New Twins Pitching Coach Brain Reith Must Get These 3 Pitchers On Track

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins are turning to the Tampa Bay Rays' pitching development system for their next pitching coach. Brian Reith spent the past five seasons coaching Triple-A Durham, giving him experience in an organization known for developing effective pitchers. Now, he will try to bring some of that approach to Minnesota.

Reith has already made his priorities clear.

"Throwing strikes is No. 1," Reith told reporters, according to MLB.com's Matthew Leach. "Getting to two strikes as quick as possible, then executing a pitch to get a guy out."

That philosophy should provide a foundation for a Minnesota pitching staff that allowed the sixth-most runs in baseball last season. The struggles ultimately cost Pete Maki his job, and Reith will be tasked with helping the staff become more consistent heading into 2027.

However, some of Reith's most important offseason work will involve pitchers who still have plenty to prove. Zebby Matthews, Kendry Rojas, and Connor Prielipp each enter the winter with questions about their performance, development, or long-term role. If Reith can help those three take the next step, Minnesota could have more reliable options heading into the new season.

Can Zebby Matthews Find More Consistency?

Zebby Matthews entered the 2026 season with an opportunity to establish himself as a regular member of Minnesota's rotation. The right-hander has the ingredients to become a useful starter, but consistency remains a major part of his development.

Matthews needs to show that he can execute his pitches over multiple innings and keep opposing hitters from taking advantage of mistakes. He posted a career-worst 14.1 K-BB% in 2026 with his K% dipping by over 3.5%. Getting ahead in counts will be especially important for a pitcher trying to establish himself at the major-league level. 

That is where Reith's philosophy could benefit Matthews. The new pitching coach wants his pitchers to attack early and get to two strikes quickly. For Matthews, that means developing a dependable plan for each hitter rather than allowing an at-bat to become a battle for control. During his minor league tenure, Matthews posted elite walk rates and strikeout percentages, but that hasn’t followed him to the big leagues. 

Reith will also need to determine whether Matthews' delivery and pitch mix give him the best chance to succeed as a starter. The offseason provides an opportunity to evaluate his mechanics, identify areas where he loses command, and establish a plan for getting more consistent results. Technology can help the coaching staff identify delivery issues, but the goal must be translating those adjustments into better execution on the mound.

Reith's first challenge is helping Matthews build a more dependable foundation. If he can improve his command and find a repeatable approach, the Twins should give him every opportunity to remain in the rotation. If those improvements do not come, a bullpen transition could become a more realistic option.

Kendry Rojas Needs a Defined Role

Kendry Rojas presents a different challenge for Minnesota's new pitching coach. The left-hander needs to establish a clearer role after a season in which the Twins did not consistently treat him as either a traditional starter or a full-time reliever.

Young pitchers often move between roles as organizations attempt to balance development with immediate roster needs. In 2026, Rojas never pitched more than four innings and topped out at 60 pitches in an outing for the Twins. He was able to make spot starts and provide length from the bullpen, but a defined role can help his 2027 performance. 

There can be value in that flexibility, particularly when a pitcher is still learning how to handle professional hitters. However, there comes a point when a player needs a more consistent assignment to develop the routines and skills required for a specific job. Rojas needs that clarity heading into 2027.

If the Twins believe he can become a starter, the organization should give him a structured plan to build up his workload. That includes developing the endurance to handle multiple innings, refining his secondary pitches, and learning how to adjust his approach as hitters become more familiar with him. Starting requires more than having enough pitches to get through a lineup. It also requires maintaining execution deep into outings and having a plan for the second and third time through the order.

Reith could help Rojas establish those habits during the offseason. The coaching staff can evaluate his delivery, review his pitch usage, and identify which offerings give him the best chance to get ahead of hitters. From there, Minnesota can develop a more consistent plan for his progression.

