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      Cody Christie

      Spring training schedules can change quickly this time of year, and that is exactly what is happening for Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan. Minnesota’s right-hander is departing Twins camp and joining Team USA following the quarterfinal round of the World Baseball Classic. The move comes after Team USA needed to adjust its pitching plans late in the tournament.

      According to a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Ryan will take the roster spot originally held by veteran starter Clayton Kershaw once the quarterfinal stage concludes.

      Team USA’s immediate focus is on its quarterfinal matchup with Team Canada. That game is scheduled for Friday night in Houston. If the Americans advance, they would move on to the semifinal round on Sunday against the winner of the matchup between Team Korea and Team Dominican Republic.

      For Ryan, the next step is to throw a bullpen session on Saturday as part of his normal spring progression. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa confirmed that Ryan is expected to report after the quarterfinal round. That timing would make it extremely difficult for Ryan to be available in Sunday’s semifinal game. Throwing a bullpen on Saturday would effectively rule him out of pitching the following day.

      That leaves one realistic opportunity for Ryan to see game action in the tournament. If Team USA reaches the championship game, he could potentially be available either in relief or as a spot starter, depending on how the pitching situation develops.

      Ryan has made it clear he would love to contribute if the opportunity arises, but the situation remains fluid. At this point, he would be joining the team more as a depth option rather than with a guaranteed role in the rotation.

      Even a small role would be meaningful for the Twins starter. The World Baseball Classic has become one of the sport’s premier international events, and the chance to represent the United States on that stage carries plenty of appeal.

      Of course, Minnesota also has its own calendar to consider. Opening Day for the Twins is approaching quickly, with the club set to begin the season on the road against the Baltimore Orioles on March 26. That leaves roughly two weeks between the end of the Classic and the start of the regular season. If Ryan ends up pitching briefly in relief during the championship game or never appears at all, he should remain on track to start Opening Day in Baltimore.

      However, if he were to start the championship game, the team could adjust its rotation plans. In that case, another Twins pitcher might take the ball for the opener while Ryan would slide back a few days and make his first start later in the series against the Orioles.

      From Minnesota’s perspective, the preference is obviously to have Ryan lined up for the first game of the season. At the same time, the organization understands the significance of the opportunity and has expressed support for his potential participation.

      For now, everything hinges on how Team USA performs in the quarterfinal round. If the Americans keep advancing, Ryan’s spring could suddenly include one of the biggest stages in baseball.

      Cody Christie

      With the calendar turning toward the final week of spring training, the Minnesota Twins continue to narrow down their roster. On Tuesday, the club reassigned three more non-roster position players to minor league camp, signaling that decisions are becoming more real with each passing day.

      Outfielders Kala’i Rosario and Kyler Fedko, along with infielder Tanner Schobel, were the latest cuts. Rosario and Fedko were among a group of Twins prospects announced for the team’s Spring Breakout game on Thursday. The moves come just ahead of an off day on Wednesday, March 18, and leave the Twins with 21 position players remaining in big league camp. That group still includes a handful of non-roster invitees, but the competition is clearly tightening.

      Rosario may have made the strongest impression of the trio this spring. The 23-year-old went 5-for-15 in Grapefruit League action, showing some pop with a home run and driving in four. He also drew three walks, though the seven strikeouts highlight the continued development needed in his offensive approach. A fifth-round pick in 2020, Rosario finished last season at Double-A and remains an intriguing power bat in the system.

      Fedko, 26, brings versatility with experience at both first base and the outfield, but his spring numbers did not jump off the page. He collected three hits in 23 at-bats while striking out eight times. After splitting last season between Double- and Triple-A, he looks ticketed to provide organizational depth at the upper levels.

      Schobel, a 2022 second-round pick, also flashed some ability despite limited opportunities. The 24-year-old recorded two hits in 15 at-bats, including a home run, while working three walks. He reached Triple-A last season, and the Twins have continued to challenge him with aggressive assignments since drafting him.

      At this stage of camp, these moves are less about performance and more about roster realities. The Twins need to allocate at-bats and innings to players still competing for Opening Day roles, and that often means sending promising but not quite ready contributors back to the minor league side.

      None of Rosario, Fedko, or Schobel was expected to break camp with the major league club, but all three remain firmly in the picture for 2026. Each should factor into Triple-A depth at St Paul, positioning themselves as potential call-up options when injuries or roster needs inevitably arise during the season.

      Cory Moen

      The Twins announced a set of roster moves, recalling LHP Kody Funderburk from Triple-A St. Paul and reinstating RHP Cody Laweryson from the 15-day injured list.

      In corresponding moves, LHP Kendry Rojas was placed on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation, and Travis Adams was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul.

      Funderburk has had mixed results this year, pitching in five games with St. Paul and throwing five innings, where he gave up five runs while recording seven strikeouts. Earlier in the year at the major league level, Funderburk threw 16 innings for the Twins, where he struck out 10 hitters, earned a save, and had a much better 2.81 ERA, but his underlying metrics weren't as stellar (5.44 FIP).

