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Minnesota Twins: Predicting the Twins starting rotation for 2020

By Otto Johnson

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 19: Kyle Gibson #44 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of the game at Target Field on September 19, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 19: Kyle Gibson #44 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of the game at Target Field on September 19, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 1: Brusdar Graterol #51 of the Minnesota Twins, making his major league debut, pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on September 1, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 1: Brusdar Graterol #51 of the Minnesota Twins, making his major league debut, pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on September 1, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Who could step up for the Twins?

The Twins have a couple of options outside of the four listed above. Randy Dobnak was the team’s starter in Game 2 of the ALDS and Devin Smeltzer pitched well in his starts and long relief appearances. While both pitchers may not be considered frontline starters, each has a shot to help the Twins fill out their rotation.

For the minors, the Twins’ system is one of the better ones in the league according to Baseball America, and they have several hot pitching prospects that are rotation bound within the next three to four years.

Brusdar Graterol got some seasoning as a reliever in 2019 but looks to be a frontline starter going forward, and the duo of Jordan Balazovic and Jhoan Duran look to be future studs as well. Can any of them impact the Minnesota Twins next year?

In short answer? No. Graterol needs to head back to the minors to get more work as a starter, so he won’t be ready. Balazoic and Duran are both 21 and need a lot more work in the minors barring a miraculous jump forward. Graterol might make the jump as a second-half spot starter if he stays healthy and everything breaks right. The three starters will make an impact at some point, it just won’t be this year.

Prediction: Dobnak and Smeltzer compete for a rotation spot, and Graterol makes an impact in the second half in some way, but the Twins don’t see Balazoic, Duran, or any other prospect making a huge impact in 2020.

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