Top Pitching Prospects Kendry Rojas, Connor Prielipp to Join Twins in New York for Mets Series

[Matthew Trueblood]

Image courtesy of © Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Top left-handed pitching prospects Kendry Rojas and Connor Prielipp will travel with the Twins to New York this week, as the team takes on the New York Mets in Queens. Rojas, 23, will officially be added to the team's roster to replace fellow southpaw Kody Funderburk, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Funderburk will go on the paternity list, and could meet the team in St. Petersburg for their weekend series against the Rays. Prielipp, 25, is on the taxi squad, a COVID-era invention still utilized by teams to keep fresh players ready during road trips when there's some belief that they might need them.

For Twins fans who mentally entered rebuilding mode as soon as the team undertook a selloff at the 2025 MLB trade deadline, Rojas and Prielipp have taken on outsized significance as symbols of the team's future. Rojas, at least, now looks to be part of their present, though his stay on the roster could be brief. The Twins have a travel day Monday before taking on the reeling Mets beginning on Tuesday.

Some chance exists, of course, that the addition of Rojas (or even that of Prielipp, which isn't yet a true call-up but puts him at the ready for one) will prove permanent. A few weeks in, it's become suddenly clear how much the Twins need to upgrade their bullpen if they hope to remain competitive. After climbing to 11-7, they've lost four straight, and on Saturday and Sunday, they lsot consecutive games which they led by multiple runs after six innings.

Justin Topa, Funderburk, Eric Orze and Cole Sands—the closest thing the team currently has to an 'A' bullpen—blew their lead one run at a time over the final three frames on Saturday. In Sunday's series finale, manager Derek Shelton tried to get a two-inning save from rookie Andrew Morris, who went to pieces in the second of those frames, giving up three runs to flip the score in the top of the ninth. Shelton hadn't trusted Garrett Acton enough to turn to him until the horses left the barn in the ninth, but he then stuck with Acton (amid a defensive meltdown) rather than turn to Anthony Banda against a left-handed batter in the Reds' three-run 10th. 

The Twins face a major deficit of trustworthy, bat-missing relievers. At their best, Rojas and Prielipp are eminently capable of ameliorating that. Rojas sits on the high side of 97 miles per hour with his fastball. If he makes his debut amid an electric New York atmosphere, he could touch 100 MPH. He also has a changeup and a slider that could be plus, if he can locate them well enough.

So far, consistency—in location, for sure, but even in shape and broader execution—has proved too much to hope for with Rojas, but his arm is one of the system's most electric. He was the co-headliner of the Louis Varland trade with the Blue Jays last summer, and is certainly the higher-upside of the two prospects the team acquired in that deal.

Prielipp is homegrown, and though he's older and doesn't throw quite as hard, he might have an even higher ceiling. Even on the other side of multiple surgeries, he flashes a top-of-the-scale slider. The two-plane curveball he's added to the mix this spring shows tremendous promise. 

In the long run, the Twins would like both Rojas and Prielipp to stick in the starting rotation. However, their track records with regard to both health and performance suggest that their best roles could be in the pen. For now, Rojas will be asked to reinforce a bullpen that hasn't garnered much confidence from Shelton. How long that remains his job might depend not only on when Funderburk returns, but on how Rojas and several of the incumbent arms in the pen perform in the days ahead.

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[thelanges5]

Reeling Mets against reeling Twins. Someone has to win these games. Good to see, hopefully they both get a chance to pitch.
 

Thanks for explaining the taxi squad. I was a little unsure of how that worked.

[mikelink45]

I am pleased - move on from Banda.  And if they want to keep both there are plenty of options for more demotions.

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

Refreshing to see two pitching prospects called up so early in the season. Of course it may only be temporary, but it's a start!

[Coach Wheels]

Banda could definitely be a DFA option, kind of forgot about him in this process. Outman, with Lewis coming off the IL, could also be gone.

When there are 15 guys that are just "ok" on your roster, lots of ways to move people up and down.

[Patzky]

37 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Reeling Mets against reeling Twins. Someone has to win these games. Good to see, hopefully they both get a chance to pitch.
 

Thanks for explaining the taxi squad. I was a little unsure of how that worked.