      Laweryson has thrown 6 1/3 innings prior to the injury, striking out eight hitters, with a 2.43 FIP and a 0.789 WHIP. It's a small sample size, but he could be someone who serves as a solid option out of a bullpen, looking for solutions in various areas.

      Rojas was scratched from his most recent start and is having an MRI, which will reveal how serious the elbow injury is.

      Adams has had mixed results this year, mostly as a multi-inning reliever, throwing 10 innings for the Twins, striking out 12, but has given up eight runs, and a 4.77 FIP in that small sample size. He will likely return to the majors when a fresh arm is needed in the future.

      Matthew Taylor

      The Minnesota Twins officially added newly acquired right-handed starting pitcher Dean Kremer to the active roster on Sunday, optioning right-handed reliever Jack Anderson to Triple-A St. Paul in the corresponding move.

      Minnesota acquired Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night in exchange for 18-year-old outfield prospect Jhomnardo Reyes, and this move confirms the club's intention of immediately inserting him into the major league rotation. Combined with Saturday's decision to option Zebby Matthews to St. Paul, Kremer is now expected to take over Matthews' spot in the rotation. If that lines up as expected, Kremer will make his Twins debut on Thursday, August 6, in Kansas City. Kremer last pitched for Baltimore on July 28 when he allowed eight earned runs against the Detroit Tigers.

      The decision to option Anderson is a logical one. The Twins claimed the right-hander off waivers from the Red Sox earlier in July, and while he impressed during his brief stint in Minneapolis by tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings, most of his appearances came in low-leverage situations. With Kremer needing a roster spot, Anderson was the easiest move.

      The more intriguing question is what comes next for Matthews. Will he remain stretched out as rotation depth at Triple-A? Could he replace Connor Prielipp in the Saints' rotation if the organization wants to manage Prielipp's workload after the heaviest season of his professional career? Or do the Twins see Matthews as a potential bullpen option down the stretch? Those answers should become clearer over the next few weeks.

      What do you expect to see from Dean Kremer in the Minnesota Twins' rotation? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

      Seth Stohs

      Two years ago, the Twins signed a 32-year-old Matt Bowman to a minor-league contract. He began the season with the Saints, but after a handful of games, he was called up to the Twins. He pitched in five games for the Twins and gave up two runs over 7 2/3 innings. In a numbers game, he was DFAd by the Twins before the end of April and claimed by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He worked in five games for them before again being DFAd. The Mariners claimed him, and he pitched in one game for Seattle. He was released. Early in July, the Twins re-signed him and he spent the next five weeks with the Saints. In mid-August, he was released and signed with the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched well in 15 games down the stretch for the O's. Four teams in one season. A wanted man!

      He struggled in 20 games with Baltimore in 2025 and ended the season in the Astros minor leagues. 

       

      Now 34, Bowman signed a minor-league contract this week to pitch in the Twins organization in 2026. He will report to Fort Myers next week as a non-roster invitee to spring training. He will certainly have an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Twins bullpen on Opening Day. 

      A graduate of Princeton, he was drafted by the Mets in the 13th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He made the Opening Day roster of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016. Over the next three seasons, he pitched in 156 games out of the Cards bullpen. He spent most of 2019 with the Reds and then didn't pitch at all in 2020. However, in September of 2020, he had Tommy John surgery and didn't pitch again until 2023 when he worked in three games for the Yankees.

      The Twins have been quieter than usual in terms of minor-league free agent signings. However, I could make a case that three minor-league free agents could make the Twins roster.     

       

      Veteran infielder Orlando Arcia signed with the Twins last month. It would be surprising if he isn't on the Opening Day roster. The 31-year-old infielder debuted in 2016. He had some decent years in Milwaukee, and a couple of solid seasons in Atlanta where he played in his lone All-Star game. 

      Dan Altavilla is a 33-year-old right-handed pitcher who, you might be surprised to learn, made his big-league debut in 2016. He's mixed in some good years with some bad years. He's had some injuries. Last year with the White Sox, he had a 2.48 ERA over 25 games and 29 innings. The peripherals weren't great (or even particularly good), but if the Twins wanted another veteran in the bullpen, he could see time there.     

       

      29-year-old Andrew Bash signed with the Twins earlier this month. He was the Angels 30th round pick in 2019 out of California Baptist. The Angels released him in 2020, and he signed with the Blue Jays. He spent the past six seasons working his way up the Jays' ladder. Last year in Triple-A Buffalo, he went 6-2 with a 2.57 ERA. He made five starts but came out of the bullpen 35 times. He has jumped back-and-forth between Double-A and Triple-A and hasn't had an ERA over 3.00 at either level since the 2022 season. 

