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Since having his contract purchased from Triple-A St. Paul on May 31, Mike Paredes has played an integral role in the Minnesota Twins’ efforts to stay in postseason contention this summer. Unexpectedly, he operated as the club’s fifth starter in June. Paredes’s rise to his newfound role with the parent club was unanticipated on many fronts. The 25-year-old began his 2026 campaign as part of Double-A Wichita’s starting rotation. Besides, Minnesota was rich in starting pitching depth to begin the regular season, with 10 (or more) starters above Paredes on the organizational depth chart.
However, after injuries to Pablo López, David Festa, Mick Abel, Kendry Rojas, and Bailey Ober, and Simeon Woods Richardson unexpectedly getting designated for assignment in late May, Twins decision-makers were more or less forced to hand Paredes a spot on the club’s 13-pitcher staff. Surprisingly, the inexperienced righty has been serviceable, netting a 4.26 ERA, 5.44 FIP, and a 13-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 25 1/3 innings pitched. Those numbers don’t pop off the page. In fact, his 11.8% strikeout rate is rather alarming. Still, his serviceability has saved Minnesota’s starting rotation, helping the club stay in postseason contention as the All-Star break nears.
Despite Paredes’s honorable service, Ober is nearing a return from the 15-day IL, rejoining Minnesota's five-pitcher starting rotation. With Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley, Zebby Matthews, and Connor Prielipp being the other four pitchers in the quintet, Paredes will be the odd starting pitcher out, signaling the 25-year-old could soon be demoted to Triple-A St. Paul. Instead, the front office and coaching staff should reward Paredes's upside with a change of role, rather than level.
Operating out of the bullpen, Paredes could again serve as a bulk reliever, helping Ober ease back from the IL or pitching multiple innings if one of the other starters is pulled from a start early due to injury or poor performance. Given that the Twins bullpen continues to struggle mightily, however, Paredes could also transition into a short reliever, fortifying a unit in dire need of dependable arms. In his six appearances this month, Paredes’s most effective pitch has been his cutter, with hitters generating a modest .159 wOBA against it. However, his best pitch from a movement and stuff perspective is his sweeper, on which he's generated a 26.9% strikeout rate while throwing it 21.3% of the time.
His sweeper would play up in a short relief role, generating higher velocity and greater horizontal break in short bursts. Paredes could fortify his sweeper and turn it into an above-average complementary pitch alongside his four-seam when facing right-handed hitters, while relying more on his change as an out pitch against left-handed hitters. Assuming he’s able to elevate his sweeper and change while adding velocity to his four-seam in a short relief role, Paredes should be more of a strikeout guy in the pen.
Paredes has been an incredible development story, playing a vital role in keeping Minnesota’s playoff hopes from sinking in June. However, hes walking a thin line as a starter and could soon implode, given his inability to miss bats over multiple innings pitched. When Ober returns, Minnesota would be wise to transition Paredes to the bullpen, providing him an opportunity to solidify a role in a unit desperate for reliable arms. He's not good enough for their rotation, but he's more than good enough for their struggling relief unit.
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