Twins Clear a Path as Zebby Matthews Heads to Minor League Camp

[Cody Christie]

The Minnesota Twins made a notable decision as camp winds down, reassigning Zebby Matthews to minor league camp and effectively handing the final rotation spot to Mick Abel.

Coming into spring, Matthews looked like the logical favorite. He had more experience at the big league level and appeared poised to build on that foundation. Instead, the right-hander ran into trouble. Over 11 innings, he allowed seven earned runs while striking out nine and walking four. The results were not disastrous, but they were not convincing enough to lock down a job.

Abel, on the other hand, forced the organization’s hand. Despite having fewer than 40 innings of major league experience, Abel delivered one of the most electric performances in camp. Across 13 1/3 innings, he gave up just two earned runs while racking up 17 strikeouts against a single walk. It was dominance paired with control, the exact combination teams want to see when evaluating young arms.

That showing also served as a reminder of why Minnesota targeted him in last summer’s deal involving Jhoan Duran. The raw stuff has always been there, but this spring offered a glimpse of a pitcher beginning to harness it.

With Abel now in place, the Twins’ Opening Day rotation appears set. Joe Ryan will take the ball first, followed by Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley, and Abel, rounding things out.

Of course, spring decisions rarely tell the full story of a season. Matthews may be heading to Triple-A, but it would be surprising if he stayed there long. Pitching depth is tested early and often, and Minnesota already has questions to monitor.

Ober’s velocity has been one of the biggest storylines of camp. The right-hander failed to crack 90 miles per hour in his most recent outing, raising concerns that are difficult to ignore. While the Twins will give him the opportunity to start, it is fair to wonder how sustainable success can be with diminished velocity and no clear explanation.

That uncertainty only reinforces a simple truth across the league. Teams do not just need five starters. They need eight or ten. Matthews figures to be at the front of that next wave, and he will not be alone. Arms like Andrew Morris, Connor Prielipp, and Kendry Rojas are waiting in the wings at Triple-A. Each brings upside, and each could find themselves taking meaningful innings as the season unfolds.

The Twins made their choice for Opening Day, but the reality is that this rotation is far from finished. It is simply the first version of what will be an evolving group all summer long.

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[LA Vikes Fan]

Right choice. Abel looks ready: Matthews does not. Let Zebby refine a 3rd pitch in AAA. Abel is likely to be up and down performance wise, but he earned the shot. 

So far, glad to see the Twins embracing their youth. Looks like Funderburk over Chafin and Abel in the rotation. I hope Rodon gets a starting OF spot and Martin makes it as the 4th OF. We need players. Let's see if our "younger" guys can be any of those players and, if not, on to GG, Emma, Culpepper, and Jenkins.   

[Bodie]

Also gone is Gio Urshella.  Did an acceptable job in his last pass through the Cities, but I don't think anyone saw him as anything more than a temp (at best) this time. 

[mark allen]

I would have zebby above Simeon Woods Richardson and Ober if it were me and we wanted the best chance of winning games, Move one or both to the bull pen.

[RaoulDuke]

It is somewhat surprising to think had Pablo not got hurt neither Abel or Matthews would be in the opening day rotation in a pretty clear development year.

Good on Abel for winning the spot there will be plenty of chances for Zebby throughout the year as well.

Now the real interesting thing to watch is how the pen shakes out.  Hendriks and Chafin are gone so they aren't going with the old guys outside of Rogers.

  

[Alex Wilde]

2 hours ago, mark sills said:

I would have zebby above Simeon Woods Richardson and Ober if it were me and we wanted the best chance of winning games, Move one or both to the bull pen.

Ober and SWR have no role in the bullpen outside of being 7th inning guys because their stuff will not tick up much in the bullpen as they already don’t throw hard enough…their value is solely on providing 4-5 innings as 4th or 5th starters.

[Obsvr]

as someone mentioned...anybody in the top 12 of the starting pitching depth chart are probably going to get plenty of innings.

[ashbury]

Is there a definitive list/roster of who is still in camp and vying for an Opening Day spot?  It can't be very many higher than 26 by this point, can it?

[lecroy24fan]

4 hours ago, ashbury said:

Is there a definitive list/roster of who is still in camp and vying for an Opening Day spot?  It can't be very many higher than 26 by this point, can it?

https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/opening-day-tracker/twins

 

Is higher than i thought but reality is only a few left are vying for the last few spots.