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Minnesota Twins Provide a Bunch of Injury Updates
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- Minnesota Twins Provide a Bunch of Injury Updates
Dave Nelson-Imagn Images Dave Nelson-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins are now multiple weeks into Spring Training. They have tied a few times but ultimately own a 6-5-3 record. For Major League Baseball, spring is about a couple things. Obviously, teams are preparing for Opening Day, which for the Twins comes on March 26 in St. Louis .
But the most important part of this time of year is staying healthy. Last year, the Twins struggled to do that, and it wound up being a running narrative throughout the season. And this last week, we've seen more of the same thing down in Florida, though most of this year's injuries have involved prospects, not impact big leaguers.
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Minnesota Twins prospects dealing with injuries down in Spring Training
Credit: Dave Nelson-Imagn Images
Let's start with oft-injured, aging pitching prospect, Matt Canterino , when he suffered a shoulder strain back in early March. He isn't the only pitching prospect dealing with injuries, though. Zebby Mathews, another advanced minor league pitcher the Twins are hoping will make an impact in their rotation this summer, has a hip strain .
Minnesota Twins hitting prospects have been bitten by the injury bug too. In fact, the best two prospects in the entire organization — Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez — are both trying to recover from their own injuries too . Big league relievers Justin Topa and Michael Tonkin are also dealing with shoulder issues.
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Matt Canterino, Erasmo Ramirez injury update
On Saturday, Minnesota Twins injury updates were aplenty, on all the aforementioned prospects. Matt Canterino, who hasn't pitched in a professional game since 2022 , is dealing with the same type of shoulder injury that cost him all of last season. Local insider Darren Wolfson took it a step further on SKOR North this week , saying Canterino is expected to miss at least 6-8 weeks.
RHP Matt Canterino has shoulder injury similar to one that cost him all of 2024 season. He'll see Dr. Keith Meister to determine severity and treatment, likely will not pitch for several weeks.
RHP Erasmo Ramirez has "significant tear" in his shoulder, he'll miss extended time.— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) March 8, 2025
"Matt Canterino, shoulder strain, looking at 6-8 weeks if not more. It's just another injury for the Twins pitching prospect. Very unfortunate."
Canterino was placed on the Minnesota Twins 40-man roster prior to the 2023 season . He has yet to be placed on the 60-day injured list, but that could be coming. Matt Canterino's 1.48 ERA and 130 strikeouts across 85 professional innings makes a fan wonder. Unfortunately, his body isn't reliable.
Related: Minnesota Twins Prospects Revealed for Exclusive MLB 'Spring Breakout'
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Erasmo Ramirez, who was likely ticketed for St. Paul , may not wind up pitching in the Twins organization at all this season. The veteran threw 20 2/3 innings with a 4.35 ERA for Tampa Bay last season , but a significant shoulder tear may end his season.
Zebby Matthews , Michael Tonkin, Justin Topa injury updates
News regarding Zebby Matthews appears to be positive after he left the game following a ball he fielded coming off the mound. The starter suggested he could continue pitching but the Twins wanted to error on the side of caution and re-evaluate him.
RHP Zebby Matthews recovering well from hip strain, he'll pitch in bullpen tomorrow.
RHP Michael Tonkin has "slight" shoulder strain, he'll be examined again in 7-10 days.
RHP Justin Topa has shoulder tightness, will play catch today to measure the extent.— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) March 8, 2025
Matthews has pitched well this spring and owns a 7/0 K/BB across 6 1/3 innings . He is on the outside looking in for a rotation spot, but could challenge both Chris Paddack and Simeon Woods Richardson .
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Related: Minnesota Twins Flamethrower Struggling to Find Heat
Speaking of Paddack, he threw on Saturday but exited after just 2 2/3 innings after as he was hit in the head by a comeback line drive that thankfully deflected off his glove first. Paddack walked off the field under his own power and is not showing concussion symptoms, per LaVelle E Neal (Star Tribune) .
Twins official let us look at an in-house b/w replay. Liner ticked the tip of his glove before hitting him above the right ear. https://t.co/hmtfHf6T2O
— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) March 8, 2025
Unfortunately, bullpen updates are less promising. Michael Tonkin, who's near the bottom of the pecking order, has allowed four runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings this spring . He needs more time to rest, and is a likely candidate to begin the season on the injured list.
Justin Topa has consistently been injured since joining the Twins. Last season was a knee issue and now he has shoulder soreness . There is a possibility he could have been a capable middle-relief arm, but not if he can't stay on the field.
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Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez injury updates
Both Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez are on their way back for the Minnesota Twins. Spring training minor league games started on Saturday and Jenkins told me he is "doing good." The hope is that he can be in games soon.
Fellow top prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez has now had back-to-back days of batting practice. He had thumb surgery to end his 2024 season and told trainers he's swinging pain-free "for the first time in seven months." Rodriguez will start running next week and shouldn't miss any regular season time. MLB Pipeline's Sam Dykstra had updates on both prospects, as well.
Although it was just a 47 game sample size, it's beyond impressive that Rodriguez played through pain to post a .280/.459/.567 OPS and reach Triple-A. He's way up there on top 100 prospect lists. Both Rodriguez and Jenkins should have a real shot to turn heads in 2025.
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Minnesota needs to continue a trend of more positive injury updates and have the bill of health remain clean through the final weeks of March. They were hit hard just before Opening Day last season. Hopefully history doesn't repeat itself.
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