Could Paulshawn Pasqualotto Become a Post-All-Star Break Bullpen Piece?

[Cody Schoenmann]

Right-handed pitching prospect Paulshawn Pasqualotto began his 2026 campaign with High-A Cedar Rapids, operating as the Kernels' primary closer. Through 18 innings pitched, the 25-year-old generated a 1.50 ERA, 1.96 FIP, and 44.1% strikeout rate, while netting four saves. He was promoted to Double-A Wichita, where he took on a setup role, netting a 3.94 ERA, 3.57 FIP, and a 24.3% strikeout rate over 16 innings pitched before being promoted to Triple-A St. Paul on July 2.

 

It took Pasqualotto only 34 innings pitched before he took the substantial jump from High-A to Triple-A, signaling Minnesota Twins decision-makers are rushing the 12th-round pick through the high-minors, seemingly with intentions to convert the former starting pitching prospect into a viable major league relief option. The young righty made his Triple-A debut against the Buffalo Bisons on July 3, striking out three in a scoreless inning, earning his first save as a Saint.

 

Pasqualotto’s ascension isn’t unique, as fellow former starting pitching prospects Mike Paredes, Alejandro Hidalgo, and CJ Culpepper have been promoted aggressively this season, with eyes on them impacting the major league pitching staff in some capacity (obviously, Paredes already has). Yet, Pasqualotto has been promoted the most aggressively, potentially signaling that Twins decision-makers might view him as an arm that could soon become a member of the scuffling parent club’s eight-pitcher relief collective.

 

Right now, Minnesota has the fifth-worst bullpen in baseball, according to Wins Above Replacement at FanGraphs (fWAR). Yoendrys Gomez and Andrew Morris have developed into viable late-inning arms. None of Taylor Rogers, Travis Adams, Eric Orze, Kody Funderburk, Marco Raya, or Woo-Suk Go can be trusted in high-leverage roles, however. That being the case, Derek Shelton is often forced to use inconsistent arms in high-leverage situations, which has led to multiple late-game collapses for the Twins.

Obviously, it would be malpractice to suggest Pasqualotto would immediately become a reliable late-inning arm. He has less experience and is of a lower prospect stature than the young arms that presently populate the bottom of Minnesota’s bullpen in Raya and Go. Given how dire a state Minnesota’s bullpen is in, however, Pasqualotto could soon earn a 40-man roster spot and join the club’s eight-pitcher relief unit, especially if he can build off his impressive Triple-A debut.

 

Pasqualotto has excelled at pounding the zone between Double-A and Triple-A, sporting a near-elite called plus swinging strike rate (CSW%), zone contact rate, and whiff rate between the two levels. The right-handed arm’s stuff isn’t particularly eye-popping, with his four-seam, slider, and cutter grading out as slightly below average. As noted earlier, however, he locates his pitches incredibly well, mixing his two fastball variants and slider with his change, which operates as his out-pitch against left-handed hitters. His slider functions as his out-pitch against righties.

 

Sitting around 96 MPH, Pasqualotto’s four-seam functions as his foundational pitch, which he throws against hitters of either-handedness. The young righty has utilized his four-pitch mix to produce an impressive 34.7% strikeout rate between Double- and Triple-A this season, signaling he has the potential to miss bats in the majors. He does struggle with walks, evidenced by him netting a 14.8% walk rate this season. Still, Pasqualotto has impressed while being promoted aggressively this season, missing bats with his four-pitch mix in short relief spurts at three different levels. Minnesota’s bullpen is in dire straits and in need of young, high-upside internal options to fill out the bottom half of the unit. That being the case, Pasqualotto could soon be handed an opportunity.

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[BillyBallLives]

Batting lead off, I will take a swing.....WHO?

Gomez has worked out, and Morris seems to be.
What if Raya does, and what if Go is another win, then Pasqualotto?

With magic like this, the Twins would not only appear in the postseason, they might win a series.

 

[Dman]

I remember the days when Pasqualatto had a hard time getting outs and had a high ERA.  He's really refined his stuff and looked good this year.  He was their stopper at High A this year.  I haven't really watched him pitch so no idea what he looks like, but the numbers are good this year.  

