David Festa Nears Return From Injury As Twins Weigh His Future Role

[Cody Christie]

Right-hander David Festa is inching closer to getting back on a mound after dealing with a shoulder issue that surfaced during Spring Training. The next step in his progression is scheduled to come this week, as Festa is expected to face live hitters. If that goes well, a rehab assignment should not be far behind, putting him on a clearer path back to the Twins pitching staff.

That timeline alone would be encouraging, but Festa’s situation carries another layer of intrigue. The Twins are in need of bullpen reinforcements, and his power arsenal could make him a natural fit in a relief role. General manager Jeremy Zoll acknowledged that the organization is actively evaluating how Festa might be used once he is healthy.

“I know the role conversation remains a relevant question,” Zoll said. “We’re going to have more to come probably next week on that.”

The uncertainty surrounding his role is tied, in part, to a string of health interruptions. Festa dealt with thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms during the 2025 season, and this spring brought a new issue. He was diagnosed with a shoulder impingement, an injury the Twins have indicated is unrelated to last year’s TOS concerns, but still enough to halt his throwing program for a couple of weeks.

“I’ve kind of felt it on and off the last week or two,” Festa said in spring training. “Didn’t really say anything, because sometimes when you’re building up, you don’t always feel great. But once my bullpen wasn’t as good as it probably should’ve been, I just spoke up and got an image done. And everything lines up pretty well with what I’m feeling.”

Following an MRI, Festa received an injection and was shut down for roughly two to three weeks. Now, with that downtime behind him, the focus shifts toward ramping back up and proving he can handle game intensity again.

Originally a 13th-round pick in 2021, Festa moved quickly through the minor leagues and debuted in June 2024. His rookie season showed flashes of real promise. After a rocky introduction, he settled in with a 3.81 ERA and 69 strikeouts across his final 54.1 innings. His ability to miss bats with a three-pitch mix stood out immediately.

Expectations rose heading into 2025, but the results never quite matched the underlying talent. Festa posted a 5.40 ERA over 53.1 innings, though inconsistency and lingering health concerns likely played a role. Even so, his 130 strikeouts against 42 walks in 117.2 career innings point to a pitcher with more upside than his surface-level numbers suggest, reinforced by a 4.27 FIP that paints a more optimistic picture.

That upside is exactly why the Twins have a decision to make. As a starter, Festa has shown he can turn a lineup over and generate swings and misses. In shorter bursts, his velocity and raw stuff could tick up even further, potentially making him a high-leverage weapon out of the bullpen.

That possibility becomes even more relevant when looking at the current state of Minnesota’s relief corps. The Twins have operated with the lowest average fastball velocity among MLB bullpens, a profile that can work when command and sequencing are sharp but leaves little margin for error. Adding a pitcher like Festa, who can bring power and miss bats, could give the group a different look and help balance the group.

For now, the priority is simple. Festa needs to get through live batting practice, build up innings, and prove his shoulder can hold up. Once that box is checked, the Twins will have a much clearer picture not just of when he can return, but also of how he can make the biggest impact.

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[Linus]

To me, moving him to the pen is a no-brainer. He doesn’t have a deep pitch mix and seems to struggle to stay healthy under a starters workload. Add a couple ticks to his fastball and he might be a great high leverage reliever, which we desperately need. 

[Patzky]

11 minutes ago, Linus said:

To me, moving him to the pen is a no-brainer. He doesn’t have a deep pitch mix and seems to struggle to stay healthy under a starters workload. Add a couple ticks to his fastball and he might be a great high leverage reliever, which we desperately need. 

A Sands Rojas Festa Sim Zebby Laweryson  bullpen in 2027 wouldn't be gosh awful.. would it? It assumes a Pablo Abel Taj Ober Prielipp rotation (also assumes Joe Ryan is gone)

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

19 minutes ago, Linus said:

To me, moving him to the pen is a no-brainer. He doesn’t have a deep pitch mix and seems to struggle to stay healthy under a starters workload. Add a couple ticks to his fastball and he might be a great high leverage reliever, which we desperately need. 

