Jump to content
Brewers v. Twins tonight! Come join our game thread! ×
Twins Daily
  • Create Account

  • Minor League Notes

    Notes about the minors are posted here.

    6 rumors in this category

      Cody Christie

      The Twins are approaching an uncomfortable point with two veteran relievers stashed at Triple-A St. Paul. According to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, Saints relievers John Brebbia and Matt Bowman both have opt-out clauses in their contracts on Sunday, May 17. If the Twins do not add them to the major league roster, either pitcher could elect free agency.

      That creates an interesting decision for a bullpen that has largely stabilized after a rocky start but still lacks proven depth behind its core group.

      Brebbia entered the season as a relatively intriguing non-roster addition because of his extensive major league track record. The 35-year-old has appeared in parts of eight MLB seasons and, not long ago, was one of the most heavily used relievers in baseball. Back in 2022, he led the National League with 76 appearances while posting a 124 ERA+.

      The recent results, however, have been more uneven. Last season with the Tigers and Braves, Brebbia allowed 20 earned runs across 23 1/3 innings in 22 appearances. The Twins were betting that some underlying traits still pointed toward a useful bullpen arm.

      There are at least a few signs supporting that idea in St. Paul. Brebbia has made 13 appearances for the Saints and struck out 24 of the 81 batters he has faced. His 29.6% strikeout rate is his highest mark in multiple seasons, and he has issued only seven walks in 18 1/3 innings.

      The run prevention numbers have not been particularly attractive. Brebbia owns a 5.40 ERA after allowing 11 earned runs, but his 4.91 FIP suggests the performance may not be quite as poor as the surface stats indicate. The swing-and-miss ability is still there, even though the overall results have remained inconsistent.

      Bowman’s case is different because Twins fans already saw him contribute during the 2024 season. The veteran right-hander appeared in five games for Minnesota in 2024 and posted a 2.35 ERA across 7 2/3 innings. That came during a season in which he bounced between four organizations as a classic waiver-wire journeyman. Last season with Baltimore, Bowman struggled to a 6.20 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 24 2/3 innings, but he has looked significantly sharper with St. Paul this year.

      In 20 1/3 innings, Bowman owns a 1.77 ERA with a 3.20 FIP while striking out 25.9% of opposing hitters. He has also limited walks with a 7.1% walk rate. Perhaps most importantly for a Twins bullpen that has leaned heavily on certain arms, Bowman has provided real flexibility. He has thrown more than one inning in nine of his 13 appearances.

      His recent stretch has been especially impressive. Over the last 28 days, Bowman owns a 1.46 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 14 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings. At some point, performance has to matter, especially for a major league bullpen that can never have enough dependable depth options.

      The Twins may ultimately decide roster flexibility is more valuable than protecting either veteran from free agency. That is often the reality with opt-out clauses attached to veteran minor league contracts. Still, Bowman has made a compelling case to get another opportunity.

      He has already shown he can survive in the majors, he is throwing multiple innings consistently, and his production at Triple-A has been difficult to ignore. If the Twins are going to lose one of these relievers anyway, Bowman feels like the pitcher worth betting on before another organization does.

      Cody Christie

      Twins Daily's top ranked prospect Walker Jenkins is once again dealing with an injury, this time after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. The injury occurred on Sunday while playing for Triple-A St. Paul, adding another interruption to what has already been a stop-and-start season.

      The organization announced that Jenkins will be re-evaluated in 10 days, at which point a clearer timetable for his return should become clearer. For now, the expectation is that he will miss at least a couple of weeks while recovering.

      The injury happened on a defensive play in center field when Jenkins made a running catch and carried his momentum into the wall. After securing the ball, he hit the fence hard and immediately went to the ground. He exited the game with a trainer and did not return. Imaging the following day confirmed the shoulder sprain.

      This marks the second time Jenkins has been sidelined this season. The 21-year-old appeared in just four Grapefruit League games before a hamstring injury kept him out of action. When healthy, he has been productive at the plate, hitting .256/.396/.389 across 111 plate appearances with St. Paul.

      Despite the setbacks, Jenkins showed flashes of his upside during a recent stretch against Iowa. Over that series, he went 8-for-18 with four doubles, a home run, four runs batted in, six runs scored, and four walks. It was one of his most complete offensive showings of the season before the injury halted his momentum.

      Durability has been one of the few question marks in Jenkins’ young career. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has yet to play a full season, appearing in 82 and 84 games during his first two professional campaigns. In 2025, he missed nearly the entire first month after an ankle sprain in minor league camp. The year prior, a hamstring injury on Opening Day sidelined him for six and a half weeks.

      Jenkins is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in baseball, but consistent time on the field has remained elusive. For a Twins organization looking to develop impact talent, his development is critical. Each setback delays that timeline, even if only temporarily.

      The injury news does not stop with Jenkins. Triple-A St. Paul has been hit hard in recent days, with outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez leaving Friday’s game with a left thumb injury after a headfirst slide into first base. Infielder Kaelen Culpepper was also absent from Sunday’s lineup after being hit by a pitch.

