MINNEAPOLIS — Louie Varland was pushed into the Minnesota Twins’ season-opening rotation by Anthony DeSclafani’s spring training elbow injury, and four bad starts may push him right back out.
Varland barely escaped a walk-filled, 39-pitch first inning Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, and was eventually removed after 2 2/3 innings and four runs allowed. His final pitch was the sixth homer he’s surrendered in 16 2/3 innings this season, and the loss dropped his record to 0-4 with a 9.18 ERA.
It also dropped the Twins’ record to 7-13, including 2-6 at Target Field.
Afterward, manager Rocco Baldelli declined to commit to Varland taking his next scheduled turn in the rotation, saying: “We have a whole lot of things we have to talk about. We have to have really almost anything on the table right now to find a way to improve.”
In his first three starts, Varland failed to put hitters away with two strikes, and left too many fat pitches over the plate. Sunday was a different, even more discouraging story as he threw just 35 of 74 pitches for strikes before leaving a middle-middle cutter for Tigers second baseman Buddy Kennedy to send into the left-field stands.
Well hello, Buddy! pic.twitter.com/TCeMMtPyZn
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 21, 2024
“He wasn’t himself,” Baldelli said. “Today was just very uncharacteristic of him to go out there and pitch like that. He can throw strikes on command normally. He can just stand up there and throw that fastball and cutter where he wants it. When you see a guy have an outing that is unfamiliar, you are going to want to dig a little bit and figure out what’s going on.”
Options to replace Varland are limited, as a result of the Twins’ slashing payroll by $30 million and bringing in DeSclafani as the lone offseason rotation addition. Triple-A right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson, who pitched well in a spot start against the Tigers on April 13, is the most logical choice to take Varland’s place next weekend on the road against the Los Angeles Angels.
Woods Richardson’s prospect stock tumbled during a rough 2023 season in St. Paul, but offseason mechanical tweaks restored much-needed oomph to his fastball and he impressed in spring training. It’s difficult to imagine Woods Richardson being less effective than Varland has been, and Baldelli indicated that the Twins’ poor start has them feeling pressure to make changes.
“I mean, there is urgency here,” Baldelli said. “We can’t play like this and think things are just going to be fine. We’re going to have to be open to making roster moves and finding new ways to use players and figure some things out.”
It’s a bad sign to already be dipping down to No. 7 on the rotation depth chart in April, but an even worse sign is it’s unclear who the next-in-line starters would be after Woods Richardson.
David Festa is the Twins’ top pitching prospect, but he’s made just seven career Triple-A starts and has struggled with control this season. Brent Headrick, Josh Winder and Matt Canterino are on the injured list. And aside from Festa and Woods Richardson, the other healthy members of the Triple-A rotation are 29-year-old Randy Dobnak and 30-year-old Caleb Boushley.
Sometimes, what appears to be an obvious weakness and a prominent source of fan anxiety proves to be overblown. Unfortunately for the Twins, this is not one of those instances. DeSclafani was intended to buy some time before needing to turn to Varland in the rotation, and then Varland was supposed to help avoid various “break glass in case of emergency” options.
Now broken glass is all over the floor and it’s not even May 1.
Lee injury update
Injuries to third baseman Royce Lewis and shortstop Carlos Correa cleared the path for 2022 first-round pick Brooks Lee to make his MLB debut and take a prominent role in the Twins’ depleted infield, but the 23-year-old consensus top-50 prospect has been sidelined since late in spring training with a back injury.
Lee was removed from a March 22 spring training game with what the Twins initially diagnosed as back spasms. After undergoing further testing, he began the Triple-A season on the IL with lower back pain and was said to be out three to four weeks. That timeline has come and gone, and a Twins source told The Athletic that Lee’s back injury is now viewed as more significant.
Lee has been diagnosed with a herniated disc and is being treated by California spine and back specialist Dr. Robert G. Watkins, who’s worked with numerous MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL teams and is perhaps best known within the sports world for performing New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski’s back surgery in 2013.
According to a team source briefed on the situation, Lee is about three weeks into a two-month rehab plan. There’s optimism within the organization that he’ll be able to resume playing this season, and Lee impressed the coaching staff and front office by hitting .333 with a .962 OPS this spring, but a timeline has not been established yet for his potential return to game action.
Brooks Lee just hit his first HR of Spring Training with a 105.5 MPH blast 💣#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/MXC2JPuMzE
— Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) March 17, 2024
More injury updates
Right fielder Max Kepler is on the verge of returning to the Twins’ lineup after spending the past two weeks on the IL with a right knee contusion. He played Triple-A rehab games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, collecting four hits and three walks. Kepler could be activated from the IL as soon as Monday.
Jhoan Duran is also nearing a return from a right oblique strain suffered late in spring training. He reported no problems following Friday’s live batting practice session at Target Field and was cleared to start a Triple-A rehab assignment on Tuesday. Duran is expected to make multiple appearances for the Saints.
Twins head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta described Lewis as “doing well” and “heading in the right direction” in his recovery from a strained right quadriceps suffered on Opening Day. Lewis has started swinging and could begin limited running within a week, but Paparesta cautioned “he’s still got some boxes to check” before a possible return timeline can be determined.
Correa won’t be ready to return from a right intercostal strain when eligible to come off the IL on Tuesday, but he’s close to resuming baseball activities and, according to Paparesta, “his symptoms are improving dramatically.” Given the setback-prone nature of the injury, Correa and the Twins are being somewhat cautious to avoid a months-long absence.
Right-hander Daniel Duarte, who pitched twice for the Twins after securing an Opening Day relief job as a non-roster camp invite, will undergo season-ending elbow surgery on May 8. Duarte was acquired via waiver claim in February.
(Photo of Louie Varland: Abbie Parr / Associated Press)