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As the Twins push toward October, their bullpen has been a point of emphasis in solidifying their postseason roster. A critical component of their strategy could involve welcoming back two key arms: Chris Paddack and Justin Topa. Both hurlers are progressing in their rehab journeys, and the team is hopeful their returns will provide much-needed stability to a bullpen that has seen its share of ups and downs.
Paddack, who has been recovering from a right forearm strain, took a significant step forward by throwing his first bullpen session on Friday. This step marked a pivotal moment in his comeback, as Paddack’s potential to offer high-velocity, late-inning relief could be a game-changer. Last season, the Twins used Paddack as a reliever in October, in his first action since returning from his second Tommy John surgery. He made two scoreless appearances, covering 3 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and no walks.
“I can say, next homestand, ‘I want to push,’ and be ready to go for Baltimore or something like that, a little redemption from the beginning of the season,” Paddack said. “But if they want me ready for October, I'll nod my head and say, ‘All right, I'll be ready.’”
Similarly, Topa, sidelined for months, threw a 30-pitch bullpen on Saturday. Topa joined the Twins this winter as part of the Jorge Polanco trade. Minnesota hoped he’d be a late-inning bullpen option for the entire season, but a knee injury in spring training has kept him sidelined for the entire year. If both pitchers continue to progress smoothly, they could be viable bullpen options come October.
“Whatever it is, a handful of innings at the end of the year and then build that into a playoff push, see what happens -- I think for me, the silver lining is just to get back into games and finish the year healthy,” Topa said. “Have that platform to go into the offseason and get ready for next year.”
The Twins have already shown a willingness to adjust their pitching staff, as seen with Louie Varland's transition from the starting rotation to the bullpen and the last-minute addition of southpaw swingman Cole Irvin. Varland's stuff has ticked up in short bursts, and his velocity and aggressiveness can play up in critical situations. Unfortunately, he allowed six earned runs in one inning on Saturday, which will hurt his overall numbers for the season. Moving him into relief duties indicates that the Twins are committed to maximizing their best arms down the stretch.
However, the bullpen hasn’t been without struggles. Jorge Alcalá has battled inconsistency, and is now ticketed back to St. Paul. The usually dominant Jhoan Durán has faced uncharacteristic challenges. Durán, despite his electric stuff, has had issues in non-save situations, but there are still reasons to trust the team’s closer. The underbelly of the Twins’ bullpen includes pitchers like Scott Blewett, Ronny Henriquez, and Michael Tonkin. That trio of pitchers likely won’t be trusted with innings in the playoffs, so the team needs to find reliable arms to help it win critical games.
If Paddack and Topa can return to form, their presence could allow Rocco Baldelli to mix and match more effectively in late innings, easing the pressure on Durán and others. With his starter experience, Paddack could be an ideal fit for multi-inning outings. At the same time, Topa’s arsenal makes him a candidate for high-leverage matchups against both righties and lefties.
As the regular season's final weeks unfold, the Twins' ability to get these key arms back in action could be a determining factor in their postseason success. What should the Twins expect from Paddack and Topa? Can they be reliable bullpen assets? Leave a comment and start the discussion.
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