Three Underdog Pitchers Who Can Win MN Twins Bullpen Job

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Cody Laweryson, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

For a team like the Minnesota Twins that has no idea what it is now or what it wants to be in the future, there aren’t a ton of roster battles taking place down at spring training in Fort Myers.

Most of the infield and outfield is set, barring any drastic moves between now and Opening Day. And even after Pablo Lopez went down with a season-ending injury, the starting rotation looks mostly set too.

Rounding out the Minnesota Twins bullpen

Minnesota Twins pitcher Liam Hendriks back in 2025
Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

In the bullpen, Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda, Justin Topa and Cole Sands are all locks. It’s difficult to see Kody Funderburk being left off the squad too. Despite being a non-roster invite, Andrew Chafin is expected to make the team out of camp, as is Eric Orze (who is already on the 40-man).

That would leave one or two spots in the bullpen, depending on how the Minnesota Twins decide to shape the roster for Opening Day. Here are the three pitchers I believe have the best shot at those spots, as of February 25.

Liam Hendriks – RHP | 37 y/o

Liam Hendriks presents the Minnesota Twins with a feel-good story that could potentially become much more than that, if the former Twin can return to the reliever he once was in Chicago.

Of course, the foul-mouthed Aussie hasn’t pitched regularly in the big leagues since 2022, with the White Sox when he threw 57 2/3 innings with a 2.81 ERA en route to his third All-Star appearance.

In 2023, he pitched just 5 innings after being diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December 2022. Then last season, after returning from Tommy John surgery cancer-free, Hendriks threw just 13 2/3 innings (6.59 ERA) for Boston.

“It’s a whole new arm I’ve got. Now, it’s building up that stamina and being game-ready and then waiting for the lights to turn on.”

Liam Hendriks – The Athletic

Dan Hayes (The Athletic) suggested the Twins will be patient with Hendriks, who feels like he has a new arm. If the no-risk signing works in their favor, Liam could quickly climb the leverage ladder and wind up being one of the better signings this team has made in a long time.

Of course, we’ll have to see if the 37-year-old still has that type of season in him.

Cody Laweryson – RHP | 27 y/o

It seemed a bit confusing when the MN Twins waived Cody Laweryson in November. His release became even more intriguing when they picked him back up shortly after Derek Falvey resigned from his post as team president.

Last season, Laweryson made his big league debut where he managed to throw 7 2/3 innings for the Minnesota Twins, allowing two runs (one earned) and a 7/0 K/BB.

A 14th round pick in 2019, Laweryson diced up the minors in 2025. Across 44 innings he had a 2.86 ERA and 45 strikeouts. It’s understandable to question the viability of a late-blooming pitcher, but Laweryson isn’t even 28 years old yet.

Compared to the guys Minnesota ran out last year — Travis Adams and Pierson Ohl — Laweryson looks like a pretty decent upgrade, if he brings his best stuff for the next month down in Fort Myers.

Andrew Bash – RHP | 29 y/o

After years in the Toronto Blue Jays system, Andrew Bash signed a minor league deal with Minnesota this winter. He spent the offseason at Driveline and is looking to take another step forward. He was Buffalo’s best pitcher (Toronto Triple-A) last season, and carried a 2.57 ERA.

Bash has been solid for a while now, but has yet to be honored with a big league debut. In 2023 he had a 2.52 ERA in 89 1/3 innings between Double and Triple-A. He followed that with a 2.97 ERA in 78 2/3 innings at Triple-A in 2024.

The strikeout numbers aren’t eye-popping (7.9 K/9) and the walk rate is concerning (3.9 BB/9), but there could really be something here. Like Laweryson, a late-blooming bullpen arm isn’t exactly an unexpected result.

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