      For now, the focus remains on Jenkins’ recovery and his return to the field. The talent is undeniable. The challenge continues to be keeping him there long enough to fully realize it.

      Cody Christie

       

      There is a certain point in every season when the conversation shifts from what a team could be to what it actually is. For the Minnesota Twins, that moment is arriving earlier than anyone hoped. A slow start in the standings has already created urgency, and the idea of reinforcements from St Paul offered a sense of optimism. Over the weekend, that optimism took a hit.

      Walker Jenkins, Twins Daily’s top-ranked prospect, exited Sunday’s game for Triple-A St Paul after a frightening collision in the outfield. With two outs in the sixth inning, he tracked a deep drive into right-center, made the catch, and slammed hard into the wall. Jenkins got to his feet but immediately reached for his left shoulder. He was removed from the game without delay, and the initial concern was evident.

      At just 21 years old, Jenkins is navigating his first full season at Triple-A, and the early returns have been a mix of adjustment and recent progress. After a slow start, he had begun to find a rhythm at the plate with a 1.400 OPS over the last week, showing why he is viewed as a potential impact bat in Minnesota’s future lineup. That momentum now pauses, at least temporarily, as the organization evaluates his shoulder.

      He is not alone. Emmanuel Rodriguez, another top 100 prospect and Twins Daily’s number four-ranked player in the system, also landed on the injury report this weekend. Rodriguez suffered a muscle strain in his left thumb on Friday night when he dove headfirst into first base. The 23-year-old outfielder left the game early, adding another layer of concern for a team already lacking offensive consistency.

      There is at least some reason for cautious optimism with Rodriguez. He was seen taking batting practice on the field at CHS Field on Sunday, suggesting the injury may not require an extended absence. Before the injury, Rodriguez had been one of the Saints’ most productive hitters, posting a .247/.417/.506 slash line across 25 games. His blend of patience and power has long made him a candidate to be the next call when the Twins need a boost.

      That need is becoming more obvious by the day. Minnesota’s lineup has struggled to generate consistent pressure. In that context, the presence of Jenkins and Rodriguez at Triple A represented more than just long-term upside. They were potential solutions, players capable of injecting energy and production into a stagnant offense.

      For a Twins team searching for a spark, the timing could not be worse. Jenkins was beginning to heat up. Rodriguez looked close to forcing the conversation. Now, both timelines are on hold, even if only briefly.

      In the big picture, fans will still need to wait for further news on the injuries. Still, these two players are viewed as key pieces of the organization’s future. In the short term, however, it slows what felt like an inevitable push toward their major league debuts.

      And for a Minnesota club that could use a breath of fresh air, that delay is more than just inconvenient. It is another obstacle in a season that is already trending in the wrong direction.

      Cody Christie

      The Minnesota Twins are dealing with another hit to their outfield depth, and this one removes a player who looked ready to contribute sooner rather than later. Alan Roden, acquired from Toronto in last summer’s Louis Varland deal, is expected to miss at least a month after suffering an injury to his right shoulder.

      Roden opened the season at Triple-A St. Paul after being optioned at the end of Spring Training, but he remained firmly on the radar as a likely call-up if the Twins needed help in the outfield. That opportunity will now be put on hold as the organization takes a cautious approach with his recovery.

      “He has a tear in his labrum,” general manager Jeremy Zoll said on Thursday. “It’s viewed as nonsurgical at this time. He’ll be down from all activity for about four weeks and then go from there. In theory, he could keep DHing, but to keep the recovery more predictable, everyone has agreed to just have him shut down for the next month.”

      The injury is specifically tied to Roden’s throwing shoulder, which is an important distinction. According to Zoll, it has not significantly impacted his ability to swing the bat, but the team is opting for a full shutdown rather than trying to manage the injury in a limited role. That decision prioritizes long-term health over any short-term production boost at the minor league level.

      Before going down, Roden was putting together an impressive stretch with St Paul. Through 19 games, he posted a .275/.425/.464 slash line while showing strong plate discipline with 17 walks compared to just 14 strikeouts. That combination of on-base ability and contact skills made him an intriguing depth piece, especially for a Twins roster that has dealt with its share of outfield uncertainty.

      It is also worth noting that, while the word 'tear' can sound alarming, it does not necessarily indicate a severe or complete structural issue. In many cases, what is labeled as a tear can be more minor in nature, and the Twins appear confident that rest and recovery will be enough to get Roden back on track without surgery.

      In the meantime, his absence creates a ripple effect. With Roden out of the picture for at least the next month, the Twins may have to look elsewhere if a need arises in the big league outfield. That could open the door for top prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez, both of whom are already at Triple A and offer left-handed bats with center field capability.

      For Roden, this is another frustrating interruption. He saw regular action after joining the organization last season, before a thumb injury cut his year short. Now, just as he was building momentum again, he will be forced to reset once more.

      The Twins will hope that this is simply a temporary pause rather than a lingering issue. If Roden can return on schedule and pick up where he left off, he should still factor into the team’s plans at some point this season. Until then, Minnesota’s outfield depth will be tested, and opportunities may shift toward the next wave of talent waiting in St. Paul.

