Sunday: The Twins have officially announced Graterol’s promotion. The club has also selected the contract of speedy outfielder Ian Miller. Additionally, the club has recalled left-hander Devin Smeltzer and right-handers Zack Littell and Kohl Stewart from Triple-A Rochester. Further, the Twins activated catcher Willians Astudillo and outfielder LaMonte Wade, Jr. from respective 10-day injured list stints. To clear 40-man roster space, the club recalled minor-league right-hander Sean Poppen and transferred him to the 60-day injured list. He’d been on the minor-league IL with a right elbow contusion.
Saturday: Top Minnesota Twins pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol will see September innings at Target Field, per LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune.
A shoulder impingement took out a chunk of Graterol’s season, but since returning he’s been promoted and relegated to the bullpen in Triple-A. He has just 4 appearances thus far as he prepares for a similar role with the big league club after rosters expand. Minnesota plans for Graterol to return to a starting capacity for 2020.
Graterol will need to be added to the 40-man roster whenever he gets the call-up, though that won’t happen until sometime after September 1. Contrary to the belief of many on Twitter, not being on the 40-man roster by tomorrow does not preclude Graterol from postseason play. The Twins can petition the MLB for Graterol’s eligibility as an injury replacement for a current 40-man rosteree, such as Nick Gordon or Sean Poppen, offers MLB.com’s Dan Hayes (via Twitter).
The bigger question will be answered by Graterol’s performance on the field. The newly-21-year-old flamethrower has just 4 appearances in Triple-A and only 10 career appearances out of the pen. That the Twins are considering such a rapid promotion for Graterol in the dead heat of a pennant race speaks to their belief in his overall ability and makeup. He certainly comes with the pedigree to be an impact performer. Major prospect outlets have him as a consensus top prospect, the overall #55 prospect by MLB.com, #33 by Baseball America, and #69 by Fangraphs.
hrbekrules
He throws 103!
Gobills
I saw him leave Rochester yesterday with his gloves and bag. He will be in Minnesota today and I bet will be activated on Sunday. Kohl Stewart will also be called up
hrbekrules
It is also reported that he is already on a flight to Detroit to join the MLB team.
All Minnesota Sports
Love it. Get Rooker and Larnach a taste too.
jbigz12
Larnach doesn’t need to be added to the 40 man for two years and is a month out of A ball. He’s not getting called up.
jessecc08
let’s go
Yeetus
Of course. 2020 is after September 1st
Show Me Your Tatis
Not a Twins fan but can’t get this question out of my head. Why exactly wasn’t Brusdar Graterol (a 2014 signee) not Rule 5 eligible last offseason?
Gopher
If a player signs before they are 18 its 5 years for rule 5 draft. He would be eligible for next year’s rule 5
Show Me Your Tatis
He signed in 2014. He should have been eligible for the fifth Rule 5 draft following his signing (which was last offseason)
Gopher
Maybe the 2014 season didn’t count. He didn’t play anywhere until 2015
Show Me Your Tatis
Javier Guerra didn’t play anywhere until 2013 and the 2012 season counted for him. So unless I’m missing something, if a player signs one year but doesn’t actually play until the next year, that first year still counts.
spycake
Graterol signed on August 29, 2014, after the end of the DSL Twins minor league season (which was the first club to which he was assigned, in 2015). Thus, his count began with the 2015 Rule 5 draft.
thecubreporter.com/book/export/html/3517
The same rule applied to Twins prospect Lewin Diaz, who signed in November 2013 and thus wasn’t Rule 5 eligible until the Dec. 2018 Rule 5 draft.
spycake
Guerra signed on July 2nd, 2012. Even though he didn’t play, that was well before the end of the season for the DSL Red Sox (the first team to which he was assigned in 2013). That’s why the 2012 Rule 5 draft counted as his first.
Show Me Your Tatis
Thanks for clearing that up spycake. The rules are not clear on when the cutoff date for that year’s Rule 5 draft counting is.
csspackler
I’m sure he’s a fine young pitcher. But his name smacks of an intestinal disorder. .
Metsfan9
I just got Brusdar’s autograph a couple days ago!
DarkSide830
time to push Perez from the rotation!