Minnesota Twins Get Credit for Reliever’s Success With Orioles

Sometimes you must let something go and hope it comes back to you. That’s exactly what happened when the Minnesota Twins re-acquired left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe late this offseason, after his contract was purchased by the Baltimore Orioles two offseasons ago.

Coulombe’s roster stints previously were all elevations from the minor leagues. This time around, it’s a Big League deal. Part of what set the Twins’ offer apart was Coulombe’s level of familiarity with the organization. The southpaw also brought a new pitch to the table this time around.

Danny Coulombe has Minnesota Twins to thank for success

After Caleb Thielbar signed with the Chicago Cubs, Danny Coulombe enters Spring Training as Minnesota’s top left-handed option. He rejoins the Twins after having major success in Baltimore, where he threw 81 innings over two seasons, posting a 2.56 ERA, 156 ERA+ and 2.83 FIP.

Coulombe told The Athletic’s Dan Hayes that he attributes part of his success in Baltimore to a cutter that the Twins actually urged him to incorporate, while he was here in 2022. After using his fastball more than 31% of the time that last season in Minnesota, his fastball usage dipped to just 8.6%, in lieu of the cutter’s 42.3% usage rate, with the Orioles.

“Ahead of 2023, Coulombe said the Twins encouraged him to work on a cut-fastball that he has thrown more than any other pitch the past two seasons. He threw well enough that spring for the Orioles to make a major-league offer, which allowed Coulombe to trigger the upward-mobility clause in his minor-league contract near the end of camp.”

Hayes on Coulombe (The Athletic)

In three seasons with Minnesota Coulombe pitched well, but injury limited his availability. He owned a 2.92 ERA, but totaled just 49 1/3 innings. In 81 innings for the Orioles the last two season, Coulombe compiled a 2.56 ERA and 90 strikeouts with just 17 walks.

The cutter averages about 5 mph slower than his four-seam fastball. He used it 30% of the time last season. Previously operating as a fastball/slider pitcher, he now leans into the cutter and has upped the usage of his sinker. His knuckle-curve remains as nasty as ever.

Danny Coulombe, Wicked 85mph Breaking Ball. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/i0K1ylKIZV

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 14, 2024

It’s not as though the chase and whiff rates have risen noticeably, but it’s clear through the results that Coulombe’s pitch mix plays better off of each other through the current iteration.

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Rocco Baldelli envisions Coulombe as a high-leverage option in his bullpen. That is similar to how Thielbar has been utilized in recent seasons, and it’s part of the reason that the decision to rejoin the organization was an easy one.

“The Twins stepped up with an offer that was comparable to a lot of the other ones I received. It was just a no-brainer. I love the team here. I think the team is a really good team, and just the familiarity with all the guys.”

Coulombe on rejoining the Twins (The Athletic)

As things stand the Twins are projected to have one of the better bullpens in baseball. A lot of the heavy lifting will be done by Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax. The secondary guys that can bridge games to them will matter significantly however.

The more Coulombe can provide, especially as a possible lone-lefty, the better. Baldelli likes to mix and match his options. This time around, the skipper has a familiar pitcher with a newfound level of success to work with.