The Twins acquired unhealthy information following right-hander Joe Ryan’s MRI. Supervisor Rocco Baldelli introduced to the Twins’ beat on Friday that he’s been recognized with a Grade 2 teres main pressure that’ll threaten the rest of his season. It’s a extra critical damage than the Twins initially anticipated. Whereas Baldelli didn’t fully rule Ryan out for the rest of the season, he acknowledged that it’ll take “weeks to months” for the right-hander to get well.
Ryan is headed to the 15-day IL for now, and the Twins have additionally chosen the contract of right-hander Scott Blewett from Triple-A St. Paul in his place. Proper-hander Brock Stewart, headed for season-ending shoulder surgical procedure, was positioned on the 60-day IL to open a spot for Blewett. Minnesota additionally reinstated infielder Kyle Farmer from the injured checklist, positioned infielder Brooks Lee on the 15-day IL on account of biceps tendinitis, and known as up right-hander Louie Varland because the twenty seventh man for his or her pivotal doubleheader towards the division-leading Guardians.
The damage for Ryan is a intestine punch to a Twins membership that was unable to accumulate a beginning pitcher earlier than the commerce deadline and has already seen its rotation depth stretched skinny. The 28-year-old Ryan has been maybe their steadiest starter in 2024, logging 135 innings of three.60 ERA ball with a robust 27.3% strikeout price towards an excellent 4.3% stroll price. He’s been a fixture within the Twins’ rotation since being acquired from the Rays in trade for Nelson Cruz on the 2021 commerce deadline, making 84 begins with a 3.92 ERA and persistently robust strikeout and stroll charges.
With Ryan becoming a member of Chris Paddack and Anthony DeSclafani — who required season-ending surgical procedure again in spring coaching — on the injured checklist, Minnesota will probably be compelled to lean on a rookie-heavy rotation whereas attempting to overhaul Cleveland and struggle off Kansas Metropolis within the AL Central race. Pablo Lopez and Bailey Ober present loads of big-league expertise. Nonetheless, they’ll be adopted by Simeon Woods Richardson, David Festa, and sure Varland within the season’s last seven weeks. Proper-hander Zebby Matthews, who has rocketed up prospect rankings in 2024 whereas dominating Excessive-A and Double-A, could possibly be known as to the massive leagues prior to he in any other case would have with a more healthy employees. Veteran righty Adam Plutko can be in Triple-A with the Twins and has pitched to a good 4.35 ERA there — together with a 3.38 mark over his previous seven begins.
Given the elevated pressure on the pitching depth, it wouldn’t be all that shocking to see the Twins pursue some extra depth. Their avenues to doing so are restricted now that the deadline has handed, however they nonetheless have some choices. Wealthy Hill, who pitched for the Twins in 2020, plans to signal for the stretch run and showcase for groups on Friday. Some depth choices like Xzavion Curry (Guardians) and Jackson Wolf (Padres) have been designated for project throughout the previous week and will maintain enchantment — in the event that they make it to the Twins on waivers. As MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald just lately laid out for MLBTR Entrance Workplace subscribers, we might see a handful of notable veterans hit waivers later this month if their groups falter, though the Twins slashed payroll significantly this previous offseason and possession may balk on the notion of absorbing extra payroll for the stretch run.
Within the quick time period, the Twins will give Varland the primary begin and slot Blewett, who pitched for the 2020-21 Royals, into the bullpen. Varland opened the season within the rotation after an encouraging run late final yr. Nonetheless, the Twin Cities native was hit laborious early this season, optioned to Triple-A, and finally leapfrogged by Woods Richardson and Festa on the depth chart. He’s struggled in Triple-A total however had rattled off a 1.48 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 14 walks in his previous six begins (30 1/3 innings).
As for Blewett, he inked a minor league deal within the offseason. The 28-year-old righty was a second-round choose by the Royals again in 2014 and has bounced round pro-ball, additionally spending time within the White Sox and Braves methods along with a pleasant stint with the Uni-President Lions in Taiwan’s Chinese language Skilled Baseball League final yr. He’s pitched 56 1/3 innings for the Saints this season and notched a stable 3.66 ERA with a 23.2% strikeout price and seven.6% stroll price in that point.
The damage to Lee, 23, will open the door for Farmer’s return. Lee was the No. 8 total choose in 2022 and at present stands as a consensus top-50 prospect within the sport. He missed the start of the season with a stress response in his again however returned to gentle hearth to Triple-A pitching, hitting opponents at a .329/.394/.635 clip with seven homers in simply 94 plate appearances earlier than being summoned to the majors amid different accidents in Minnesota’s infield. He’ll head to the shelf, leaving the Twins with Farmer and Willi Castro at second and quick, Royce Lewis at third base and Carlos Santana at first base (along with Jose Miranda mixing in on the infield corners).
