Here’s How the Twins Can Develop the Next Dominant Bullpen

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins shocked fans and rival executives alike at the 2025 trade deadline when they moved on from three of their most trusted bullpen arms: Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and Louis Varland. Each of them had multiple years of team control remaining and had been a key piece in the team’s late-inning plans. More importantly, all three were once starting pitchers who failed to stick in that role due to injuries, inconsistencies, or both. The Twins had turned those failed starters into late-inning monsters.

Now they are being asked to do it all over again.

Minnesota’s front office has signaled they are doubling down on their internal development plan. They believe they can construct another dominant bullpen using pieces already in the organization. It will require patience, as the club will continue trying to maximize the long-term value of these arms as starters. But as fans saw with Duran and Jax, the fallback option can still be an elite outcome.

So, who could be next? Let’s take a look at five internal candidates with the tools to become high-leverage relievers down the road.

RHP Zebby Matthews
Current Level: MLB
Matthews may be the best pure strike-thrower in the Twins system. Last season, he dominated the lower minors by attacking hitters with a deep arsenal and elite command. His velocity has continued to rise, with him averaging 96.5 mph this season, a 1.6 mph increase compared to last year. His fastball plays up because of deception and precise location. As a starter, his ability to control the zone is an asset, but if his velocity ticks up in short stints, he could carve out a future as a high-leverage option. He already has the mindset of a pitcher who trusts his stuff and could be next year’s Varland. 

LHP Connor Prielipp
Current Level: Double-A Wichita
Prielipp has dealt with a series of injuries that have slowed his development since being drafted. The former Alabama ace once flashed top-of-the-draft potential with a wipeout slider and advanced feel for pitching. The goal for the 2025 season was to keep him healthy enough to get a consistent run of starts. But if durability continues to be a problem, the Twins may consider a move to the bullpen, where his slider could be devastating in short bursts. He has the profile of a future left-handed weapon out of the pen.

 

 

RHP Marco Raya
Current Level: Triple-A St. Paul
Raya’s talent is obvious, but so are the workload limitations. He has yet to show the durability needed to handle a full season as a starting pitcher. His fastball and slider combination could thrive in a one-inning role, where his velocity would likely jump, and the command issues may become less of a concern. Similar to Jax, he has five pitches, and his fastball already averages in the mid-90s. The Twins have been cautious with his usage, but at some point, a decision will need to be made. Raya has the makeup to become a high-octane late-inning option if the starter route doesn’t stick.

RHP Andrew Morris
Current Level: Triple-A St. Paul
Morris has flown under the radar in a system filled with high-upside arms, but he brings a competitive edge and a solid mix of pitches to the mound. He battled through minor injuries and went on the injured list with a right forearm strain in June. In 2025, his walk rate has suffered as he had a BB% below 6.0% last season, and he’s north of 8% this year. While he doesn’t have a single elite pitch, his fastball (93.9 mph) and slider (87.3 mph) both have a chance to be effective against big league hitters. If his stuff ticks up in a relief role, Morris could follow a similar path to Jax, who also came through the college ranks.

RHP Cory Lewis
Current Level: Triple-A St. Paul
Lewis is one of the most unique arms in the system. His signature pitch is a knuckleball-curve hybrid that confounds hitters at any level. As a starter, he brings entertainment and unpredictability, but his unconventional arsenal might work best in a limited role. He’s struggled this year at Triple-A with a 6.52 ERA, but the Twins are working with him on his pitch mix. The Twins could utilize Lewis as a change-of-pace reliever, someone who throws off timing before handing the ball to a flame-throwing righty. It may not be the most traditional route to success, but Lewis has the type of arsenal that keeps hitters off balance.

Minnesota may have just shipped out its most trusted bullpen arms, but they have a track record of turning failed starters into dominant relievers. It is a developmental path the Twins know well, and the next wave of bullpen talent is already on the roster. If even one or two of these names follow the Duran or Jax blueprint, the bullpen won’t be a weakness for long.

Which prospects should the Twins attempt to develop into the next bullpen arms? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[Brandon]

Festa, Abel, and Taj could end up in the mix too I suppose. Plus some of those trying out now could be kept as well.  And don’t forget about the inexpensive castoff/ reclamation project either.  

[IndianaTwin]

From the "you-can't-tell-them-apart-without-a-scorecard" department, who am I missing in an inventory of Twins pitchers?

