Expect Kody Funderburk to Bear a Prominent Bullpen Role in 2024

Heading into the 2024 season, the Twins have four arms appointed as primary late-inning, high-leverage relievers: Jhoan Durán, Griffin Jax, Brock Stewart, and Caleb Thielbar. Behind this quartet of trustworthy hurlers is an amalgam of relatively unknown commodities who fit one of two molds: young, former starters who are now pursuing careers as relievers, or veterans attempting to bounce back from injuries and avoid a bleak conclusion to their once-promising careers. 

Though the former archetype has fascinating rebound options like Jorge Alcalá and the recently-signed Josh Staumont (both of whom could eventually become integral parts of the team's bullpen), the latter includes young arms who, by developing a sustainably effective pitch mix and approach, could become long-term, cost-controlled bullpen weapons, like Duran and Jax did in seasons past.

Pitchers in that group include Cole Sands, Josh Winder, Jordan Balazovic, Simeon Woods Richardson, Matt Canterino, Brent Headrick, Ronny Henriquez, A.J. Alexy, and, most notably, Kody Funderburk. Funderburk, 27, made his debut last season in the middle of a pennant race, against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians. On Aug. 28, Funderburk entered the game in relief of a struggling Kenta Maeda and was able to pitch two scoreless innings, striking out three of six batters faced and generating a 0.66 Win Probability Added at FanGraphs (WPA), which tied Winder for the highest of any pitcher in that game.

Though he stumbled in his next appearance, giving up a game-winning home run to Guardians' first baseman Kole Calhoun on August 30, the Dallas Baptist University product bounced back strong, generating a 0.00 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 14.9 K/9, and zero home runs given up through his next 39 total batters faced to finish his rookie campaign. Funderburk didn't pitch in the postseason, but he firmly established himself as the Twins' second-most trusted left-handed relief pitcher (behind Thielbar) and a fixture in the team's bullpen for the upcoming 2024 season. 

Interestingly enough, Funderburk's progression coincides with the recent departure of Emilio Pagán, who became a mainstay in the Twins bullpen, throwing a combined 132 1/3 innings over the previous two seasons. Although Pagán's exit has been celebrated by many, replacing a reliever who managed a 2.99 ERA and 1.1 Wins Above Replacement at FanGraphs (fWAR) over 69 1/3 innings pitched in 2023 will not be easy. On the surface, Staumont, who was recently signed to a one-year, $950,000 contract, feels like the most plausible candidate to replace Pagán's contract. Yet, after pitching just 57 2/3 innings over the past two seasons and undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome this past July, it would be malpractice for the organization to expect Pagán's prolific production out of the 30-year-old reclamation project. So, who is the most likely candidate to replace Pagán's availability and reliability?

Right-handed throwing Alcala could make sense as Pagán's successor, but with similar health concerns as Staumont, the most realistic option appears to be Funderburk. At first glance, the idea of “replacing” Pagán with Funderburk could be seen as incomprehensible, as the left-handed Funderburk is a noticeably different pitcher than the right-handed Pagán. Yet, once one peeks below the surface, they will find that their splits are not too dissimilar. Here are Funderburk's and Pagán's splits versus left-handed and right-handed batters:

Versus Left-Handed Batters:

• Funderburk: 8 games, 4 1/3 innings pitched, 17 batters faced, 3 hits allowed, 1 home run, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, 0.92 WHIP
• Pagán: 58 games, 29 1/3 innings pitched, 120 batters faced, 22 hits allowed, 2 home runs, 11 walks, 33 strikeouts, 1.13 WHIP

Versus Right-Handed Batters:

• Funderburk: 11 games, 7 1/3 innings pitched, 30 batters faced, 3 hits allowed, 0 home runs, four walks, 13 strikeouts, 0.95 WHIP
• Pagán: 63 games, 39 2/3 innings pitched, 153 batters faced, 23 hits allowed, 3 home runs, 10 walks, 32 strikeouts, 0.83 WHIP

Admittedly, there is a blatant discrepancy between Funderburk's and Pagán's sample sizes. Still, the former's encouraging numbers against right-handed hitters (most notably his sub-1.00 WHIP over 30 batters faced) lead one to believe that he is more than just a "lefty specialist." Funderburk, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 230 pounds, is an overbearing presence on the mound, utilizing a fastball and slider as a one-two punch alongside a deceptive sinker, which he tends to pinpoint on the lower-left side of the strike zone to dominate hitters of both handednesses.

The one glaring weakness in Funderburk's game is that he lets up far too many walks, evidenced by his below-average 10.6% walk rate. Funderburk needs to be able to control the zone and add velocity to his fastball, which currently tops out around 93 MPH, if he wants to become a consistent high-leverage reliever for the Twins. If he can make these adjustments, the Twins could have a reliever who could replace Pagán’s production and usurp Thielbar as the team’s most effective left-handed reliever on their hands.

Should Funderburk be trusted to take on Pagán's workload in 2024? If not Funderburk, then who? What do you think is Funderburk's ceiling as a reliever? Join the discussion and comment below.