The Minnesota Twins have encountered significant setbacks in their starting pitching depth as spring training unfolds. After entering camp with eight major-league ready starters, injuries have drastically reduced their options. Most notably, pitcher Pablo López underwent Tommy John surgery on March 12, 2024, in Texas, performed by Dr. Keith Meister. This surgery will sideline him for the entire 2024 season.
Adding to the Twins’ woes, pitcher Joe Ryan is dealing with lower back inflammation. Although he is expected to be ready for the season opener on March 26, 2024, in Baltimore, his participation with Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic remains uncertain.
In a further blow, David Festa, a contender for the starting rotation, has been diagnosed with a shoulder impingement. During a press conference in Fort Myers, Florida, head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta confirmed that Festa has received an injection for the injury, making his availability for Opening Day increasingly doubtful. Festa’s previous struggles with a different shoulder issue limited him to just one start in the latter half of the previous season, where he dealt with mild thoracic outlet syndrome. Paparesta stated that the current shoulder issue is unrelated to Festa’s past injury.
The latest developments leave the Twins with only six potential starters for five rotation spots: Ryan, Bailey Ober, Taj Bradley, Simeon Woods Richardson, Zebby Matthews, and Mick Abel. One of the latter two pitchers is likely to secure a position with the major league team, while the other may be assigned to Triple-A.
Despite the concerning news regarding Festa, Paparesta provided some reassurance about López’s surgery. The repair performed on López’s ulnar collateral ligament was less invasive than a full reconstruction, potentially shortening his recovery time. While López will miss the entire 2024 season, the hope is that he will return to full strength for the 2027 season.
As the season approaches, the Twins have begun to streamline their roster. On March 14, 2024, they reassigned right-handed pitchers Matt Canterino and Cory Lewis to minor league camp. This decision was anticipated due to both players recovering from injuries. Lewis, who spent last season at Triple-A, was diagnosed with a moderate subscapularis strain early in camp, while Canterino continues his lengthy rehabilitation from shoulder surgery conducted in March 2023.
Canterino has faced a challenging recovery journey, as he is currently in the 11th month of a 12 to 14-month rehab process. He has not pitched in a minor league game since 2022. Reflecting on his situation, Canterino noted, “There are not many people that have not thrown a regular-season inning in three-and-a-half years and still have a job in professional baseball. I think that’s a testament to how I carry myself.”
Once viewed as one of the Twins’ most promising pitching prospects, Canterino boasts an impressive career minor league earned-run average of 1.48 and 130 strikeouts over 85 innings pitched. Initially a starter, he transitioned to relief due to his injury history, yet he remains focused on achieving his goal of reaching the major leagues.
“I want to be able to look my future kids, future family in the eye and tell them, ‘Hey, I chased my dream.’ That’s what I’m doing right now,” he stated, emphasizing his unwavering determination despite the setbacks.
As the Twins navigate these challenges, the focus will be on maintaining their competitive edge while managing their roster ahead of the 2024 season.
