Time for Twins Pitching Prospect to Sink or Swim

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Matt Canterino, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Chris Tilley-Imagn Images

With Spring Training in full swing, the Minnesota Twins are working towards their 2025 Opening Day roster. The goal for this summer, after a complete second-half collapse in 2024, will be putting together a full season of solid baseball.

The batting lineup is largely unchanged, outside of Ty France replacing Carlos Santana and Harrison Bader taking over the fourth outfielder role from Manuel Margot. The bullpen is currently projected to be among the best units in baseball. That is largely due to the belief in players like Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax.

Matt Canterino, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

As is always the case though, depth is essential throughout the course of a 162 game season, especially on the mound. And the Minnesota Twins appear to have a lot of depth in their bullpen, talent that stretches from the big leagues to down on the farm.

It’s Matt Canterino time for the Minnesota Twins

But not all prospects are created equal. Everything from age, to arbitration eligibility to production play into MLB promotions throughout the system. Take right-handed reliever Matt Canterino, for example. The Twins selected the 27-year-old Rice alum in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Unfortunately, he hasn’t pitched since 2022, due to a multitude of injuries.

But given his ever-advancing age, impressive host of pitches and injury proneness, The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman would like to see Canterino fast tracked to the big leagues this spring/summer… as long as he can stay healthy and productive during Spring Training.

“The remarkable thing about Canterino thus far is that he’s had endless injuries and has come back from each of them with his raw stuff pretty much intact. Which is to say, high octane, mid-to-upper-90’s with two good off-speed pitches that he can throw…Not only has he remained on the 40-man roster now for two years while injured, they haven’t even transferred him to the 60-day injured list when he’s out for the season. They didn’t want him collecting service time and moving closer to free agency.”

Gleeman on Matt Canterino (Gleeman and the Geek)

Why do the Minnesota Twins remain high on Canterino? Well, I would start with the 130 batters he’s struck out in just 85 career professional innings. Maybe his high-90s fastball or 1.48 ERA is what they are hooked on…?

Pitchers like Canterino aren’t just readily available, and Minnesota working with him through all of the setbacks shows a real commitment. Now working as a reliever, a fast track with eyes set toward the big leagues makes sense.

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Canterino started 10-of-11 appearances at Double-A Wichita back in 2022. He compiled 34 1/3 innings and owned a 1.83 ERA. The MN Twins may send him back there this season, but he also is a logical candidate to open with St. Paul.

“I almost feel with him, use those bullets while they are in the gun. What I mean by that is, I’m not saying he needs to be in the Opening Day bullpen. He needs to prove on some level that he can perform. He doesn’t strike me as a guy you need to go send to Triple-A for a year. All you’re asking him to do is get injured again and wipe out all the optimism. To me, if you think he can get guys out today, let’s get him in the majors as soon as possible. You don’t know how long it’s going to last.”

Gleeman suggests a fast track for Canterino (Gleeman and the Geek)

If he’s at Triple-A, then a logical plan would be to throw him for a month or two and see how it goes. If the results are positive, he profiles as one of the first candidates to replace a major league arm.

Where does Canterino fit for MN Twins?

It’s a tall task to crack the Minnesota Twins bullpen right now. Unless or until there is an injury, the most logical replacement candidates include either Jorge Alcala or Michael Tonkin. There are also players like Louie Varland and Eiberson Castellano that should be in front of Canterino on the 40-man roster.

The reality is that if Canterino’s production remains where it was, and he’s healthy, he’ll force his way in. The former Rice Owl could profile as a high-leverage reliever, and Minnesota would love to add onto an already impressive back-end.

Cole Sands didn’t deal with the injuries, but took that path to his current role on the team. Over 71 1/3 innings last season, Sands posted a 3.28 ERA with 85 strikeouts. His 2.63 FIP suggests he could be even better this season. If that’s the profile the Twins get from a healthy Canterino they would be ecstatic.

Related: Failed Minnesota Twins Outfielder Settles for Minor League Deal

As has always been the case, it comes down to health for Canterino. We’re at the point in Spring Training again where it is on his side. Let’s hope that’s how things stay and we get to see the stuff unleashed at Target Field this summer.

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