MN Twins Reveal Lots of Good News on Injured Pitchers

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MLB: Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Minnesota Twins are back in action Monday at Target Field trying to snap a losing streak they caught while on the road, which currently sits at five games entering tonight’s game against the Chicago White Sox.

A week ago, the Twins were knocking on the door of .500 and squarely in American League playoff contention. Funny how quickly things can change early in such a long season.

Most of Minnesota’s issues can be attributed to injuries that have plagued the roster since the Twins gathered for Spring Training and their ace pitcher Pablo Lopez was placed on the injured list with a torn UCL, resulting in season-ending elbow surgery.

That was how the first full squad practice went this spring. Yet, under new manager Derek Shelton, a Twins team that seemingly gets younger and more injured by the day, was treading water until the wheels fell off recently.

MN Twins start good news injury updates with Cole Sands

Now 27-33, there’s still plenty of time to grab the rope, and getting healthier would be a good place to start. Thankfully, Shelton got his first bit of good injury news in what feels like forever… and it came in bunches.

First, Matthew Leach (MLB.com) first broke the story that right-handed reliever Cole Sands — on the IL since May 2 with a right forearm strain — is set to begin a rehab assignment in St. Paul on Tuesday.

Right-handed reliever Cole Sands will begin a Minor League rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.

“I’d say the progression has been pretty smooth — good and bad days, like any rehab process,” Sands said. “That’s how it’s going to be. For the most part, everything’s been progressing really well. Threw a live [batting practice] the past week in Fort Myers. It went really well, bounced back great. So I’ll go throw tomorrow and kind of see where we’re at.”

MLB.com

Prior to injury, Cole Sands was trying to find his way in a somewhat new high-leverage role within the Minnesota Twins bullpen. In 12 games, Sands has thrown 11.2 innings, posting a 4.63 ERA, 95 ERA+, 4.45 FIP and 1.371 WHIP.

Before he went on the IL, Sands — who the Twins drafted in the 5th round of the 2018 MLB Draft — was touting a career-high hard hit % on batted balls of 51.4%, just like his career high 92.7 average exit velocity.

Bailey Ober does NOT need Tommy John surgery

In more good news Monday, tests on Bailey Ober — who was placed on the injured list over the weekend with posterior elbow soreness — came back showing no serious UCL injury

That means, unlike fellow Twins starter Pablo Lopez, he does not need Tommy John surgery. Instead, Ober’s official diagnosis is a “mild flexor strain”. Out of caution, Ober and the Twins are seeking a second opinion.

But assuming all goes well, as expected, the near 31-year-old (July 12) will be shutdown for two-ish weeks, before he begins working his way back to the rotation.

Bailey Ober got out to arguably the roughest start of his MLB career this season, posting a 5.49 ERA in his first 19.2 innings. He recovered, though, posting a 2.23 ERA in his next 32.1 innings, including a complete game shutout back on May 12 against the Miami Marlins.

Unfortunately, since that extended start, Ober has been back on the struggle bus. In his last three appearances before going on the injured list, the 2017 12th round pick out of the College of Charleston (SC) allowed 14 earned runs in 14.2 innings pitched (8.59 ERA). Yet somehow, Bailey’s FIP was even worse (8.94).

When he returns, Ober will look to improve on a 2026 ERA that has ballooned to 4.59 (1.215 WHIP) over 66.2 innings.

Mick Abel, Kendry Rojas making way back to Twins too

But wait, there’s more. According to MN Twins reporters, 23-year-old pitcher Kendry Rojas (left elbow/tricep inflammation) — who the Twins got in return for Louie Varland at last year’s trade deadline — plans to start throwing again Wednesday.

The news on 24-year-old Mick Abel (right-elbow inflammation) is even better. After a setback in early May, the former No. 15 overall draft pick — who Minnesota got back in the trade last summer that sent Jhoan Duran to Philly — will throw two innings of live batting practice on Thursday.

If Mick Abel can return to the form he was in during his last two starts before hitting the injured list — 8 IP, 0 ER, 1.54 FIP, 16 K, 3 BB — it would be a massive lift for a MN Twins starting staff that desperately needs any help it can get.

The same can be said for Kendry Rojas, who appeared in five games (one start) for the Twins, before injury. He impressed too, posting a 1.26 ERA, 3.42 and 347 ERA+ in 14.1 innings. Both guys are young. Thus, we can’t rely on them to bouey the staff all summer.

Nonetheless, it’ll sure be nice to have them back whenever they can return.

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