Bullpen Hierarchy Reset: One-Quarter Through 2025 Season, Twins' Relief Corps is Living Up to the Hype

[Matthew Taylor]

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

The 2025 season is a little more than one-quarter complete, and the Minnesota Twins are rolling. While the rotation has been outstanding, the bullpen has matched it stride for stride, delivering exactly the kind of dominance that was expected entering the year.

The Twins came into the campaign widely regarded as having one of the top bullpens in baseball. So far, they’ve delivered on that promise. As of mid-May, the Twins bullpen ranks first in fWAR, third in ERA (2.89), and first in FIP (3.01). Since May 1, the unit has taken it up another notch, posting a 1.74 ERA and allowing just 46 hits in 57 innings.

With the squad looking this sharp, it’s time to take stock of how the hierarchy has shaken out. Who are the trusted high-leverage arms? Who’s waiting for blowouts or clean-up duty? And who might be next in line for a promotion? Let’s break it down.

Low Leverage/Mop-up Duty
Kody Funderburk
Kody Funderburk hasn't been utilized much so far this year, with just four big-league appearances to his name and trips to Triple-A in between. All of those appearances have come in low-leverage situations. After a promising debut in 2023, he struggled last season to a 6.49 ERA in 34 2/3 innings. So far in 2025, he’s been limited to the margins of the bullpen, but as the lone lefty currently available with Danny Coulombe's injury, he could be called upon in more meaningful spots to handle tough left-handed bats.

Jorge Alcala
Alcala opened the season pitching in high-leverage spots in four of his first six outings, but has since been used exclusively in low-leverage situations. His 7.27 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over 17 1/3 innings reflect his struggles. The stuff still flashes—he's throwing in the upper 90s—but unless he can string together quality outings, he’ll remain on the outside looking in.

Medium Leverage Guys Building Trust
Justin Topa
Topa is starting to reward the Twins for acquiring him in the Jorge Polanco trade. With a 1.72 ERA on the season and just one earned run allowed over his last eight outings, he’s trending in the right direction. The Twins have gradually increased his workload in tighter spots, including key extra-inning appearances against the Guardians and a clutch outing in Baltimore. If the current trend continues, Topa could soon find himself in regular high-leverage duty.

Louis Varland
The bullpen transition has gone about as well as the Twins could have hoped for with Varland. He owns a 2.95 ERA and has logged the second-most innings out of the bullpen. Eight of his last 10 appearances have come in high-leverage spots, showing that the team is beginning to trust him more to get key outs. Home runs can still be an issue, but overall, Varland has become a valuable weapon in his new role.

High(ish) Leverage
Brock Stewart
Stewart was one of the Twins’ best relievers each of the last two seasons, and despite missing the first month of 2025, he’s quickly been reintegrated into meaningful innings. His average leverage index of 1.26 is actually higher than last year’s, a sign of how quickly the Twins have ramped him back up. They’ve still been cautious with back-to-backs and tend to use him more in the sixth and seventh innings for now, but his velocity and stuff look elite again. If he stays healthy, he’ll continue climbing the leverage ladder.

Cole Sands
Sands has taken another step forward in 2025, building on his breakout in last year’s bullpen. He owns a 2.29 ERA in 19 2/3 innings and has put together eight consecutive scoreless outings. His leverage index ranks second on the team, and five of his last seven appearances have come in the eighth or ninth innings, including two recent saves. He’s quietly become one of the team’s steadiest right-handed options.

High-Leverage Weapon
Griffin Jax
Don’t let the 5.23 ERA fool you—Jax has been one of the most trusted arms in the Twins’ bullpen this year. He leads the team with 13 holds and has been used in the highest-leverage situations across a variety of innings. The results haven’t always been perfect, but the trust from the coaching staff is clear. Jax remains a go-to option when the game is on the line.

Most Trusted Arm, Locked-in Closer
Jhoan Duran
After spending 2024 in more of a shared closer role, Duran has mostly locked down the ninth inning in 2025, collecting eight saves so far. His ERA sits at a sparkling 0.84. While the triple-digit velocity isn't quite back to its 2023 peak, Duran has adjusted well, leaning on his splitter and curveball to keep hitters off balance. There’s still a question of whether Jax could earn back ninth-inning chances down the road, but for now, Duran is the clear top dog in the bullpen.

On the doorstep
Two intriguing names to watch are Andrew Morris and Connor Prielipp, both of whom could help the Twins in relief roles later this season.

Morris is currently in Triple-A and continues to flash the upside that has the Twins high on his future. While he's behind Zebby Matthews and David Festa in the pecking order for starting opportunities, his triple-digit fastball and aggressive approach could make him a dynamic reliever if the team looks to strengthen the bullpen for the stretch run.

Prielipp, a former second-round pick, is working as a starter in the minors but is currently limited to 2–3 inning outings. Given his raw stuff and limited innings, the Twins may ultimately see him as a bullpen weapon later this year. If things click, Prielipp could give Minnesota another high-upside arm to call upon down the stretch.

With the Twins’ bullpen performing at an elite level and reinforcements like Morris and Prielipp waiting in the wings, Minnesota looks well-positioned to weather the grind of the season. If the current group can stay healthy and the potential call-ups pan out, this unit could be the backbone of a deep postseason run.

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Who do you see climbing the hierarchy next? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

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[mikelink45]

I am always hesitant to put labels on BP arms - we have seen the Griffin Jax implosions and there will be more for the entire group.  Alcala is the weakest arm for me because he is too erratic.  But let's just hope health and usage does not wear them down.

[Patzky]

I think McCaughan will be in the pen mix again at some point here. Perhaps Dobnak. We don't have an innings eater (Sands maybe) to answer the call. Maybe even Sim 2.

