Stewart (hamstring) threw a successful bullpen session Thursday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Stewart had to depart his last Grapefruit League appearance Saturday against Atlanta with a left hamstring issue. He plans to appear in a game Saturday, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. If so, he should have a good shot to avoid the injured list if he can avoid a setback.
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Twins' Brooks Lee: Sitting with back tightness
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Lee was scratched from the lineup ahead of Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Boston due to lower-back tightness, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Lee has been given the day-to-day label by the team, so there's no reason to believe his injury is anything serious. He'll take a day to recover Thursday; meanwhile, Jose Miranda will pick up some extra reps at the hot corner before the start of the season.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Looks set to make bullpen
Rotowire
Alcala is expected to be included in Minnesota's Opening Day bullpen, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. He's thrown nine scoreless innings with a 5:2 K:BB ratio this spring.
Given Alcala's 3.24 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 54 outings in 2024, his roster status shouldn't really be in question, but the Twins curiously sent him to the minors several times last year. Alcala has outstanding velocity with an average fastball of 97.9 mph, reaching a career-high 101.2 mph last summer. His strikeout rates haven't been as overpowering (8.95 K/9 last season) as he's struggled to get hitters to chase with a 19th percentile chase rate, but he limits hard contact (91st percentile hard-hit rate). He should be in the setup mix again this season if he can stay healthy and could be a good source of holds.
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Twins' Louis Varland: Likely to win bullpen role
Rotowire
Varland is expected to make the Twins' major-league roster as a reliever, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. He's thrown nine scoreless innings with a 5:2 K:BB ratio this spring.
Manager Rocco Baldelli hasn't confirmed the move to the bullpen in an attempt to keep his options open, but Varland hasn't been building up innings to work as a starter this spring. The right-hander struggled last season as a starter in Triple-A with a 4.75 ERA. As a reliever in the majors during 2023, he showed promise with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings and a 17:1 K:BB. Varland could soon be in the high-leverage mix due to a fastball that can touch triple digits.
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Twins' Huascar Ynoa: Sent to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Twins reassigned Ynoa to minor-league camp Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Ynoa made 31 appearances (24 starts) in the majors for Atlanta from 2019 through 2022, but he hasn't seen big-league action since while missing extensive time due to Tommy John surgery and a shoulder injury. The 26-year-old righty linked up with the Twins on a minor-league deal in December and has enjoyed good health in the spring, but his mediocre numbers in the Grapefruit League (5.79 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 4:2 K:BB in 4.2 innings) prevented him from making a serious run at an Opening Day roster spot. Ynoa worked one inning or less in each of his five spring appearances, perhaps signaling that the Twins intend to deploy him out of the bullpen at Triple-A St. Paul after he had mostly been used as a starter during his time in the Atlanta organization.
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Twins' Darren McCaughan: Fails to make cut
Rotowire
The Twins reassigned McCaughan to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
McCaughan made 12 appearances (five starts) in the big leagues between stops with the Guardians and Marlins in 2024, logging a 6.21 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in 42 innings. He joined the Twins on a minor-league deal in December and never made much of a run at an Opening Day roster spot while the Minnesota pitching staff has enjoyed relatively sound health this spring. McCaughan is expected to report to Triple-A St. Paul, where he could be deployed in the rotation or in long relief.
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Twins' Jair Camargo: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Twins optioned Camargo to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Camargo was never going to make the Opening Day roster as long as both Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez were healthy. He'll provide catching depth at St. Paul.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Returns to action
Rotowire
Topa (shoulder) worked one inning of relief in Monday's 4-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates, striking out two while giving up an earned run on one hit.
Topa made his first Grapefruit League appearance since March 6, when he exited that game due to shoulder tightness. He made an appearance in a minor-league game Friday and checked out fine, prompting the Twins to include him back on the Grapefruit League pitching schedule. Topa will look to re-establish himself as a key setup man for Minnesota in 2025 after throwing just 2.1 innings last season due to a left knee injury.
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Twins' Royce Lewis: Sidelined with moderate strain
Rotowire
The Twins announced Monday that Lewis has been ruled out for Opening Day after an MRI confirmed that he sustained a moderate left hamstring strain during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Minnesota has yet to establish a firm timeline for Lewis' return, but since moderate hamstring strains typically entail a multi-week recovery, the 25-year-old third baseman is a safe bet to begin the season on the injured list. On a positive note, Lewis told Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune that the soft-tissue injury is "not even close" to being as severe as the quadricep injury he sustained Opening Day of last season, which resulted in him being sidelined for just over two months. Brooks Lee drew the start at third base in Monday's spring game against the Pirates and appears to be leading candidate to serve as the primary option at the hot corner until Lewis is ready to make his 2025 debut.
