Bonded By Tommy John: Chris Paddack and Matt Canterino Set to Bolster 2024 Twins

Tommy John surgery has become more commonplace in the baseball world, but that doesn’t mean the rehabilitation process is any easier for players who undergo it. Pitchers who have been throwing on a regular basis suddenly have to stop, and eventually start over from Square One. It takes time for the elbow to heal, and even more time for pitchers to teach their bodies how to throw with velocity and command the ball. Recovering from an injury can make a player feel like they are on an island, but two Twins players were able to help each other get to the rehab finish line. 

Chris Paddack and Matt Canterino had Tommy John surgery within weeks of each other in 2022. For Paddack, it was the second time he’d had the operation in his career, which lengthened the recovery timeline. Canterino has been ranked among the team’s top pitching prospects (he's currently Twins Daily's 20th-ranked prospect) since the Twins took him with their second-round pick in 2019, from Rice University. Pitchers from that school throw a lot of collegiate innings, and many end up needing elbow surgery. Paddack and Canterino found each other in Fort Myers and were able to build a relationship.

Recently, Canterino talked with MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park about how he and Paddack were able to work together. “We got to pick each other's brains a little bit, talk about what we wanted to work on and how we wanted to make sure that we were using this time to get better, not just trying to get back to where we were,” Canterino said.

Canterino’s professional career has been marred by injuries. He’s been limited to 85 innings across three seasons, but when he’s been on the mound, he's been dominant: a 1.48 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP, and 13.8 K/9. Those video game-type numbers are impossible to sustain, but Canterino is showing signs that what he worked on with Paddack might be paying off in the long term. 

Canterino also offered some insight into his thought process for next season. “Obviously, I'm shaking off some of the rust and everything in terms of command and maybe some of the pitch metrics and everything like that, but I was throwing my slider harder than it was in ’22,” Canterino said. “I got plenty of swing and miss on my changeup, which was one of my best strikeout pitches whenever I pitched in Double A.”

Canterino got to witness the success of his Tommy John buddy at the end of 2022. Paddack made two relief appearances in the Houston playoff series, while tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and no walks. His velocity saw a noticeable uptick in shortened outings. Minnesota plans to have Paddack return to a starting role in 2024, and there is potential for him to step into the role vacated by Kenta Maeda. Last season, Maeda was returning from his own Tommy John surgery and pitched 104 1/3 innings, with a 4.23 ERA. Those totals are reasonable expectations for Paddack this season, mainly since he will likely be limited in the amount of innings he can pitch in his first full season back from injury. 

“I would say it was more joy for Chris than anything," Canterino told Twins Daily's Seth Stohs. "I saw his process. I saw how hard he worked every day. And I saw how much he got to know some of the minor leaguers and formed relationships with people that he didn’t have to in Fort Myers. It was a lot of joy for him, knowing it was a culmination of everything he’s been working on.”

Canterino is on the Twins’ 40-man roster, so there is a good chance he will make his big-league debut next season if he is fully healthy. His role isn’t as straightforward as Paddack's, but his doctor told him 125 innings are not out of the question in 2024. Minnesota might also decide to move Canterino to a bullpen role to better manage his innings, especially since the lines continue to blur between the roles of starters and multi-inning relievers. 

Canterino could be a frontline starter if he can stay healthy. However, he seems more likely to succeed in a bullpen role, where his stuff can reach another level. What roles will Paddack and Canterino fill on the 2024 Twins? Can both pitchers be impact players on a contending team? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

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