Probably a smart move to get him to AAA ASAP and see if his stuff plays there and they will have to make rule V decisions on Pasqualatto, Culpepper and Hidalgo. Not going to add them all so will need to figure out which one(s) might make sense to add.

Here's hoping he can be a dependable arm at the MLB level.  The Twins need as many as they can find.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd do this with Horn also....

[CRF]

Never even heard of the guy, but sure...why not?

[1985Fan]

Desperate times call for desperate measures….. if this is the plan for the BP, do it soon so they know if they have to make moves before/at the deadline. I’m all for developing internal options first. None of the AAA guys have worked out so far. If this second (or third) wave doesn’t work, then make a trade and get outside arms to help this terrible BP! 

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, 1985Fan said:

Desperate times call for desperate measures….. if this is the plan for the BP, do it soon so they know if they have to make moves before/at the deadline. I’m all for developing internal options first. None of the AAA guys have worked out so far. If this second (or third) wave doesn’t work, then make a trade and get outside arms to help this terrible BP! 

Matthews didn't work out? It's early on Raya. 

[1985Fan]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Matthews didn't work out? It's early on Raya. 

Talking about BP arms. Matthews doesn’t apply. From the OP: “None of Taylor Rogers, Travis Adams, Eric Orze, Kody Funderburk, Marco Raya, or Woo-Suk Go can be trusted in high-leverage roles, however. That being the case, Derek Shelton is often forced to use inconsistent arms in high-leverage situations, which has led to multiple late-game collapses for the Twins.”

Focusing on BP internal arms, Funderburk, Laweryson, Adams, and others have not worked out. Some can still turn it around, but not looking good. External options haven’t worked either; Orze, Garcia, Roger’s, etc have not been very good. 
Morris is the only internal BP arm that has developed into a reliable option. Banda was a good external add that did work well until he went down. 

[Mike Sixel]

19 minutes ago, 1985Fan said:

Talking about BP arms. Matthews doesn’t apply. From the OP: “None of Taylor Rogers, Travis Adams, Eric Orze, Kody Funderburk, Marco Raya, or Woo-Suk Go can be trusted in high-leverage roles, however. That being the case, Derek Shelton is often forced to use inconsistent arms in high-leverage situations, which has led to multiple late-game collapses for the Twins.”

Focusing on BP internal arms, Funderburk, Laweryson, Adams, and others have not worked out. Some can still turn it around, but not looking good. External options haven’t worked either; Orze, Garcia, Roger’s, etc have not been very good. 
Morris is the only internal BP arm that has developed into a reliable option. Banda was a good external add that did work well until he went down. 

I meant to type Morris, my bad. 

[Blyleven2011]

With a almost 15% walk rate , I'd say he's got refinements to do at AAA , no i don't think he will get promoted post deadline ...

[DocBauer]

I hope he does well. But right now he's behind Raya and CJ IMO, so I'd be surprised to see him this season.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

He was a post TJ pick in 2023,  and had struggled some in his 2023 year prior to the draft.  He was topping out at around 92 that year.  So obviously this is a pick that is working out,  but this comes with the caveat that he is being pushed aggressively as much out of necessity as it is that the coaches see something special about him.  I honestly think its a bit of both.  

[ashbury]

This article was probably in the queue for publication before the player was sent back to AA following a brief stint in AAA covering for Rozek's absence.

[1985Fan]

Twins just signed Matt Bowman to a minor league deal. For the second time this year. They must plan to give him a shot this time or why sign him again. Looks like they’re scouring the nooks and crannies of the minor leagues for arms. I actually think Bowman would be an improvement to this pen. 

[LyleCole]

For now the starting 5 should be Ryan-Bradley-Prielipp-Matthews-Paredes.

Bullpen  Gomez-Morris-Raya-The Suck and whatever other arms they scrounge up.   NOthing against Taylor Rogers, but one way or another he should be off the roster by the trade deadline. Same with Banda.   And unless he turns around, Orze.  

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

Raya to the injured list....