Outside of LA and Chicago, Reeling is the other home of multiple teams.

[bean5302]

Quote

...However, their track records with regard to both health and performance suggest that their best roles could be in the pen...

Quote

...However, TD writers have been pushing to waste all of our potential rotation arms in the 'pen so we're really, really excited to see value loss and we've come up with excuses that don't hold water...

Fixed that for ya.

[bean5302]

Complete and utter waste of resources. SOP with Falzoll. There are other depth bullpen options at AAA. Choosing to gut the extremely thin depth in the rotation is asinine.

[TopGunn#22]

I get where you're coming from bean5302, but pitching out of the bullpen this season doesn't mean it's a permanent exile from the rotation.  Guys like Zebby, and Festa (if he can EVER stay healthy) are getting closer to pitching themselves OUT of a future rotation, so in some respects, it's a fluid situation. 

I think BOTH Prielipp and Rojas have a strong chance to be part of a future Twins rotation, and those chances increase if Joe Ryan is traded at the deadline (depending on whether a young SP is part of the deal).  For a team bereft of LH SP for so many seasons, the Twins could have Dasan Hill along with Prielipp and Rojas in a future rotation.  

Wouldn't THAT be something.  

But I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing Prielipp and Rojas get innings in the big leagues this season, even if the Twins break them in gradually by pitching out of the pen.  

[LewFordLives]

" In Sunday's series finale, manager Derek Shelton tried to get a two-inning save from rookie Andrew Morris, who went to pieces in the second of those frames, giving up three runs to flip the score in the top of the ninth."

No. Morris went to pieces in both of those two innings. He was not fooling anybody and labored to get through the eighth. The big question is why did Shelton send him out there to pitch the ninth with the game on the line?  It took him 47 pitches, of which only 27 were strikes, to record a grand total of four outs.

[Patzky]

14 minutes ago, LewFordLives said:

" In Sunday's series finale, manager Derek Shelton tried to get a two-inning save from rookie Andrew Morris, who went to pieces in the second of those frames, giving up three runs to flip the score in the top of the ninth."

No. Morris went to pieces in both of those two innings. He was not fooling anybody and labored to get through the eighth. The big question is why did Shelton send him out there to pitch the ninth with the game on the line?  It took him 47 pitches, of which only 27 were strikes, to record a grand total of four outs.

The long relief guy brought no relief. Sands Topa Funderburk all blown up the day before. Banda is toxic . Guess we could have tried Sim..

[JD-TWINS]

58 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Complete and utter waste of resources. SOP with Falzoll. There are other depth bullpen options at AAA. Choosing to gut the extremely thin depth in the rotation is asinine.

They have today off which gives the other 7 guys a day of rest ……… can’t imagine Funderburk is not back by Friday. Rojas might see an inning or maybe 2 batters, just to give him a taste.

Prielipp isn’t even on the roster - he may very well start this weekend for Saints.

Don’t see this as any sort of gutting of the AAA rotation. It does send a bit of a message to these two guys that they may actually be called in if Team is in the mix going forward.

Somebody will be coming up to replace 2-3 of the current PEN guys at some point (varying timing) Klein - Raya - Matthews - Prielipp ………. whoever - it’s going to happen - I don’t pay enough attention to know who’s at the head of the line in St. Paul - probably fluid week to week.

Anybody know what’s up with Festa’s recovery?

[JD-TWINS]

48 minutes ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I get where you're coming from bean5302, but pitching out of the bullpen this season doesn't mean it's a permanent exile from the rotation.  Guys like Zebby, and Festa (if he can EVER stay healthy) are getting closer to pitching themselves OUT of a future rotation, so in some respects, it's a fluid situation. 

I think BOTH Prielipp and Rojas have a strong chance to be part of a future Twins rotation, and those chances increase if Joe Ryan is traded at the deadline (depending on whether a young SP is part of the deal).  For a team bereft of LH SP for so many seasons, the Twins could have Dasan Hill along with Prielipp and Rojas in a future rotation.  

Wouldn't THAT be something.  

But I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing Prielipp and Rojas get innings in the big leagues this season, even if the Twins break them in gradually by pitching out of the pen.  

