Twins starter Anthony DeSclafani ‘feeling fine’ as he tests his elbow.
Anthony DeSclafani pitched for the San Francisco Giants before joining the Twins.
The health of Anthony DeSclafani’s right elbow will largely determine if St. Paul’s Louie Varland makes the Twins’ Opening Day major league roster.
Just minutes after concluding a 35-pitch bullpen session at Hammond Stadium on Friday, DeSclafani stated that his elbow is feeling better.
Varland, who is unlikely to leave camp with the Twins unless one of Minnesota’s expected starting five rotation members is injured, started and hurled three scoreless innings in the Twins’ 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Meanwhile, almost 100 miles south at the team’s facilities, DeSclafani was again trying his elbow.
The veteran DeSclafani was momentarily sidelined after experiencing elbow pain after a live batting practice session earlier this spring. Friday was his second bullpen session and third time away from the slope — he threw a 10-pitch touch-and-feel session — and he left feeling good.
“The training staff has done a good job of just helping me get back to feeling good,” he added.
The Twins will devise a strategy for DeSclafani soon and analyze how he feels on Saturday as they chart his course forward. Saturday is especially crucial because the first time he felt stiffness was the day after, not during live batting practice, he explained.
“It was more of that night/the next day soreness that was kind of what put everything on hold,” said DeSclafani. “I was like, ‘Alright, I need a couple days.’ I believe that’s always going to be the case when you’re recovering from an injury or anything like.
As for how much time he thinks he needs to prepare for the cause – the season starts on March 28 but he won’t be needed until early April — the right-hander believes he still has plenty of time to build up and play in games.
“First and foremost, it’s going to be health over ramping up too quickly,” he told reporters. “I prioritize my health first. I still believe I have plenty of time to prepare to be ready whenever they need me.”
Prospect game on tap.
The Twins’ future stars will be on display next week, with the majority of the organization’s top prospects slated to compete in MLB’s inaugural Spring Breakout.
The prospect showcase, which fans will be able to watch for free on MLB’s website, will take place on March 16, pitting the Twins’ top young players against the top prospects in the Tampa Bay Rays system.
Minnesota’s Walker Jenkins and Brooks Lee The Twins released their roster on Thursday, which includes Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez (acquired in the Jorge Polanco trade), and pitcher David Festa. According to MLB Pipeline, nine of the Twins’ top 10 prospects will play in the game.
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Second baseman Edouard Julien departed Friday’s game early after being struck by a pitch. … Jose Miranda returned to the field in Bradenton on Friday for the first time since his offseason shoulder surgery. In his prior spring training games, he served as the team’s designated hitter. Miranda, who is projected to start the season in Triple-A, will play the majority of his games at first base.
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