Kendry Rojas Back Up As Twins' Bullpen Needs A Refresh

[Steve Drumwright]

 

The Minnesota Twins needed a fresh arm after an exhausting day for the bullpen.

The Twins on Sunday called up left-hander Kendry Rojas from Triple-A St. Paul and sent left-hander Kody Funderburk down to the Saints. The Twins used six relievers following Joe Ryan's six-inning start in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians in 11 innings.

Rojas made his MLB debut April 22, pitching two shutout innings with two hits, three walks and no strikeouts. He was sent back to Triple-A a couple days later. At St. Paul this season, Rojas has made five appearances, including a start, allowing four runs and 14 hits with five walks and 15 strikeouts in 15 innings for a 2.40 ERA.

Funderburk has been a key part of the Twins' bullpen. He has made 19 appearances covering 16 innings, with 13 walks and 10 strikeouts for a 2.81 ERA.

Coincidentally, Rojas' debut came as Funderburk was on paternity leave for the birth of his child.

 

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[DataNerd]

I don't think Rojas has shown that he is ready, but neither has the majority of our current bullpen

[Danchat]

Funderburk going down is certainly a choice... given he is easily in the top 3 best members of the bullpen. This could use up his final option.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

Funderburk going down is certainly a choice... given he is easily in the top 3 best members of the bullpen. This could use up his final option.

Yeah, I'm not understanding it. Really, they should dump Rogers or Garcia.

[Linus]

Rojas has huge upside if he can gain some command. Not surprised that Fundy got sent down. The guy has no control - you can’t have bullpen guys walking a guy an inning (his whip is sky high). Do not understand the love he gets. 

[tony&rodney]

Rojas pitched well. The young lefty could certainly use a little better command but his stuff is hard to square up. 

Funderburk does struggle versus LH hitters with too many walks. Something tells me he is back after an IL move (Topa?).

[LA Vikes Fan]

I also wonder about Topa. He hasn’t pitched in four days. Sounds like an IL candidate. You can backdate it three days so now might be the time to put him on the list. You could call up Matthews and give him the start on Friday when Bradley’s turn comes up. You can recall someone just sent down without eating the required 15 days (10 for a position player) if they’re replacing someone on IL so Funderburk can come back sooner.  So, moves for this week - Mondat, Topa to IL, Funderburk back. By Friday, Garcia gone, Matthews up. I’d also think about Klein back for Adams when you can. 

[Sampson5]

Weird that they sent down their best reliever feel like getting rid of garcia was the easy choice I mean guy has like a 9 era even banda or topa makes sense. If we're being honest orze,sands ,funderberk, morris been the only pen arms that have been even solid this year but yeah let's keep our worst arms on the club banda I can get since he has good stuff just can't protect him from righties with this pen so his era is bad . Hopefully they keep rojas up here his stuff is great just gotta keep working on the command gotta think mlb coaches help that more then the minor league coaches will 

[Whitey333]

Typical strange move by Twins.  Funderburk isn't perfect but statistically was the third best option.  And while sending down Funderburk is being justified by some my opinion is it would have been more justified to release Garcia, Bandai, or even Topa that statistically keep proving they don't belong here and why other teams didn't want them. 

[killercarewoliva]

16 hours ago, Linus said:

Rojas has huge upside if he can gain some command. Not surprised that Fundy got sent down. The guy has no control - you can’t have bullpen guys walking a guy an inning (his whip is sky high). Do not understand the love he gets. 

Fundy has a 2.81 era. that is a really good era. I'm not sure who on the staff can beat that. most of our relievers aren't even close. Rojas yesterday somehow overall based on runs aloud had a good game but my God he can't find the plate. his pictures so many of them are so far from the plate area. they wave off away and I was surprised he only had three walks. He's going to have a lot of 3-2 counts if he doesn't get control. but if this guy can control himself, he will be incredible. he threw the ball into center field. OMG. I'm sitting here talking to myself. somebody show this dude how to get the ball inside the strike zone before you stick him out on a major League field. I think Rogers has to do a lot worse even though he's doing terrible to get sent away anywhere. he's a special young man for the Minnesota twins so they're going to try hard to keep him.

[Danchat]

I will say that I didn't realize just how bad Funderburk's peripherals were, 7.3 BBs/9 to 5.6 Ks/9 is unbelievably atrocious. But still, a bullpen with Garcia and Banda throwing BP, he's still one of the better options.

[Jeff K]

12 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Rojas pitched well. The young lefty could certainly use a little better command but his stuff is hard to square up. 

Funderburk does struggle versus LH hitters with too many walks. Something tells me he is back after an IL move (Topa?).

Both Rojas and Funderburk have control problems.  If the Twins had a competent bullpen, you would want those two to better master the strike zone in St. Paul; however, we all know the bullpen is poor.  I'd just as soon go with these guys who can also get outs rather than the retread club.  Topa might be the biggest disappointment in the pen as he demonstrated some level of competence last season.

[jaimedude]

Topa seems like is velocity is up and down. Something seems up with him, wonder if lingering past injury? 

[MarkoFlow]

Rojas is an interesting arm to bring back up, especially with the bullpen needing coverage. His command still needs work, but the stuff is there. The Funderburk move is a little surprising, considering how inconsistent the bullpen has been overall.