An injury threw a wrench in the Twins’ starting pitching plans before the 2024 season even started. It was a sign of things to come, as injuries to the starting rotation piled up and became a being a major storyline throughout the year.

By the end, as the Twins were struggling to stay afloat in the playoff race, they had three rookies each taking the ball every fifth day alongside Pablo López and Bailey Ober.

2024 recap

The Twins went into the season with a rotation headed by López, with the hope that Ober and Joe Ryan would take a step forward.

Chris Paddack was rejoining the rotation after missing most of the past two years recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Anthony DeSclafani was a late addition, acquired by trade in January.

As spring training unfolded, it quickly became clear that DeSclafani would not be an option. In late March, he underwent a season-ending surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm.

That paved the way for Louie Varland to join the rotation, though only briefly. A rocky April led to his demotion, upon which the Twins called up Simeon Woods Richardson, who had pitched in just two major league games before the 2024 season. He stepped up when the Twins needed him to, filling a rotation spot for the rest of the season, though he tailed off near the end of the year and did not complete five innings after Aug. 21.

Both López and Ober stayed healthy the whole year, making 32 and 31 starts respectively.

López had an inconsistent first half of the season but was much better in the second half, posting a 2.77 earned-run average after the All-Star Break with one ill-timed seven-run clunker mixed in against the Red Sox in late September.

Ober finished the year with a 3.98 earned-run average, settling in nicely after a disastrous first start of the season.

Ryan did not throw a pitch after Aug. 7 when he strained his teres major but had been the Twins’ most consistent starting pitcher until the time of his injury, and Paddack was up and down and did not pitch after a forearm strain in July.

Their injuries paved the way for David Festa, the Twins’ top pitching prospect, and Zebby Matthews, who began the season in Class-A Advanced Cedar Rapids, to join the rotation, which yielded inconsistent results.

Twins starters as a group finished the year with a 4.36 earned-run average, 22nd in the majors.

2025 outlook

López, Ober and Ryan should be back to lead the rotation, which gives the Twins a solid base to build around. Paddack, who was near full health at the end of the season, is under contract for 2025, as well.

Whether or not the Twins look to move Paddack will be an interesting storyline this offseason, as they’re short on payroll flexibility and he’s owed $7.5 million next season.

As for the back of the rotation, the Twins could choose to shore up externally but now have several internal options with major league experience.

Matthews will likely begin the year back in the minor leagues — where he would have ended if it hadn’t been for injuries to others — but Woods Richardson and Festa should enter camp in the mix for a roster spot.

This is the first in a series of stories recapping the 2024 season and looking ahead to 2025.