The Twins have been in touch with veteran left-hander Wealthy Hill, who hosted a showcase for large league scouts earlier at this time, stories Dan Hayes of The Athletic. The Purple Sox have been additionally in attendance for Hill’s showcase, WEEI’s Rob Bradford tweets, although it’s not clear whether or not they’ve spoken to Hill a couple of potential reunion. The Yankees and Dodgers have been beforehand linked to Hill and thus presumably additionally in attendance this morning.
Minnesota’s curiosity comes at a time when Joe Ryan was simply recognized with a Grade 2 pressure of the teres main muscle in his proper shoulder that places the rest of his season in jeopardy. Ryan joined righty Chris Paddack on the 15-day IL earlier at this time, leaving Minnesota with an inexperienced group of choices — Simeon Woods Richardson, David Festa, Louie Varland — behind veterans Pablo Lopez and Bailey Ober within the beginning rotation.
Hill, 44, has mentioned since final yr that his plan for the 2024 season was to pitch — however solely within the season’s second half. The southpaw signed a one-year take care of the Pirates within the 2022-23 offseason and pitched nicely early earlier than starting to point out indicators of fatigue. He nonetheless managed to eat up 146 1/3 innings between Pittsburgh and San Diego (who acquired him eventually yr’s commerce deadline), however it was usually a story of two seasons for Hill. The lefty notched a decent 4.34 ERA and matching FIP by means of his first 15 begins, punching out 21.1% of his opponents in opposition to an 8.6% stroll charge. In his remaining 63 1/3 innings, he was torched for a 6.82 ERA with a 17.7% strikeout charge, 9% stroll charge and 1.71 HR/9.
Ready till later within the season affords MLB’s elder statesmen some perks past probably maintaining him contemporary. Most significantly, Hill has spoken on report earlier than in regards to the further time he was in a position to spend together with his household, teaching his son’s crew (hyperlink by way of MLB.com’s Ian Browne). Signing in August additionally ensures that he’s in a position to land with a membership that has shot at making the postseason.
Minnesota would match that invoice. The Twins have been in second place within the AL Central and holding onto an AL Wild Card spot for many of the season. At 63-50, the Twins are 3.5 video games behind Cleveland within the division, however they’re additionally internet hosting the Guardians for a four-game set this weekend that may shake up the highest of the division if Minnesota can handle a sweep. (They’re presently main the Guards in Recreation 1 of at this time’s doubleheader.)
Hill is not any stranger to the Twins group, having pitched there in the course of the shortened 2020 season. Accidents restricted him to eight begins, however he posted a 3.03 ERA in 38 2/3 innings as a Twin and reached the postseason that yr. Bradford spoke to a scout who was at Hill’s showcase this morning, noting that the lefty threw greater than 100 pitches and appeared “spectacular” (X hyperlink). Hill himself tells Bradford that he believes he’s constructed as much as the purpose the place he’s able to go throw 5 – 6 innings in a begin proper now (video hyperlink).
Hill isn’t the one reinforcement the Twins are pondering, although second various is almost half Hill’s age. High prospect Zebby Matthews has skyrocketed up prospect rankings this season on the again of a dominant displaying in Excessive-A and Double-A. He was lately bumped as much as Triple-A St. Paul, and president of baseball operations Derek Falvey confirmed to the Twins beat that Matthews is into account for a promotion to the majors.
“I feel Zebby’s undoubtedly within the dialog,” Falvey mentioned this afternoon (X hyperlink by way of KSTP’s Darren Wolfson). “Clearly, he’s pitched exceptionally nicely for the entire yr throughout ranges he’s been at. He’s now at Triple-A and knocking on the door. With the accidents we’ve, he’s definitely within the dialog. As we take into consideration the wants for subsequent week, he’s definitely a reputation that we’re speaking about.”
Matthews, the Twins’ eighth-round decide in 2022, already appears to be like like a pleasant discover for the group. The suitable-hander posted sub-2.00 ERAs in each Excessive-A and Double-A earlier than his latest promotion to Triple-A. He’s had two stable begins and two tough begins on the high minor league degree. Collectively, he’s posted a 2.60 ERA with a formidable 30.5% strikeout charge and a staggering 1.8% stroll charge. Matthews has fanned a hefty 114 opponents and issued simply seven walks all season.
Matthews has ridden that breakout season all the way in which to the No. 61 spot on Baseball America’s latest replace to their high 100 prospects, the place they observe that Matthews has maybe one of the best command in minor league baseball. The Athletic’s Keith Legislation ranks Matthews sixtieth within the sport, and MLB.com has him as their No. 100 prospect.
Falvey additionally added that the aforementioned Paddack remains to be anticipated again this season. He’s “monitoring very well,” per the Twins’ baseball ops chief (X hyperlink by way of The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman) and will start a throwing program within the close to future. Paddack has had a Jekyll-and-Hyde season, at instances wanting dominant and others wanting fatigued in his first full season again from the second Tommy John process of his profession. He’s twice punched out 10 hitters in a recreation and allowed two or fewer runs in 10 of his 17 begins. Nevertheless, he’s additionally had begins the place he’s been rocked for seven runs and 9 runs, resulting in a 4.99 ERA on the season.
Paddack’s 88 1/3 innings this season are already greater than his mixed complete from 2022-23 whereas he underwent and rehabbed from that Tommy John process. Nonetheless, the Twins plan to make use of him as a starter when he’s able to return, per Falvey. There’s no clear timetable for that but, but when he can start a throwing development quickly, a return someday subsequent month appears possible. Paddack final pitched on July 14 and has been out since with a forearm pressure.
