Sunday, May 11, 2025

Yes, Derick Falvey has produced pitching



Back when Derek Falvey was hired, it was with the promise that he had come from the Cleveland pitching development program, and he would bring that ability and ethos to a Minnesota system that was coming off a year where Tyler Duffey had the third most starts of the season, and the second best pitcher, Kyle Gibson, had an ERA that would slot in behind every starter the Twins have thrown out there this year.

The bullpen, too, was regarded as a strength during season outlooks. That shine was taken off by some rough outings, notably by Griffin Jax and Jorge Alcala, at the beginning of the year, and those two ae still suffering for it with ERAs over 5 and 8 respectively going into today's games. 

All told, the Twins have the 3rd best pitching WAR in baseball, the 5th best ERA and looking at the pen, are #1 in the league in WAR, even with the early scuffles. The pitching staff for the Twins is a strength for the team, and everyone but Jax has been added either via trade, signing or draft since Falvey took the helm of baseball operations. 

There has been more pitching added via trade or signing than Cleveland ever had, and there has been some criticism of the lack of internal development. Bailey Ober, Joe Ryan and Simeon Woods-Richardson, all members of the rotation did make their major league debuts with the Twins, and the organization has leveraged their prospects, like Chase Petty, to acquire former Twins Sonny Gray. 

But if that isn't enough, the Twins also have Zebby Matthews and David Festa waiting to join the team, and now have Dasan Hill in Baseball-America's Top 100 prospects. Hill was drafted just last year. 

There is pitching here, and there is more on the way. This was the promise of Derek Falvey brought with him, and it is being delivered. Despite all of the headwinds the Twins have faced, this, at least, has remained an area that Falvey and his team have continued to be able to advance.

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