The Minnesota Twins made a trio of moves involving one 25-man roster spot and one on the 40-man roster, as Trevor Hildenberger was sent to Triple-A Rochester following Wednesday’s series finale with the Los Angeles Angels.
Hildenberger gave up three earned runs in just one-third of an inning on Wednesday, and had allowed earned runs — multiple, at that — in five of his six May appearances. Hildenberger opened the month with a 1.93 ERA and left it at 8.36 — a 21.21 mark for the month of May.
Hildenberger’s average velocity is down this season (88.3 mph) from last year (89.2 average), but his sinker has sat in the 86-87 mph range of late with his seldom-used four-seamer checking in a bit higher at 90-91 in recent action.
The Twins added right-handed reliever Austin Adams to the 40-man roster, and the 32-year-old Alabama native will meet the team in Seattle for Thursday’s series opener against the Mariners.
“He’s the hardest thrower on the team,” a source told Zone Coverage in regards to Adams’ pitch repertoire relative to his Rochester teammates.
Adams pitched with the Cleveland Indians from 2014-16 but hasn’t been in the big leagues since. He enjoyed modest success in 2015 — 3.78 ERA (3.70 FIP) in 33.1 innings with 6.2 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 and a 1.50 WHIP — but was crushed for 20 earned runs in 18.1 innings the next year and has bounced around in the Angels and Twins systems in the meantime.
Adams had a 4.50 ERA in Rochester in 18 innings with 28 strikeouts and just six walks, and he’s been especially good since late April. Over his last six outings, Adams has fanned 13 batters and walked just one in 8.1 innings with a 2.61 ERA and an OPS against of .470.
To open a spot on the 40-man roster for Adams, the Twins designated reliever Addison Reed for assignment. The move means the Twins have seven days to pass Reed through waivers, trade or release him, with the team picking up some money and trading him being a very possible outcome.
The 30-year-old Reed had struggled mightily on his rehab stint from a left wrist injury, allowing eight earned runs in five innings (14.40 ERA) including four home runs and 13 hits total. Reed reportedly struggled to hit 90 mph in his outings — including as an opener on Wednesday evening — and that’s a far cry from last season’s 90.9 mph average velocity, let alone his career average of 92.6.
The Twins open a four-game set in Seattle at 9:10 p.m. on Thursday night. Seattle, as luck would have it, also has an Austin Adams on the team — also a middle reliever.
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