Minnesota Twins Announce Unfortunate Mick Abel Injury News Before Mets Series

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The Minnesota Twins made an unfortunate injury announcement on Monday as the organization has continued to be deal with setbacks in April.

After dropping five of their last seven games, including a sweep at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend and struggling to find consistency in the rotation, the club learned that one of its most promising young arms will be sidelined.

The Twins announced on Monday right-hander Mick Abel has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his right elbow.

The timing is difficult for Minnesota, which has relied heavily on Abel early in the season. The 24-year-old right-hander earned a rotation spot out of spring training after a dominant Grapefruit League showing and had begun to settle in after a shaky start.

Abel was acquired last summer from the Philadelphia Phillies in the trade that sent All-Star closer Jhoan Duran to Philadelphia, and the Twins viewed him as a long-term rotation piece with frontline potential.

Abel’s early results reflected that upside. He currently owns a 3.98 ERA through 20 1/3 innings and had begun to look like the pitcher Minnesota hoped it was acquiring, a young, controllable arm capable of stabilizing the rotation.

Now, the Twins will have to adjust. With Abel sidelined, Minnesota will move right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson up in the rotation to start in his place on Tuesday.

The club is also expected to bring in additional pitching depth, with prospect Kendry Rojas set to join the roster in place of Abel. The Twins have several internal options, including Rojas and , though Matthews has struggled in Triple-A and may not be the immediate answer to fill in.