Kirilloff, Smeltzer Hope to Rejoin Twins Soon

[Ted Schwerzler]

Stopping by CHS Field today to cover the St. Paul Saints (it really is great that they’re right down the street from the Twins), there were two points of intrigue. The starting pitcher and left fielder are where fans of the big league club should draw their attention.

Devin Smeltzer threw 11 innings for the big league club down in Fort Myers during Spring Training this year and gave up just five hits while striking out nine and walking two batters. He was seen as a longshot to make the Opening Day roster, but with a clean bill of health, he looked the part of an arm that may be able to help in 2022.
 
Ultimately, the Twins decided to send Smeltzer to Triple-A, but the strong performances haven’t stopped. Working five innings today, he allowed just a single run, Smeltzer owns a 1.42 ERA through 19 innings and has a 16/6 K/BB.
 
Given how solid Minnesota’s starters have looked thus far, it’s hard to see a place where Smeltzer fits into the rotation. There’s little reason to believe he can’t be of service in another capacity. Right now, the only left-handed arms in Rocco Baldelli’s bullpen are Danny Coulombe and Caleb Thielbar. After being reliable the past couple of seasons, Thielbar has produced lackluster results to open 2022.
 
I’d wager Minnesota wants to see more from Thielbar before making a change, but he does have an option left. With an expected ERA of 3.63, there is reason to believe that with more outings, he will straighten things out. Whether taking over for Thielbar or someone else, it’s good to see Smeltzer making a renewed case for inclusion on the 26-man roster.
 
Talking to Smeltzer after his outing, he suggested "health" is the most significant difference in his performance. “I had some long-term cancer side effects that popped up the past two years, finally got that taken care of. Got the neck taken care of. Everything else has just kind of fallen into place.”

Working as a starter at Triple-A but having worked out of the bullpen previously, Smeltzer said, “I always prefer to start. I’m going to do everything in my power to force them to make a move.”

A notoriously quick worker, Smeltzer is experiencing the minor-league pitch clock for the first time. He’s certainly not a fan. “I think it’s destroying the game of baseball. I had two strikeouts in my last game on it (granted strikes from the umpire), and it’s ridiculous, honestly. These are guys’ careers. It’ll never happen in the big leagues. I don’t think the union will ever allow it.”

Sharing very similar feelings to myself, Smeltzer continued, “It’s not baseball. Shaving off 15-20 minutes of a game isn’t going to pack the stadium. You either like baseball, or you don’t.”
 
On the other side of the ball, there was talented Twins left fielder Alex Kirilloff playing in just his fourth Triple-A game. Having rehabbed for two games with the Saints last season after dealing with the same wrist issue, he was playing left field today after DHing on Tuesday.

In his first game back following a cortisone shot, Kirilloff went 1-for-1 with three walks. Making contact in each of his first three at-bats today, he went 0-for-4 while sending two fly balls to left field and grounding out on a ball to second base.
 
The ball found him plenty in the outfield as he recorded the game’s first out on a routine fly ball. There isn’t much concern with his fielding ability, as the problem has always persisted when swinging. Last season, the cortisone shot was deemed helpful for a time before he was shut down and eventually underwent wrist surgery. The hope for both Kirilloff and the Twins would be that there’s not a consistent issue this time around, and things have corrected themselves.
 
After finishing the game, I talked with Kirilloff to check in on the progress and how he was feeling. When asked about continued discomfort in the wrist, he noted feeling it “here and there, but that it’s a lot better than what it was before, so that’s encouraging.”

Unfortunately, this is a very similar timeline to when Kirilloff’s wrist began to bother him last year. Asked what about this feels different, he said, “It’s a similar feeling to last year, but the hope is that it does the trick and it’ll last longer than it did last year. Structurally now, it’s better than it was because of the procedure I had done. The surgery did what it needed to do as far as the structure. He (the doctor) thinks it will respond differently this time.”

With a history of going through the same situation, Kirilloff played just two rehab games before returning to Minnesota. When asked about the timeline for a return this season, he said, “I feel like I’m close. I haven’t talked to them yet today, but I’ll be able to find out more information when I do.”