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Twins' Brooks Lee: First post-Lewis injury start at 3B
Rotowire
Lee is starting at third base and batting seventh in Monday's Grapefruit League game versus the Pirates.
Royce Lewis strained his left hamstring strain during Grapefruit League action Sunday and is slated to open the season on the injured list. Lee could be the first choice to occupy the hot corner while Lewis is shelved, which would lead to more reps at second base for Willi Castro and Edouard Julien, who is starting at the keystone Monday.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Slated to pitch Monday
Rotowire
Topa (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Topa exited his most recent Grapefruit League appearance back on March 6 due to right shoulder tightness, but he seems to be feeling fine after throwing 22 pitches Friday in a minor-league game on the back fields of camp. Assuming his appearance Monday goes without a hitch, Topa could avoid a stint on the injured list to begin the season.
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Twins' Royce Lewis: Set to begin season on IL
Rotowire
Lewis (hamstring) is expected to begin the season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Lewis strained his left hamstring strain while running to first base Sunday in the Twins' 6-5 loss to the Red Sox in Grapefruit League play Monday. He's scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, but he could be out for much of April. He suffered another soft-tissue injury -- a right quadricep strain -- on Opening Day last season and ended up missing 58 games.
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Twins' Chris Paddack: Wins spot in rotation
Rotowire
Paddack will begin the season in the Minnesota rotation with David Festa and Zebby Matthews optioned to Triple-A, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
Paddack showed he was healthy in his last start after suffering a head contusion when a liner deflected off his glove in his previous outing. Paddack, who didn't pitch in the majors after July last year due to a forearm strain, showed he's back to full strength this spring even if his numbers are not overly impressive. He has a 5.59 ERA with nine strikeouts and no walks over 9.2 innings this spring.
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Twins' Simeon Woods Richardson: Wins fifth starter role
Rotowire
Woods Richardson will begin the season in the Minnesota rotation with David Festa and Zebby Matthews optioned to Triple-A, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
Woods Richardson has looked sharp this spring by allowing one run in 11 innings with a 9:2 K:BB. Richardson had his first success in the majors last year with a revamped delivery and increased velocity but ran out of gas late in the season, posting a 5.91 ERA and 4.6 BB/9 in his last 11 starts.
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Twins' Luke Keaschall: Reassigned to minors
Rotowire
Keaschall was reassigned to Minnesota's minor-league camp Sunday, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
Keaschall was limited to only batting during most of spring training due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery last August. He made a strong impression against major-league spring competition by hitting a home run with a .813 OPS. He'll likely begin the season at Double-A but could be in the majors this summer.
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Twins' Kody Funderburk: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Funderburk was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
It's a little surprising Funderburk was sent to the minors among the first wave of cuts given the injuries to several veterans (Michael Tonkin, Brock Stewart and Justin Topa) in the bullpen. He could be called up early in the season if the Twins need another lefty in the bullpen.
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Twins' Zebby Matthews: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Matthews was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
Matthews had a strong showing in spring training with 9.1 scoreless innings and a 12:1 K:BB. He could be the first starter called up when a spot opens in the rotation. Matthews could still find success in the majors this season with his minuscule walk rate (1.0 BB/9 career in minors), strong strikeout rate (10.2 K/9 career in minors) and velocity.
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Twins' David Festa: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Festa was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
Festa was a candidate to win a rotation spot, but struggled with an 11.94 ERA and 11: 3 K:BB in 11.1 innings this spring. Festa showed promise last season with a 10.8 K/9 and 12.7 percent swinging strike rate, but he recorded a 4.40 ERA (though a 3.75 FIP) in 14 games with the Twins. He could join the rotation early in the season if there's an opening.
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Twins' Royce Lewis: Dealing with hamstring strain
Rotowire
Lewis was diagnosed with a left hamstring strain after exiting Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
The severity of the issue isn't yet known, but it's an ominous development for a player that has been significantly limited by injuries throughout his career. According to Helfand, Lewis will undergo medical imaging Monday to determine the severity of the injury.
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Twins' Royce Lewis: Exits with leg injury
Rotowire
Lewis left Sunday's spring training game against Boston in the second inning after suffering an apparent left leg injury running to first base.
Lewis was running out a grounder when he pulled up in apparent pain with what looked like a hamstring strain. Given Lewis' lengthy injury history, his availability for Opening Day is in serious jeopardy.
