NEW YORK -- The Twins on Tuesday recalled hard-throwing left-handed prospect Kendry Rojas to take the spot of Mick Abel, who was placed on the 15-day injured list the day before. The club also reinstated infielder Royce Lewis off the 10-day IL and placed left-hander Kody Funderburk on the paternity list.
Lewis had missed the team's past nine games with a left knee sprain, and at the time of his injury, he was batting .222 with two homers and eight RBIs.
Rojas, 23, was acquired from the Blue Jays last summer in the trade that sent Louis Varland to Toronto. He’s the team’s No. 10 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
A native of Cuba, Rojas struggled a bit after the trade upon being promoted to Triple-A. But he was impressive in Spring Training, and after missing some time at the start of the season due to a hamstring strain, he has pitched six shutout innings in two appearances for Triple-A St. Paul.
Funderburk's wife, Alicia, was scheduled to have labor induced on Monday. Alicia is fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma but both she and the baby are expected to be fine. Funderburk will miss some or all of the team’s Tuesday-Thursday series against the Mets.
The Athletic reported that Minnesota’s No. 5 prospect, fellow Triple-A lefty Connor Prielipp, will also join the team in New York but will be kept on the taxi squad for the time being.