Twins Notes: Paddack, Festa, Canterino, Bullpen

The Twins positioned righty Chris Paddack on the 15-day injured record yesterday as a consequence 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 (link via Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune). “This isn’t ache or discomfort,” mentioned 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 desires the ball at each alternative, he additionally felt the necessity to hearken to his physique and “not be a hero” after a current dip in his fastball velocity and emotions of a “lifeless 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 current drop in velocity prompted the workforce 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 record. There’s no plan to shift the right-hander to a reduction function at the moment, although he thrived in that setting down the stretch and within the postseason with the Twins final 12 months 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 12 months in reduction, per Statcast, and he was often touching the higher 90s within the playoffs.

Maybe a return to that function might 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 reports 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 huge league debut tomorrow in Arizona. (Word: I misinterpret the workforce’s sport log yesterday and incorrectly wrote that Festa had pitched too not too long ago 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 price, a 9.7% stroll price and a robust 45.5% grounder price. Whereas his stroll price might stand to return down a number of ticks, it’s value mentioning that Festa has improved significantly in that regard because the season has progressed. After strolling an alarming 20% of his opponents by way of his first 4 begins, he’s slashed his stroll price to six.7% — together with zero walks over his previous two outings. His strikeout price 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 not too long ago up to date top-100 record and is the sport’s No. 93 prospect over at FanGraphs. He’s been a pleasant growth story for the Twins as a Thirteenth-round choose in 2021 who signed for a $125K bonus. Minnesota might want to add Festa to the 40-man roster if he’s certainly known as upon for his debut, however they’ve an open spot in the meanwhile 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 massive leagues is a giant optimistic, the Twins’ former prime pitching prospect, Matt Canterino, has had one more setback, per Nightengale. The 26-year-old righty is headed for an MRI on his shoulder after experiencing discomfort in a current bullpen session. Canterino, the No. 54 total choose again in 2019, has dominated minor league opponents when wholesome, evidenced by a profession 1.48 ERA and 39.1% strikeout price since being drafted.

Sadly, between the pandemic-canceled 2020 season and repeated accidents, he’s solely been capable of pitch 85 innings in whole. He most not too long ago underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in 2022 and has but to get again right into a minor league sport 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 take into account chopping him free to open a spot, nevertheless 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 accomplish that 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 reduction with a 0.66 ERA and 34.8% strikeout price courting again to final season. He’s been out since early Could 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 somewhat than surgical procedure. Twins coach Nick Paparesta detailed that Topa will then ramp up by way of 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 underneath workforce management with the Twins by way of 2026.