Pablo López’s Injury May Give Rocco Baldelli What He’s Always Wanted

One of the consistent staples of Rocco Baldelli’s bullpen philosophy has been his desire to carry a long reliever—a pitcher who can bridge multiple innings and preserve the rest of the bullpen during short starts or blowouts. It’s a role the Twins have tried to fill in the past, with mixed results. The tricky part? When a team is in a stretch of tight, low-scoring games, that long man can sit unused for over a week. It’s tough to stay sharp, and even tougher to justify a roster spot for someone who might throw once every 10 days. Having the practical maximum of solid relievers available (even if it be for just two or three outs at a time) is how a club sustains torrid fortnights like the winning streaks that set the team back on track in each of the last two years; long relievers are better for absorbing damage and shortening losing streaks.

But with Pablo López now expected to miss 8-12 weeks due to a teres major strain, the calculation changes. The Twins’ rotation is suddenly home to a pair of exciting but unproven rookies, in Zebby Matthews and David Festa. If the team wants to avoid burning out its bullpen by the All-Star Break, the need for a trusted long man might outweigh the usage concerns. That’s where Travis Adams enters the conversation.

A Developmental Success Story
The Twins selected Adams in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of California State University (Sacramento), a program known for producing polished college arms. From the outset, Adams wasn’t viewed as a flamethrower or a top-of-the-rotation arm, but rather a pitcher with a mature approach and the ability to fill up the strike zone with a mix of average or better offerings. He signed for the modest $253,000 slot value at that pick. In other words, he was tailor-made to become a steady presence in a minor-league rotation.

Adams proved to be accurate in his projections over his first two professional seasons, posting solid numbers while steadily rising through the system. His 2024 campaign with Double-A Wichita was particularly impressive. He compiled a 3.67 ERA across 25 starts, with a 24.5% strikeout rate and a 6.3% walk rate. He showed durability and command that many evaluators believed could translate to a swingman or backend big-league starting role. The Twins thought highly enough of him to add him to the 40-man roster in November, to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. That decision is now looking more prescient than ever.

Evolving into a Piggyback Specialist
The 2025 season has marked a subtle but essential shift in Adams’s development path. While he had functioned primarily as a traditional starter throughout his minor-league career, Triple-A St. Paul has utilized him in a hybrid piggyback role this year. Often following high-upside starters like Marco Raya (and even Matthews and Festa, before their big-league call-ups), Adams has become a dependable multi-inning arm who can bridge the gap between the starter and the best of the bullpen.

The results? Impressive. Through the first two months of the Triple-A season, Adams has quietly posted a sub-3.50 ERA, with a WHIP hovering around 1.15, while maintaining a solid strikeout-to-walk ratio. His strikeout rate has improved from 11.4% at Triple-A last season to 21.3% in 2025, which is closer to his career mark. He’s averaging over three innings per appearance and has been incredibly consistent, allowing more than two runs in only three outings.

“[Adams has] been great, he’s been great in that role,” said Saints manager Toby Gardenhire. “It’s a new thing for him, but I think he does a really good job in it. He comes out there, throws strikes, pounds the zone, he’s got good stuff, too, so I think he’s doing a really nice job with it, and hopefully we can get him up to the big leagues in that role, too.”

It’s that ability to throw strikes, minimize damage, and soak up innings that makes Adams a compelling call-up candidate.

Why the Twins Might Need Him Now
With Pablo López sidelined, the Twins rotation is currently led by Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and a resurgent Chris Paddack. Those three bring consistency and the potential for six- or seven-inning starts. But behind them, it’s a different story. Matthews and Festa have both shown flashes of brilliance during their big-league tenures, but neither has been a lock to work deep into games. Both have been monitored closely by the Twins, who are understandably cautious about overextending young arms during their first full MLB season.

That caution has a ripple effect. Short outings by starters force the bullpen to carry a heavier load, and over time, that can wear down even the most resilient relief corps. The Twins' bullpen has been a strength this season, but asking the likes of Griffin Jax, Louie Varland, and Jhoan Duran to cover four or five innings multiple times per week is a fast track to burnout.

Adams could step into that gap. If Matthews exits after 13 or 14 outs, Adams can give the team two or three solid frames and keep the game in reach. If Festa runs up a high pitch count in the third inning, Adams can calm the waters without burning through multiple one-inning relievers. In essence, he’d serve as an MLB-level version of the role he’s already thriving in at Triple A.

One of the barriers to calling up a pitcher midseason is often the need for 40-man roster space, but the Twins already cleared that hurdle with Adams last winter. With a spot already secured, they can promote him without the risk of losing another player to waivers or making a difficult DFA decision.

Additionally, the Twins have a few bullpen arms who may be optioned or cycled through in the coming weeks. Jorge Alcala has struggled and is unable to be optioned to the minor leagues; he's on DFA watch. Kody Funderburk has been used sparingly as the team’s only lefty. Adams would be a natural fit to replace one of those arms, while giving the Twins a different look in terms of bullpen structure. There’s also a strategic component: in an era when MLB teams are constantly looking for ways to stretch out their pitching staffs without overexposing any one arm, long relievers who can pitch 2-4 innings are as valuable as ever. Adams fits that profile perfectly.

While the average fan may not be clamoring for an Adams call-up, the Twins front office and coaching staff likely recognize how important his skill set could be over the next two months. In a season where depth is more vital than ever (and with a playoff race that remains tightly contested), reliable innings might be the most valuable currency in baseball.

Adams may not light up radar guns or dominate headlines, but his path through the Twins system and recent success in a piggyback role suggests he’s ready for this next challenge. If the Twins want to weather the storm of López’s injury without overextending their bullpen or rushing their prospects, Adams may be the quiet solution they need and fill Baldelli’s appetite for a long reliever.

Do you think the Twins should give Adams a shot in the big leagues? Let us know in the comments below, or head to the forums to weigh in on how Minnesota should manage its pitching depth moving forward.