MINNEAPOLIS -- A series of roster moves on Sunday morning added up to a boost and a bummer for the Twins.
Minnesota activated Connor Prielipp and Cole Sands from the injured list before the series finale against the Athletics, bolstering both the starting rotation and the bullpen with useful pieces. Prielipp had been out since shortly before the All-Star break due to a blister issue, while Sands has not appeared in a Major League game since late April as he’s worked to come back from a right forearm strain.
Reinstating both pitchers is a significant addition -- especially Sands, given how long he’s been out.
“It’s a good return for us,” said manager Derek Shelton. “A guy that we planned on being a big part of our bullpen earlier in the year. Has missed significant time so to be able to get him back is nice.”
The bummer, however, is the loss of rookie right-hander Mike Paredes for a period that Shelton said will be a matter of weeks due to a grade 2 left oblique strain. Paredes has been one of the biggest, most pleasant surprises on a team that has itself been a pleasant surprise, contributing solid innings after not even being in Major League camp in the spring.
“Not days -- it’s going to be weeks,” Shelton said. “We’ll figure out as we get more into this, but overall not the greatest of news. But I think with the way Mikey responded to it yesterday in the bullpen and the way he responded afterwards, I think we kind of thought this was the case.”
In addition, Minnesota optioned right-hander Jack Anderson to Triple-A St. Paul. Anderson got his first Major League save on Thursday in the Twins’ extra-inning win in Cleveland.