The Twins are promoting left-handed pitcher Kendry Rojas, pictured, as well as left-handed prospect Connor Prielipp. Brace Hemmelgarn / Minnesota Twins / Getty Images
April 19, 2026Updated April 20, 2026 12:18 pm EDT
A frustrating stretch got more challenging for the Minnesota Twins on Monday when the club placed promising young starter Mick Abel on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Abel, who has struck out 16 over 13 scoreless innings in his last two starts, was scheduled to start against the New York Mets on Tuesday as the Twins try to snap a four-game losing streak.
The Twins will promote Kendry Rojas to the big-league roster for the series opener in New York, according to a team source. The Twins will also add left-handed prospect Connor Prielipp to the team’s taxi squad Tuesday, according to multiple team sources.
Prielipp could be added to the big-league roster if the Twins are without reliever Kody Funderburk, who is expected to be placed on the paternity list.
The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman ranked Rojas the team’s No. 9 overall prospect in his preseason top-40 rankings. He named Prielipp the team’s fifth-best prospect.
Royce Lewis also is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday after homering twice in a weekend rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul.
Despite dynamite starts from Taj Bradley and Bailey Ober on Saturday and Sunday, the Twins’ relievers blew saves on consecutive days, leading to backbreaking losses. Justin Topa, Eric Orze and Cole Sands each allowed a run in Saturday’s 5-4 loss. Rookie Andrew Morris blew a save try Sunday when he surrendered three runs. After the Twins tied the score with a ninth-inning rally of their own, Garrett Acton yielded three unearned runs in a 7-4 loss to the Reds in 10 innings.
The combination of a shaky bullpen and even worse infield defense harmed the Twins multiple times during the team’s current four-game losing streak. Saturday’s game-winning rally was keyed when shortstop Brooks Lee couldn’t field a slow grounder.
Acquired in a trade that sent Louis Varland to Toronto in August, Rojas said he felt more settled in with the Twins this spring. He’s pitched six scoreless innings for the St. Paul Saints this season with five strikeouts. Acknowledging he struggled to grip the different ball used at Triple A last August, an adjustment he felt like he made this offseason, Rojas produced a 6.59 ERA in 27 1/3 innings after the trade.
The team’s minor-league pitcher of the year for 2025, Prielipp is off to an even better start than Rojas. Prielipp, a second-round pick in the 2022 draft, has a 2.30 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings at St. Paul.
Apr 20, 2026
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today’s puzzle
