In that same contest left-handed reliever Anthony Misiewicz exited the game with an injury. He was originally diagnosed as being day-to-day, but Friday put a more definitive outlook on that.

Anthony Misiewicz to IL for Minnesota Twins

Misiewicz appeared in just four games for the Minnesota Twins. He allowed five runs on four hits while walking three. In his last outing, against Los Angeles, he didn’t record an out and left after a walk. We now know why.

Kody Funderburk is back as Anthony Misiewicz is placed on the 15-day IL with a left shoulder impingement. #MNTwins

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) July 25, 2025

The injury to Misiewicz puts the Minnesota Twins bullpen in a tough spot. Kody Funderburk is back up for the fourth time this season, but he could be the only left in less than a week. If the Twins decide to trade impending free agent Danny Coulombe, it will be a stable of righties beyond Funderburk.

Funderburk is still looking to establish himself with the success he has experienced at Triple-A. The southpaw owns a 1.78 ERA across 25 1/3 innings in St. Paul. He has allowed just two home runs on the farm, and has a 6.4 H/9.

Unfortunately at the big league level, across 13 innings, Funderburk has allowed the same amount of home runs and has a 13.2 H/9. If he can establish some of the production he has flashed in the minors, the shuttle rides across town would stop in earnest.

Related: Former GM Calls for Twins to Complete Blockbuster

It’s unclear how much time Misiewicz will actually miss. He wasn’t really in the bullpen plans and was called upon only after Funderburk’s latest demotion. Minnesota can ease him back in, but it wasn’t as though he was successful in the low-leverage role he was working in.

Unfortunately it’s yet another hit to the health of the Minnesota Twins roster. That has been a constant theme for Rocco Baldelli this year.

The Twins acquired Wentz back on June 11, and he somehow found a way to stick around on the Twins roster for nearly a month. That was until he made his latest appearance on Tuesday night, for the ninth inning of an 8-0 blowout of the Chicago Cubs at Target Field.

Minnesota Twins say goodbye to Joey Wentz

Unfortunately, the 27-year-old former 1st round pick allowed 2 hits to the northsiders, along with their only run of the contest — raising his ERA with the Twins to an impossible 15.75 in 8 innings pitched. That triggered Minnesota to finally DFA Joey Wentz on Wednesday.

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/gJCpcSyHGB

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 9, 2025

Joey Wentz appeared in his sixth games for the Minnesota Twin, allowing 14 total runs on 17 hits. He also leaves with a 9/6 K/BB ratio. Wentz was brought in to bring more length to the bullpen, but he only made it through two innings twice before the Twins pulled the plug.

After a month in the bullpen, Joey Wentz might be one of the worst Twins pitching pickups in recent memory. Replacing Wentz in the bullpen will be another lefty veteran, Anthony Misiewicz whose contract was selected out of St. Paul.

Get to know the newest Twins pitcher, Anthony Misiewicz

Misiewicz has pitched in the big leagues for five different franchises over the last five seasons, and three in the last two. In 2024, he appeared in just one game, taking the mound for one inning as a New York Yankee. Since the start of 2023, Misiewicz has pitched just 12 total innings (6.75 ERA, 2.167 WHIP).

In 2025, the Saints have used Misiewicz in 26 games, where he’s compiled 31 1/3 innings. Down at Triple-A, the former 2015 18th round pick out of Michigan State owns a 4.02 ERA with a 29/10 K/BB.

Misiewicz’ fastball sits around 94 mph. He combines it with both a cutter and a curveball. If/when he gets into his first game as a Twin, he will be the 24th pitcher used by Minnesota this season.

April 11, 2022.@Urshela10 RBI single off Anthony Misiewicz.

2nd RBI of the season.#MNTwins win 4-0. pic.twitter.com/6KEJAXNUAt

— Twins Ribbies (@TwinsRibbies) January 18, 2025

Related: Opponents Treating Minnesota Twins as Sellers

It’s worth noting that the Minnesota Twins went with Misiewicz, who was not on the 40-man roster, rather than Kody Funderburk. Funderburk has struggled in 13 innings with Minnesota (10 runs on 19 hits), but has a 1.61 ERA across 22 1/3 innings at Triple-A this season.

Rocco Baldelli keeps two lefties in his bullpen as Misiewicz joins Danny Coulombe. He should be expected to fill the same role as Wentz departs, which puts him at the bottom of the pecking order. With competent pitching, Misiewicz should earn a big league paycheck for a while.

Brock Stewart is not going to be in the bullpen this week, after he suffered a hamstring injury earlier in camp. He’s back on the mound and pitching in spring games again, but he is being handled carefully after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. 