• Older guys on the 40-man or who've thrown a lot in the bullpen: Sands, Topa, Tonkin, Funderburk, Hatch, Ramirez, Kriske, Davis, Misiewicz, Urena, (also Duarte, McCaughan)
• Starting pitcher list: Ryan, Lopez, Ober, SWR, Matthews, Festa, Abel*, Bradley, Rojas.
• Multi-inning experiment guys: Prielipp, Raya, Morris, Adams, Ohl, Lewis, Baker*.
• Other: Canterino, Laweryson, MacLeod, Percival, Rozek.

*Where's Charlie Delta?

[rdehring]

Interesting article, Cody, and great analysis

After all the deadline moves, I was thinking about starters for 2026.  The Twins currently have a staff headed by three frontline starters, Lopez, Ryan and Ober.  Next are three starters who all have starting experience beginning last year, SWR, Festa and Matthews.  Add three top arms from deadline moves Abel, Bradley and Rojas who all are close.  That gives the Twins nine potential starters in 2026.

Of the three currently in the rotation, I have been thinking Zebby would be an ideal candidate for a move to the pen.  So many similarities to Varland that I really could see him as the Twins closer by some time next year and pitching as well as Louie was before the trade.  As to who is in the 2026 pen, expect one or more of the above will likely be there along with candidates like Ohl and Adams.

I would like to throw one more name into the mix, Mike Canterino.  The Twins signed him to a two-year minor league contract which gives him time to rehab this year and return to the mound in 2026.  Unlikely he would be available out of spring training, but he sure could become an option by say next year's trade deadline.  His days of starting are likely behind him, but when pitching he was special and could be another strong candidate for a late inning role.

[Patzky]

1 minute ago, IndianaTwin said:

From the "you-can't-tell-them-apart-without-a-scorecard" department, who am I missing in an inventory of Twins pitchers?

• Older guys on the 40-man or who've thrown a lot in the bullpen: Sands, Topa, Tonkin, Funderburk, Hatch, Ramirez, Kriske, Davis, Misiewicz, Urena, (also Duarte, McCaughan)
• Starting pitcher list: Ryan, Lopez, Ober, SWR, Matthews, Festa, Abel*, Bradley, Rojas.
• Multi-inning experiment guys: Prielipp, Raya, Morris, Adams, Ohl, Lewis, Baker*.
• Other: Canterino, Laweryson, MacLeod, Percival, Rozek.

*Where's Charlie Delta?

I'm sure some of the top guys will be free agent signings along the lines of Mayza, Clevinger, and Hector Neris. 

[Fire Dan Gladden]

15 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Then why are we not bringing up these guys NOW and getting them pen experience in the last 2 months of THIS season?  I get some may not be on there 40-man, but some are.  This season is lost at this point anyways so lets let these BP vets with high ERA's go and bring up some actual RP prospects so we can start building next year's pen now instead of waiting until next season.

Yeah, lets burn their service time in a lost season, this makes perfect sense.

[Mike Sixel]

They'd have to decide to stop having them start. Then where's the depth? No chance they move Matthews off starting. Or Preilipp. This also assumes they didn't deal anyone. 

[Road trip]

I'd expect at least 3 BP pitchers next year who aren't currently in the organization.  Signing very low level free agents and NRI's is a rite of winter.  The past few years there have been some successful signings (Stewart, Coulombe), as well as more unsuccessful ones than I care to remember... but as recently as April 2024 the Twins opening day bullpen included luminaries such as Steve Okert, Jay Jackson, and Daniel Duarte.... and that was just the start of the bullpen churn.

[jjswol]

It is like eating an elephant, you do it one bite at a time. Keep in mind that it takes awhile to "build" a reliever if you are starting from scratch. Guys like Varland don't come around that often.

[mnfireman]

Don't need a high-powered playoff BP if you don't make the playoffs. 

 

[terrydactyls]

In my non-humble 😉 opinion, until high-profile relievers start getting paid like a starter, it will be difficult to convince people to change.  Look at someone like Morris.  He's looking down the road at a possible salary of $10M-$12M a year in a couple years if he remains a starter.  Or he could switch to relief and look forward to $5M-$6M a year.  Hard for them to look look forward to playing for half the salary when your value to the team hasn't significantly changed.

[D.C Twins]

Raya should be in the MLB bullpen next year and likely Priellip too.

I hope Zebby can stick as a starter (some of them have to!), but you could be right

I don't think Lewis ever sticks in the MLB and is certainly not a natrual fit for the bullpen unless in long relief.

