Twins send strikeout-prone outfielder Matt Wallner to Triple-A and call up Zebby Matthews to start

TL;DR

The Minnesota Twins have demoted outfielder Matt Wallner to Triple-A due to his poor performance, while promoting pitcher Zebby Matthews to start against the Miami Marlins. Wallner struggled with a .167 batting average and the highest strikeout rate in MLB.

Key points

Matt Wallner demoted to Triple-A due to poor performance
Zebby Matthews promoted to start against Miami Marlins
Wallner has the worst strikeout rate in MLB
Matthews had a 2.00 ERA in his last three Triple-A starts
Twins dealing with multiple pitching injuries

Minnesota TwinsMatt WallnerZebby MatthewsMiami Marlins

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins sent struggling right fielder Matt Wallner to their Triple-A team and promoted right-handed pitcher Zebby Matthews to start against the Miami Marlins on Thursday. Wallner is batting just .167 with three doubles and four home runs in 120 at-bats and a .551 OPS. The 28-year-old struck out in eight straight at-bats prior to the demotion and has 53 strikeouts in 135 plate appearances, the worst whiff rate in Major League Baseball. Wallner hit a career-high 22 home runs in 104 games last season after posting robust OPS marks in part-time duty of .877 in 2023 and .894 in 2024. Matthews went for 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18 innings over his last three Triple-A starts for the St. Paul Saints. Matthews made 16 starts for the Twins last season, but he was the odd man out for the rotation at the end of spring training. The Twins placed right-hander Taj Bradley on the injured list with inflammation in his right pectoral muscle last week, joining All-Star right-hander Pablo López and rookie right-hander Mick Abel on the shelf. López is out for the season following Tommy John elbow surgery, and Abel recently had a setback in his recovery from elbow inflammation. Matthews was promoted so the Twins could push back rookie Connor Prielipp's next start to manage his workload, but right-hander 's spot in the rotation is tenuous, too. Woods Richardson allowed eight runs in three innings on Wednesday in a 9-5 loss to the Marlins, and his ERA spiked to 7.71. The Twins also sent right-handed reliever to St. Paul and recalled utility player for his second stay with the club. Kreidler played third base and center field over a five-game stint last month. \\_ AP MLB:

Q&A

Why was Matt Wallner sent to Triple-A?

Matt Wallner was sent to Triple-A because he was batting just .167 with a high strikeout rate, including eight consecutive strikeouts before his demotion.

Who is Zebby Matthews and why was he called up?

Zebby Matthews is a right-handed pitcher who was called up to start against the Miami Marlins after performing well in Triple-A, where he had a 2.00 ERA in his last three starts.

What injuries are affecting the Twins' pitching rotation?

The Twins are dealing with injuries to right-handers Taj Bradley, Pablo López, and Mick Abel, which has necessitated the call-up of Zebby Matthews.

Twins send strikeout-prone outfielder Matt Wallner to Triple-A and call up Zebby Matthews to start

TL;DR

Key points

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