Matthews was an 8th round pick and Festa was a 13th round pick. Either of them contributing at the MLB level would be a presumed bonus by the organization. Either, or both of them may be in the PEN by June or sooner.

I agree that Prielipp & Rojas can get somewhat acclimated to the Show throughout the season with spot stints in the PEN ……..certainly doesn’t ruin them for future stater roles. It is difficult to see some combination of all 4 of those guys in relief roles as the viable starter depth at AAA (bean5302’s point) would be extremely thin.

2027: If Ryan isn’t traded (part of Tom’s “competitive plan”) & Lopez is back …………. Abel & Bradley are back with health…….. either Ober (seems to be steadying into a #4/#5 slot) or SWR completes the rotation. …… not worried about NEEDING Prielipp or Rojas ready for Big Club Rotation spring if ‘27…….. there may be room for an FA starter after Labor Agreement is settled?

[USAFChief]

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

I am pleased - move on from Banda.  

Banda is still in the pen.

 

[USAFChief]

5 hours ago, Bangkok Twins Fan said:

Refreshing to see two pitching prospects called up so early in the season. Of course it may only be temporary, but it's a start!

One. One Prospect. 

Prielipp hasn't been called up.

Edit: "Never mind."

-E Littella 

 

Edited Monday at 06:30 PM by USAFChief

[LA Vikes Fan]

It’s good to see they’re actually making these moves after this weekend. Have to think Morris is going back down and there may be an IL move coming to make room for Prielipp. I don’t think they would bring him out unless they were planning on putting him on the roster. We played a playoff team last weekend and the bullpen wasn’t good enough hold two winnable  games. I feel like in the past we would’ve just kept what we had but at least now they’re trying to make things better. These guys may not actually be any better but at least they’re making the effort, something sorely lacking the last couple of years.

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, Coach Wheels said:

Banda could definitely be a DFA option, kind of forgot about him in this process. Outman, with Lewis coming off the IL, could also be gone.

When there are 15 guys that are just "ok" on your roster, lots of ways to move people up and down.

Or maybe best move one or more completely out the organizational door.

[mark sills]

Can't give up on Morris if you look at his first inning both games. Four strike outs no runs. One hit and one walk. 

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

They have today off which gives the other 7 guys a day of rest ……… can’t imagine Funderburk is not back by Friday. Rojas might see an inning or maybe 2 batters, just to give him a taste.

Prielipp isn’t even on the roster - he may very well start this weekend for Saints.

Don’t see this as any sort of gutting of the AAA rotation. It does send a bit of a message to these two guys that they may actually be called in if Team is in the mix going forward.

Somebody will be coming up to replace 2-3 of the current PEN guys at some point (varying timing) Klein - Raya - Matthews - Prielipp ………. whoever - it’s going to happen - I don’t pay enough attention to know who’s at the head of the line in St. Paul - probably fluid week to week.

Anybody know what’s up with Festa’s recovery?

Yep. Rojas has thrown 48 and 50 pitches in his last two outings. He'd be on schedule to pitch tomorrow on his normal rest. Bringing him up for three days in Funderburk's spot makes perfect sense, particularly with SWR scheduled for Wednesday.

Functionally, you can almost think of it as being like the 27th guy in a DH -- one appearance then back down.  

[nicksaviking]

2 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Complete and utter waste of resources. SOP with Falzoll. There are other depth bullpen options at AAA. Choosing to gut the extremely thin depth in the rotation is asinine.

I'd argue they picked the wrong THREE starters as I'd think Matthews, Festa (injured) and Klien should be the first starters moved to the pen over Rojas, Morris and Prielipp.

BUT, it's most definitely not a waste of resources. Good late inning relievers are worth more than back of the rotation starters. I can't imagine you'd try to argue the Twins could have gotten more for SWR or Ober than they got for Duran, Jax or Varland last year.

Even so, I'd guess in this case we haven't seen the last of Rojas and Prielipp in the rotation. Use these guys while you have them. Pitchers have a finite number of throws in their arms, so don't waste them in AAA. And it's not like this franchise is going to break the bank giving long term extensions to the most injury prone position in all of professional sports.

[Matthew Trueblood]

2 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Complete and utter waste of resources. SOP with Falzoll. There are other depth bullpen options at AAA. Choosing to gut the extremely thin depth in the rotation is asinine.