He said the decision to return would be made collectively.

St. Paul continues to play good baseball, and they have some of the top hitting talents in the Twins system. It’s more likely that Royce Lewis will force his way to the big leagues this year, and Jose Miranda repeating his 2021 performance should have him to the next level. Lewis inside-outed a double in the 8th inning before walking it off in the 10th inning. Miranda recorded a double and home run.
 
Keep tabs on St. Paul with plenty to glean for the Twins as the season progresses.

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[RpR]

Kirilloff went 0 for 4 today so don't hurry ; at that, all Twins out-fielders at St.Paul are dropping including Cave.

[Linus]

I wish Smeltzer the best as I think he can help the Twins. That said I couldn’t care less about his opinions on the pitch clock. The game is for the fans and anything that speeds up the game and creates more action is critical to the future of the game. 

[DocBauer]

Have to be both concerned as well as simultaneously hopeful for Kirilloff. He has such a bright future if his wrist can be OK, and can be a big part of the Twins future. Without being any kind of expert, I think we've all seen guys have a procedure of some sort and it just seems to take longer than hoped/expected before things are "right" again. And then after a few months, sometimes the next season, it's as if the body just heals and adjusts and compensates and suddenly everything is fine. Sure crossing my fingers.

I think Moran has a bright future but just isn't ready yet. Thielbar seems healthy and his velocity seems the same, so I'm still expecting him to figure it out. I think Smeltzer is going to be up at some point. And he could have a good role in long/middle relief. Boy would it be nice to have 3 solid LHRP. What a luxury! The problem with Smeltzer is the same as with Minaya and others, they could help and we're going to need help at some time. But the 40 man is so crowded we still need time to see who's going to grab a job and keep it. 

 

[cheeseheadgophfan]

Would Smeltzer get us a stud middle/closer in  a trade? What would it take to get Jorge Lopez from Baltimore?  Always had a great arm, now switched to the bullpen?

[ToddlerHarmon]

Beat reporting! I like it. Thanks!

[tony&rodney]

Kirilloff looked a little awkward in his last at bat today. Lewis looks confident. The Twins have some minor league hitters who are a little challenged defensively (but could certainly improve) but carry really strong lumber to the plate. Martin is getting very comfortable and is athletic, Encarnacion-Strand rakes, and Julien swings it too. Smeltzer sure looked good today and he could help quite a few MLB teams. Does he find success as a relief pitcher? We can hope so because the starting positions look pretty full right now. 

[Doctor Gast]

Smeltzer has looked good all year , they should find room on the 40 man and find as many innings as possible for him & Winder in long relief.

[mikelink45]

Nice to see smeltzer doing well. But he better stick to the mound and not as an analyst. There are a lot of us who listened and check in on baseball I do not want to sit through three and a half hours a game

[wabene]

3 hours ago, cheeseheadgophfan said:

Would Smeltzer get us a stud middle/closer in  a trade? What would it take to get Jorge Lopez from Baltimore?  Always had a great arm, now switched to the bullpen?

This is a good idea. I don't think DaSmeltz plays as a reliever and while he is looking good (AKA trade value), with this pipeline he is not what I want in the rotation. I would trade him for a reliever.

 

“I think it’s destroying the game of baseball. I had two strikeouts in my last game on it (granted strikes from the umpire), and it’s ridiculous, honestly. These are guys’ careers. It’ll never happen in the big leagues. I don’t think the union will ever allow it.”

Those two batters he speaks of who got him a couple of cheap strikeouts that hurt their prospective careers had better get their assess into the box or get left behind.

[TwinsDr2021]

10 hours ago, cheeseheadgophfan said:

Would Smeltzer get us a stud middle/closer in  a trade? What would it take to get Jorge Lopez from Baltimore?  Always had a great arm, now switched to the bullpen?

By himself, I can't imagine he gets the Twins much of anything, He is a 26 year old soft throwing minor league pitcher.  Think of what the Twins got from the Padres for 1 year of Rogers.