Then, there’s former top prospect Brooks Lee, who was scratched from the MN Twins’ lineup last week with a back injury, a chronic issue he’ll have to learn how to maintain if he’s going to have a successful Big League career. But with Opening Day taking place this week in St. Louis, the final 26-man roster is starting to take shape.

Minnesota Twins make decisions on Brooks Lee and Eiberson Castellano

After Lee was scratched on Thursday, the MN Twins suggested his status was day-to-day. Unfortunately, his chronic back pain will not allow him to return that early, and it’s almost certain, at this point, that he too misses Opening Day.

#MNTwins roster starting to take shape. Rule 5 pitcher Eiberson Castellanos has learned he won't make the team. Brock Stewart and Brooks Lee are starting the season on the IL.
Four players for three spots on position side.
One reliever job up for grabs.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) March 23, 2025

Lee struggled during his first season at the big league level. Across 50 games as a rookie, the 2022 No. 8 overall pick batted slashed a frustrating .221/.265/.320 with 10 extra-base hits (three home runs) and a 27/11 K/BB.

As a prospect, Lee has crushed fastballs. He’s a pure hitter who makes a lot of solid contact. That got lost last season, which could have been a byproduct of his back issues. The hope would be that Minnesota can get him right quickly this time around, and he can be a viable option for the majority of the season.

Related: Minnesota Twins Pitcher to Begin Season on Injured List

Another announcement came with the Lee news in the form of a Rule 5 decision. Eiberson Castellano was the Phillies minor league pitcher of the year last season and got scooped up by Minnesota. Across 10 2/3 innings during Grapefruit League play, Castellano put up a 13/10 K/BB and sealed his fate.

The Twins likely wanted to carry Castellano, but they needed to see enough from him to warrant it. Now Minnesota must expose Castellano back to waivers. If he clears, then they could attempt to work out a trade with Philadelphia. They did have preliminary talks prior to selecting him in the Rule 5 Draft, so that remains a possible outcome.

What do the Minnesota Twins do with their bullpen?

Things have changed quite a bit since our latest roster projection. Royce Lewis is going to begin the year on the injured list. Stewart and Lee will join him there. Minnesota needed to make eight more decisions as of Saturday night. Castellano and Lee cross two off that list.

The bullpen options remaining in camp include veterans Scott Blewett and Anthony Misiewicz. The former pitched for Minnesota last season and has had a good spring. He has a 5/2 K/BB across six innings. However, Blewett has been informed he will not make the team.

Related: Chronic Back Injury Causing Problems for MN Twins Infielder Again

The latter has 115 2/3 major league innings under his belt, and a 7/1 K/BB this spring. He is a viable option for the final bullpen spot. Minnesota will also be scouring the waiver wire to see who is released. Another path forward could be to recall someone like Kody Funderburk, who was previously cut from camp.

Misiewicz is with the Twins as a non-roster invitee. He signed as a free agent this offseason. Like Funderburk, Misiewicz is left-handed and would give Minnesota a second southpaw to pair with Danny Coulombe in relief.

Who takes the final position player spot for the Twins?

On the position player side of things it comes down to the group of Mickey Gasper, Austin Martin, DaShawn Keirsey Jr., Armando Alvarez, Edouard Julien, and Mike Ford. Gasper looked to already have an inside track, and Julien gets helped by Lee’s injury. The final outfield spot is where the most contentious battle comes.

Keirsey Jr. has had a solid spring with a .243/.356/.351 slash line. He’s a better outfielder than Martin, and is arguably the same or better speed threat. Unfortunately he’s left-handed and that puts him at a disadvantage considering Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner’s handedness.

DaShawn Keirsey Jr. drives in the go-ahead run vs. #RedSox. Twins end up with the 2-1 win.

Keirsey has more than earned a shot at considerable time in the majors this year. Opportunity awaits.#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/nMMALbHfiM

— Talkin' Twins (@TalkinTwins) March 21, 2025

Martin has batted just .243/.310/.270 across 43 plate appearances this spring. He won’t ever hit for power, but is a contact guy who utilizes his speed and has successfully stolen three bases in three attempts this spring. It seems like being right-handed will give him the role, but Minnesota could decide otherwise.

Related: New MN Twins Starting Outfielder Named 2025 Breakout Candidate

Rocco Baldelli has just a couple of days left to set his Opening Day roster. The Minnesota Twins are projected to win the AL Central this season. Even with a few bumps coming out of the spring, they are well-positioned. The good news, at least for now, is that none of these injury issues seem to be too incredibly long term.

The marathon towards October is about to kick off. Minnesota must run it in a much more complete fashion than they did last season.