The Minnesota Twins are ready for the return of Chris Paddack, per The Athletics’ Ken Rosenthal. Paddack, 28, was a starter in 65 of his 66 career appeances before undergoing his second major elbow surgery in May 2022. He returned for two relief outings at the end of last season before excelling in the postseason. This season, he will be in the Twins’ rotation, helping fill a void created by the departures of Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda.
“We saw a preview of what we think Chris Paddack could be in the rotation,” Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said in October.
Experiencing his first spring training since joining the Twins in 2022, Paddack is ready for a full, healthy season.
The Return of Chris Paddack
Last week marked another step in his comeback. Paddack threw 51 pitches over 2 2/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals. He made his second start of the spring Monday, allowing one run in four innings against the Atlanta Braves.
“I never thought in a million years I’d be comfortable out there,” Paddack said. “Being a starter, we have our special routines, superstitions, brushing our teeth this way, doing bands that way. But coming out of the bullpen changed my career.”
As a rookie, Paddack showed promise, posting a 3.33 ERA in 26 starts for the San Diego Padres in 2019. However, struggles ensued the right-hander, throwing a combined 4.95 ERA in 2020 and 2021. Then, he was traded to Minnesota with reliever Emilio Pagan as part of a five-player deal. The Padres acquired reliever Taylor Rogers and outfielder Brent Rooker on the night before Opening Day 2022.
“I fell in a hole, was searching a little bit the past couple of seasons,” Paddack said. “There was a lot going through my head. There was doubt in some games more than others. I started overanalyzing, started giving too much credit to hitters, forgetting what Chris Paddack does best.”
The Twins Are Confident in Paddack
Paddack gave evidence of optimism for the Twins courtesy of his 97 mph fastballs and filthy changeups. Pitching in relief allowed Paddack to work his game thanks to shorter outings. What Paddack accomplished not only inspired confidence but hope that he can maintain his stuff as he returns to the rotation.
“Long and short of it, this guy’s been a very good major league pitcher,” pitching coach Pete Maki said. “Whether he killed it in his four or five outings with us or didn’t, we still expect this guy to be a guy, to be someone that we rely on to give quality innigns every five or six days independent of how he did with us at the end.”
Paddack, too, believes he is in position to take a step forward. “Unfortunately, I haven’t put up that ERA like I did in 2019. But I’m a better pitcher. I really do believe that,” he said. “I haven’t been more prepard or more excited about a major-league season.”
Main Photo: © Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
