Twins looking to future, giving young pitchers early MLB starts

Twins looking to future, giving young pitchers early MLB starts originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The two prospects likely won't enjoy prolonged MLB stints, but while left-handed pitchers Connor Prielipp and Kendry Rojas remain with the Minnesota Twins, they are expected to make an impact.

Both appeared in their first big league games on Wednesday.

Rojas earned his initial big-league invitation Tuesday and spent his first night in the bullpen. Prielipp was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul and started Wednesday night against the slumping New York Mets at Citi Field.

Prielipp earned a no-decision, yielding two earned runs on four hits in four innings. Rojas relieved Prielipp and tossed two scoreless innings, but yielded two hits and three bases on balls.

While the Brewers' brass received a look at potential future staff members, the Mets, boosted by the noisy return of Juan Soto, earned a 3-2 victory, snapping their 12-game losing streak.

Twins getting early look at future pitching staff

Prielipp, a 2022 second-round draft pick, earned the first opportunity to replace pitcher Mick Abel (elbow) in the rotation.

"We felt like if we aggressively treat it, get him on some anti-inflammatories and play it safe on the front end, it'll be something that will be relatively quick and short," Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll said, as .