[RJA]

I am pulling for Smeltzer as he has been through a lot and works his butt off.  If he continues to perform, he will be at Target Field this summer.  While the rotation is doing well now, there will be injuries and there are  no assurances that Bundy and Archer will continue to pitch well.  I hope they do, but it is still early, and when batters start to warm up, they may have a harder time. As to the pitch clock, I think Smeltzer is overreacting based on a couple of at bats.  Once the hitters get used to the clock, all will be fine.  

[Alex Schieferdecker]

I can see Smeltzer replacing Thielbar if the performances of both (and Jovani Moran's control issues) continue.

[Tovar12]

I was at the Saints game yesterday and loved the pitch clock. 

Get your ass on the mound, get your ass in the batter's box and let's go!  Loved the pace of the game and the fact I saw game action (and not some pitcher pacing around behind the mound, and some batter grabbing his crotch, adjusting his batting glove, etc.)

[LA VIkes Fan]

2 hours ago, RJA said:

I am pulling for Smeltzer as he has been through a lot and works his butt off.  If he continues to perform, he will be at Target Field this summer.  While the rotation is doing well now, there will be injuries and there are  no assurances that Bundy and Archer will continue to pitch well.  I hope they do, but it is still early, and when batters start to warm up, they may have a harder time. As to the pitch clock, I think Smeltzer is overreacting based on a couple of at bats.  Once the hitters get used to the clock, all will be fine.  

Keep Smeltzer as a starter in AAA for now We will need starters t the MLB level by June given the injury history and checkered track records of Gray, Bundy and Archer. I also don't see the team letting Ryan, Paddack or Ober go more than about 150-160 innings this yea given none of them pitched over 110 innings last year - Ober 108 total, 92 MLB, Paddack 108, all MLB, Ryan 92 total, 26 MLB. There will be 30 starts this year for guys outside the 6 now in the rotation. WInder can take 15 of them, leaving 15 for somebody else. That's what we really need Smeltzer for.  

[4twinsJA]

Being off 40 man roster is a big hurdle for Smeltzer, but he should get an opportunity at some point this summer. I really like the pitch clock, good for the game, will probably be difficult for some experienced pitchers to adjust but they will have to and batter also- get in the box and be ready.

[Danchat]

59 minutes ago, Tovar12 said:

I was at the Saints game yesterday and loved the pitch clock. 

Get your ass on the mound, get your ass in the batter's box and let's go!  Loved the pace of the game and the fact I saw game action (and not some pitcher pacing around behind the mound, and some batter grabbing his crotch, adjusting his batting glove, etc.)

100% agreed, I thought Smeltzer's take was dumb. Shaving off 25 minutes every ballgame would be a game-changer for casual and hardcore fans of baseball. I don't know if it will affect attendance, but they have to try because the [attendance] numbers are going down as baseball has refused to change the rules for a better viewing experience. 

[Minny505]

7 hours ago, Danchat said:

100% agreed, I thought Smeltzer's take was dumb. Shaving off 25 minutes every ballgame would be a game-changer for casual and hardcore fans of baseball. I don't know if it will affect attendance, but they have to try because the [attendance] numbers are going down as baseball has refused to change the rules for a better viewing experience. 

Another fan of the pitch clock here.

I have heard from 8-10 hardcore baseball fans that went to minor league games that used it. Every one of them raved about it. 

If that is the response from hardcore fans, it's going to be even bigger from casual fans.

As an isolated rule change, it seems to be far and away the best rule change MLB could make for a better fan experience.

[Schmoeman5]

On 4/27/2022 at 6:43 PM, RpR said:

Kirilloff went 0 for 4 today so don't hurry ; at that, all Twins out-fielders at St.Paul are dropping including Cave.

Mr. Stat watcher. And if he goes  4 for 4 tomorrow, he'll make a baserunning error that will condemn him forever. Stop bashing everyone. When Carew hit .388 you probably complained that he couldn't hit .400