      The Twins signed right-hander Luis Quinones to a minor-league deal in December. Originally drafted in the 34th round by the Blue Jays in 2019, he's slowly worked his way up the ladder showing glimpses of really good stuff. He has also missed a lot time with injuries. In fact, in 2025, he pitched in just three rehab games, rehabbing in the FCL. However, he played winter ball in Puerto Rico and went 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA, a 0.69 WHIP, and two Saves. In 26 innings, he gave up nine hits, walked nine and had 36 strikeouts.

      After five years at Miami (Ohio), Grant Hartwig signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Mets in 2021. Two years later, he debuted and pitched in 28 games for the Mets. In 2024, he made just four appearances. He joined Hanshin in Japan during the 2025 season. His season ended a little early with an oblique injury. The 28-year-old returned to the States and signed with the Twins just a couple weeks later. 

      Cody Christie

      As expected, Minnesota Twins ace Pablo López will undergo Tommy John reconstructive surgery on Wednesday.

      A second opinion confirmed the initial diagnosis of significant tearing in the ulnar collateral ligament in López’s right elbow, leaving little doubt about the path forward. The procedure will take place in Texas under the care of noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister. It will be López’s second Tommy John surgery, and while the Twins are optimistic about a full recovery, he is expected to miss the entire 2026 season.

      The typical recovery timeline for pitchers following the procedure is roughly twelve months, which gives López a chance to return near the beginning of the 2027 campaign. That timeline would place his comeback in the final season of his four-year extension with Minnesota.

      Minnesota acquired López in one of the franchise’s most impactful trades in recent memory when they sent batting champion Luis Arraez to the Miami Marlins prior to the 2023 season. Since then, López has been everything the Twins hoped for at the top of their rotation. Across three seasons in Minnesota, he posted a combined 3.68 ERA while striking out 26.8% of opposing hitters and walking just 5.8%. He also helped the club end their playoff losing streak that had stretched into a second decade. 

      López looked poised to deliver another excellent season in 2025 before injuries began to mount. He carried a 2.82 ERA through his first 11 starts before suffering a Grade 2 strain of his teres major in early June, an injury that ultimately sidelined him for roughly 3 months. He returned for three strong starts in September, allowing four runs across 15 innings, but ended the year back on the injured list due to a minor forearm strain that he suffered after diving for a ball. He entered the offseason with a clean bill of health, making the sudden UCL tear that surfaced all the more surprising.

      With López officially sidelined, the responsibility of leading the rotation will almost certainly fall to Joe Ryan on Opening Day. Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson should also slot into prominent roles, while younger arms such as Zebby Matthews and David Festa now find themselves with an opportunity to claim meaningful innings.

      Minnesota built its pitching staff around stability at the top of the rotation. Losing López for the entire season changes the outlook in a significant way and puts immediate pressure on the club’s depth to respond. The Twins still believe they can compete this season, but that task became considerably more difficult the moment their ace’s elbow gave way.

      Seth Stohs

      After Team USA clinched a spot in the Quarterfinals round of the World Baseball Classic, speculation was that Joe Ryan would replace Clayton Kershaw on the Team USA roster. 

      Following their quarterfinal win over Team Canada on Friday night, Kershaw officially said that he was retiring. It was quickly announced that Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman was replacing Kershaw. But it was possible there could still be more moves. On Saturday afternoon, we got confirmation that Joe Ryan will be sticking with the Twins rather than joining Team USA in Miami. 

      Selfishly from the Twins perspective, I think it's a good decision. Since he was slowed to start spring training and is still working his way to be ready near Opening Day, it doesn't make a lot of sense to have him push himself to max effort. Paul Skenes is making the start for the USA in Sunday night's semi-final game against the Dominican Republic. The four pitchers added to the USA roster since pool play have all been relievers. Presumably, Ryan could be lined up to make the start for Team USA in the championship game (if the US gets past the DR).       

      Logan Webb has been tremendous for Team USA this year. In two starts, he has thrown 8 2/3 scoreless innings. He was in a similar situation during the last WBC. He wasn't quite 100% and he was about to make some money, so he didn't pitch.  Likewise, with a strong, healthy 2026 season, Ryan would line himself up for a lucrative extension with the Twins or with another team. 

      Selfishly as a baseball fan, it would have been fun to watch him pitch for Team USA. Think about it. When the Twins traded Nelson Cruz to the Rays in 2021, Ryan (and Simeon Woods Richardson) was in Tokyo, pitching for Team USA in the Olympics. So had he made the decision to go pitch for Team USA, one really couldn't fault him at all. 

      This is one of those scenarios that doesn't necessarily have one right and/or wrong answer.  My hope is simply that Joe Ryan is happy with the choice and then has another All-Star caliber season. 

      Cody Christie

      When the Minnesota Twins scratched Joe Ryan from his scheduled start on Saturday due to lower back tightness, it was the kind of spring training update that immediately makes an entire fan base uneasy. A few days later, however, the news cycle has already shifted in a much more encouraging direction.

      Twins manager Derek Shelton told reporters that Ryan played catch from 90 feet on Tuesday morning after undergoing imaging over the weekend. The results showed inflammation in his lower back rather than any structural damage. For a team that is already navigating the loss of Pablo López to Tommy John surgery, that distinction matters in a significant way.