[ToddlerHarmon]

Would anyone like to share with the author what year it is?

[tony&rodney]

Morris and Prielipp have always been starters in their careers. Some pitchers have a difficult time transitioning to the bullpen because their arms need more than two days to recover before they can throw again. Currently, both pitch once per week which would not work in an MLB bullpen. Watch to see if either of Morris or Prielipp is used differently as the season goes on. This will give us a clue.

[Blyleven2011]

57 minutes ago, ToddlerHarmon said:

Would anyone like to share with the author what year it is?

Are we living in 2024 again , where are the editors before it gets posted ...

The bullpen Has been good , the starting pitchers have been  good , long season to go through , hopefully no dog days of August this season  ...

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, Patzky said:

I think McCaughan will be in the pen mix again at some point here. Perhaps Dobnak. We don't have an innings eater (Sands maybe) to answer the call. Maybe even Sim 2.

The lack of long RP is always a sore spot with the Twins. The person they using as such now, they shouldn't, is Alcala because he doesn't have the arm, hardly been used in '22 &'23 due to being on the IL with arm problems. "24 Twins started to use him in the role of multiple & consecutive day innings. When pitched 1 inning every other day, he's been pitching well. When not he's not & landed on the IL.

Varland, Jax & Sands have arms for it, but they don't fit into their mindset. They need a long RP & Alcala isn't it. 

[bean5302]

If Falvey gets his way, Prielipp will be in the 'pen. If the pitching coach gets his way, Prielipp will stick in the rotation. I hope Prielipp remains in the rotation, and he continues to pitch well. Morris probably isn't an MLB starter so I could see him used out of the 'pen if needed, but I think Adams is more likely to be moved into that role right now.

[jmlease1]

The bullpen is rounding into shape nicely, but hope that Coulombe isn't out long. He's been excellent, very capable of getting that last out with runners on base or attacking an inning where he'd be facing 2+ LH hitters. 

I do agree, we're missing a guy who can consistently be asked to go more than 1 inning at time (I actually think Varland could do it, but they clearly like him as a guy who is going max effort for one inning and are testing him to be a late inning guy, which isn't unreasonable at all). But there's an argument that role is the new pitching unicorn; most long men are guys that aren't good enough to be starters and seem unsuited to be in high leverage roles and aren't weapons but mop-up guys.

But if the Twins starters are consistently getting into/through 6, the bullpen is well-suited to finishing it off without getting overloaded. Duran, Jax, Stewart, and Sands give them 4 high-leverage arms, and Topa & Varland are guys you're increasingly comfortable pitching close and late. That six arms you feel great about, and Coulombe will make it 7. When Alcala is your worst reliever, you're in excellent shape.

[Doctor Gast]

Always knew Varland would be good as a RP & if they'd keep Duran at closer, he'd pull through. Duran, Jax, Varland, Sands, Stewart & Alcala (when used properly) are a very impressive group that can get bigger & better

[DJL44]

Tonkin should eventually get healthy.

[DocBauer]

Funderburk is probably the weakest link right now. He's got some good stuff, and still might get it all working together, but he's got to get better against LH bats. Getting Coulombe back is HUGE.

In fairness to Alcala, the pure stuff is there, and his last 4 appearances have been quite good. What matters is what he does going forward, not the rough beging to his season.

Nobody is ever perfect, and guys will blow games once in a while. It's the nature of the beast. But if the talented but enigmatic Alcala is your 8th man, you've got a hell of a pen.

I also think McCaughan might be of use still. I was fairly impressed when he was up. His stuff seemed to have good movement. I wouldn't doubt Adams makes an appearance from the pen at some point as well.

I don't want to mess with Prielipp in the pen right now. I want to keep him trending as a SP. But I can see an innings limit late in the year where he might help the Twins on a 1 IP per situation.

Just need to get Matthews to settle down and settle in, and get our injured back for the lineup, as well as Coulombe in the pen. I think this team could still make a little noise when all is said and done.

 

[Seth Stohs]

For me... today...

Duran - appears to be just fine.
Jax - not back to last year's level and may never be, but still very good. 
Coulombe-IL
Varland - can be dominant. sometimes might throw too many strikes. 
Sands - struggled early, but he's been great of late again in whatever role. 
Stewart - Could be higher on this list. Velo isn't fully back, but still doing pretty well. 
Topa - Unlike most of the rest of the Twins pitchers, he isn't a strikeout guy, so occasionally there will be some rough-looking outings with those BABIP hits we all love, but generally speaking, he's quite reliable. 
Alcala - I want to put him in the Varland/Sands/Stewart conversation, but his inconsistency can be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately - I think - it may be a good thing that he can't be sent down so they have to stick with him. "We" just need to accept that 3-4 times per season, he's going to go through a stretch where he's almost unusable. Because the rest of the time, he can dominate.  
Funderburk - I believe in Funderburk. He's lacked consistency at times, but his velo and slider can make him really good. 
 

[Mark G]

In my extremely humble opinion one of the guys who deserves quite a bit of credit for the turn around isn't even in the pen.  I give Paddock credit for giving more quality innings and not needing 4 pitchers behind him every time he starts.  When both he and SWR were being pulled early it required too many times that several pitchers had to be used in one game, increasing the chances one of them would be off that day and give up the game.  His deep, and quality, starts recently has really taken the heat off the pen and allowed the innings to be spread out and no one is over used as much as earlier.  No pen is going to be invincible when they have to pitch 4 out of every 9 innings pitched most of the season; too many opportunities for off outings.  If the trend of the starters going deep continues, our pen may very well be the best in the league on going.