Twins' Mick Abel Heading To Injured List With Elbow Inflammation

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.