      “He played catch today at 90 feet, so I think that was really encouraging,” Shelton said. “And he was also in the training room doing movement stuff. Encouraging. Trending in the right direction.”

      At this point in camp, the most important thing for Minnesota is not necessarily how quickly Ryan gets back on the mound, but that he continues to progress without setbacks. Spring training schedules are flexible. A timeline is not.

      There is still no clear indication of when Ryan will throw his next bullpen session, but the early internal expectation is that this is a short-term interruption rather than something that threatens his availability for Opening Day. That is critical given the Twins' rotation's current state. With López sidelined for the season, Ryan is no longer just part of the front-end mix. He is the front-end mix.

      If healthy, he becomes the obvious choice to take the ball on Opening Day, setting the tone for a rotation that will lean heavily on Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson behind him. That makes maintaining his health through the remainder of camp one of the most important storylines the Twins will navigate before the regular season begins.

      Ryan is also scheduled to pitch for the United States in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, though his availability for that event is now less certain. Minnesota may ultimately take a cautious approach if there is any lingering question about his back responding to increased intensity.

      There should still be enough time for Ryan to ramp back up for the regular season without issue. The bigger unknown now may be how the Twins handle his workload in the short term as they balance competitive commitments in March with the reality that their postseason hopes could hinge on his ability to stay on the mound from April through September.

      Behind Ober and Woods Richardson, the final spots in the rotation are expected to come down to a camp competition between Zebby Matthews, Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, and potentially David Festa. Bradley might have the inside track to a spot since he has thrown over 380 innings at the big-league level. Festa is “gradually ramping up” after ending last season on the injured list.

      Minnesota has touted its pitching depth, but losing Joe Ryan might have pushed the Minnesota Twins from fringe contender to full-scale rebuild. Without their projected Opening Day starter anchoring the staff, the domino effect would stretch from the top of the rotation to the final bullpen spot, forcing Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson into roles that demand more innings and consistency while accelerating timelines for young arms that were expected to develop more gradually.

      In a season already shaped by the loss of López, Ryan’s health is not just important to Minnesota’s April outlook but foundational to whether this team spends the summer chasing a postseason berth or reevaluating its long-term direction.
       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Some of the moves speculated over the last two days are now official.

      Third baseman Royce Lewis was activated from the 10-day injured list, left-hander Kody Funderburk was placed on the paternity list and prospect left-hander Kendry Rojas was promoted from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday. The moves also fill the gap from Monday's transaction of placing right-handed starter Mick Abel on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right elbow.

      Rojas, the No. 8 prospect by Twins Daily who was already on the 40-man roster, will be making his MLB debut. The Twins have 12 pitchers and 14 position players on their roster.

      Lewis' return from a sprained right knee after a minimal IL stint will be a boost to the Twins' offense. He hit a pair of home runs in his two-game rehab assignment with the St. Paul Saints over the weekend. That matched the total he hit in 12 MLB games this season while producing a .222/.378/.444 slash line.

      Rojas was part of the return from the Toronto Blue Jays in the trade last year for right-handed reliever Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France. Rojas has appeared in three games, including two starts, in the minors this season with four walks and seven strikeouts in 7⅓ innings.

      Funderburk is expected to rejoin the team by this weekend.

       

      John Bonnes

      The Minnesota Twins have optioned right-hander Eric Orze to Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, clearing space on the active roster for Tommy Nance, acquired Friday from the Blue Jays. The Athletic's Dan Hayes first reported the move.

      Only a handful of Twins relievers have been leaned on more heavily than Orze, who has appeared in 35 games and thrown 41 ⅓ innings. But the results have lagged behind the workload. Orze carries a 5.27 ERA and 1.49 WHIP, with 36 strikeouts against 21 walks. What’s more, he’s been trending in the wrong direction, posting a 9.00 ERA and 1.78 WHIP since June 1st. 

      The 28-year-old came to Minnesota from Tampa Bay in a November trade for minor-league pitcher Jacob Kisting, following a promising 2025 in which he posted a 3.02 ERA over 41.2 innings for the Rays. Because he still has minor-league options, he was the path of least resistance when the front office needed a spot for Nance.

      Nance, 35, cost the Twins minor-league catcher/third baseman Ryan Sprock, last year's eighth-round pick. The veteran right-hander owns a 3.82 ERA over 33 innings for Toronto this season with a 24.5% strikeout rate, and he comes with three additional years of club control beyond 2026. 

      Orze figures to be a candidate to return quickly whenever the bullpen needs reinforcements. For now, he'll try to rediscover his 2025 form with the Saints.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Now we know the full picture of why the Minnesota Twins are calling up two of their top pitching prospects.

      In a big blow to the starting rotation, the Twins will be placing right-hander Mick Abel on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. The move will be made before Tuesday's series opener against the New York Mets.