Reith's background in Tampa Bay could prove valuable here. Pitching development involves more than identifying a player's best pitches. It also requires determining how those pitches fit into a role and creating a plan that helps the pitcher execute consistently. Rojas needs that type of direction as he works toward becoming a dependable major-league option.

Minnesota does not need to decide Rojas' entire career this winter, but it should enter spring training with a clearer understanding of his future. Giving him a defined role would provide a better foundation for evaluating his progress and determining how he fits into the pitching staff.

Can Brian Reith Unlock Connor Prielipp?

Connor Prielipp enters the offseason with an important accomplishment behind him: he made it through the 2026 season healthy. For a pitcher whose development has been interrupted by injury concerns, staying on the mound is a meaningful step forward.

However, health is only part of the equation. Prielipp's underlying numbers suggest there could be more performance available, making him an intriguing project for Reith and the Twins' pitching development staff.

When a pitcher's underlying indicators suggest better results are possible, the coaching staff needs to determine what is preventing those results from showing up consistently. Prielipp had a 4.87 ERA compared to a 3.95 xERA. That difference could be tied to pitch location, sequencing, contact quality, or the ability to finish at-bats after getting ahead. Without identifying the specific issue, it becomes difficult to turn promising indicators into better results.

Reith's emphasis on attacking hitters early should give Prielipp a starting point. Getting ahead in counts creates opportunities to use secondary pitches more aggressively and puts hitters in situations where they must protect the strike zone. For a pitcher trying to maximize his arsenal, that advantage can be significant. In 2026, Prielipp’s fastball run value was -7, and that isn’t putting him in a good spot for his secondary pitches to be weapons. 

The next step will be evaluating Prielipp's delivery and pitch characteristics. Reith has indicated that technology will play a role in his approach, with an emphasis on getting deliveries right so pitchers can execute their pitches. That could help the Twins identify adjustments that allow Prielipp to repeat his mechanics and improve his command.

Still, the goal should not be to overhaul a pitcher simply because his numbers suggest room for improvement. Prielipp first needs to establish what works and build from there. With a healthier season behind him, the organization has a better opportunity to evaluate his strengths and identify the changes that could make him more effective.

Prielipp's healthy 2026 campaign gives the Twins a foundation to build upon. Reith now has an opportunity to help him turn that availability into more consistent performance. If the new pitching coach can identify the gap between Prielipp's underlying indicators and his actual results, Minnesota could have another arm ready to contribute.

The Twins Need More From Their Young Pitchers

Reith inherits a pitching staff that needs improvement, but the challenge extends beyond helping established starters maintain their performance. Minnesota also needs its younger pitchers to develop into reliable options, whether that means earning rotation spots or becoming valuable bullpen contributors.

Matthews, Rojas, and Prielipp represent three different development questions. Matthews needs to show that he can deliver consistent results as a starter. Rojas needs a clearer role and a plan built around it. Prielipp needs to turn a healthy season and encouraging underlying indicators into more effective major-league performance.

Reith's experience with Tampa Bay's development system could help the Twins address those challenges. His focus on throwing strikes, getting ahead in counts, and using technology to improve deliveries provides a clear starting point. The more difficult work will be identifying what each pitcher needs and making adjustments that translate into results.

Minnesota does not need all three pitchers to become top-of-the-rotation starters for the offseason to be successful. It needs them to make progress toward roles in which they can consistently help the major-league team.

If Reith can provide that direction, the Twins could enter 2027 with a deeper and more dependable pitching staff. His first major-league coaching job will come with plenty of challenges, and helping these three young arms find their footing would be a strong place to start.

 

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Can Reith help this trio of pitchers take the next step in 2027? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[nicksaviking]

Can't we just put Matthews in the pen already? That's where he should have been last year, and I think he's going to kill it in that role after he gets acclimated. I think if he'd been there last year, we'd already be putting him down right next to Hoffman as the de facto late inning guys. 

[ashbury]

27 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Can't we just put Matthews in the pen already? That's where he should have been last year, and I think he's going to kill it in that role after he gets acclimated. I think if he'd been there last year, we'd already be putting him down right next to Hoffman as the de facto late inning guys. 

