Minnesota Twins Minor League Relievers Of The Month - May 2025

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of William Parmeter (photo of Hunter Hoopes)

 

The Twins continue to lean heavily on their bullpen at the big-league level, and as the season rolls into the summer months, it's worth keeping an eye on the next wave of arms making noise down on the farm. Development can be a winding road for relief prospects, but May offered several standout performances that could be signs of bigger things to come. Before we get into this month’s honorees, here are a few honorable mentions from the organization’s affiliates.

Honorable Mentions
- Jarret Whorff (Wichita): 3.18 ERA, 9 G, 17 IP, 15 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 20 K, 1.00 WHIP, .234 BA
- Cole Percival (Cedar Rapids): 2.70 ERA, 9 G, 13.1 IP, 13 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 16 K, 1.43 WHIP, .250 BA
-Paulshawn Pasqualotto (Cedar Rapids): 2.45 ERA, 8 G, 11 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 3 BB 11 K, 1.27 WHIP, .282 BA

#4 - RHP John Klein, Wichita Wind Surge
2.25 ERA, 7 G, 20 IP, 21 H, 5 ER, 6 BB, 29 K, 1.35 WHIP, .250 BA
Klein, a Brooklyn Park native, went undrafted after attending Iowa Central Community College. Minnesota signed him in August 2022, and he’s steadily made his way through the Twins system over the last four seasons. The Wind Surge have been using him as a bulk man out of the bullpen and he posted some strong numbers in May including striking out 29 of the 90 batters he faced. So far this season, he has 50 strikeouts in 38 2/3 frames. He’s been facing older batters in 84.7% of his plate appearances this season and has held them to a .626 OPS. Klein must find a way to give up fewer base runners to make himself even more effective in a long relief role. 

#3 - Ruddy Gomez, FCL Twins/Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
0.79 ERA, 6 G, 11.1 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB 12 K, 0.79 WHIP, .189 BA
Identifying relief pitchers in the rookie leagues is tough when pitchers are throwing limited innings. Gomez fits the reliever mold because he hasn’t started a game yet this season and the 25-year-old is significantly older than the competition in the lower levels. Minnesota signed him out of the independent leagues in April. In May, he collected four outs or more in every appearance and didn’t allow a run until his final outing of the month. On May 10, the Twins promoted him to Fort Myers for one appearance when there was a roster need and he pitched two shutout innings by allowing one hit. Gomez won’t appear on any prospect lists, but he’s an interesting story to follow. 

#2 - Cody Laweryson, Wichita Wind Surge
0.79 ERA, 10 G, 2 SV, 11.1 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 14 K, 3 BB, 0.97 WHIP, .205 BA
The Twins selected Laweryson in the 14th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He was used as a starter earlier in his professional career but has settled into a relief role over the last four seasons. At 27 years old, he is over two years older than the average age of the competition in the Texas League. In 10 appearances this month, he didn’t allow an extra-base hit and held batters to a .484 OPS. It was quite the turnaround this month since his ERA was over 7.00 in April and batters had an .844 OPS against him. Wichita has been giving him save opportunities and he’s recorded multiple saves where he had to get more than three outs. His veteran experience can help the other young pitchers working their way through Double-A. 

Twins Minor League Reliever of the Month - Hunter Hoopes, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
0.00 ERA, 9 G, 11.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 17 K, 0.51 WHIP, .069 BA
Hoopes pitched his final two collegiate seasons out of the bullpen at the University of Alabama. In parts of four college seasons, he posted a 7.51 ERA with a 1.94 WHIP, which didn’t exactly scream that he should be a draft prospect. Hoopes went undrafted and had to prove himself in the independent leagues. Minnesota signed him last July, but the 25-year-old didn’t make his professional debut until this season.  

Hoopes put it all together in May for an unbelievable month out of the Mighty Mussels bullpen. He was nearly unhittable as batters slashed .069/.222/.103 (.326) against him with two total hits against him. Fort Myers has been playing some close games and Hoopes is the team’s most reliable high-leverage arm. His final six appearances for the month came in the eighth inning or later and he pitched the ninth and tenth innings of two wins. Hoopes hasn’t allowed an earned run since April 25th and has only allowed earned runs in three appearances this season. If Fort Myers gets back in contention, they need to put a lot of hope in Hoopes. 

Part of the nature of being a reliever is working in small sample sizes in some of the highest leverage innings. There can be months where a pitcher is nearly perfect (like Hoopes) and other months where one appearance damages a player’s overall numbers. Three of these relievers are old for their level but they are making the most of the opportunity by putting up zeros when the game hangs in the balance. 

How would your ballot look for the Twins Minor League Relievers of the Month? Let us know in the comments.

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[LambchoP]

I think the Twins need to dump Alcala and Funderburk, which opens up two pen spots. Hopefully Coloumbe is back soon to cover the lefty role but we have several options for replacing Alcala. I don't hate the idea of having a long reliever who can go multiple innings and cover the pen in the event of a short start. Someone like SWR or Adams could work. Otherwise guys like Mcgaughan or Stankawitctz. Eventually I think Prelipp could be a one inning weapon in relief. Either way it's time to try someone else, Alcala is basically unpitchable

[Cody Christie]

2 hours ago, LambchoP said:

 I don't hate the idea of having a long reliever who can go multiple innings and cover the pen in the event of a short start. Someone like SWR or Adams could work. 

It's been interesting to see how the team has used Adams this year at Triple-A. He's on the 40-man roster so I expect that he will be called up at some point this year. 

I wrote about him in last week's Prospect Hot Sheet: 

 

[mikelink45]

How about giving Lawyerson a chance? 

[DocBauer]

I really appreciate the MILB RP of the month recaps as I think anyone doing well in the system is worthy of being singled out. Unfortunately, the simple truth is very few relievers make it to MLB unless they are starters converted sooner or later. 

Klein might have a shot, though I don't know exactly what he throws, or how hard. What I look for is guys who are used as middle and long relievers and put up good numbers. I can then imagine what they might be capable of in 1-2 IP roles. That would mean someone like Parades in AA, or the rebounding Ohl, and LH options like Nowlin or MacLeod might be useful, possibly even in 2026. (I believe MacLeod is still starting). 

For any MILB RP, it's a long haul. All you can is produce and be consistent and move up and do the same at every level. Eventually, if you reach AAA and keep doing the same, even at 27yo, the team might give you a shot.

[twinstalker]

I don't mind this relievers feature because it's fun, but there's otherwise no point.  The day a minor league reliever from low A ends up helping the Twins, wake me up.