      On Sunday, news broke that left-handers Kendry Rojas and Connor Prielipp were joining the team in New York. One part of the equation as to whose roster spots they would take was another left-hander, Kody Funderburk, is set to go on the paternity list. Rojas and Prielipp are both already on the 40-man roster.

      The Abel injury answers the other half of that.

      Abel, 24, has appeared in four games, including three starts, this season with a 3.98 ERA. He has been especially sharp in his last two starts, tossing 13 shutout innings against the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. He struck out 16 in those two games, including 10 Tuesday vs. the Red Sox.

      Abel joins star right-hander Pablo Lopez, who is out for the season after having his right UCL repaired in late February.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Minnesota Twins have lost one of their bullpen stalwarts to an injury.

      Right-hander Cole Sands was put on the 15-day injured list by the Twins on Saturday due to a strained right forearm. Right-hander John Klein was called up from Triple-A St. Paul to make his MLB debut.

      We have made the following roster moves:

      [image or embed]

      — Minnesota Twins (@twinsbaseball.bsky.social) May 2, 2026 at 8:00 AM

      Sands made 131 appearances out of the Twins' bullpen the last two seasons and had made 12 in 2026. In 11⅔ innings, he had a 4.63 ERA with six runs on 12 hits with four walks and 11 strikeouts. He last appeared in a game Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners, giving up two runs on three hits, including a homer, in two-thirds of an inning. He came on with one on and one out in the eighth and gave up a double to Julio Rodriguez and a three-run homer to Josh Naylor, turning a 2-1 Twins deficit into a 5-1 disadvantage.

      Klein had made seven appearances, six starts, at St. Paul this year. He had a 7.48 ERA in 21⅔ innings, walking six and striking out 24. Klein signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

       

      The next man up in the Minnesota Twins' bullpen shuffle is Austin Voth.

      The right-hander had his contract selected from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, with the Twins sending right-hander Cody Laweryson down to St. Paul.

      Voth was designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays, then latched on with the Twins on a minor-league contract on June 4. Voth made two appearances and pitched six innings for the Jays, giving up six runs on eight hits and five walks with just one strikeout. In three appearances at St. Paul, Voth surrendered nine runs (eight earned) on 14 hits with six walks and 17 strikeouts. Voth originally signed a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox this offseason before being released late in spring training.

      Laweryson has pitched in 16 innings over 14 games, posting a 5.06 ERA (4.97 FIP) with seven walks and 18 strikeouts.

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Minnesota Twins' dwindling pitching depth took another hit Sunday.

      The Twins placed right-handed starter Bailey Ober on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right elbow. Right-hander Mike Paredes had his contract selected from Triple-A St. Paul and will be making his MLB debut. Also, the Twins called up Travis Adams and optioned fellow right-handed reliever John Klein to St. Paul.

      Ober was tagged for eight runs in 4⅔ innings of Saturday's 10-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He becomes the seventh Twins pitcher to go on the IL this season. Ober has been uneven this season, including giving up three homers Saturday and seven long balls in his last three starts. He has a 4.59 ERA with a 6.4% walk rate and 16.4% strikeout rate in his 12 starts this season, which includes a shutout.

      Paredes is an 18th-round draft choice in 2021 out of San Diego State and has pitched for Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul this season. Between the two stops, he has made 13 appearances, including 10 starts, and thrown 48⅔ innings, walking nine and striking out 54.

      Adams is making his third trip up from St. Paul this month after beginning the season on the 15-day injured list with a strained right triceps. Adams has appeared in seven games, throwing 10 innings with five walks and 12 strikeouts for a 7.20 ERA. The bullpen was in need of a fresh arm.

      Klein went two innings Saturday after being called up earlier in the day. He didn't allow a run, although he walked three and gave up a hit. Klein made his MLB debut this month and has now appeared in three games, allowing two runs in 4⅓ innings.

       

      05/31/26    Minnesota Twins placed RHP Bailey Ober on the 15-day injured list. Right elbow inflammation.
      05/31/26    Minnesota Twins selected the contract of RHP Mike Paredes from St. Paul Saints.
      05/31/26    Minnesota Twins recalled RHP Travis Adams from St. Paul Saints.
      05/31/26    Minnesota Twins optioned RHP John Klein to St. Paul Saints.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Looking for any solution in the bullpen, the Minnesota Twins have made another addition.

      The Twins on Wednesday acquired right-handed reliever Yoendrys Gomez from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations. Right-handed reliever Christian Roa, who was at Triple-A St. Paul, was designated for assignment to make room for Gomez on the 40-man roster. Another move will have to be made in the next day or two to add Gomez to the 26-man roster.

      Gomez had been DFA'd by the Rays after making nine appearances and posting a 6.23 ERA in 17⅓ innings, walking 10 and striking out 13. He allowed runs in seven of his outings, ironically not in his last game a week ago Wednesday when he went two scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians.

