Are Marco Raya and Connor Prielipp Destined for the Bullpen?

[jkcarew]

Raya, yes. Prielipp, maybe not…but probably, yes.

[darwin22]

13 hours ago, rdehring said:

Add me to those above curious if there is any information, anywhere, about Canterino?

Seems to me they still would like to see Prielipp as a starter.  Doesn't mean he can't be stretched out to 3+ innings next spring, then brought up for the Twins Pen either to start the season or soon thereafter.  Should he be used as an opener pitching 2-3 innings or a bulk guy pitching multiple innings, they should be able to get him in 40-50 games with 100+ innings.  It would still be possible getting him into the starting rotation in the future. 

Would also like to comment on the references to Prielipp's numbers last year.  If I recall, a lot of his games were dominant for a couple three innings, then he gave up X runs in the fourth or fifth as he was being stretched out.  That would indicate the best return from him in 2026 may be out of the pen.

As for Raya?  Just don't know what to expect.

In August while Wichita was playing Springfield, I witnessed EXACTLY the outing you described.  Prielipp was untouchable over 3 innings with consistent 97mph heat along with good secondary pitches. Got to 4th inning and though his fastball remained consistent (in mid 90s) his pitch count started to climb as he lost command.  With his injury history and advancing age, IMHO his future is in the Twins bullpen.

[TL]

I agree with this, but even if Raya moves full time to the bullpen I think he starts in AAA until he shows more consistency and gets that walk rate down. Prielipp + 1 higher end free agent would go a long way to making the bullpen respectable:

• 4 are set: Sands, Topa, Funderburk, Orze
• 2 other young starters: Prelipp + Festa?
• 2 free agents: 1 higher end + 1 from the handful of bargains we’ll try out
• Raya, Adams, Ohl, Morris, Klein etc. in AAA as depth and see who breaks out.

 

[Cris E]

Raya was so bad last year that he may as well stay in the AAA rotation until he proves he's over whatever happened in 2025.  He's so far from relevant that the long-term goal may as well remain in place. If he blows the doors off he can come up to Mpls as a swingman or fill a rotation hole, but if he's in the Saints' pen his utility is lower.