Not entirely true that the FO doesn't draft high end pedigree SP.  There is quite a long list of pitchers drafted by Falvey in the first 4/5 rounds since he got here. We just haven’t kept them all here. 
Our farm system was a mess in 16/17’ and has taken a long time to get to where it is now. (Top 5) in baseball doesn’t happen overnight. You cant make every decision correctly. Can you imagine what we would have if Hunter Green, Chase Petty and Cade Povich would be in our organization now? 

[JADBP]

36 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Not entirely true that the FO doesn't draft high end pedigree SP.  There is quite a long list of pitchers drafted by Falvey in the first 4/5 rounds since he got here. We just haven’t kept them all here. 
Out farm system was a mess in 16/17’ and has taken a long time to get to where it is now. (Top 5) in baseball doesn’t happen overnight. You cant make every decision correctly. Can you imagine what we would have if Hunter Green, Chase Petty and Cade Povich would be in our organization now? 

 

[JADBP]

39 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Not entirely true that the FO doesn't draft high end pedigree SP.  There is quite a long list of pitchers drafted by Falvey in the first 4/5 rounds since he got here. We just haven’t kept them all here. 
Out farm system was a mess in 16/17’ and has taken a long time to get to where it is now. (Top 5) in baseball doesn’t happen overnight. You cant make every decision correctly. Can you imagine what we would have if Hunter Green, Chase Petty and Cade Povich would be in our organization now? 

Can you imagine where we would be without Sonny Gray and/or Jorge Lopez in the Twins org?  

[Fatbat]

Just now, JADBP said:

Can you imagine where we would be without Sonny Gray and/or Jorge Lopez in the Twins org?  

Sonny Gray was nice to have for 2 seasons. He was never a long term solution.

[ashbury]

7 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Sonny Gray was nice to have for 2 seasons. He was never a long term solution.

A second place finish for Cy Young is a tad better than "nice to have".  And he was nearly as good in his other season here, except that he pitched in fewer starts.  I really enjoyed the 2023 post-season and it wouldn't have happened without Gray.  The price was high, however.  I am torn; there is still a chance we regret this trade.

Jorge Lopez, on the other hand, was not nice to have.  He was a tremendous waste of trade capital.  I can't believe how little the FO valued the pieces we offered Baltimore, and I can't believe how their analytics over-valued a flash in the pan reliever.  There is a disconnect between the process that drafts these trade chips, and then values them for actual trades.

[Fatbat]

9 minutes ago, ashbury said:

A second place finish for Cy Young is a tad better than "nice to have".  And he was nearly as good in his other season here, except that he pitched in fewer starts.  I really enjoyed the 2023 post-season and it wouldn't have happened without Gray.  The price was high, however.  I am torn; there is still a chance we regret this trade.

Jorge Lopez, on the other hand, was not nice to have.  He was a tremendous waste of trade capital.  I can't believe how little the FO valued the pieces we offered Baltimore, and I can't believe how their analytics over-valued a flash in the pan reliever.  There is a disconnect between the process that drafts these trade chips, and then values them for actual trades.

Sonny Gray returned us Charlie Soto also…

The larger point is that the FO cant make all the right decisions or draft all the right players in every round.  
The organization has done a great job building up the pipeline since 2017.  It was abysmal when they showed up. 

[ashbury]

3 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Sonny Gray returned us Charlie Soto also…

I don't think it was Soto, who was drafted in 2023 while Gray was still here.  I forget which of those who were picked in 2024 was in the spot the Twins were awarded.  Was it Kyle DeBarge? 

Anyway, yes, the extra draft pick matters, but 1) Petty was picked a little higher than the pick we were awarded, and 2) Petty was to some degree already panning out while there is greater risk associated with starting all over with a new pick, and 3) while I applaud planning for the distant future there is also value in having someone ready in the nearer term.  All in all, chances are low that DeBarge (if it's him) is a straight replacement for what we lost in Petty, which is sometimes how it's portrayed.

[Fatbat]

15 minutes ago, ashbury said:

I don't think it was Soto, who was drafted in 2023 while Gray was still here.  I forget which of those who were picked in 2024 was in the spot the Twins were awarded.  Was it Kyle DeBarge? 

Anyway, yes, the extra draft pick matters, but 1) Petty was picked a little higher than the pick we were awarded, and 2) Petty was to some degree already panning out while there is greater risk associated with starting all over with a new pick, and 3) while I applaud planning for the distant future there is also value in having someone ready in the nearer term.  All in all, chances are low that DeBarge (if it's him) is a straight replacement for what we lost in Petty, which is sometimes how it's portrayed.

Oops, yes its was Debarge in comp round C. 

[Fatbat]

@ashbury without mentioning any picks from 2024, just in 21’-‘23 drafts, we have over a dozen viable MLB pitchers in our org that have either arrived or will get a chance by the end of next season.  Thats long term success type of drafting/development! 

