Minnesota Twins Option Adams, Open Rotation for Simeon Woods Richardson Return

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Simeon Woods Richardson, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins took one of three games against the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field over the weekend. Monday brought a well-deserved off day after the 10 game road trip that spanned both coasts.

Unfortunately Rocco Baldelli lost both Pablo Lopez and Zebby Matthews as starting options. Both could potentially be traced to adverse field conditions in Sacramento against the Athletics.

Rookie Travis Adams, promoted Friday, had his big league debut looming. A game opportunity never presented itself though, and he’ll have to accomplish that another time. Simeon Woods Richardson now must fill a hole that the Twins weren’t certain he could just weeks ago.

Pitching changes address Minnesota Twins injuries

When the Minnesota Twins placed Zebby Matthews on the injured list over the weekend they new the starting rotation was going to need another answer. They have made a move that paves the way for that to play out on Tuesday.

Adams was optioned following Sunday’s 6-3 win against the Blue Jays. Adams was active for three days. That earned him just north of $12,000 which is a nice come-up for a minor leaguer making something like $50,000 at Triple-A. Unfortunately it didn’t coincide with a major league debut. Adams never appeared in a game.

With Adams optioned back to St. Paul the open roster spot will likely go to Simeon Woods Richardson, who should be expected to start on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers. As of Monday, the Minnesota Twins list their Tuesday starter as TBD. Woods Richardson was scheduled to start on Sunday for St. Paul but did not make that appearance.

Woods Richardson has made eight appearances (seven starts) for the MN Twins this season. He’ll return to a 5.02 ERA (5.24 FIP) with 35 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings. It’s a step backwards from the 4.17 ERA (4.12 FIP) that he posted last season in28 starts for Minnesota.

After the demotion to Triple-A, Woods Richardson responded with a pair of six inning starts in which he allowed just three runs on nine hits while owning a 13/2 K/BB. His last time out was not good though as he gave up five runs on six hits, including three home runs, in just five innings.

The Twins absolutely need the steadying back-of-the-rotation presence that Woods Richardson represented last season. No one expects him to pitch at a Cy Young level, but with 40% of the current starting rotation on the injured list, Baldelli needs an arm he can rely on and one that won’t tax the bullpen.

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Woods Richardson jumped his velocity nearly three mph to 93.1 the past two seasons and he’s been a better pitcher because of it. This is an opportunity to substantiate himself amongst a strong group of Twins starting depth.

What’s next for the MN Twins depth?

If Travis Adams never pitches in the big leagues he’ll have a career-arc more sad than Moonlight Graham. The odds of that aren’t good though, he’ll be back. Adams probably remains the top depth option for the bullpen, and with multiple young starters, length could be needed sooner rather than later.

Beyond Adams, the Minnesota Twins 40 man roster is getting tested again. The pitching options are down to just Kody Funderburk (recently optioned) and Marco Raya. Raya is a former top 100 prospect, but has a 10.46 ERA in 10 starts at Triple-A. He’s just 22, but it’s been ugly.

Non 40-man options are intriguing. Andrew Morris is a starter that could possess a Woods Richardson-like ceiling. Cory Lewis has also previously drawn excitement, but he’s currently hurt and had a 9.42 ERA across 28 2/3 innings. The ever-present Randy Dobnak remains as well.

For the bullpen Minnesota could turn to a veteran like Richard Lovelady. He has over 100 big league innings under his belt and pitched for the Blue Jays in 2025. Signed as a minor league free agent, Lovelady has a 1.47 ERA in 18 1/3 innings at St. Paul.

Related: Minnesota Twins Rotation Takes Another Hit

If the Twins want to get aggressive and go with the highest ceiling option, prospect Connor Prielipp enters the picture. He has thrown 31 2/3 innings at Double-A after an early-career of injuries. There is still high-level starting upside, but he could be an impact arm out of the bullpen right now. Prielipp has a 40/6 K/BB.

It’s beyond unfortunate the Twins are dealing with this many injuries all at once. Their rotation and bullpen have both been great though. If that’s going to continue, it will be be because they weather the storm.

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