[Mike Sixel]

14 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

In my non-humble 😉 opinion, until high-profile relievers start getting paid like a starter, it will be difficult to convince people to change.  Look at someone like Morris.  He's looking down the road at a possible salary of $10M-$12M a year in a couple years if he remains a starter.  Or he could switch to relief and look forward to $5M-$6M a year.  Hard for them to look look forward to playing for half the salary when your value to the team hasn't significantly changed.

This. 

[TwinsDr2021]

35 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Yeah, lets burn their service time in a lost season, this makes perfect sense.

How many teams that worry about service time for guys on the wrong side of 25? They don't because it isn't a issue, you have them controlled though their prime years. 

Morris turns 24 in 18 days, Raya is 23 (so maybe someone), Prielipp turns 25 in January, Lewis turns 25 in October. Abel turns 24 in a week, Bradley turns 25 in march, Ohl turns 26 next month, MacLeod turns 26 in April, Festa turns 26 in March, Zebby turns 26 in May. 

If the AA Gallagher, Klein, Culpepper, and others are 23 or older. 

[Mike Sixel]

7 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

How many teams that worry about service time for guys on the wrong side of 25? They don't because it isn't a issue, you have them controlled though their prime years. 

Morris turns 24 in 18 days, Raya is 23 (so maybe someone), Prielipp turns 25 in January, Lewis turns 25 in October. Abel turns 24 in a week, Bradley turns 25 in march, Ohl turns 26 next month, MacLeod turns 26 in April, Festa turns 26 in March, Zebby turns 26 in May. 

If the AA Gallagher, Klein, Culpepper, and others are 23 or older. 

Especially for pitchers. 

[Patzky]

53 minutes ago, Road trip said:

I'd expect at least 3 BP pitchers next year who aren't currently in the organization.  Signing very low level free agents and NRI's is a rite of winter.  The past few years there have been some successful signings (Stewart, Coulombe), as well as more unsuccessful ones than I care to remember... but as recently as April 2024 the Twins opening day bullpen included luminaries such as Steve Okert, Jay Jackson, and Daniel Duarte.... and that was just the start of the bullpen churn.

I forgot about Duarte, he was somewhat effective until getting injured. Just couldn't remember his name, it was vexing me. Thanks! 

[mnfireman]

53 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Yeah, lets burn their service time in a lost season, this makes perfect sense.

Isn't that the point of developing a pitching pipeline? The team brings them up when they think they are ready, plays them for 6 or 7 years depending on service-time manipulation, and then let's them walk in FA when they become expensive. 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I think that the answer to the question in the title is absolutely yes.  What is unknown, however, is how long it will take to do that.  They will obviously sign a few free agents for the bullpen over the winter, but that is unlikely to provide much help in a building project.  Those arms are more about filling in the gaps for low leverage situations.  As.a practical matter, the Twins have produced one new successful reliever per year by converting a starting pitcher.  That process usually has taken a couple of years (unless your last name is Varland) to fully come to fruition.  So, assuming excellent success of one a year, plus another bonus one if we’re lucky, it will take two years to come up with three really good bullpen arms.  Add in a lucky signing or two (Stewart, Colombe), and you could probably have five or six higher leverage arms in three or four years.  That’s if everything breaks well — but there are a whole lot of growing pains in the meantime. I have a feeling that  fan patience will wear pretty thin by that point.  

[TheLeviathan]

I think Travis Adams might take the Cole Sands route.  Marco Raya seems destined for the bullpen.  

[LA Vikes Fan]

I would change Matthews to SWR on your list. Keep Matthews in the rotation. He's gong through the adjustment period now but he has the stuff to be a #2 starter. Even as a #3 or #4 he would have much more value than in relief. 

SWR on the other hand, tops out as a #4, more likely a #5 or #6 starter since he can't go 3 times through a lineup. Nothing screams relief pitcher more than a fringe starter with good command, a 92-93 MPH fastball, and a below 20% SO rate. Put him in the bullpen so he can go max effort and maybe add 2 MPH to his fastball and add 3-4% to his SO rate. He could become a real late inning weapon.  

I think Prielipp and Raya are more likely than not to wind up in the bullpen. Prielipp has nasty stuff but his history suggests he can't handle a 180 plus innings a year load. Same for Raya and Raya is having real troubles as a AAA starter.   I would try them both as relievers at the MLB level next year. Same for Andrew Morris - a 2 pitch pitcher with real velocity. If it doesn't work or our needs change, they can always be stretched out again.   

