According to Ken Rosenthal the Minnnesota Twins have acquired relief pitcher, Kevin Jepsen from the Tampa Bay Rays. The Twins traded pitchers, Chin-Wei Hu and Alexis Tapia to the Rays to acquire the veteran reliever.
Hu was the Twins number 20 overall prospect and was 5-3 with a 2.44 earned run average for the Fort Meyers Miracle. Tapia was 1-2 with a 3.60 earned run in eight games and six starts in the Appalachian League.
Sources confirm the Twins are sending pitchers Chin-Wei Hu and Alexis Tapia to the Rays for reliever Kevin Jepsen.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 31, 2015
The Twins needed to solidify their bullpen before the deadline has they ramp up for a playoff push. The Twins haven’t made the playoffs since 2010 and haven’t won a playoff game since 2004. The Twins currently hold a two game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles for the second Wild Card spot in the American League.
The Twins bullpen is currently ranked 24th overall with a 3.97 earned run average.
Jepsen owns a career 3.80 earned run average over eight seasons. This season he is 2-5 with a 2.81 earned run average and five saves. He has a fastball that tops out around 95 miles per hour and gives the Twins a power arm.
In his last seven appearances he’s 1-0 and given up two hits and no runs in 6.2 innings pitched. He hasn’t given up a run in his last 7.1 innings pitched.
It’s not a big move, but it’s a move that will solidify the Twins bullpen and give them a veteran arm to work the late innings.
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