Agreed. Twins have had success going this route with other pitchers. Festa seems to be a perfect fit for the pen.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

11 minutes ago, Patzky said:

A Sands Rojas Festa Sim Zebby Laweryson  bullpen in 2027 wouldn't be gosh awful.. would it? It assumes a Pablo Abel Taj Ober Prielipp rotation (also assumes Joe Ryan is gone)

Rojas has dynamic stuff but the control, or lack of, worries me. Still very young so perhaps there's improvement on the horizon. But...I can't help but think of Jovani Moran. Twins eventually ran out of patience.

[Patzky]

Just now, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Rojas has dynamic stuff but the control, or lack of, worries me. Still very young so perhaps there's improvement on the horizon. But...I can't help but think of Jovani Moran. Twins eventually ran out of patience.

Last night was the perfect illustration of a relief guy with no control and how quickly it spirals. Devin Williams was another exhibit from the night before.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

3 minutes ago, Patzky said:

Last night was the perfect illustration of a relief guy with no control and how quickly it spirals. Devin Williams was another exhibit from the night before.

Crazy to think that basically everyone in the Twins' bullpen right now has control issues.

[Patzky]

11 minutes ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Crazy to think that basically everyone in the Twins' bullpen right now has control issues.

Yeah, Laweryson was the outlier. Game of whackamole.. I don't envy Shelton.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Just now, Patzky said:

Yeah, Laweryson was the outlier. Game of whackamole.. I don't envy Shelton.

Same. I actually think he's a pretty good in-game manager but when you're relying on these bullpen arms, it makes your job impossible.

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Patzky said:

Yeah, Laweryson was the outlier. Game of whackamole.. I don't envy Shelton.

Given this pen, anyone blaming the manager for its use.....I don't see how you can blame him.

[mickster]

32 minutes ago, Patzky said:

A Sands Rojas Festa Sim Zebby Laweryson  bullpen in 2027 wouldn't be gosh awful.. would it? It assumes a Pablo Abel Taj Ober Prielipp rotation (also assumes Joe Ryan is gone)

Lets keep Ryan - and see how Prielipp's health holds out.

[Patzky]

7 minutes ago, mickster said:

Lets keep Ryan - and see how Prielipp's health holds out.

Would be a nice idea.. I'm not holding my breath 🫁 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Trading Lou was complete malpractice. 

[DocBauer]

I guess we've been down this path before, but with Festa getting ready to face live hitters again, it's probably time to do so again. With Lopez out for the year, Abel out for at least a while, and Matthews off to a slow start, there is the temptation to keep Festa as a rotation arm for now.

But I think what has to be factored is not just what's best for the Twins, but what's best for Festa himself. In this case...while additional depth for the rotation is still needed...the pen still needs a lot of work, and Festa just seems to be a perfect fit to be moved there.

He's got some very good stuff, and his velocity would play up even more in a shorter role. Further, his previous results indicate he's been excellent 1 time through the order, solid a 2nd time, but the results really slip on a 3rd attempt. (Not entirely uncommon of course). 

Additionally, despite weight/muscle gains, he's still slight of build...perhaps limiting endurance...and some of his recent injuries...even if minor in nature...suggest he may simply be built for a pen role. The move not only makes sense, it's also an opportunity for Festa to excel.

We can't just move all rotation arms to the pen tomorrow, of course. But Morris looked pretty good in his first outing, and has more velocity than anyone else in the current pen. And while I don't want to see Rojas transition to the pen so soon, it's really hard not to fantasize him in the pen, at least temporarily. And then you add Festa?

Suddenly a pen of Festa, Morris, Rojas, Sands, Funderburk, Rogers, Orze, and "X" doesn't seem so bad at all. Of course, you really can't afford to move BOTH Morris and Rojas to the pen at the moment. But it sure is intriguing to think about.

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Twins_Fan_in_NJ said:

Trading Lou was complete malpractice. 

Still boggles my mind.

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

I guess we've been down this path before, but with Festa getting ready to face live hitters again, it's probably time to do so again. With Lopez out for the year, Abel out for at least a while, and Matthews off to a slow start, there is the temptation to keep Festa as a rotation arm for now.

But I think what has to be factored is not just what's best for the Twins, but what's best for Festa himself. In this case...while additional depth for the rotation is still needed...the pen still needs a lot of work, and Festa just seems to be a perfect fit to be moved there.

