The Twins began the 2025 season with a bullpen consisting of Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Cole Sands, Louie Varland, Danny Coulombe, Jorge Alcala, Justin Topa and Randy Dobnak.

One by one, that group was shipped out of town.

Alcala went first, landing with the Boston Red Sox in June. Dobnak, who spent most of the season in St. Paul, was dealt to Detroit last Monday. Jhoan Duran ended up in Philadelphia on Wednesday. Coulombe, Jax and Varland were sent out to the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays respectively on Thursday ahead of the trade deadline.

Now, only two remain in the organization.

Just Sands and Topa remain from the group which began the season on the active roster. And with their close friends now gone, both are expected to take on a greater role in the final two months of the season.

“Knowing that there’s responsibility for others now, including myself, to go out there and shut the door and go get those, wherever that may be for me, it’s just stuff like that,” Sands said. “It’s going to be just different and we’re going to have to go embrace that opportunity as a whole.”

In the few days after the deadline, the bullpen seemingly has become a revolving door.

On Tuesday, Thomas Hatch, claimed off waivers from the Kansas City Royals, joined the group. On Wednesday, Brooks Kriske, claimed off waivers from the Chicago Cubs, was added to the active roster. They replaced Noah Davis, who was on the team for about a week, and Darren McCaughan, who lasted just a day on the roster before he was designated for assignment.

“We were joking that we need name tags for a few guys,” Topa said.

Probably so.

But while the names around Sands and Topa will likely continue to change throughout the season, those two are now going to see innings that were often reserved for Duran or Jax. After the big sell-off, manager Rocco Baldelli called both into his office in Cleveland to check in with them and discuss their new roles.

“For pretty much ever since I’ve been in the big leagues, we’ve had Griff and Duran in the back of the bullpen,” Sands said. “If it was a two-(to)-three run ballgame, you knew those guys were going in. That’ll be a little different now.”

The 28-year-old Sands hasn’t quite been able to replicate last year’s success, when he posted a 3.28 earned-run average. It currently sits about a run higher than last year. His walk rate is up, his strikeout rate down. He’s been called upon in all kinds of roles this year, even starting a couple bullpen games.

Topa, who broke out in 2023 in Seattle, picked up the save in Tuesday’s 6-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. It was just his fourth career save and first since 2023 (he threw just 2 1/3 innings last year for the Twins because of injuries). During that season, he was often used in late-game situations for the Mariners.

“I’m a little bit used to it, but getting some consistent innings there in the back end will be fun,” Topa said. “It will be a great opportunity and a great challenge for both myself, Cole, (Michael Tonkin). All of us will be ready whenever that phone rings so it’s going to be a fun little stretch here.”

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