Twins Option Kody Funderburk To Triple-A

[Steve Drumwright]

 

With the Minnesota Twins bringing in bullpen help from outside the organization, left-hander Kody Funderburk lost his roster spot.

The Twins on Tuesday optioned Funderburk to Triple-A St. Paul. The move came the day after the Twins acquired rigjt-hander Justin Lawrence from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations. Lawrence had been designated for assignment by the Pirates.

Funderburk has been doing well in the bullpen, posting a 3.44 ERA in 21 appearances covering 18⅓ innings. However, walks have hurt Funderburk as he has issued 16 free passes, while striking out 10.

Lawrence had a 5.32 ERA in 23 outings and 22 innings with 12 walks and 25 strikeouts with the Pirates.

 

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[Mike Sixel]

I cannot wait for new leadership that cares about developing youth over terrible veterans. 

[Possumlad]

21 minutes ago, Steve Drumwright said:

 

With the Minnesota Twins bringing in bullpen help from outside the organization, left-hander Kody Funderburk lost his roster spot.

The Twins on Tuesday optioned Funderburk to Triple-A St. Paul. The move came the day after the Twins acquired rigjt-hander Justin Lawrence from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations. Lawrence had been designated for assignment by the Pirates.

Funderburk has been doing well in the bullpen, posting a 3.44 ERA in 21 appearances covering 18⅓ innings. However, walks have hurt Funderburk as he has issued 16 free passes, while striking out 10.

Lawrence had a 5.32 ERA in 23 outings and 22 innings with 12 walks and 25 strikeouts with the Pirates.

 

 

View full rumor

 

What an odd move. Lawrence has a 5.05 ERA over 233 big league innings (he's not young, and first got called up by Colorado in 2021). Sometimes I feel like the Twins front office prefers predictably terrible veterans over occasionally volatile young guys. So weird.

[karcherd]

Is the front office using a dart board or do they just wake in the morning and make some random move.  I thought if anything they would pick up a starter that can give some length.  There have been 10,000 in various outlets about how they are short on starters and have no one to fill in for Ober.  So pick up another aging vet who has no upside at all to pitch in relief.

[miller761]

How many times has Funderburk walked the leadoff hitter who a lot of times is batting left handed? He has been given like multiple different chances this year with the same result. Our bullpen has not been dreadful lately with Shelton doing a great job matching up but walks have been given up at an alarming rate and a lot of those batters who have walked have scored. 

[USAFChief]

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I cannot wait for new leadership that cares about developing youth over terrible veterans. 

Funderburk is 29. Will turn 30 this year. 

[tomcat]

16 walks to 10 Ks for a reliever is unacceptable, period. He could lose 20+ lbs to boot. Fine that he is back to minor leagues until he develops better control of his pitches.