He's got some very good stuff, and his velocity would play up even more in a shorter role. Further, his previous results indicate he's been excellent 1 time through the order, solid a 2nd time, but the results really slip on a 3rd attempt. (Not entirely uncommon of course). 

Additionally, despite weight/muscle gains, he's still slight of build...perhaps limiting endurance...and some of his recent injuries...even if minor in nature...suggest he may simply be built for a pen role. The move not only makes sense, it's also an opportunity for Festa to excel.

We can't just move all rotation arms to the pen tomorrow, of course. But Morris looked pretty good in his first outing, and has more velocity than anyone else in the current pen. And while I don't want to see Rojas transition to the pen so soon, it's really hard not to fantasize him in the pen, at least temporarily. And then you add Festa?

Suddenly a pen of Festa, Morris, Rojas, Sands, Funderburk, Rogers, Orze, and "X" doesn't seem so bad at all. Of course, you really can't afford to move BOTH Morris and Rojas to the pen at the moment. But it sure is intriguing to think about.

Ya, Festa gets MLB money and time as a RP. We had this discussion about Jax for several years....and they wasted at least two trying to make him a starter. He lost a lot of money....

[Nshore]

I just don't think it's that big of a deal whether he's a starter or bullpen.  The greatest need will be bullpen and that's where he should be.  The Twins just faced an outstanding arm last night in Holmes, who transitioned from the pen and is an excellent  starter.  Relax.  Have a sandwich or something.

 

[tony&rodney]

4 hours ago, Nshore said:

I just don't think it's that big of a deal whether he's a starter or bullpen.  The greatest need will be bullpen and that's where he should be.  The Twins just faced an outstanding arm last night in Holmes, who transitioned from the pen and is an excellent  starter.  Relax.  Have a sandwich or something.

 

I'm in agreement with this thought. If the Twins feel that David Festa needs to throw fewer innings, use him as a relief pitcher. My only question is how easily does his arm recover from throwing? Can Festa pitch one inning every other day or on back to back days from time to time? I guess we shall find out pretty soon. He could be ready in a couple of weeks.

[thelanges5]

Festa is on the 60-day IL. Doesn’t that mean he can’t come back until late May?

[bean5302]

Lopez and Ryan as a combo is going nowhere next year. Ryan will make $20MM in arb 3 now. Lopez is making $22MM. No way the Twins ownership is making $42MM available for 2 arms. Add to it Ober. He'll either keep stringing together results and earn $15MM next year as well or he's not worthy of a rotation spot anyway.

We've got 3 starters on the way out and none of the top ceiling prospects in the farm will be available (Hill, Soto, Quick) will be MLB ready next year.

With Rojas unable to throw strikes, Matthews wallowing in problems trying to develop a functional sinker and Morris questionable in regard to talent level, Festa is best tried back in the rotation. 

[bean5302]

1 minute ago, thelanges5 said:

Festa is on the 60-day IL. Doesn’t that mean he can’t come back until late May?

Yes. He'll need a few weeks to build up, minimal anyway.

[Peter]

Put festa in bullpen/possible closer

[Jasper]

The next pitcher injury will dictate where he pitches, in relief or a starter.

[BiggestRoccoFan]

23 hours ago, mickster said:

Lets keep Ryan - and see how Prielipp's health holds out.

Ryan aint staying bro. That ship has sailed.

[LakesPibble]

15 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Lopez and Ryan as a combo is going nowhere next year. Ryan will make $20MM in arb 3 now. Lopez is making $22MM. No way the Twins ownership is making $42MM available for 2 arms. Add to it Ober. He'll either keep stringing together results and earn $15MM next year as well or he's not worthy of a rotation spot anyway.

We've got 3 starters on the way out and none of the top ceiling prospects in the farm will be available (Hill, Soto, Quick) will be MLB ready next year.

With Rojas unable to throw strikes, Matthews wallowing in problems trying to develop a functional sinker and Morris questionable in regard to talent level, Festa is best tried back in the rotation. 

I agree with everything you're saying here, but I don't think the owners are paying anyone for part/most/all? of next season.