A new pitching coach seems exactly what could be needed in order for Zebby to achieve the consistency that he currently lacks.  Games like his six innings of two-hit ball against the Yankees don't happen by accident.  His home/road splits are immense - is there something in his hotel room that can be fixed so he gets a better night of sleep?  More of Good Zebby and less of Bad Zebby is all that is keeping him from being really valuable in the starter's role and I'm not quite ready to give up on that potential.

[nicksaviking]

15 minutes ago, ashbury said:

A new pitching coach seems exactly what could be needed in order for Zebby to achieve the consistency that he currently lacks.  Games like his six innings of two-hit ball against the Yankees don't happen by accident.  His home/road splits are immense - is there something in his hotel room that can be fixed so he gets a better night of sleep?  More of Good Zebby and less of Bad Zebby is all that is keeping him from being really valuable in the starter's role and I'm not quite ready to give up on that potential.

Possibly, but I think the odds that Matthews ends up at the top of rotation are low and I think the odds that he could end up as a great late inning reliever are high. And while the Twins are tinkering, Matthews is getting older and his years of control are shrinking.

And I think people tend to think a back of the rotation starter is more valuable than a high leverage relief pitcher, and I disagree. 

[Jacksson]

With the publication of the new Pitching Coaches philosophy, the Twins' pitchers better have something nasty on the ball and have premier location on the first few pitches because batters are now on notice that those first few pitches will be at or near the strike zone and they will be swinging.

[arby58]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Can't we just put Matthews in the pen already? That's where he should have been last year, and I think he's going to kill it in that role after he gets acclimated. I think if he'd been there last year, we'd already be putting him down right next to Hoffman as the de facto late inning guys. 

If they would  have put him in the pen already last year who would have made his starts? The Twins were seriously thin in starting pitching, and they were already rolling the dice on Prielipp staying in the rotation. If Abel had been available I might have agreed with you.

[Cory Engelhardt]

I'm probably naive here, but I do think Zebby has the build and the stuff, with the right coaching, to truly be a durable #3 starter who could start a playoff game. His fastball shape isn't the best, and hopefully this coach is someone who can help with that. 

Again, probably naive. But I also look at all the guys who Tampa has brought in over the years who they helped get the most out of. And a lot of that really truly is teaching pitchers to trust their fastball more and attach the 4 corners of the zone. It sounds simple, but with so many coaches teaching max velocity and slider usage over the last 20 years or more, this type of philosophy feels like a breath of fresh air.

It's a bold strategy Cotton, let's see how it plays out for them. 

[Whammy]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

And I think people tend to think a back of the rotation starter is more valuable than a high leverage relief pitcher, and I disagree. 

I think it depends on the year.

We can certainly make do in 2027 with Zebby in the bullpen, but with where things sit right now, we might really need him to eat innings in 2028. 

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, arby58 said:

If they would  have put him in the pen already last year who would have made his starts? The Twins were seriously thin in starting pitching, and they were already rolling the dice on Prielipp staying in the rotation. If Abel had been available I might have agreed with you.

To begin with, I would have given Rojas the starts and moved Matthews to the pen. 

After Rojas became unavailable? I really couldn't have cared less who was getting emergency starts for a 77 win team. Martin Perez, Carlos Carrasco, Chris Paddack? Those guys were floating around on waivers all season long is seemed like.

And it wasn't about punishing Matthews, I think he's going to be really good in relief. In a lost season, the Twins missed the opportunity to make the transition, which does not always go well in the beginning.

[nicksaviking]

34 minutes ago, Whammy said:

I think it depends on the year.

We can certainly make do in 2027 with Zebby in the bullpen, but with where things sit right now, we might really need him to eat innings in 2028. 

Lopez, Ryan, Bradley. Then I want to trade for another starter as good or better. Then I'd prefer the last spot to be Preilipp, Abel or Rojas, but there's still also Kremer and Ober.

