Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins is little more than a month away. Puckett’s Pond is here to keep you informed on every player currently on the Twins 40 man roster.
John Curtiss is another young player who made his Major League debut for the Minnesota Twins in 2017. His numbers from a year ago were disappointing, but that’s a little misleading.
He pitched in only 10 games in the Majors last season and the results were horrendous. He surrendered a staggering eight runs in only eight 2/3 innings pitched last season and showed very little promise. However, Curtiss has been a shutdown reliever for consistently throughout his time in the Minors.
He has been successful filling every role, from starting games to closing games, in the Twins system. Curtiss has a 2.99 ERA in 195 1/3 innings pitched in his Minor League career. He started 13 games early in his career, but the bullpen is his calling.
Will Curtiss contribute to the Twins in 2018?
The Minnesota Twins have lofty expectations this season so it might be risky to count on such an unproven player. However, Curtiss has shown his dominance in the Minors and deserves a chance to be on the Opening Day roster.
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According to his scouting report his fastball grades as a plus-plus pitch consistently sitting in the mid 90’s. Curtiss brings an intensity to the mound that you often see in great late inning pitchers. That’s exactly what his future will be, a lockdown closer-type finishing games for the Minnesota Twins.
However, this won’t be the season Curtiss fills that role for Minnesota. The Twins have Fernando Rodney to close games in ’18, or Addison Reed if Rodney falters. Playoff aspirations amplify the intensity of every moment, and Curtiss will need to prove himself before he gets high-leverage opportunities.
This will be a big Spring for Curtiss, if he can have success, he has a real opportunity to make the roster. However, he will likely start this season in Triple-A, and that’s not a bad thing for Minnesota. He is a relented pitcher and will get another opportunity in the Majors in ’18, and should be a regular in the ‘pen for 2019 and beyond.
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