      Roa had been claimed off waivers April 23 by the Twins following being DFA'd by the Houston Astros. In three appearances at St. Paul, he allowed two runs on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 2⅓ innings. That came after seven games with the Astros in which he allowed five runs in 8⅔ innings with seven walks and six strikeouts.

       

      Matthew Lenz

      After injuries to Zebby Matthews and Pablo López, we knew the Twins were going to have to figure out how to manage the pitching staff. This led to promotions of David Festa, Simeon Woods Richardson, Travis Adams, and Danny Coulombe. Adams has since been sent back to Triple-A St. Paul and Woods Richardson is coming off an abysmal outing against a below average Texas Rangers squad. Now, the Twins have transferred López to the 60-day IL and have claimed left-handed reliever, Joey Wentz, from the Pittsburgh Pirates to help eat innings out of the bullpen.

      Wentz, 28, has thrown 26 innings across 19 appearances with an ERA of 4.15 (3.77 FIP) and a 9.5% strikeout minus walk rate. He's a typical Falvey-esque pitcher with an extension in the 88th percentile and a mid-to-low 90s fastball that he counters with horizontal movement (cutter). He also has a curveball as his third offering.

      This is just a depth move by the Twins, who have relied heavily on their bullpen in the early going, but may also spell the end of the road for the struggling Jorge Alcala.

      Do you think this signals the end for Alcala? How long does Wentz last with the Twins? Join the conversation in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      As the standings currently sit, the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Detroit Tigers are the top two teams in the American League Central.

      Major League Baseball and ESPN are rewarding them by flexing their Sunday matinee to Sunday night baseball on June 29 starting at 6 PM.

      For the Twins, this will be their first time on Sunday Night Baseball in five seasons. They last played on Sunday Night Baseball in 2020 against the Chicago Cubs. That game featured six shutout innings from then rotation ace Jose Berríos followed by three innings of dominance from the Twins bullpen. Max Kepler had himself a night going 3-for-5 with a two run blast. Also of note, Target Field has not hosted Sunday Night Baseball since its inaugural season, according to Declan Goff.

      Hopefully the Twins can play better in front of a national audience than they did in front of their own fans against he Texas Rangers. 😬

      Steve Drumwright

       

      This is the day Connor Prielipp has been waiting for.

      The Minnesota Twins called up the left-hander to make his MLB debut by starting Wednesday's game against the New York Mets. Outfielder Ryan Kreidler was sent back to Triple-A St. Paul.

      We have made the following roster moves:

      [image or embed]

      — Minnesota Twins (@twinsbaseball.bsky.social) April 22, 2026 at 8:58 AM

      For the 25-year-old Prielipp, Twins Daily's No. 5 prospect, the path to his debut has been a rocky road. The Tomah, Wis., native had Tommy John surgery in college at Alabama, but the Twins still took a chance on him with their second-round pick in the 2022 draft. Unfortunately, Prielipp needed an internal brace procedure on the same elbow after two appearances in 2023.

      In 2024, Prielipp returned to make nine starts with a 2.70 ERA in 23⅓ innings, walking seven and striking out 41. He made 23 starts and one relief appearance in 2025 between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul, with a combined 4.03 ERA, with 31 walks and 98 strikeouts in 82⅔ innings. At St. Paul this season, Prielipp appeared in four games, three starts, pitching 15⅔ innings and posting a 2.30 ERA with eight walks and 22 strikeouts.

      Kreidler was called up from St. Paul on April 11 and appeared in five games, going 3-for-14 with two homers and four RBIs. His demotion puts an even split on the 26-man roster of 13 position players and 13 pitchers after a one-day imbalance.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The setback sustained by right-hander Mick Abel has a trickle-down effect.

      The Minnesota Twins on Sunday activated left-hander Kendry Rojas from the 15-day injured list, with right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence designated for assignment. Rojas, Twins Daily's No. 9 prospect, had been out since May 29 with inflammation in his left elbow.

      Abel, on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation, threw a bullpen session Friday in anticipation of him starting Sunday, but woke up Saturday with a sore elbow, forcing the Twins to come up with an alternate plan. That will be right-hander Mike Paredes starting the series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

      Rojas could be a relief option for Sunday. He has made five appearances (one start), including his MLB debut, and been very good. Rojas has a 1.26 ERA in 14⅓ innings, walking 10 and striking out 14.

      Lawrence has been DFA'd for the second time this season. The Twins acquired Lawrence for cash considerations from the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 2 after he was DFA'd. His brief time with the Twins did not go well. In six innings across seven appearances, Lawrence had an 18.00 ERA, getting tagged for 12 runs on 10 hits with nine walks and 12 strikeouts. This came after a 5.32 ERA in 22 games with the Pirates.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Minnesota Twins have lost one of their left-handed relievers for a bit.

      The Twins on Monday placed lefty Anthony Banda on the 15-day injured list due to a strained left lat and called up right-handed reliever Cody Laweryson from Triple-A.

