MN Twins Send One Pitcher to IL; Call Up Another for MLB Debut
Depth was what the Minnesota Twins were hanging their hat on, when they built their team for the 2026 season. Unfortunately, those dreams went up in flames when Pablo Lopez walked off the practice mound with a UCL tear on the first day of full-squad practices down in Fort Myers.
David Festa starting this season on the injured list (right shoulder impingement) certainly didn’t help the Twins’ rotation depth, either. And when young blossoming star Mick Abel joined the IL party a couple weeks ago, that’s when Minnesota’s season really began to spiral.
But let’s be objective. The starting rotation is not the Minnesota Twins’ biggest problem. In fact, it’s not even top of mind. Because this team’s 14-19 record can mostly be blamed on the bullpen.
Last summer the Minnesota Twins tore down the entire roster and completely gutted the bullpen. This offseason, due to yet another shortage in funds, the front office did nothing to rebuild the group
Outside of a short hot streak that fizzled out a couple weeks ago, the results of Minnesota’s refusal to replenish the bullpen have been as expected. Entering Saturday, the MN Twins bullpen ranks 27th ERA and dead last in batting average against.
MN Twins swap out right-handed relievers
To make matters worse, one of their higher usage/leverage arms — 28-year-old righty Cole Sands — became the latest addition to the injured list, joining a bevy of other pitchers who have suffered the same fate.
Replacing Sands will be newly-turned 24-year-old Brooklyn Park, MN native, John Klein, a right-handed starter/long reliever who the Twins added to their 40-man roster over the offseason.
Klein played his college ball at Iowa Central Community College, but he certainly doesn’t look like a small-town collegiate athlete, weighing in at 225 points and standing 6’5″, even before he takes the mound.
Twins placed RHP Cole Sands on the injured list with a right forearm strain and called up RHP John Klein from Triple-A St. Paul.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) May 2, 2026
Klein, a Minnesota native who ranked #16 on my preseason Twins prospect list, will be making his major-league debut.
Let’s hope this isn’t the case for Sands, but forearm strains have a habit of being a precursor to bigger problems down the road, for MLB pitchers. Through 11.2 innings pitched so far this season, Cole Sands posted a 4.63 ERA (4.51. FIP.
What should we expect from John Klein?
Minnesota has used John Klein on the farm as both a starter and long man in relief. His job will be to eat some innings for a bullpen and starting rotation that is beyond desperate, something that was proven with this move.
Because a look at his numbers across the river in St. Paul would make any sane baseball fan wonder why in the world the MN Twins would want this guy to pitch in the big leagues.
Across 21 2/3 innings for the St. Paul Saints this season, Klein owns an ugly 7.48 ERA with a 24/6 K/BB ratio. The craziest stat, though, are the TEN home runs he’s already allowed for the Saints.
“That’s my boy” 🥹
— MLB (@MLB) April 13, 2026
Andrew Morris made his family proud during his big league debut yesterday pic.twitter.com/fEqtjXGYhl
John Klein is just the latest young depth starter to be forced into relief action. Andrew Morris, for example, is still in the bullpen. Kendry Rojas made an appearance, as well, before he was sent back back to Triple-A.
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