I.... think you're massively overreacting to what is basically a short-term logistical maneuver that just happens to involve two high-upside arms.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

1 hour ago, Patzky said:

The long relief guy brought no relief. Sands Topa Funderburk all blown up the day before. Banda is toxic . Guess we could have tried Sim..

Channeling my inner Chief

 

there are no low leverage relievers

[saviking]

It was really a head scratcher when the team traded away their best bullpen arms and then were not active in replacing them. I commend them for hitting on the quality of players they received in return. 

But, surely they didn't think many ofnthe relief pitchers they started with would make it until summer. So what was their backup plan? I guess we are seeing it. Convert starters once they once they got their feet on the ground in the majors to see if they would be long term answers. 

[jmlease1]

2 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Complete and utter waste of resources. SOP with Falzoll. There are other depth bullpen options at AAA. Choosing to gut the extremely thin depth in the rotation is asinine.

Rojas isn't really an option to start right now anyways, since he's still ramping up after an injury. Having him in the 'pen with Funderburk on paternity leave isn't going to torpedo anything and giving him and Prielipp a taste of an MLB road trip in May is fine.

Rojas will be back in Saint Paul ramping up as a starter in a week and Prielipp will as well. In case you missed it, the rotation has been fine (with the exception of SWR) and they're not going to be looking to make a change there in April, especially with everyone healthy so far. With Ober finding ways to be effective at lower velocity and SWR deserving more rope to find himself the rotation depth isn't going to be tested yet.

The bigger issue is we simply don't have enough HP in the bullpen. Need to find some additional help there so we don't throw away more winnable games, like the miserable Reds series.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

3 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Complete and utter waste of resources. SOP with Falzoll. There are other depth bullpen options at AAA. Choosing to gut the extremely thin depth in the rotation is asinine.

If Rojas and/or Prielipp have an actual shot at being mlb starting pitching, you are correct. Rojas, agreed with you.

Prielipp, he’s pitched 128 innings over 6 years, 82 of which last year. He only has so many bullets in the magazine, I’d rather he used them in the deer stand, and not at the gun range.

 

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

One. One Prospect. 

Prielipp hasn't been called up.

He may be soon.. Mick Abel was put on the IL with elbow inflammation today, retroactive to 4/17.

[mickster]

58 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Rojas isn't really an option to start right now anyways, since he's still ramping up after an injury. Having him in the 'pen with Funderburk on paternity leave isn't going to torpedo anything and giving him and Prielipp a taste of an MLB road trip in May is fine.

Rojas will be back in Saint Paul ramping up as a starter in a week and Prielipp will as well. In case you missed it, the rotation has been fine (with the exception of SWR) and they're not going to be looking to make a change there in April, especially with everyone healthy so far. With Ober finding ways to be effective at lower velocity and SWR deserving more rope to find himself the rotation depth isn't going to be tested yet.

The bigger issue is we simply don't have enough HP in the bullpen. Need to find some additional help there so we don't throw away more winnable games, like the miserable Reds series.

One will now likely stay with the Abel news.   How about we sign Giolito

[bean5302]

29 minutes ago, mickster said:

One will now likely stay with the Abel news.   How about we sign Giolito

Why not sign Dylan Bundy out of retirement?

[Doctor Gast]

Our biggest hole (BP) has cost us too many close games. I get it, after Falvey left just before spring training, there wasn't much in FA & it was hard for the new FO to get their feet under them to put together a reasonable trade. I don't see much hope for the present BP to step up. So we need to look in-house, I've stated that for a while now. We saw Bradley & Able step up in the rotation. Isn't it about time to release Prielipp & Rojas in the pen where we really need them? & see what they can do. We need high leverage, long relief & spot starting. They definitely can do that. We don't have to worry about losing anyone in the pen. Too many aren't getting it done. I've been a big advocate on bringing up our promising pitchers up in the MLB & not wasting their bullets in the AAA pen. Again, many great SPs got their start in the pen.

 

[Doctor Gast]

2 hours ago, Patzky said:

He may be soon.. Mick Abel was put on the IL with elbow inflammation today, retroactive to 4/17.

All those who were happy with Abel pitching all those innings are now sad.