The Twins on Monday reassigned Randy Dobnak to Class AAA St. Paul to make room on the active roster for Steven Okter, a veteran lefty who had been on the bereavement list, for the first of a big three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field.
They’ll make a more intriguing personnel move on Tuesday to make room for Zebby Matthews, the team’s second-ranked pitching prospect who will complete a rapid rise through the minor league ranks to pitch against Kansas City.
“It’s everybody’s dream, but to go from A-ball to here, it’s definitely been a journey – a lot of stops along the way,” Matthews said before the Twins started Game 1 against the Royals at Target Field. “I don’t really know if I thought it was possible. I don’t know if I thought about it, to be honest.”
An eighth-round pick in the 2022 amateur draft out of Western Carolina University, Matthews started this season at High-A Cedar Rapids, where he was 3-0 with a 1.59 earned-run average in four starts, before being promoted to Class AA Wichita. There, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound right-hander was 2-1 with a 1.95 ERA in nine starts.
In those two stops, Matthews, 24, struck out a combined 91 batters, against just six walks, in 78 innings. His fastball sits between 94 and 97 mph, according to mlb.com’s Statcast. He also throws a curveball, cutter, slider and changeup.
He said the biggest difference between Single-A Matthews and major league-ready Matthews is “the pitch mix that I’m throwing right now.”
“Last year, working with a lot of the coaches and staff here, we did a lot of pitch design stuff, and then having the confidence in my pitches now this year has been a big help,” he said. “Last year, we kept tinkering with stuff, trying to find stuff that works, and when we got to spring training this year, we made some adjustments and found some stuff that works.”
In four starts with the Saints, Matthews was 1-2 with a 5.56 ERA. He fanned 23 and walked only one in 19 innings, and his last start was his best — a run on two hits and a walk with five strikeouts against Columbus last Thursday.
The Twins will have to make room on the 26-man active roster for Matthews before Tuesday night’s game.
“As soon as I got the callup, I had to check and see who we were playing,” Matthews said. “But it’s going to be exciting to face (the Royals). It’s a great test for me. I’m excited.”
Topa rehab on hold
The good news for Justin Topa is his left knee, which has kept him from pitching for the Twins since spring training, is in good shape.
“Knock on wood, knee feels great,” the veteran reliever said Monday.
The bad news is the fatigue in his right arm, which has put his Class AAA rehab assignment on hold. A magnetic resonance imaging exam revealed no damage, but it’s another setback for Topa, acquired in January in the trade that sent Jorge Polanco to Seattle but yet to pitch for Minnesota.
“I feel like this isn’t something that is going to be an extended time,” he said. “(But) obviously, where we are in the season, it doesn’t bode well for a ton of outings.”
Counting Monday night’s game against the Royals, the Twins have 45 regular-season games remaining but are solidly in the race for the American League Central Division crown and an AL wild card spot.
“Getting the knee (settled) down, that was the biggest thing,” Topa, 33, said. “I’ve been feeling great up to this point and kind of getting the arm ready and back into it and building that conditioning of arm strength.
“You don’t want setbacks, and unfortunately with the knee it happened. With this, I think it’ll be a short (break) and get back to it.”
Briefly
Carlos Correa, out since July 12 with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, had no update on his progress. … The Twins’ starter for Wednesday’s series finale is still TBA. Available with adequate rest is Baily Ober, who pitched the opener of a doubleheader sweep of Cleveland on Friday. But the Twins are down Joe Ryan (shoulder) and could recall another starter from St. Paul to pitch before the team leaves for a seven-game road trip through Texas and San Diego. … The Twins released right-handed pitcher Matt Bowman from the organization on Monday. Bowman, 33, made 17 appearances for the Saints this season, compiling a 1.31 ERA and striking out 24 against seven walks in 20⅔ innings. … Carlos Correa, out since July 12 with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, had no update on his progress.
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