[dxpavelka]

11 hours ago, ashbury said:

A second place finish for Cy Young is a tad better than "nice to have".  And he was nearly as good in his other season here, except that he pitched in fewer starts.  I really enjoyed the 2023 post-season and it wouldn't have happened without Gray.  The price was high, however.  I am torn; there is still a chance we regret this trade.

Jorge Lopez, on the other hand, was not nice to have.  He was a tremendous waste of trade capital.  I can't believe how little the FO valued the pieces we offered Baltimore, and I can't believe how their analytics over-valued a flash in the pan reliever.  There is a disconnect between the process that drafts these trade chips, and then values them for actual trades.

Just curious as to how you viewed that trade the day it happened.  We're all pretty good a grading trades year later.  Many of us find reasons to like the trades on the day they are made.  I'm sure you can find me some screenshots of you panning this deal the day of.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, dxpavelka said:

Just curious as to how you viewed that trade the day it happened.  We're all pretty good a grading trades year later.  Many of us find reasons to like the trades on the day they are made.  I'm sure you can find me some screenshots of you panning this deal the day of.

I think you are referring to the Jorge Lopez trade?  I was lukewarm over it that day.  My one post about it referred to him as a waiver-wire pickup, referenced non-trivial prospect capital to get him, and I expressed qualms about him turning back into a pumpkin,  Still, I sandwiched in a comment that it was a reasonable trade; I'm not even sure what my intent was with that contradictory statement, except that for a long while I kept having faith that our FO was capable of sifting through all the data to find gems that looked like flashes in the pan to me.  Have at it: 

 Day-of comments have nothing to do with what I was saying, though, which was that Sonny Gray was a trade that has worked out (for the time being, until we know Chase Petty's destiny), and the Jorge Lopez trade absolutely did not.  Certainly a FO must make decisions; but it's totally fair to review those decisions later on and it's part of how you judge a FO, by their results.  As you say, it's easier to grade trades later on, so I didn't think what I said was the least bit controversial.

[dxpavelka]

7 hours ago, ashbury said:

I think you are referring to the Jorge Lopez trade?  I was lukewarm over it that day.  My one post about it referred to him as a waiver-wire pickup, referenced non-trivial prospect capital to get him, and I expressed qualms about him turning back into a pumpkin,  Still, I sandwiched in a comment that it was a reasonable trade; I'm not even sure what my intent was with that contradictory statement, except that for a long while I kept having faith that our FO was capable of sifting through all the data to find gems that looked like flashes in the pan to me.  Have at it: 

 Day-of comments have nothing to do with what I was saying, though, which was that Sonny Gray was a trade that has worked out (for the time being, until we know Chase Petty's destiny), and the Jorge Lopez trade absolutely did not.  Certainly a FO must make decisions; but it's totally fair to review those decisions later on and it's part of how you judge a FO, by their results.  As you say, it's easier to grade trades later on, so I didn't think what I said was the least bit controversial.

I have learned that this business is much easier on our end than on their end.

 

[Riverbrian]

4 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

I have learned that this business is much easier on our end than on their end.

 

Buyers Buy and Sellers Sell. 

Personally... I will never blame them for buying because they were in contention and you should buy when in contention. I'd be more inclined to blame them for sitting the next two trade deadline's out while in contention.  

I agree with you. This trade is a prime example of how difficult the job is for front offices.

Glossing over Povich and the other two players included in the deal.

Just using Yennier Cano alone. Yennier a year later figured something out at age 29 with the Orioles. Ironically... he was traded in a package for a player who also figured something out with the Orioles at age 29. Cano alone provided more value while making the major league minimum. 

Front offices have a big pile of players of similar talent that need sorting for value assessment. It can't be easy.

It's why I don't take their assessments as gospel and will always wonder what others who don't get an opportunity could have done while I watch those who get opportunity flounder.

 

[Craig Arko]

Are there any pitchers without oddities?

[ashbury]

3 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

I have learned that this business is much easier on our end than on their end.

 

In a similar vein, when at the ballpark I always ensure that I am seated in the area where beer and hot dogs are served, rather than down a few yards below where the people are sweating from exertion and sometimes even getting hurt.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Craig Arko said:

Are there any pitchers without oddities?

A few right-handers.

[arby58]

On 3/9/2025 at 10:58 AM, Fatbat said:

Sonny Gray was nice to have for 2 seasons. He was never a long term solution.

Yeah, and Twins fans exhibit incredible amounts of patience waiting for the high school pitchers to develop.

[dxpavelka]

12 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Buyers Buy and Sellers Sell. 

Personally... I will never blame them for buying because they were in contention and you should buy when in contention. I'd be more inclined to blame them for sitting the next two trade deadline's out while in contention.  

