MN Twins Promising Rookie Returns, Veteran DFA’d

By    |  
Updated:
Follow Us
Kendry Rojas, Minnesota Twins
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Minnesota Twins pitching staff has been in flux most of the season. The starting rotation has been plagued by injuries and the bullpen has been about as bad as we expected. Thus, manager Derek Shelton has been shuffling the roster on a near daily basis.

Most recently, the 37-41 Twins have been rolling with a 4.5-man rotation, using Mike Paredes a few innings every fifth day, before handing off to the bullpen. The hope was that Mick Abel would return this week, after leaving the rotation with an elbow injury back in mid-April.

Kendry Rojas returns for Minnesota Twins

Unfortunately, that did not happen. However, the rotation will gain another extremely live young arm instead, after the Minnesota Twins activated Kendry Rojas from the injured list on Sunday. To make room, the Twins have DFA’d recently signed veteran reliever, Justin Lawrence.

At the end of May Kendry Rojas was scratched from a scheduled start due to elbow soreness, before he ultimately landed on the injured list a day later.

Rojas was acquired in the Louie Varland trade last deadline. He made his major league debut earlier this year, eventually appearing five times in a Minnesota Twins uniform before he found his way to the IL.

What are the Twins getting back with Rojas?

In 14 1/3 innings, Rojas owns a 1.26 ERA (3.45 FIP), allowing just two runs on 11 hits. His only major issue, to this point, has been control (14/10 K/BB).

Rojas came through the minors as a starter. His only start for the Twins came on May 18 against Houston, when he went four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits with a 3/1 K/BB.

Report: MN Twins Buying, Not Selling at Trade Deadline

The 23-year-old made just a single rehab appearance down at Triple-A St. Paul last week and it didn’t go well. He allowed five runs on five hits and only managed four outs before he was pulled.

It remains unclear where Rojas will slot into the pitching plan. He has started, but likely will work as a reliever until he builds back up. He could also pitch in tandem with Paredes, creating a right-left pitching combination.

Justin Lawrence DFA clears room for MN Twins

The Minnesota Twins sent cash considerations to the Pittsburgh Pirates in order to acquire Justin Lawrence after he was DFA’d earlier this month. They thought his arm slot and velocity may be a nice look in their bullpen, but the results could not have gone worse.

When the Pirates sent Lawrence packing, he was rocking a 5.32 ERA (5.38 FIP) across 22 innings. His 10.2 K/9 was a positive, as was his 95.7 mph fastball. It was logical to believe that something worthwhile lay underneath, but the results never translated.

Related: Byron Buxton Shuts Down Trade Rumors Again

In just six innings with the Twins, spanning seven appearances, he allowed 12 runs on 10 hits with a 12/9 K/BB. Things really fell off the rails Saturday night when Lawrence allowed five runs while recording just two outs.

Thankfully Byron Buxton and the Twins already were leading 16-2 and his performance didn’t put the game in jeopardy.

Lawrence is making $1.23 million this season, so odds are that he’ll clear waivers and go to Triple-A. Minnesota can stash him in St. Paul and see if he is able to work anything out the rest of the way.

Mentioned in this article:

More About:

0What do you think?Post a comment.

Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.