      Cody Christie

      There is no shortage of optimism in the Minnesota Twins system, and now there is some national validation to go with it. Baseball America released its rankings of the most talented minor league rosters entering the 2026 season, and the St. Paul Saints sit comfortably at the top.

      According to Baseball America, St. Paul features four top 100 prospects and nine of the organization’s top 30. That kind of concentration is rare at the Triple-A level, where rosters are often a mix of up and down depth pieces and veteran placeholders. Instead, the Saints are rolling out a group that looks more like a future core than a temporary stop.

      Leading the way is Walker Jenkins, ranked No. 5 overall. He is joined by Emmanuel Rodriguez at No. 57, Kaelen Culpepper at No. 74, and Connor Prielipp at No. 94. No other team in Baseball America’s top five has more than three players inside the top 100, giving St. Paul a clear edge when it comes to top-end talent.

      The rest of the top five includes the Midland RockHounds, Arkansas Travelers, Indianapolis Indians, and Charlotte Knights. Those are strong systems in their own right, but none can match the combination of ceiling and proximity that the Saints currently possess.

      St. Paul wasted little time showing what that might look like on the field. They opened the season by sweeping Indianapolis on the road, handling one of the other top-ranked rosters. That series came against Konnor Griffin, baseball’s top overall prospect, before he was called up to the big leagues on Friday.

      From a Twins Daily perspective, the alignment is just as impressive. Four of the organization’s top five prospects are stationed in St. Paul, and six of the top ten are already at Triple A. The list reads like a snapshot of the next wave in Minnesota

      For the Twins, this creates a different kind of pressure, the good kind. When injuries hit or production dips at the big league level, the answers are not coming from fringe depth. They are coming from players who have been developed with the expectation of contributing.

      Ranking systems are useful, but they only go so far. What makes this St. Paul roster compelling is not just how it looks in March, but what it represents over the next six months. This is a pipeline reaching its most concentrated point, where development meets opportunity.

      If even a handful of these players take the next step, the impact on Minnesota’s roster could be significant and immediate. The Saints roster is the best collection of talent to start the year, but in 2026, they feel much closer to something bigger.

      Cody Christie

      Organizational depth matters in March, even if it rarely grabs headlines. The Minnesota Twins made a pair of under-the-radar moves aimed at bolstering that depth, signing right-handers John Brebbia and Drew Smith to minor league deals. Both pitchers arrive with big-league experience and something to prove, offering the Twins low-risk options as the season begins.

      Brebbia, who will turn 36 next month, is the more established of the two. Not long ago, he looked like a steady late-inning option. From 2022 through 2023, he posted a 3.47 ERA and 3.54 FIP across 106 1/3 innings, leaning on a deep arsenal even as his strikeout rate dipped to 22.5%. That stretch with San Francisco positioned him well for a return to free agency.

      The right-hander cashed in with a one-year deal from Chicago ahead of the 2024 season, but things unraveled quickly. Brebbia was tagged for a 6.29 ERA across 54 appearances with the White Sox, and while his 26.9 K% and 7.7 BB%  were respectable, he was undone by the long ball. Nine home runs allowed in just under 49 innings proved too much to overcome, and Chicago moved on.

      Last season, his opportunity came in Detroit, but injuries and ineffectiveness limited him to just 18 appearances. A triceps strain interrupted his season, and when he did take the mound, the results were rough. Brebbia posted a 7.71 ERA, continuing a downward trend that forced him into a minor league pact this offseason.

      He initially latched on with Colorado but did not make the club out of camp after a difficult spring (7.00 ERA in 9 IP). Now with Minnesota, Brebbia will look to rediscover the form that once made him a dependable bullpen piece. If he can limit the home run damage, there is still enough swing-and-miss in his profile to make him a viable option.

      Smith presents a different kind of upside. The 32-year-old has spent his entire major league career with the Mets, quietly building a track record as a useful middle reliever. His 2023 campaign marked a high point, as he set career bests in both innings and appearances while also recording his first three saves.

      He appeared to be building on that success early in 2024. Smith posted a career-best 29.1 K% and picked up a pair of saves before an elbow sprain in July derailed his season. That injury ultimately led to his second Tommy John surgery, wiping out his entire 2025 campaign and prompting New York to decline a club option for 2026.

      Despite the long layoff, Smith showed encouraging signs this spring with Washington. He tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out 35% of the batters he faced, looking like a pitcher who could contribute sooner rather than later. Even so, the Nationals opted to move in a different direction, giving the Twins an opportunity to bring him into the fold.

      For Minnesota, both signings fit a familiar mold. These are experienced relievers with clear flaws but also identifiable paths back to usefulness. Brebbia needs to keep the ball in the yard. Smith needs to prove his health and durability after multiple elbow procedures.

      Neither move will define the Twins' season, but both could matter more than expected. Bullpens are fluid, and the line between Triple-A depth and meaningful innings at Target Field is often thin. If even one of these veterans finds his footing, this will look like a quietly effective bit of roster building.

      At this time of year, that is exactly the kind of gamble worth making.

×
×
  • Create New...