I agree with you. This trade is a prime example of how difficult the job is for front offices.

Glossing over Povich and the other two players included in the deal.

Just using Yennier Cano alone. Yennier a year later figured something out at age 29 with the Orioles. Ironically... he was traded in a package for a player who also figured something out with the Orioles at age 29. Cano alone provided more value while making the major league minimum. 

Front offices have a big pile of players of similar talent that need sorting for value assessment. It can't be easy.

It's why I don't take their assessments as gospel and will always wonder what others who don't get an opportunity could have done while I watch those who get opportunity flounder.

 

To your last point, and not as much in baseball as in football, but I always chuckle when people tell me that "you couldn't do better" and remind folks that most of the people hired into those jobs are fired within 5 years.

[dxpavelka]

10 hours ago, ashbury said:

In a similar vein, when at the ballpark I always ensure that I am seated in the area where beer and hot dogs are served, rather than down a few yards below where the people are sweating from exertion and sometimes even getting hurt.

obviously

 

[Riverbrian]

10 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

To your last point, and not as much in baseball as in football, but I always chuckle when people tell me that "you couldn't do better" and remind folks that most of the people hired into those jobs are fired within 5 years.

I'm guessing... there are what? 175 players? or thereabouts in the Twins organization from Low A to the Majors . All 175 players are working on getting better... fixing holes, finding that light switch or at least trying to turn up the dial. All 175 players are statistically swinging back and forth as the weeks, months and years go by and every thing they have done leading to this point is in the past and all that matters is today, tomorrow as they try to carve out a baseball future with that past dragging on them. 

At the very top of that 175 player pile. Carlos Correa can range from a .711 OPS in 2023 to a .905 in 2024. At the very bottom of that 175 player pile is some guy who is still good enough to be voted 2nd team Atlantic Sun conference.

The Scouts, Coaches, Analysts must look into this pile of 175 similarly talented people, with stocks, rising and falling, decide who gets opportunity and who doesn't. I'm going to assume that there isn't consensus on each individual player in the room of scouts, coaches and analysts in regards to the future of each individual player.  

Sure everyone can see that Paul Skenes and Aaron Judge are special. However down below that elite group is a pile of players where the margins are so thin that a Brent Rooker can be missed and let go for nothing while a Manual Margot is considered essential to the very end right before signing a minor league deal a couple of months later.

The job has to be incredibly hard. I just wonder if they don't make it harder. 

I want my front office to understand that they don't have this down. 

[dxpavelka]

11 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I'm guessing... there are what? 175 players? or thereabouts in the Twins organization from Low A to the Majors . All 175 players are working on getting better... fixing holes, finding that light switch or at least trying to turn up the dial. All 175 players are statistically swinging back and forth as the weeks, months and years go by and every thing they have done leading to this point is in the past and all that matters is today, tomorrow as they try to carve out a baseball future with that past dragging on them. 

At the very top of that 175 player pile. Carlos Correa can range from a .711 OPS in 2023 to a .905 in 2024. At the very bottom of that 175 player pile is some guy who is still good enough to be voted 2nd team Atlantic Sun conference.

The Scouts, Coaches, Analysts must look into this pile of 175 similarly talented people, with stocks, rising and falling, decide who gets opportunity and who doesn't. I'm going to assume that there isn't consensus on each individual player in the room of scouts, coaches and analysts in regards to the future of each individual player.  

Sure everyone can see that Paul Skenes and Aaron Judge are special. However down below that elite group is a pile of players where the margins are so thin that a Brent Rooker can be missed and let go for nothing while a Manual Margot is considered essential to the very end right before signing a minor league deal a couple of months later.

The job has to be incredibly hard. I just wonder if they don't make it harder. 

I want my front office to understand that they don't have this down. 

But again, at the time Rooker was moved, NOBODY thought he would amount to what he has.  He was just a throw in.  A guy who for all practical intents and purposes wasn't going to amount to anything.  5 years after he was drafted he was always going to be looking up at Kiriloff & Larnach for playing time. 

[Riverbrian]

5 minutes ago, dxpavelka said:

But again, at the time Rooker was moved, NOBODY thought he would amount to what he has

And the Angels thought Rendon was worth 245 Million over 7 years. They had to outbid the Dodgers and Rangers to get him signed and they all jumped for joy in Anaheim. 

Front offices don't have this down and they don't because it's hard. 

[dxpavelka]

A year before Twins fans praised the FO for saving $8 Million by moving on from Rosario.  The same fan base that is clamoring for new ownership and when they get will be clamoring for that ownership to start handing out Rendon type contracts.

[tony&rodney]

Well, new ownership, new front office people, and fans remaining hopeful. Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was.

[Riverbrian]

6 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Same as it ever was, Same as it ever was.

Stop making sense.