The Minnesota Twins have placed left-handed pitcher Kendry Rojas on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation after he was scratched from his scheduled start against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, the team announced. Additionally, Minnesota optioned right-handed reliever Travis Adams to Triple-A St. Paul, recalled left-handed reliever Kody Funderburk and reinstated right-handed reliever Cody Laweryson from the 15-day IL.
Rojas' injury is a brutal blow to a Twins team that, per The Athletic's Dan Hayes, is attempting to limit Taj Bradley and Connor Prielipp's innings. Rojas has had a successful rookie campaign thus far in 12 1/3 innings as a primary bulk reliever, posting a 1.26 ERA and 3.43 FIP with a 23% strikeout rate across five appearances (one start). Over his last two outings, the southpaw pitched seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts while allowing three hits and two walks.
Hopefully, Rojas will only be sidelined for a few weeks. Unfortunately, elbow inflammation could mean several months on the IL.
It seemed the Twins were planning to continue using Rojas as a bulk reliever who can occasionally start to allow Prielipp, who is on pace to shatter his personal innings record this season, and Bradley, who missed time with a right pec injury earlier this month, to receive more rest between starts. Now that Rojas is on the IL, Andrew Morris could overtake that role.
As for Adams, the right-hander was demoted to Triple-A after posting a 7.20 ERA with 12 strikeouts and five walks across 10 big-league innings this season. While his ERA is ugly, it's mainly due to a rough outing against the White Sox on Wednesday when he surrendered five earned runs in one inning. Adams, who began the season on the IL with a right triceps strain, will likely return to the majors later in the season.
Funderburk, Laweryson return to majors after beginning season on Twins' 26-man roster
Funderburk had a 2.82 ERA and 5.44 FIP over 16 innings before being optioned to Triple-A St. Paul. Since being demoted, the lefty has allowed five earned runs in five innings.
Laweryson surrendered six runs (five earned) on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts across 4 2/3 innings during his rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul, which began on May 16. He allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings with Minnesota this season before landing on the IL with a right forearm strain on April 1.
Add us as a preferred source on Google