MIAMI -- Ebbs and flows are just the status quo when it comes to young pitchers. Sometimes they’re up, and sometimes they’re down. David Festa’s career has been no different, but the Twins believe they have something promising in the 25-year-old righty.
Festa went six innings in Minnesota’s 4-1 loss to Miami on Thursday afternoon at loanDepot park. The New Jersey native gave up four runs on five hits, striking out seven in his ninth start of the year. His strikeouts sum was his best of 2025, while his six innings matched a season high.
And although Festa didn’t end his day with a win, his manager saw definite bright spots in his showing.
“David’s stuff actually got better as the game went on,” Rocco Baldelli said.
The Marlins’ first three runs came on an RBI forceout and Agustín Ramírez’s two-run homer in the first. Festa posted a 1-2-3 second before giving up Miami’s final run of the game in the third.
“When he came out in the first, the velos on his stuff were a tick down, and there were some big misses,” Baldelli said. “I don't think he felt incredibly comfortable early on in the game. Obviously, the big swing by Ramírez there … Probably not the pitch that we were aiming to throw in that situation … but we made a mistake there, and he didn't miss it.
“The changeup ended up a good pitch for [Festa] as the game went on. The sinker actually ended up a good pitch for him as the game went on. [It’s] probably a pitch that against this lineup you could have harnessed and used a little bit more to his benefit, because it looked good, and we got good results on it later on in the game. So something to build off of.”
Festa is known for his changeup. He has a 0.9 runs above average rating on the pitch (per Fangraphs), alongside a .140 batting average against and 17 strikeouts -- his highest mark of any pitch. But he’s unearthing what could be a hidden gem in his sinker. After using it for 10.7 percent of his offerings (per Statcast) this season, he nearly doubled that mark on Thursday, reaching 19.5 percent.
“The three outings that I have been able to throw the sinker in zone consistently were the outings that I do find myself going longer,” Festa said. “So for me, it was the Rangers outing [June 11], the Detroit outing [June 27] and this one today. … [It’s] something I voiced to the pitching staff, that I do need to throw the sinker more often.
“Too many times in the past, I've looked up in the fourth inning whether I was doing good or not, that I got 75 to 80 pitches. And for me, I think when I get the sinker in zone is when I'm able to go deeper into outings, limit the walks -- which is really good -- and be a lot more efficient.”
Those aforementioned Rangers and Tigers outings were both wins for Festa -- his only two of the season.
Festa is young. It’s been just over a year since he made his MLB debut, on June 27, 2024. His pair of wins this season brought his career total to four.
Learning is part of his progression at this stage in his career, and he likes where he is thus far.
“I felt good,” he said on going six innings. “I feel strong right now. … I thought the stuff was improving as the outing went on, which is something I try to pride myself on, making sure that whether it’s sharp right away, keeping it, or if I don’t have it early, figure it out and sharpen up as the outing went on. So I thought overall, [it was] a good sixth inning. I felt pretty strong.”
Perhaps more important, Baldelli is high on the potential Festa presents.
“[I like] how his pitches play with each other and how he uses them to confuse hitters,” he said. “Sometimes he goes out there and has a really good feel for all his pitches, and he goes at [hitters], and we’ve seen really good results. Other outings, maybe a little more like today. So we’re trying to iron out that consistency … and get where he looks like the same guy every outing. Because he has a lot of ability, a lot of upside.”