The Minnesota Twins are 10-15-3 through Grapefruit League action thus far. They have just three games left before heading north to start the season in St. Louis. Thankfully, Rocco Baldelli’s squad has remained largely healthy down in Fort Myers.
They lost their first position player when Royce Lewis strained his hamstring last week.
Michael Tonkin is nursing an injury as well, and will begin the year on the injured list. He was a bottom-tier bullpen option regardless.
Unfortunately he’s is going to be joined by another, much higher-tier, bullpen arm as well.
Brock Stewart begins season on injured list for Minnesota Twins
Plenty of steam has been percolating about the Minnesota Twins having the best bullpen in baseball this coming year.
That could be true if they are healthy. Unfortunately, that same reality existed last year and they left Fort Myers with multiple players on the injured list. The first big blow this time around comes in the form of Brock Stewart starting the year on the injured list.
Brock Stewart threw around 20 pitches in a minor league game Saturday against the Boston Red Sox’s Class AAA club, but it’ll likely be a couple of weeks before he is pitching in a major league game.
Stewart was informed he will begin the season on the Twins’ 15-day injured list. His buildup this spring was slightly delayed after he underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery last August, and he exited an outing March 15 with a minor hamstring issue.”
There was always a level of uncertainty as to whether Stewart would begin the season with Minnesota. The Twins played coy about it, but this is a pitcher that has thrown just 43 1/3 innings since 2020.
It’s possible that the buildup from his offseason shoulder surgery would have kept him from Opening Day, but the slight hamstring injury is an easy way to explain it.
“We have to keep our eyes open to the end goal here, which isn’t just the start of the season. It’s the whole season.”
Nick Paparesta – Star Tribune
The good news, which has remained the case despite his many injuries, is that Stewart’s stuff stays intact.
He was reportedly around 95-96 mph in the minor league game. The last two seasons with the MN Twins he has averaged 97 mph on the fastball.
He throws his heat around 43% of the time, and in 2023, generated a whiff rate near 20%. Stewart’s 2.28 ERA with the Twins makes him among the most dominant relievers in baseball. He has 59 strikeouts, and just 19 walks the past two seasons. Obviously Minnesota needs to get him to a place where he can be, and stay, on the mound.
An open spot remains for MN Twins
Once it was announced that Tonkin would start on the injured list it became apparent that there was room for Louie Varland in the bullpen.
Now with Stewart destined for the same result, Baldelli has another spot to decide on.
Rule 5 selection Eiberson Castellano remains in camp.
The Twins would love to keep the Phillies 2024 minor league pitcher of the year in the organization, but he has made it tough to trust him with his Grapefruit League performance.
The 7.59 ERA across 10 2/3 innings isn’t as problematic as the 13/10 K/BB is.
If Minnesota is going to keep Castellano for mop-up duty, they can’t afford for him not to throw strikes. Scott Blewett started on Saturday and also remains in camp.
He owned a 1.77 ERA across 20 1/3 innings for the MN Twins last season. Blewett was solid, if not unspectacular at Triple-A as well with a 3.79 ERA in 54 2/3 inning with the Saints. He could be the option if they don’t trust Castellano at this point.
As camps wind down there should be plenty of pitchers that are released, and trigger opt outs as well. Minnesota could go that route if they aren’t convinced their internal options are the best choice. When it comes to open roster spots, this is one to watch.
