Chembry

Jeff Passan sits down with John Schneider and Dave Roberts to discuss the 2025 World Series. If you are interested, I would suggest listening to this, it's fantastic. One thing that John Schneider said was during the 18 inning game 3 marathon, they intentionally walked Ohtani 4 times. It was partly due to the Jays not wanting Ohtani to beat them with his bat in extra innings, but also they wanted to tire him out because he was pitching the next day...and Roberts confirmed that it worked. Even after IVs etc..., Ohtani was still cramping up. I love the games within the games. Edit: Louie Varland gets wonderful compliments from both Schneider and Roberts.

McLean is so filthy…

Giolito had a decent year last year. He started 26g and finished with 145 IP, 3.41 ERA, 4.17 FIP, 1.29 WHIP, 9% BB rate, 20% K rate. He turned down his $19M mutual option for 2026. He was thinking he would get a longer deal or more money. Obviously, that hasn't turned out to be the case. MLBTR wrote an article on him. He is quoted saying "I just want to play for close to what my value is"...That would lead you to believe the reason he hasn't signed is because he thinks he is worth more than his $19M option and no team wanted to pay that. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/04/lucas-giolito-throwing-roughly-75-pitches-in-side-sessions.html

It's not a Twins issue, it's a systemic issue that traces all the way back to high school aged pitchers. High School aged pitchers are chasing velocity to get college offers. College pitchers are chasing velocity because stuff and velocity drive projections, which drives draft selection. This isn't speculation either. In 2014, 5 high school aged pitchers threw 95 or harder at the Perfect Game Showcase. In 2024, that number rose to 36. Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction surgeries in the major leagues jumped from 21 in 2010 to 46 in 2024. Minor league numbers paint an even bleaker picture, as procedures surged from 83 in 2010 to 240 in 2024. To answer your question, yes it causes more strain on the elbow. Baseball America wrote an article back in February on this topic. A quote from an orthopedic surgeon in the article stated when asked what has changed "If you could take one factor, it’s velocity" It's a good read if you are interested in learning more. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/is-velocity-really-the-culprit-behind-rising-baseball-injuries/

I didn't see the game, but according to the box score he was moved to LF later in the game. Salas was moved form LF to 1B. I don't know why though.

If you have Netflix, it's a great series to watch. It's called The Clubhouse: A Year With the Red Sox. In the series, you really get a deep dive into several of the Red Sox players, Jarren Duran and Triston Casas being two of the more prominently featured players. It was filmed during the 2024 season

Baseball America published it's mock draft 2.0 yesterday. They still have Emerson at #2 and have the Twins taking Vaugh Lackey at #3. Lombard at #4 and Flora at #5. What surprised me is that Justin Lebron dropped down to #14. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-updated-first-round-picks-for-every-team/

We all agree that Houston struggled in high A. Just my opinion, but I do think those struggles were overblown. I don't want to speculate as to why he struggled because it doesn't really matter, but I do hope he continues to make contact and follows a similar path as Culpepper. Just one point of clarification, Houston cut his K rate to 15.7% at Cedar Rapids. 8 Ks in 51 PA. He was at 22% in Fort Myers (13 Ks in 59 PA)

Yes, Culpepper struggled at A+ the year before. I am sure both Houston and Culpepper struggled with endurance which played a significant role in their struggles toward the end of the year after playing a full college season, then jumping into professional baseball. Yes, Houston has a history of contact and zone recognition. Even with his struggles at A+, his K rate was low and contact rate was good. Hope he takes the same step forward that Culpepper did.

For those wondering, Gabby Gonzalez has seen some game action at 1B in minor league spring training games. That is good news because we want Roden, Jenkins, Rodriguez, Gonzalez playing everyday and this also gives Gonzalez an additional path to MLB. I am higher on Roden and I think he can be an above average hitter (110-120 OPS+) and an above average COF, but I want him playing everyday. I don't want him in MLB as the 4th OF only playing 1-2x/week or a defensive replacement trying to get his foothold.

Chafin and Urshela also released today

I was trying to watch on a flight home yesterday, but the internet kept cutting in and out. I enjoyed watching Hill pitch. Velocity and movement was very good. He got into a bit of trouble with some control issues, but he showed why the Twins are high on him. Remember he just turned 20 in December. I was impressed with Ellwanger as well. Tait hit a rocket at 112 mph off the bat but Spikerman made a diving catch. Houston also played well. His line drive he hit up the middle was hard hit. I was trying to find statcast numbers on that hit, but couldn't find any. Baseball America had some good things to say as well: Most Impressive Moment: Twins’ outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez had a very impressive day at the plate, but no moment better summarized his loud tools than his triple in the bottom of the fourth. In a 2-2 count, Rodriguez hit a 97 mph fastball to left center field. The ball traveled at 113.2 mph and over center fielder Dante Nori’s head. Rodriguez turned on the jets and slid hard into third, catching the third base bag with flair. Best Fastball: Honorable Mention: Twins lefty Dasan Hill hit 100.1 mph, as well as 99 mph multiple times. He produced multiple fastballs in the neighborhood of 20 inches of induced vertical break, too. Best Breaking Ball/Changeup: Honorable Mention: Righthander Marco Raya enters 2026 in a full-time bullpen role for the first time in his career, and he showed electric stuff during his inning closing out the Twins’ victory against the Phillies. Raya recorded three whiffs and both his strikeouts on a sweeper at 86-87 mph during his 1-2-3 ninth inning. His most impressive pitch of the outing was an 86.9 mph sweeper with 16 inches of horizontal break at 2,700 rpm for a swinging strike to start the inning. Hardest Hit: Emmanuel Rodriguez didn’t just have the hardest-hit ball of the day—he had the two hardest-hit balls of the day! After striking out in his first at-bat, Rodriguez lined a 95 mph fastball to right field for a single at 115.6 mph. He followed it up with his aforementioned triple to left center at 113.2 mph off a 97 mph fastball. Hardest Throw By A Defender: He wasn’t able to turn it into an out because it was a high-bouncing chopper far to his right, but Twins third baseman Quentin Young uncorked an absolute seed of a throw with a low one-hopper that was clocked at 93.4 mph. That is harder than any throw by any third baseman in an MLB spring training game this year (other than a wild throw for an error by Aroon Escobar). https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-spring-breakout-2026-top-prospects-pitches-performances-from-thursdays-games/

I am watching on my flight home but internet keeps cutting out. Culpepper: 1/3 with a double Emma: 2/3 with a triple Gabby: I think he has 1 hit Tait: 1/3. Hit a rocket to RC but their RF made a diving catch. Just heard that balls exit velo was 112mph Mendez: 1/1 with 2 BB Houston: 2/3 He hit a rocket that hit the mound and bounced all the way into CF Dasan Hill hit 100 in the first inning, but held 97 the rest of the way. Had some control issues and walked some guys.

McLean pitched very well last night. His breaking stuff is filthy!! McLean showed why the Mets are extremely high on him. He still holds rookie status going into 2026 and probably the odd on favorite to win NL ROY. Miller was only available for 1 inning in a save situation. Stipulations put in place by the Padres. Cubs put the same stipulations in for Palencia.

Kopech was on a podcast earlier this year and outright stated he doesn’t want to pitch for a losing team. He also stated his focus is on being part of a playoff roster. This was in late January (if I recall correctly), so I don’t know if he has backed off on his stance. From the lack of rumors surrounding him, I’m not sure teams are lining up to sign him either. This was reported in a mailbag questions post by MLBTR for front office subscribers.