Any of us can come up with our preferred rotation blue print, but I have a hard time seeing anyone putting Matthews in the top five. And if he's not in the top five he should be in the pen. The Twins penchant for freaking out about depth and in doing so NOT rostering their best 26 players needs to end.

If you need a guy to 'eat innings' then the team is just worried about getting through a game and not actually winning it. In such scenarios they should just be grabbing and recycling DFA'd pitchers and then DFA'ing them again once they are no longer needed.

[DJL44]

The #1 thing they can do to improve their pitching is improvement on defense. Get a plus fielding second baseman and get Larnach out of LF.

[Glorybound]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Lopez, Ryan, Bradley. Then I want to trade for another starter as good or better. Then I'd prefer the last spot to be Preilipp, Abel or Rojas, but there's still also Kremer and Ober.

Any of us can come up with our preferred rotation blue print, but I have a hard time seeing anyone putting Matthews in the top five. And if he's not in the top five he should be in the pen. The Twins penchant for freaking out about depth and in doing so NOT rostering their best 26 players needs to end.

If you need a guy to 'eat innings' then the team is just worried about getting through a game and not actually winning it. In such scenarios they should just be grabbing and recycling DFA'd pitchers and then DFA'ing them again once they are no longer needed.

Even with minimal injuries it takes about 7 or 8 starters to get through a season. Zebby’s home and away splits are wide enough that they are likely doing some research as to why. He could be a valuable starter as someone that can get you 6 or 7 innings and really save a bullpen. I would not be surprised if they start the season with a 6 man rotation because of Lopez coming off tj and Ryan having a penchant for blowing up in the second half. They really need Zebby as a starter.

[mnfireman]

How about putting a defense behind these guys that can make the plays, allowing these guys to pitch without thinking every pitch has to be perfect.

[kmwerfamily]

How about we just fix the first inning of all of our pitchers, but Zebby in particular.  The Twins pitching numbers in the first inning were awful.

[SE23]

16 hours ago, DJL44 said:

The #1 thing they can do to improve their pitching is improvement on defense. Get a plus fielding second baseman and get Larnach out of LF.

Mauricio Dubon!

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, SE23 said:

Mauricio Dubon!

He would be a big upgrade on Kreidler

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Freudian slip? @Cody Christie

[Brandon]

I think Preliepp needs to work on pitching from the stretch based on him not giving up to many base runners and homers last season.  

Rojas and Matthews could be used in the pen next season or start in AAA or the majors but in 2028 we want both well positioned to be successful #3 starters. Since we have 4 free agent starters next off-season.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

18 hours ago, Glorybound said:

Even with minimal injuries it takes about 7 or 8 starters to get through a season. Zebby’s home and away splits are wide enough that they are likely doing some research as to why. He could be a valuable starter as someone that can get you 6 or 7 innings and really save a bullpen. I would not be surprised if they start the season with a 6 man rotation because of Lopez coming off tj and Ryan having a penchant for blowing up in the second half. They really need Zebby as a starter.

Disagree on opening the season w/ a 6 man rotation, unless the season is delayed. If it starts on time, they usually have enough weather buffer in the schedule to not need a 5th starter until 2 weeks into the season.

Everything else, I 100% agree with. Zebby wasn’t on the opening day roster and was 4th in innings pitched.

when the 10th most innings came from a bad LOOGY that can’t be one out guy in the current rule book… a team needs to plan for the unexpected 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

On 10/23/2026 at 11:35 AM, nicksaviking said:

Possibly, but I think the odds that Matthews ends up at the top of rotation are low and I think the odds that he could end up as a great late inning reliever are high. And while the Twins are tinkering, Matthews is getting older and his years of control are shrinking.

And I think people tend to think a back of the rotation starter is more valuable than a high leverage relief pitcher, and I disagree. 

130 innings of 4 era isn’t worth more than 60 innings of 3 era?