      In 39 games and 34⅓ innings this year, Banda has a 4.32 FIP (4.46 ERA) with a 9.6 walk rate and 21.2 strikeout rate. He has already hit a career-high eight batters. He appeared in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies, allowing a hit, hitting a batter, walking another and striking out a pair in two-thirds of an inning.

      Laweryson is with the Twins for a second time this year after making the Opening Day roster. He also spent time on the 15-day injured list due to a strained right forearm. When healthy, Laweryson appeared in 14 games and had a 4.97 FIP (5.06 ERA), posting a 9.7% walk rate and 25% strikeout rate. He has given up three homers in 16 innings.

       

      Seth Stohs

      On Friday afternoon, Major League Baseball announced that former Twins and Phillies outfielder Max Kepler has been suspended 80 games after testing positive for Epitrenbolone, a performance-enhancing substance. It is an item that violates MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.     

      Max Kepler will turn 33 years old in a little more than a month. He is currently a free agent looking for his next home. After signing with the Twins in 2009 out of Germany, he spent parts of the 2015-2024 seasons in a Twins uniform. Over those 10 seasons, he was worth 20.5 bWAR. In 1,072 games, he hit .237/.318/.429 (.746) with 205 doubles, 161 homers and 508 RBI.

      His best season came in 2019 when he hit .252/.336/.519 (.855) with 32 doubles and he led the Bomba Squad with 36 home runs. He was never able to replicate those numbers. 

      He became a free agent for the first time last offseason. He signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Phillies. In 127 games, he hit .216/.300/.391 (.691) with 19 doubles and 18 home runs. 

      Free agency just became more difficult for Kepler. Some team will sign him and not have to pay him for the first half of the season. He can come back for the final 82 games of the season, but because of the suspension, he will be unable to play in the playoffs should the team make it. 

      Share your thoughts. 

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      One of the Minnesota Twins' All-Stars won't be going to Philadelphia after all.

      The Twins on Tuesday placed center fielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list due to an ailing right hip. Outfielder Alan Roden was called up from Triple-A St. Paul. Also, the Twins officially added right-handed reliever Woo-Suk Go, acquired in a cash trade Sunday with the Detroit Tigers, to the roster. He will be making his MLB debut.

      Buxton was selected Saturday to his third All-Star Game, but will not be playing in the game due to his injury. He has a .271/.328/.575 slash line and is among the AL leaders with 25 homers. He hit a career-high 35 homers a year ago. Buxton's career is littered with injuries that have prevented him from consistently putting up monster numbers.

      Roden has been having a good season at St. Paul this year, slashing .272/.397/.512 with eight homers and 24 RBIs in 33 games. Roden spent time on the injured list this season due to a labrum tear. He appeared in 55 games last year between the Twins and Toronto Blue Jays, with a .191/.261/.294 slash line, hitting two homers and driving in nine. Roden and left-hander Kendry Rojas were the return in the trade with the Jays for right-handed reliever Louis Varland and first baseman Ty France.

       

      Cody Christie

      A former Minnesota Twins catching prospect is officially eligible to return to affiliated baseball, closing the chapter on one of the most confusing and controversial situations the organization has dealt with in recent years. Derek Bender, a sixth-round pick in 2024, was released by the Twins in September 2024 after allegations surfaced that he tipped pitches to opposing hitters during a Florida State League doubleheader. Major League Baseball confirmed to The Athletic that his discipline has been served and he can now sign with any club.

      Bender, who missed the entire 2025 season due to what MLB described as his “conduct,” issued a broad apology through the MLB Players Association. His statement did not directly address whether he gave away pitches, yet it showed a player grappling with the end of a draining year. “After further reflection, I would like to apologize to the Minnesota Twins organization, my former teammates and coaches, and the fans, for my actions at the conclusion of the 2024 season,” Bender said. He added that he had been struggling with his mental health, noting, “Over the past year, I have been working hard, both on and off the field, to become the best player and teammate I can be.”

      In a February interview with The Athletic, however, Bender pushed back strongly on the core accusation. Asked directly if he gave pitches away, he responded, “No.” He went even further, saying, “And I’ll live with this until the day I die. I never gave pitches away. I never tried to give the opposing team an advantage against my own team.” At the same time, he acknowledged the physical and mental exhaustion he felt near the end of the season, mentioning joking conversations with teammates about errors and the shared feeling that “everybody’s ready to go home.”

      The league never publicly stated what conduct triggered Bender’s discipline, and investigators did not find gambling involvement of any kind. A league source told The Athletic that MLB had been examining a potential violation of rule 21(a), which covers intentionally losing games. A confirmed violation would have resulted in a lifetime ban, but the negotiated agreement sidestepped a formal ruling and allowed Bender to return after serving a season long suspension.

      With the matter now resolved, Bender has started contacting clubs to express his interest in returning. He spent last year with the Brockton Rox of the Frontier League, playing 92 games while hitting .282 with 11 home runs and 54 runs batted in. Despite the turmoil, he expressed a renewed commitment to the sport. “This whole situation made me fall out of love with baseball,” Bender said. “But I realized that I want to win more baseball games in my career. I love baseball. I love winning. I love being a part of a team.”

