5:16 pm: Colina recently underwent another elbow surgery, Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told reporters (including Dan Hayes of the Athletic).
3:08 pm: The Rangers announced they’ve claimed right-hander Edwar Colina off waivers from the Twins. Colina has spent the entire season on Minnesota’s injured list and will immediately land on Texas’ 60-day IL.
Colina made his first big league appearance last season. The right-hander allowed four hits and issued three walks while recording just one out in that game, but he averaged north of 97 MPH on his sinker. Entering this season, Baseball America slotted Colina as the #21 prospect in the Minnesota system, writing that his arm strength and hard-breaking slider gave him a chance to be a middle relief option in spite of below-average control.
Unfortunately, Colina missed the entire 2021 season after undergoing an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his throwing elbow in May. He did pick up a big league salary and MLB service time while on the injured list. The Rangers will take a flier to see if he can translate that big arm speed into major league success. Colina still has all three minor league option years remaining, so Texas can move him back-and-forth between Arlington and Triple-A Round Rock for the next few seasons if he sticks on the 40-man roster.
Well this is shocking, I thought this guy is gonna be part of the Twins bullpen in a future?!
They like his Ed WAR
Texas might send him to AAA to try and start going forwards
Looks like a nice lottery ticket to take a shot on. He’s young enough and has some pretty great results in the minors.
And so the 40-man dance begins. He’ll be waived 5 more times, be claimed by the Rays, and win the Rolaids Award in 2022.
It hasn’t been called the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award since 2012.
Right, sorry….think it’s called the Preparation H Award now….
My thoughts and prayers are with Edwar Colina. Edwar, with your move to the semi-pro team called the Rangers, you’ll now be 100% responsible for your own development and coaching.
Good pick!