Minnesota Twins: Adalberto Mejia Gets First MLB Win on Sunday
Adalberto Mejia got his first win Sunday as he led the Minnesota Twins to victory. If he keeps it up, he could be the final piece to round out the rotation.
The Minnesota Twins played a straight doubleheader on Sunday afternoon against the Kansas City Royals. After losing the first game, the Twins rebounded for a win in the second game behind a solid pitching performance from Adalberto Mejia.
Mejia went seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits in his first career major league win. After getting roughed up in his last MLB start, Mejia was able to find a groove, despite giving up two home runs to Salvador Perez. Those two home runs resulted in all three runs Mejia gave up.
Without those home runs, the Royals offense looked over matched against Mejia. They didn’t get much going for offense and never really put together a good rally to make him work. Mejia seemed to cruise through their order, with the exception of Perez. It was a promising start for a team in desperate need of a fifth starter.
More from Minnesota Twins News
- Minnesota Twins: Grading the Twins’ Joey Gallo signing
- Minnesota Twins: Grading the Christian Vazquez Signing
- Minnesota Twins: Twins jump into Top 5 in first MLB Draft Lottery
- Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton wins 2022 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award
- Minnesota Twins: A Twins Homage to the Turkey of the Year Award
Mejia could round out rotation.
With the emergence of Jose Berrios, along with the quality pitching from Ervin Santana and Hector Santiago, the Twins pitching staff seems to be getting better by the week. Unfortunately, Phil Hughes has gotten roughed up in his last few starts so the thought of four quality starters has not come to fruition. Mejia can change that if he can replicate his Sunday start.
Mejia, while impressive on Sunday, is still not a surefire option as the fifth starter. His first MLB start in 2017 was good. He went five innings in his first start, giving up one run on four hits and striking out four. His next start was not so pretty.
Against the Detroit Tigers, he went 2.2 innings while giving up three earned runs on five hits. He did, however, strike out six batters. That rough start resulted in a demotion to Triple A. While that start wasn’t ideal, he is still young.
If Mejia’s next start goes well, he could be the Twins’ fifth starter. If that’s the case, it will be the first time the Twins have had a regular rotation of five pitchers since the beginning of April. While Mejia has been up and down, he can show the Twins he deserves that spot.
Next: A Bandwagoner's Guide to the 2017 Twins
With the pitching staff slowly coming together, Mejia could be the final piece of the puzzle. The Twins have desperately needed consistency in their staff and he has the chance to give them that. If his next start goes well, look for him to stay in the rotation.