We have a chance here because we actually have a deep pool of potential starters between (in order) the Big 3, Matthews, Festa, SWR, Bradley, Abel, Rojas, Morris, Prielipp, Raya, and Lewis, Let's not forget Mike Peredes who is 11-0 as a reliever with a 2.65 ERA in Wichita (but he is 25 and only 5'11"), and CJ Culpeper in Wichita. I would seriously consider trying Morris, Raya, Lewis, Peredes, and Culpeper, in the BP in ST next year, rather than the usual cast-offs, and start Prielipp in the AAA rotation with an eye towards an MLB bullpen role if needed.  

[Danchat]

I don't think they move any of the grouping of Matthews/SWR/Festa to the pen and probably not Prielipp. Raya's likely destination is the pen but they're probably going to keep trying him as a starter because of the upside. But when it comes to the borderline arms like Adams, Ohl, and Lewis they should be tested out as one inning relievers... I don't buy that the multi-inning approach is going to work long-term for them.

 

[Chembry]

39 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

In my non-humble 😉 opinion, until high-profile relievers start getting paid like a starter, it will be difficult to convince people to change.  Look at someone like Morris.  He's looking down the road at a possible salary of $10M-$12M a year in a couple years if he remains a starter.  Or he could switch to relief and look forward to $5M-$6M a year.  Hard for them to look look forward to playing for half the salary when your value to the team hasn't significantly changed.

Not true.  Edwin Diaz signed a 5-year $102M deal in 2022.  Josh Hader $19M/year.  Tanner Scott 18M/year. Raisel Iglesias $14.5M/year, Ryan Pressley $15M/year...I could go on

High end closers, which we have a few potential candidates, will get paid once they hit unrestricted free agency.

[TwinsDr2021]

Going into next year the Twins have too many starters (Notice I didn't say good/great)

Lopez, Ryan, Ober, SWR, Festa, Matthews, Abel, Bradley, and some others, None are young and sending multiple guys back to the minors overage the age of 25 doesn't seem like a good plan (They did it with Ober and Varland in separate years), with this I fully expect Lopez and/or Ryan trade. That frees up a spot and leaves one less guy in AAA. 

[NYCTK]

12 minutes ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

I think that the answer to the question in the title is absolutely yes.  What is unknown, however, is how long it will take to do that.  They will obviously sign a few free agents for the bullpen over the winter, but that is unlikely to provide much help in a building project.  Those arms are more about filling in the gaps for low leverage situations.  As.a practical matter, the Twins have produced one new successful reliever per year by converting a starting pitcher.  That process usually has taken a couple of years (unless your last name is Varland) to fully come to fruition.  So, assuming excellent success of one a year, plus another bonus one if we’re lucky, it will take two years to come up with three really good bullpen arms.  Add in a lucky signing or two (Stewart, Colombe), and you could probably have five or six higher leverage arms in three or four years.  That’s if everything breaks well — but there are a whole lot of growing pains in the meantime. I have a feeling that  fan patience will wear pretty thin by that point.  

I think this is over stating how difficult it is to "develop" decent bullpen arms. The fact that they'd added about one a season is more so on the construction of the bullpen previously, with less experimentation needed with the veterans in those roles already. 

Don't expect this to remain true, but technically this bullpen has performed better than the one with all those guys that were traded away. 

[Dman]

There is a bigger discussion that revolves around 40 man decisions as the Twins are about to have a ton of young arms (potentially 13) entrenched there in:

David Festa
Zebby Mathews
Taj Bradley
Mick Abel
Kendry Rojas
Connor Prielipp
Andrew Morris
CJ Culpepper
Marco Raya
Travis Adams
Pierson Ohl
Christian McCloud
John Klein

(Did not include Lewis because I think he can make it through Rule V without being taken)

They can't use all those arms as starters.  Someone needs to move over to the pen and if all those arms are added to the 40 man they need to be able to use some of them at the MLB level.  They can't have too many of those arms stuck at the minor league level as they won't have room to add many veteran arms in the offseason.  

I still think Matthews should have more time as a starter.  He had 10 K's last night and 3 earned runs through almost 6 innings to the bombers which isn't horrible by any stretch.  He looks more like a mid rotation piece than pen arm to me.  I have Matthews, Bradley, Abel and Rojas as potential starters.  With Festa having shoulder issues and unable to barely go four innings he seems like the best bet to replace Varland IMO.  Adams and Ohl are already likely pen arms that can be long men when needed. Morris, Prielipp and Klein are bubble starters for me. they could go either way. Raya, Culpepper and MaCleod I see as relievers.

I agree with those that say this likely won't be seamless as it took Sands quite a while to get there and other arms never quite made it in Henriquez, Alcala, Winder, Moran etc.  There is no guarantee all these arms work out even in the pen. 

