Spring Training is well underway and the Minnesota Twins currently have a 6-7-3 record.
As manager Rocco Baldelli works to sort out the Twins’ 26-man roster, prior to Opening Day, cuts have already started taking place down in Fort Myers.
Right now, the Minnesota Twins’ starting rotation looks pretty set. Health willing, Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Chris Paddack and Simeon Woods Richardson appear locked into those five spots.
But over the course of a long 162 game season, other starting arms will have to step up if the Twins are going to get back to the playoffs..
Zebby Matthews one to watch for Minnesota Twins
Last season, Zebby Matthews made his big league debut, despite starting the season at Single-A Cedar Rapids. By the time September turned to October, the 24-year-old started nine games in the MN Twins rotation.
While he’s probably going to start 2025 down in St. Paul, ESPN Insider Kiley McDaniel believes Matthews is destined to make a major impact on the rotation this summer.
“Emmanuel Rodriguez is the easy pick. He has massive power, should open in Triple-A and is my 27th-ranked prospect. But I’ll go a level deeper with Matthews, who barely graduated from prospect status but would’ve been around the middle of my top 100 if he hadn’t. He looks like the sixth starter but he could spend two-thirds of the season in the rotation.”
Thus far, during Grapefruit League play, Zebby Matthews has made three appearances and thrown 6 1/3 innings.
He’s given up just four hits, hasn’t allowed a run, and has a 7/0 K/BB. If there’s a leading candidate as the next man up for the rotation, he has to be it.
Unfortunately Matthews did tweak his hip during his last appearance, an injury the Twins are now monitoring. The Twins do not believe his injury is serious, and expect him to be back on the mound before Opening Day… wherever that ends up being.
Last season Matthews owned a gaudy 6.69 ERA across 37 2/3 innings for the Twins. Of the 28 earned runs he allowed though, 15 of them came in two starts against the Blue Jays and Orioles. It’s clear there is a good pitcher here, and the only question is whether he’s a top-of-the-rotation arm or a back-end type.
Zebby Matthews is a control artist who’s learned how to generate strikeouts at a high rate. In 205 1/3 minor league innings, Matthews owns an incredible 232/22 K/BB. If the Twins deal with an injury to a starter prior to Opening Day, or one of the bottom two arms struggles with effectiveness out of the gate, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Zebby back at Target Field sooner than later.
Minnesota Twins rotation can help out bullpen
As things stand the MN Twins are projected to have one of the best bullpens in baseball. They have been dealt some injury blows early, but that can still be true. Jhoan Duran doesn’t have the same velocity we have always seen, but he’s adding a new pitch and can be effective with good health.
The more that Rocco Baldelli’s starters can do to turn games over, the better off the bullpen can thrive as well. Last season Pablo Lopez struggled, Joe Ryan got hurt, and Chris Paddack was basically non-existent.
Pitching depth is always something of a need for big league teams. David Festa and Zebby Matthews were forced into roles a bit prematurely last season. This time around both should be ready for their shot, and having multiple candidates ready to contribute is a very good thing.
If Matthews does emerge as a breakout candidate, then the Twins should feel great about whoever they give the ball to on a daily basis. Minnesota didn’t do much this offseason, but there is plenty of internal talent to be dangerous.
