Hometown MN Twins Pitcher Re-Ups With NL Central

This winter — after trading away most of their big league relievers at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline –the Minnesota Twins are trying to rebuild their bullpen.

Before they jumped on a new arm, they nabbed a first baseman, in 32-year-old former Silver Slugger, Josh Bell. With their biggest positional need now filled, expect president Derek Falvey to turn his attention to the bullpen, where there’s still a ton of work to be done.

Caleb Thielbar returning to Chicago Cubs

One option that would have made sense and struck a chord with fans, is Northfield, MN’s own Caleb Thielbar, a lefty reliever with eight seasons of big league experience. Unfortunately for the Twins, a reunion with Thielbar isn’t in the cards. Not after he re-upped with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

News: The Cubs are bringing back lefty Caleb Thielbar who pitched well for them last season, sources tell me and @JeffPassan. Thielbar, 38, had a 2.64 ERA in 67 games last season. He joins newcomer Hoby Milner as lefties in the Cubs pen. The deal is pending a physical.

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) December 16, 2025

Last season, the South Dakota State University alum appeared in a career-high 67 games (yes, six-seven) with the Chicago Cubs. At age 37, he was impressive too, posting his best ERA (2.64) since 2013, as a rookie.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, Caleb decorated that Earned Run Average with a 3.00 FIP, 0.879 WHIP and 147 ERA+. His 1.1 fWAR was the second-highest mark of his career.

Thielbar is known for his devastating curveball and gets plenty of swing and miss from it. He posted a 25.5% whiff rate last year, flipping his curveball right around 28% of the time.

Caleb Thielbar, Devastating 75mph Curveball. 🌈 pic.twitter.com/R0j8oU7M9x

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 6, 2025

If he’s going to return for another big league season, it’s no surprise that Thielbar is choosing to remain on the North Side of Chicago, given the success he had there last summer. If he’s going to come back again, it makes sense to do it where he is comfortable.

Unforeseen Bounceback for former Minnesota Twins reliever

What’s crazy about Caleb Thielbar’s MLB career is that it has included multiple extended breaks. Just two years after making his big league dreams come true, Thielbar left the game of baseball following the 2015 season. He did not return until 2020.

Since returning to the big leagues, the former 18th round draft pick has made more than $10 million. Given he’s made a total of just over $11 million in his entire career, I think it’s safe to say that coming back was the right choice.

The Minnesota Twins head to Chicago immediately following the All-Star Game this season. Last year the Twins bested the Cubs in their lone three-game series.