Minnesota Twins Shouldn’t Demote Mike Paredes When Bailey Ober Returns to the Starting Rotation

[Cody Schoenmann]

Having his contract purchased from Triple-A St. Paul on May 31, Mike Paredes has played an integral role in the Minnesota Twins’ ability to stay in postseason contention this summer, unexpectedly operating as the club’s fifth starter in June. Paredes’s rise to his newfound role with the parent club was unanticipated on many fronts. The 25-year-old began his 2026 campaign as a part of Double-A Wichita’s starting rotation. Also, Minnesota was rich in starting pitching depth to begin the regular season, with ten or more starters above Paredes on the organizational depth chart.

 

Given extended injuries to Pablo López, David Festa, Mick Abel, Kendry Rojas, and Bailey Ober, and Simeon Woods Richardson unexpectedly getting designated for assignment in late May, Twins decision-makers were more or less forced to hand Paredes a spot on the club’s 13-pitcher staff. Surprisingly, the inexperienced righty has been serviceable, netting a 4.26 ERA, 5.44 FIP, and a 13-to-9 strikeout to walk ratio over 25 1/3 innings pitched. Again, Paredes’s numbers don’t pop off the page—his 11.8% strikout rate is rather alarming. Still, his serviceability has saved Minnesota’s starting rotation, helping the club stay in postseason contention as the All-Star break nears.

 

Despite Paredes’s honorable service, Ober is nearing a return from the 10-day IL, rejoining Minnesota's five-pitcher starting rotation. With Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley, Zebby Matthews, and Connor Prielipp being the other four pitchers in the quintet, Paredes will be the odd starting pitcher out, signaling the 25-year-old could soon be demoted to Triple-A St. Paul. That said, Paredes has impressed in his first cup of coffee in the majors, meaning Twins decision-makers could opt to transition him into a relief role.

Operating out of the bullpen, Paredes could again operate as a bulk reliever, helping Ober ease back from the 10-day IL or pitching multiple innings if one of the other starters is pulled from a start early due to injury or poor performance. Given that the Twins bullpen continues to struggle mightily, however, the right-handed arm could transition into a short reliever, helping fortify a unit in dire need of dependable arms. In his six appearances this month, Paredes’s most effective pitch has been his cutter, with hitters generating a modest .159 wOBA against it. However, his best pitch from a movement and stuff perspective is his sweeper, generating a 26.9% strikeout rate while throwing it 21.3% of the time.

 

His sweeper would likely play up in a short relief role, generating higher velocity and greater horizontal break in short bursts. Paredes could fortify his sweeper and turn it into an above-average complementary pitch alongside his four-seam when facing right-handed hitters, while relying more on his change as an out-pitch against left-handed hitters. Assuming he’s able to elevate his sweeper and change while adding velocity to his four-seam in a short relief role, Paredes should be more of a strikeout pitcher, meaning he could improve his presently well-below-average 11.8% strikeout rate as a starter.

 

Paredes has been an incredible development story, playing a vital role in keeping Minnesota’s playoff hopes from sinking in June. However, he is walking a thin line as a starter and could soon implode, given his inability to miss bats over multiple innings pitched. When Ober returns from the 10-day IL, Minnesota would be wise to transition Paredes to the bullpen, providing him an opportunity to solidify a role in a unit desperate for reliable arms.

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[mark allen]

He has earned the right to stay in the bullpen.

[Patzky]

It seems too obvious to actually be considered.

[krink]

But if we put a young guy in the bullpen, where will we fit our next washed up DFA claim?

In all seriousness, I’ve been enjoying Parades. As I mentioned in the Weekly Wrap, he pitched serviceably in game 2 against the Rockies. With a few tweaks, he could be great to cover Joe Ryan’s almost inevitable trade. But he has certainly earned more time in the big league club, and if that’s time in the bullpen, I say let’s keep him there.

[Patzky]

Just now, krink said:

But if we put a young guy in the bullpen, where will we fit our next washed up DFA claim?

In all seriousness, I’ve been enjoying Parades. As I mentioned in the Weekly Wrap, he pitched serviceably in game 2 against the Rockies. With a few tweaks, he could be great to cover Joe Ryan’s almost inevitable trade. But he has certainly earned more time in the big league club, and if that’s time in the bullpen, I say let’s keep him there.

We're trying to manage Prielipp's workload. Ober won't be ready to pitch six innings. Run a six man rotation until the break and by then we'll know if we're buyers or sellers.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

8 minutes ago, Patzky said:

We're trying to manage Prielipp's workload. Ober won't be ready to pitch six innings. Run a six man rotation until Joe Ryan gets traded.

FTFY

[Linus]

He’s been an unexpected surprise. He doesn’t have great stuff but he isn’t afraid. Surely he is one of the 13 best options for the Twins right now. 

[Mike Sixel]

20 minutes ago, Patzky said:

We're trying to manage Prielipp's workload. Ober won't be ready to pitch six innings. Run a six man rotation until the break and by then we'll know if we're buyers or sellers.

Agreed. Or piggy back Prielipp.

[Blyleven2011]

The plan , the plan  , if only we were included in the plan we might have a small clue what they might do ...

He has earned his stay  ...

the bullpen , it could maybe be better for him and the team if he can tweak a few pitches and velocity moves up a tic  ...

Parades does eat innings  , got to get better at not walking batters , the whole fricken bullpen needs to stop walking the first player they face once coming into pitch , ( way to often  )...

[mrguy]

It's absolutely for the best he stays up, sure you could keep him in St. Paul to build him up for longer outings if you want to use him as a starter in case of future injuries or a possible trade at the deadline, but some of the metrics in St. Paul obviously didn't carry over to the majors yet. His Sweeper had an insane 45% whiff rate in St. Paul with a 41% chase rate while so far has only been able to get 23% whiff in the majors with a 34% chase rate. His other pitches have actually managed to tick up in whiff rate in the majors which is an interesting development, but the almost half drop with his sweeper has led to his overall whiff rate dropping.

Having him in St. Paul I don't think will improve how he works his pitches in the majors, letting him face major league level talent and working on the right way to use his stuff to fool batters is the only real path to let him develop properly. I don't think his current issue is a stuff issue, it's a matter of optimization at this point and sending him down to face AAA batters won't improve that.

[DJL44]

He’s pitched better than Adams, Laweryson and Funderburk.

I hate the six man rotation idea. Why do you want fewer starts from Ryan and Bradley?

[LA Vikes Fan]

1 hour ago, Patzky said:

It seems too obvious to actually be considered.

Agreed. This is a no-brainer. Paredes should stay and be a multi-inning reliever in the bullpen. He can take Adams' spot. He could also pitch some short relief to keep him sharp. In any event, when we look at the Twins roster and minor-league system and we tried to decide who are the eight best pitchers to put in that bullpen, Paredes is easily in the top 8 and he should be there. In fact, Ober's return should definitely help the bullpen precisely because Paredes can now be part of the bullpen.

[HerbieFan]

21 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

He’s pitched better than Adams, Laweryson and Funderburk.

I hate the six man rotation idea. Why do you want fewer starts from Ryan and Bradley?

100%.  At some point they have to look at Prielipp's workload....I like the idea of limiting him to 60-70 pitches and use Paredes as a piggy back.