US EditionMick Abel grabs final rotation spot; Joe Ryan to start Opening Day
Mick Abel earned the final rotation spot with a 2.00 ERA and 23 strikeouts in spring training while Joe Ryan was named Opening Day starter against Baltimore.
- On Saturday, the Minnesota Twins finalized their starting rotation, optioning right-hander Zebby Matthews to Triple-A St. Paul and naming Joe Ryan the Opening Day starter for next Thursday against Baltimore.
- Mick Abel's spring performance vaulted him into contention with a 2.00 ERA, 23 strikeouts, and a.190 opponents' batting average, while injuries removed two starters and last July's trade for Jhoan Duran helped shape his role.
- Several internal options remain, including lefties Connor Prielipp and Kendry Rojas plus right-hander Andrew Morris, as the Twins haven't finalized their rotation while planning more Grapefruit League starts, despite Ober's 2.08 ERA and Matthews' struggles with seven runs on 12 hits in 11 innings.
- The Twins expect Matthews to play an important role later, as the short-term rotation plan is clarified with Abel securing a spot and López sidelined for the season after Tommy John surgery.
- His strikeout rate ranks him among the staff's top pitchers, as Abel, a 2020 first-round pick, 'went out and won the spot,' according to Shelton.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Pioneer Press
Mick Abel grabs final rotation spot; Joe Ryan to start Opening Day
Zebby Matthews was optioned to Triple-A.
Why Did the Twins Choose Mick Abel Over Zebby Matthews?
With just under a week before Opening Day, the battles for spots on the Minnesota Twins’ active roster are being settled. The biggest one to close out the final full week of spring training is in the starting rotation. On Friday, the Twins announced that they had optioned Zebby Matthews to Triple-A St. Paul, lining Mick Abel up for a rotation spot. Following the season-ending Tommy John surgery to Pablo López and shoulder inflammation forcing Da…
Twins Option Zebby Matthews; Finalize Rotation with Bradley, Abel
The Minnesota Twins have optioned right-hander Zebby Matthews to Triple-A St. Paul, finalizing their starting rotation for the upcoming season. Joe Ryan will serve as the Opening Day starter following Pablo López's season-ending UCL surgery. With Matthews' demotion, the final two rotation spots will be held by Taj Bradley and Mick Abel, both of whom have shown promise this spring. Bradley, recently acquired from the Rays, and Abel, a former firs…
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