Kody

Funderburk

The Twins called upon Topa to clean up the mess left by Kody Funderburk and he could not deliver. He entered the up by two, with runners on first and second, and one out. Then, he gave up back-to-back hits which drove home both inherited runners plus one of his own on his way to a loss. This was his second blown save in this series alone as it looks like he’s no longer the trusted closer in Minnesota. It may very well be Funderburk, but this bullpen is a total mess.

One of the Twins’ top closing options, Topa was asked to pitch the eighth with a one-run lead today, but he couldn’t get the job done. If he had, it probably would have been Cole Sands closing this one out. Kody Funderburk, who had the Twins’ last save Friday, worked a scoreless seventh today.

It wasn’t the smoothest of innings for the 28-year-old southpaw as he allowed a leadoff walk to Gavin Sheets and a one-out walk to Jake Cronenworth that brought the tying run to the plate. He battled back though, getting Yainer Diaz on a swinging third strike and Fernando Tatis Jr. on a fly ball to right to end it. On the season, he now holds a 4.40 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and a 23/15 K/BB ratio over 28 2/3 innings. Don’t expect him to suddenly take over the closer’s role in Minnesota.

Funderburk gives the Twins a second left-hander in the bullpen, as he’s replacing Anthony Misiewicz after Misiewicz was placed on the injured list with a shoulder impingement. Funderburk won’t pitch in a role that garners any sort of fantasy significance.

The Twins plan to promote Travis Adams from Triple-A St. Paul to work as the bulk pitcher on Saturday and they needed to clear a spot on their active roster. Funderburk has appeared in 10 games with the Twins this season, registering an unappetizing 6.92 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and a 9/5 K/BB ratio over 13 innings of work.

Funderburk will get a chance to pitch for Minnesota for the first time since being demoted to Triple-A St. Paul. The 28-year-old takes the roster spot of Bailey Ober after Ober was placed on the injured list, but Funderburk’s role will assuredly be in the bullpen.

Funderburk struggled in his latest MLB stint while allowing eight runs in as many innings with a 4/4 K/BB ratio. He heads to the minors with Travis Adams getting the call to replace Funderburk on the roster.

Funderburk heads back to the minors with Brock Stewart coming off the injured list to rejoin Minnesota’s bullpen mix. The 28-year-old lefty made a pair of relief appearances for the Twins since being brought back up last weeekend.

Funderburk will make his 2025 debut after throwing 5 2/3 scoreless innings for St. Paul. He has a 5.01 ERA and a 51/20 K/BB in 46 2/3 innings out of the Twins pen since reaching the majors in 2023.

It seemed as though the Twins were considering keeping Zebby Matthews on their big league roster to be a weapon out of their bullpen, but it sounds like he’ll stay stretched out as a starter at the Triple-A level instead. With Matthews and Festa optioned out, that means that Chris Paddack and Simeon Woods-Richardson will handle the final two spots in the Twins’ rotation to begin the season.