The Twins positioned righty Chris Paddack on the 15-day injured checklist yesterday because of fatigue in his proper shoulder, however the right-hander made clear in a follow-up interview that he’s not involved about any potential damage (hyperlink by way of Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune). “This isn’t ache or discomfort,” stated Paddack, who’s in his first season full season again from the second Tommy John surgical procedure of his profession. “That is fatigue.”
Paddack expanded that whereas his normal strategy is that he needs the ball at each alternative, he additionally felt the necessity to hearken to his physique and “not be a hero” after a latest dip in his fastball velocity and emotions of a “useless arm.” The 28-year-old righty has tossed 78 1/3 innings this season — already his most since 2021 and actually greater than he pitched in 2022-23 mixed (majors and minor league rehab work included). Some fatigue and workload administration was to be anticipated, and the latest drop in velocity prompted the staff to make a transfer.
Notably, Nightengale provides that supervisor Rocco Baldelli confirmed Paddack will return to the rotation as soon as he’s reinstated from the injured checklist. There’s no plan to shift the right-hander to a aid function presently, although he thrived in that setting down the stretch and within the postseason with the Twins final yr when he tossed a mixed 8 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and a stroll with a hefty 14 strikeouts. Paddack’s fastball sat at a career-high 95.5 mph final yr in aid, per Statcast, and he was regularly touching the higher 90s within the playoffs.
Maybe a return to that function could possibly be in play down the road (speculatively talking), however the group will proceed beginning him for now. Paddack has a 5.29 ERA in 15 begins, due largely to a pair of ugly outings at Camden Yards (9 runs) and at Yankee Stadium (seven runs).
Within the brief time period, the Twins might want to plug somebody into the fifth spot of their rotation. KSTP’s Darren Wolfson stories that Minnesota will begin reliever Ryan Jensen at present at Triple-A as a substitute of prime prospect David Festa, presumably setting the stage for Festa to make his large league debut tomorrow in Arizona. (Notice: I misinterpret the staff’s recreation log yesterday and incorrectly wrote that Festa had pitched too just lately to be an possibility; my apologies for the error.)
The 24-year-old Festa has been sharp in Triple-A this season, pitching to a 3.77 ERA with an enormous 35.1% strikeout charge, a 9.7% stroll charge and a robust 45.5% grounder charge. Whereas his stroll charge may stand to return down a couple of ticks, it’s price mentioning that Festa has improved significantly in that regard because the season has progressed. After strolling an alarming 20% of his opponents by his first 4 begins, he’s slashed his stroll charge to six.7% — together with zero walks over his previous two outings. His strikeout charge has improved a bit as he’s honed his command, sitting at 37.3% in his 10 most up-to-date outings.
Festa is taken into account one of many Twins’ greatest — if not their greatest — pitching prospects. He sits at No. 99 on MLB.com’s just lately up to date top-100 checklist and is the sport’s No. 93 prospect over at FanGraphs. He’s been a pleasant improvement story for the Twins as a Thirteenth-round decide in 2021 who signed for a $125K bonus. Minnesota might want to add Festa to the 40-man roster if he’s certainly referred to as upon for his debut, however they’ve an open spot for the time being anyhow (and righty Brock Stewart has already been on the 15-day IL for almost 60 days within the occasion that they want a second house anytime quickly).
Whereas Festa’s progress towards the large leagues is a giant optimistic, the Twins’ former prime pitching prospect, Matt Canterino, has had yet one more setback, per Nightengale. The 26-year-old righty is headed for an MRI on his shoulder after experiencing discomfort in a latest bullpen session. Canterino, the No. 54 general decide again in 2019, has dominated minor league opponents when wholesome, evidenced by a profession 1.48 ERA and 39.1% strikeout charge since being drafted.
Sadly, between the pandemic-canceled 2020 season and repeated accidents, he’s solely been in a position to pitch 85 innings in whole. He most just lately underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in 2022 and has but to get again right into a minor league recreation since that point. He’s on the Twins’ 40-man roster and is within the first of three minor league possibility years, in order that they needn’t but think about slicing him unfastened to open a spot, however it’s one other irritating setback for the gifted however oft-injured righty.
There’s higher information on a pair of injured Twins relievers, nonetheless. The aforementioned Stewart pitched a bullpen session three days in the past and can achieve this once more at present and on the twenty ninth, per Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com. The previous Dodgers prospect has been a revelation since becoming a member of the Twins on a minor league deal, pitching 41 innings of aid with a 0.66 ERA and 34.8% strikeout charge relationship again to final season. He’s been out since early Might with a shoulder damage.
As for righty Justin Topa, whom the Twins acquired within the offseason Jorge Polanco commerce, he’s slated to throw a bullpen session in early July, per Park. The best-hander suffered a 25% tear of the patellar tendon in his knee throughout spring coaching, Park notes, however was advisable for a platelet-rich plasma injection and relaxation slightly than surgical procedure. Twins coach Nick Paparesta detailed that Topa will then ramp up by the All-Star break earlier than being reevaluated. A second-half return stays in play for the righty, who pitched 69 innings of two.96 ERA ball for the Mariners in 2023 and is below staff management with the Twins by 2026.
