Twins Closer Slims Down and is Already Nearing Triple Digits

Minnesota Twins pitchers and catchers reported to Fort Myers for Spring Training on Thursday, though plenty of players had already been there. The Grapefruit League schedule can be a grind. Big league players often aren’t fond of multiple weeks spent playing exhibition games.

It’s also a place where injuries can pop up, and then haunt guys throughout the season. Jhoan Duran, and a few others from the Twins bullpen, experienced that last season. That’s why, after an up-and-down season not to his standards, closer Jhoan Duran decided to change his offseason routine, especially workout and eating habits.

Lighter Jhoan Duran enters Minnesota Twins spring training throwing hard

The Athletic’s Dan Hayes reports that Duran is down 12 pounds entering camp, and he’s already throwing near-triple digits on Fort Myers radar guns. His goal is to get back up to the velocity he saw in 2023, when he was firing 104 MPH.

“The numbers I didn’t like too much, I didn’t have a really good offseason (last year) because when I was doing my prep work for the regular season, I’d go to the Dominican for two weeks and go back and forth. I want to be the same pitcher I was in 2023…Last offseason was not the same, not consistent. When I fly, I lose a day. … (This year) was good. I did what I do. So it’s good.”

Jhoan Duran on his offseason routine (The Athletic)

The freshly turned 27-year-old Dominican flamethrower may have rolled into camp looking trim, but he’s already flashing the big arm everyone has come to know. Despite a buildup process that typically leaves triple-digits for March action, Duran flipped a 99-mph pitch to lefty slugger Trevor Larnach.

The oblique injury that Duran suffered last Spring Training kept him off the Opening Day roster. He didn’t rejoin the Minnesota Twins bullpen until their 29th game of the season. While cleared for action, something like that can certainly linger and impact performance throughout the year.

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Duran finished with a 3.64 ERA despite a 2.85 FIP. He struck out 66 batters in 54 1/3 innings while converting 23-of-25 save opportunities. Those are solid numbers for most arms, but Duran is used to being the top dog in the Twins bullpen.

#MNTwins Jhoan Duran's velocity has been something to watch all year.

Can it tick up in the postseason?

I think it's still probably oblique related, and returns after he gets an offseason of rest. The colder months weren't great to start the year. pic.twitter.com/tAucXbvDQ8

— Ted (@tlschwerz) September 5, 2024

It was evident how velocity escaped Duran at times last season. His average fastball velocity had dipped from 101.8 mph in 2023 to just 100.5 last season. While that number may seem minimal, it sets up everything else that the Twins closer does, and the trickle down effect happens across the board.

Twins bullpen could be special

The Minnesota Twins are projected to have one of the best bullpens in baseball this year. If that is going to be true, it will be heavily reliant on Duran finding the version of himself that he is seeking, and remaining healthy all season. For now, he’s off to a good start.

After Griffin Jax took another step forward last season, the tandem could generate among the best one-two punches across all of baseball. Jax had a career-low 2.04 ERA and saved 10 games while striking out 95 batters in just 71 innings.

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Rocco Baldelli would love to see Jax and Duran bring their entrances on a near-nightly basis, only to stifle any hopes that the opposition has. If Duran is the 1.86 ERA pitcher he was in 2022, or even the 2.45 ERA arm he was in 2023, it’s a good bet that can happen.