      For now, Bender’s future depends on whether an organization is willing to take a chance on a player trying to move past a complicated ending to his time with the Twins. But at the very least, the door to affiliated baseball is open again.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      In addition to the major news of former first-round pick Royce Lewis being sent to Triple-A St. Paul, the Minnesota Twins made more than a handful of other moves Tuesday ahead of the second game of the series against the Houston Astros. The most noteworthy of those moves is catcher Ryan Jeffers going on the 10-day injured list with a broken left hamate bone, which could sideline him anywhere from one to two months.

      Here is the complete list of moves:

      • Optioned third baseman Royce Lewis to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.
      • Placed catcher Ryan Jeffers on the 10-day injured list with a left hamate bone fracture.
      • Designated right-handed reliever Justin Topa for assignment.
      • Selected the contract of catcher Alex Jackson from the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.
      • Selected the contract of shortstop Orlando Arcia from the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.
      • Recalled right-handed reliever Travis Adams from the Triple-A St. Paul Saints.
      • Transferred right-handed reliever Garrett Acton (strained right shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.

      In other words, Lewis, Jeffers and Topa off the Twins' 26-man roster, with Arcia, Jackson and Adams now on the 26-man roster. Acton was moved to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster. There does appear to be one more 40-man move coming as FanGraphs lists the Twins with 41 players on the 40.

       

       

      Cody Christie

      Every franchise wants to believe it has been among baseball’s elite over the last quarter-century. A new set of rankings from The Athletic attempts to answer that question by putting a number on sustained success across Major League Baseball.

      Each year, the publication releases its MLB Franchise Rankings, measuring how teams have performed over the last 25 seasons. The system rewards postseason success while also accounting for division titles and long stretches of losing seasons. It is designed to measure consistency rather than simply rewarding a single championship window.

      The Athletic’s formula, adapted from Bob Sturm’s football system, fits baseball’s postseason: nine points for a World Series win, six for runner-up, three for losing in the Championship Series, two for Division Series, one for Wild Card loss. Additional adjustments include a point for division titles and a deduction for consecutive 90-loss seasons.

      Unlike many rankings that focus on recent performance, this system does not give extra weight to the most recent seasons. The goal is to capture the entire 25-year stretch from 2001 through today and determine which franchises have consistently found ways to stay competitive.

      Twins Land at No. 14
      Minnesota ranked 14th overall with 25 total points over the 25-year period. That position places them in the top half of baseball but just barely, reflecting a franchise that has experienced bursts of success mixed with frustrating postseason outcomes.

      Within the American League, only six teams ranked higher than Minnesota. The teams ahead of the Twins include the New York Yankees at second overall, the Boston Red Sox at fourth, and the Houston Astros at fifth. Those franchises have combined for multiple championships and deep playoff runs during the ranking period. A few more familiar American League rivals also finished ahead of Minnesota. The Cleveland Guardians ranked tenth, the Texas Rangers placed eleventh, and the Los Angeles Angels came in twelfth.

      For Twins fans, the ranking feels both fair and frustrating. Minnesota has been competitive in several stretches over the last two decades, but postseason success has been harder to come by. A few deeper October runs could have pushed the franchise comfortably into the top ten.

      A Steady Climb in Recent Years
      Even though the Twins sit in the middle of the pack today, the trend line has been moving in the right direction. The franchise ranked 14th in 2025 with 24 points. In 2024, Minnesota ranked 15th overall with 22 points. The year before that, they were down at 17th with 19 points. Just a short time ago, the franchise was much closer to the bottom half of baseball.

      The biggest jump came between 2022 and 2023. In the 2022 rankings, the Twins placed 22nd with only 11 points. At that point, the organization was still feeling the impact of several losing seasons and limited postseason success during the ranking window. Since then, the club has slowly climbed back toward the middle of the league. It is not a dramatic rise, but it shows that recent competitive seasons have helped stabilize Minnesota’s standing.

      What Comes Next
      While the recent climb is encouraging, these rankings may soon be challenging for the Twins. The system uses a rolling 25-year window, so Minnesota’s best seasons from the early 2000s will eventually drop out. When those years fall off, the Twins could lose points that now keep them mid-standings. The team will need new postseason appearances and division titles to maintain or boost its position.

      Fortunately for Minnesota, the path to those points might not be overly complicated. The American League Central has frequently been one of baseball’s most competitive but unpredictable divisions. No team has completely dominated the division in recent seasons, leaving opportunities for a club that gets hot at the right time.

      For now, the latest rankings paint a clear picture of the franchise over the last quarter-century. The Twins have not been among baseball’s true powerhouses, but they also have not fallen into the category of long-term struggling organizations. Instead, Minnesota sits right where the numbers say it belongs. Solid, competitive, and still searching for the October breakthrough that could change the entire conversation.

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