Caleb Thielbar

Welcome to Northfield/Randolph Minnesota's home grown prospect thread for Caleb Thielbar. Currently at Rochester, many locals hope to see this young man get his first taste of the big leagues by the end of the season.

Thielbar played at 3 levels for the twins in 2012 finishing at Rochester with a 3.57 ERA in 40.2 innings and striking out 32 batters. Spring training offered only a small sample size and a large ERA (12.46 but only 4.1 innings) but this still led to his return to Rochester. In 10.2 innings so far he has allowed 6 runs for a 5.06 ERA but an encouraging 14 strike outs with only 1 walk. Caleb traditionally has relied on a fast ball/ curve combo but has been encouraged to work on a change up. The key to his rise to the majors could be greatly affected by this.

Thielbar came into the Red Wings game today and shut down the pawsox for 3 scoreless innings with 3 more strikeouts and lowering his ERA to 3.95.

Not a good week for Thielbar. Earlier in the week he came in, pitched an inning and gave up 3 hits with just one SO. The lone run scored was unearned. It makes you wonder if that affected him into the next game. Last night he pitched one third of an inning striking out one, walking one, gave up five hits and allowed five runs. Not a good night. His ERA has ballooned to 6.60.

Thielbar came into today's game, faced 4 batters and recorded 4 outs on 3 STrike outs. He lowered his ERA back down to 6.06 and now has 22 strikeouts in 16.1 innings while giving up just 3 walks.

First save of the season Monday! With the game falling apart in the 9th inning, the Red Wings called in Thielbar. He stranded a runner at third by inducing a grounder to first and striking out the final batter to seal the win.

His last two outings he has come in and shut down the opposing teams momentum, Monday he inherited a runner on third with only one out and closed that door. Same on 4/27, he shut down a rally and added a donut to the board the next inning. Also, On 4/20 he held Pawsox down for 3 innings of longer relief in a game that had gotten away from the starter Albers who gave up 3 runs on 63 pitches in the first two innings. My early concern is the number of hits he's given up, 23 in 17 innings matching his strike out number exactly. Still, he now has two holds and a save becoming a main contributor to those three wins.

I believe the MAIN thing in the way of a call up are the relievers out of options. The Woodpile is going to get called or will be lost. This logjam may keep him in Rochester til September...

Thielbar came into the seventh inning today. He faced 6 batters and recorded 6 outs earning himself his third hold. He allowed only one walk which was erased when he induced a double play. He also struck out one batter.

At some point in every career, a person is called out by the more experienced with the one word "Rookie". As you can see under my name it says just that.

Looking back at the rules for adoption, I did not post all the necessary information yet (and I hear sticky prodding me with "rookie") so here are the missing necessary details on Caleb Thielbar, future big leaguer/Minnesota Twins LHP reliever.

Thielbar was born Jan. 31st 1987 and graduated from Randolph High School though his Twins page says Northfield. (as a Northfielder, I still claim him and thus my reason for adopting him so quickly) For those unaware of Randolph, it is a little Northeast of Northfield and Northwest of Cannon Falls. It is a small town so don't feel bad for not knowing of it.

Thielbar was a walk on for South Dakota State University where he developed into a very good Left Handed Pitcher. He was drafted in the 18th Round of the 09 draft by the Brewers and spent two years pitching in their minor league system but was cut after 2010 season.

Not ready to give up on baseball, he signed with the Saint Paul Saints where he caught the eye of the Home Town Team. Signed as a minor league free agent in '11 he quickly rose through the system from Fort Meyers to Rochester in 2012 and was added to the 40 man roster last fall.

I do not believe he was a walk-on at South Dakota State University. He also has an few all-time records with the Saints in his few months there, so gladly he didn't give up on baseball when the Brewers decided to cut him. And the Twins are seeing the benefits on his hard work and determination.

Got the tidbit about being a walk on from Caleb Thielbar on Twins' 40-man roster - Cannon Falls Beacon - Cannon Falls, Minnesota 55009 Not that the Cannon Falls local newspaper is considered totally reliable, just my source on the walk on bit

Caleb (can I call him Caleb?) came in with two on and two outs in relief. Two pitches later, his night was done stranding two more runners. He has not allowed an inherited runner to score since April 13th and has allowed 4 of his 13 inherited runners to score on the season for a 70% of runners stranded. That one was for you Sticky Bell

Sorry for a week of silence but I have had some personal stress I will not bore you with.

Caleb has had a good week +. On May 7th he came into the 14th inning with 2 outs and pitched the 15th also without allowing a run. He earned his first win of the year for his efforts! WOOT WOOT

May 11th was his next appearance coming into the game with runners on 1st and 3rd. He stranded them both. He pitched two more scoreless innings in a losing effort. Combined that is 4 more scoreless innings. Dropping his ERA into the 4s.

He is currently pitching so I will save the stat lines and todays summary for later.

Ok, so Caleb is done for the evening so here's the summary. Tonight he pitched two more innings coming into the 5th inning when things got away from Cole DeVries. With no outs, He eventually stranded the inherited runner though he gave up a single and a walk to load the bases first.

He also pitched the 6th giving up another hit but placed another goose egg on the board. He was able to hand off the tied game in the seventh inning.

His stats are now 3.91 ERA in 25.1 innings and 33 strike outs to 7 walks. CALL THIS GUY UP, HE'S ON FIRE!

If I have done my Math right, In his last 7 outings he has 10.1 innings pitched, inherited 6 runners stranding all 6 and has a 0.00 ERA with 14 strike outs.

First loss of the season. Caleb pitched one inning allowing 0 earned runs but takes the loss on an unearned run.

Call Up!!!!

My prospect has made it with a swap of places with Pedro Hernandez being reported. This does leave me concerned about the Fifth Starter position and maybe this is a temporary stop gap call up but he's coming to the bigs!

Way to go Caleb, prove you belong here permanently!!

AAA Rochester Stats 2013

W-L. 1-1

ERA 3.76

G 17

INN 26.1

Run/earned 13/11

HR 1

HBP1

W 8

SO 34

HOLDS 3

SAVE 1

Great debut...2 innings, no runs, 1 hit, 3 strike outs.trying to make Fridays decisions harder!

In his first 3 appearances, Thielbar has pitched 5 scoreless innings with 6 strikeouts while allowing only one walk and one hit for a .60 WHIP. Counting AAA, he has gone 16.1 straight innings without an earned run!

6 games, 7.1 innings, 9 strikeouts to 2 walks, 0.00 ERA with a 1-0 record! Congrats on your first win!!

ERA still at 0.00... The legend of Caleb Thielbar grows

Up to 14.2 innings and 13 appearances, ERA still 0.00...

Counting AAA, that is now 25-26 straight innings without an earned run...