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Twins make lowkey move on ex-Blue Jays pitcher
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The Minnesota Twins on Wednesday brought back right-hander Matt Bowman , signing the veteran reliever to a minor league contract and assigning him to Triple-A St. Paul. The 35-year-old previously pitched for Minnesota in 2024 and spent part of the 2026 season in the team's system before opting out of his deal.
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Bowman began this year with the Twins on a minor league contract signed during the offseason but exercised an opt-out clause after not making the Opening Day roster. He re-signed shortly afterward and performed very well at Triple-A, compiling a 1.69 ERA across 21.1 innings before using another opt-out in May. He then joined the Toronto Blue Jays organization, where he pitched for Triple-A Buffalo, recording a 10.38 ERA before being released on July 5.
Overall, Bowman has thrown 30 innings at the Triple-A level in 2026, logging a 4.20 ERA. His statistical profile has been better than that mark suggests, including a 26.8% strikeout rate, a 7.1% walk rate and a 54.3% ground-ball rate. He also carried a .325 batting average on balls in play and a 69.1% strand rate.
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Over seven major league seasons, Bowman owns a 4.38 ERA over 240.2 innings with an 18.7% strikeout rate, an 8.0% walk rate and a 52.3% ground-ball rate.
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During his first run with Minnesota in 2024, Bowman appeared in the majors and produced a 2.35 ERA with six strikeouts over 7.2 innings, although he also issued four walks before being designated for assignment and traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks . He later spent time with the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles , making 20 relief appearances for Baltimore in 2025 while finishing with a 6.20 ERA.
The Twins bullpen has been a weak point all season, sitting at a major league-worst 5.25 ERA at the time of Bowman's signing. Injuries to Anthony Banda , Cole Sands and Marco Raya have further weakened the relief corps.
With bullpen depth still a concern, Bowman's latest return gives the Twins another experienced relief option as the team continues its playoff push.
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