MINNEAPOLIS -- There’s never been any doubt about Kendry Rojas’ stuff. The Twins’ rookie left-hander and No. 10 prospect, acquired last summer in the Trade Deadline deal that sent Louis Varland to Toronto, has elite raw ability. The only question has ever been location.
Rojas showed on Monday what he’s capable of when he stays in the strike zone.
Throwing more than two-thirds of his pitches for strikes and pitching with exceptional efficiency, Rojas was outstanding in the first start of his Major League career. He allowed two hits and one walk over four scoreless innings, striking out three, as the Twins beat Houston, 6-3, in a game delayed one hour and 57 minutes by rain.
Rojas’ high-octane arsenal was on full display as he averaged 96.0 miles per hour on his four-seam fastball and 94.0 on his sinker. He also successfully mixed in his changeup and slider, getting swings and misses on both, but the fastball was the star of the show.
As with quite a few things about the Twins’ rotation these days, Rojas’ immediate future is not completely clear. He started in place of Simeon Woods Richardson, who had been in a deep slump but pitched an effective inning of relief behind him. It’s certainly possible Rojas gets another start, though with Taj Bradley returning from injury soon there may not be an opportunity just yet.
But whether he stays in the rotation, returns to the bullpen, or is sent down to Triple-A St. Paul to pitch in their rotation, Rojas made an impression that won’t soon be forgotten. He joins Connor Prielipp and Zebby Matthews as pitchers who started the year in the Minors but have delivered key performances in the Twins’ rotation this year.