This doesn't even include the likely possibility that the Twins trade one or more starting pitchers in the offseason.  

There is a lot to decipher in a short time frame as they need to decide how many of these arms they should keep on the 40 man and then who can best be moved to the pen and get up to speed quickly.

[Mike Sixel]

15 minutes ago, Chembry said:

Not true.  Edwin Diaz signed a 5-year $102M deal in 2022.  Josh Hader $19M/year.  Tanner Scott 18M/year. Raisel Iglesias $14.5M/year, Ryan Pressley $15M/year...I could go on

High end closers, which we have a few potential candidates, will get paid once they hit unrestricted free agency.

Except that's the exception, not the rule. Number 4 starters make that money.......and you need 30-50 of them, at least. 

[jorgenswest]

The best route to a major league pitcher whether starter or reliever is the structured routine of a starter in the minors. The Twins have added the structured routine of a 3-4 inning/3 days rest pitcher this year in the minors. Pitchers don’t need the routine of a reliever to pitch in relief in the majors.

In the case of Prielipp the priority has always been a healthy year. He has progressed from 6 days rest between outings to 5 days rest. It closely follows the Cole Ragans model. I believe Prielipp innings total have matched or surpassed his previous 5 seasons combined. Ragans made his major league debut middle of the next season. I expect we will see Prielipp by the second half next year if he can manage to stay healthy. I wouldn’t be surprised that it will be as a reliever though I think he will have the routine of a starter as he begins 2026 in AAA. 

In the case of Bradley and Abel, on Sunday Jeremy Zoll talked about the work they are doing with them in AAA. Bradley already had started that work with the Rays. Abel has yet to make the most of his arm talent in the minors. The minor league schedule with less  travel and the routine of a starter makes it much easier to do that work between starts.

I do trust the their process of developing pitchers. 

[bunsen82]

So the Twins have loads of pitchers,  some with variable quality.   Festa, Ohl and Adams seem like locks for the 2026 bullpen. 

We have a injured pitches who have could follow the career of someone like Stewart,  in Canterino.  Henriquez still intrigues me as well.  

After that it gets iffy quick.  I am not sure I see a path for the knuckleballer Lewis.  he may be one to trade to someone who wants to work more on the Knuckleball.  The fastball is now in the 90-92 range,  so his ability to stick as pitcher seems tough.   Raya has had a tough year,  are we willing to get the starting position up and throw him in the pen?  Morris and Culpepper have both looked really good here recently.  I think you keep them on the starter track but they do have the possibility of switching to reliever.  

I mentioned it in another thread that our pitch depth especially of those who need a 40 man spot is almost getting too deep.   I am sure some of the fringe will fall out of the system.  We either need to trade a Starter (Ryan),  move the players to the bullpen or trade a few.   

I currently only see 3-4 players I think should remain in the pen for next year,  and thats Sands, Topa and Tonkin.  Hatch may be working himself into a position.   Kriske,  its early,  but as of right now probably is just a fringe reliever.    

Inevitably we will sign probably 2-3 relievers in the offseason.  I will be very curious as to what quality.  In general they do not pay up for relievers.  

[Mike Sixel]

Raya is what, 23? They'll keep him starting. IMO 

[Chembry]

48 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Except that's the exception, not the rule. Number 4 starters make that money.......and you need 30-50 of them, at least. 

The point of the post I quoted was that it would be difficult to convince a fringe (#4 or #5) starter to convert to a reliever based on salary.   There are 20 relief pitchers in 2025 making $10M/year or greater.  Yes, that is the top 10% of relievers.  But, it's simply not true that relievers can't make as much as a #4 or #5 starter and have more success.   

Here is my opinion:

Every team needs 8 relievers... most of the fringe starters are fighting for the #4 or #5 spot in the rotation and could very well spend the vast majority of their time in AAA.  Given nobody is traded in the offseason, we have Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Matthews, Festa, SWR, Bradley, and Abel that have MLB experience.  Then we have Raya and Morris at AAA, Prelipp at AA.  Again if no trades/injuries occur, our top 4 is more than likely set at Lopez, Ryan, Ober, and Matthews.  That leaves the other 6 (7 if you want to include Prelipp) fighting for the #5 spot.  I am not sure it would take that much convincing to move 1-2 into the high leverage bullpen situations, especially if they have the chance to be very good.      

I would argue that we have several potential starters that may very well fit the mold of high leverage relievers: Festa, SWR for example... Maybe Raya, Morris, Prelipp (depending on durability,)