Minnesota Twins Demote Struggling Starter

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Simeon Woods Richardson - Minnesota Twins
Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Starting pitching depth is something Major League Baseball teams can never have enough of. Minnesota Twins starting pitchers have remained relatively healthy this year, meaning manager Rocco Baldelli hasn’t been forced to do much shuffling within the rotation.

Now above .500 for the first time all season and in the midst of a ten game winning streak, however, the Twins have decided to make the first major change to their rotation, outside of a quick injured list stint by Pablo Lopez earlier in the year.

Simeon Woods Richardson demoted by MN Twins

Minnesota knocked off the Baltimore Orioles in both games of their doubleheader on Wednesday, the Minnesota Twins optioned their late-game starter, Simeon Woods Richardson, down to Triple A St. Paul, after forced his offense to make up for the 6 earned runs off 8 hits (2 HR) and 2 walks, in just 4 innings of work.

Kody Funderburk, who was called up as Minnesota’s emergency 27th man for yesterday’s doubleheader, will now remain on the Twins 26-man roster. The 28-year-old worked 1 1/3 innings scoreless of scoreless work during Wednesday’s doubleheader.

Funderburk provides Baldelli a second lefty, pairing with Danny Coulombe, out in the bullpen. He has made three big league appearances this season and has thrown 5 1/3 innings. At Triple-A St. Paul Funderburk has appeared in 10 games with a 2.19 ERA across 12 1/3 innings. He has a 16/5 K/BB on the farm.

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Minnesota would love Funderburk to put together a season that he has looked capable of from St. Paul. He allowed just a single run in 12 innings as a rookie back in 2023. Last season’s 6.49 ERA (4.55 FIP) across 34 2/3 innings wasn’t good. That’s also not reflective of what he has shown capable of.

What’s wrong with Simeon Woods Richardson?

Unfortunately for Woods Richardson, this week’s start was just the latest in a line of less-than-efficient outings for the young 24-year-old right-hander, ballooning his ERA up to 5.02 and FIP to 5.28.

Cedric Mullins got him for a grand slam, and Heston Kjerstad immediately followed with a solo shot. It was the culmination of a tough outing, and the 24-year-old goes back to St. Paul owning a 5.02 ERA for the Twins.

In his last five starts, Woods Richardson has pitched into the fifth inning just once. Although yesterday was the first time he had allowed more than four runs during a start, his last five turns have resulted in a 5.48 ERA (6.15 FIP). Opposing batters own an .871 OPS against him in that stretch as well.

The reality is that Woods Richardson’s best outings haven’t been good enough to avoid making a change. Not when the Minnesota Twins have potential horses like David Festa and Zebby Matthews chomping at the bit, in St. Paul.

Last season, SWR owned a 4.17 ERA (4.12 FIP), which might have been the very best he has to offer, at this point in his career, especially considering he was able to thread the ERA needle while posting a 1.540 WHIP. That’s way too many men on base, no matter how many he was allowing to come in.

New starter coming for Minnesota Twins

The stay for Funderburk may be brief as Minnesota will need to replace Woods Richardson in the starting rotation, by the time his next start comes around. Star Tribune beat writer Bobby Nightengale is reporting that Zebby Matthews will be promoted and make the start on Sunday in Milwaukee.

“Zebby Matthews, who has posted a 1.93 ERA in seven starts for the St. Paul Saints, is expected to fill Woods Richardson’s slot in the rotation, the Minnesota Star Tribune learned. The Twins haven’t announced their starter for Sunday at Milwaukee.”

Bobby Nightengale – Star Tribune

Zebby Matthews, who’s been dealing for the Saints, has certainly earned this opportunity. Zebby currently owns a 1.93 ERA in seven Triple-A starts. His 38/9 K/BB follows the command and control profile he has become known for down on the farm.

Matthews has not yet appeared in the majors this season. Last year he posted a 6.69 ERA (5.71 FIP) across nine starts as a rookie. His 43/11 K/BB in 37 2/3 innings absolutely worked. It was the 11 longballs that did him in. Matthews’ 4th and 9th starts accounted for 15 of his 28 total earned runs.

David Festa, who hasn’t pitched since May 6th, was skipped during his last turn due to arm fatigue. He previously filled in for Pablo Lopez earlier this year. Festa is scheduled to start on Saturday for St. Paul.

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The demotion isn’t a death sentence for Woods Richardson, by any means. Now, his job is to go down, and get better, then fight his way back, which won’t be easy, given the high-end talent that Matthews represents.

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