The Twins walked into spring training with an impressive amount of major-league ready starting pitching depth.
Their rotation was to be headed by Pablo López and Joe Ryan, a pair of all-stars. Behind them, Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson had been rotation mainstays in recent years and Zebby Matthews, David Festa, Taj Bradley and Mick Abel had each made starts for them last year.
It didn’t take long for that depth to get tested and then stretched thin.
López suffered a season-ending elbow injury early in spring training. Festa has a shoulder impingement and is on the 60-day injured list, and on Monday, Abel became the latest starter to land on the injured list, his stint due to right elbow inflammation.
It’s a tough break for Abel, who had shown in recent days just why the Twins were so excited about his future after acquiring him in a trade last July for closer Jhoan Duran. Abel gave up nine earned runs in his first two outings this season (7 1/3 innings pitched), but in his last two starts, he threw a combined 13 scoreless innings with 16 strikeouts. Abel limited the Boston Red Sox to just four hits in seven innings while striking out 10 batters just days before landing on the IL.
The Twins have not yet made a corresponding move to fill the roster spot, though they did announce that Woods Richardson would bump up a day and start on Tuesday against the New York Mets in Abel’s place. The Twins have not yet announced a starter for Wednesday’s game, but two top pitching prospects, Prielipp and Kendry Rojas, both left-handers, are expected to be with them in New York. In addition to Abel’s roster spot, the Twins will have another to fill as reliever Kody Funderburk will be placed on the paternity list.
Prielipp, 25, was the Twins’ second-round draft pick in 2022. The left-hander has a 2.30 earned-run average this season at Triple-A St. Paul in 15 2/3 innings pitched and seems likely to make a start.
Rojas, 23, was slowed at the beginning of the season because of a hamstring strain. He has thrown six scoreless innings for the Saints this season, topping out at 50 pitches in his last outing. Rojas was acquired last year as part of the return from Toronto for reliever Louie Varland.
Prielipp, who hails from Tomah, Wisconsin, is the Twins’ No. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and their top pitching prospect. Rojas is their fourth-ranked pitching prospect and No. 10 overall in their system. Neither have made their major league debut. Andrew Morris, another starting prospect, is already in the major leagues and has made two appearances out of the Twins’ bullpen this season.
While Matthews is the starter at Triple-A with the most major league experience, he last pitched on Friday and is off to a tough start this season at Triple-A, having given up 14 earned runs in 16 1/3 innings pitched thus far this season.
The Twins also seem likely to welcome back third baseman Royce Lewis in New York. Lewis, who had a minor knee sprain, has played in two rehab games for the Saints and has hit a home run in each of them.
Reds come back late for second straight day to sweep Twins
Funderburks set to welcome first child after Alicia’s cancer diagnosis during pregnancy
Saints’ 3-game winning streak comes to an end
Twins’ Luke Keaschall “a tick off”