The Minnesota Twins starting rotation has been hit with a multitude of maladies this season. Another vacancy in the group paves the way for top 100 prospect Zebby Matthews to make his major league debut.
Zebby Matthews joins Minnesota Twins rotation
Earlier this season top pitching prospect David Festa made his major league debut. Now, just a few weeks later, Zebby Matthews will join him in the rotation. Festa came into the year as a top 100 prospect . Matthews was elevated to that status during the season. His rise throughout the system has been nothing short of meteoric.
It is almost unfathomable to relate the rise of Matthews in Twins terms. The organization has become more aggressive in promoting certain prospects. Matthews blows those timelines out of the water. Minnesota took Matthews out of East Carolina in the 8th round of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. He finished last season at High-A Cedar Rapids, which is where he started this season. His 18 games (17 starts) in 2024 are split between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. His next will come in the major leagues.
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What does Zebby Matthews give the Minnesota Twins?
Zebby Matthews isn’t just a feel-good story, or a placeholder for a rotation in shambles. He is a legitimate starting pitching prospect, and his numbers back that up . Across 97 innings in 2024, Matthews owns a 2.60 ERA with a 114/7 K/BB. Yes, you read that correctly. Matthews simply does not give up free passes, and he strikes out batters in droves despite them knowing he will challenge them in the zone.
At the Triple-A level Matthews has been beat by balls being put in play. His secondary peripherals are still strong, and he owns a 23/1 K/BB across 19 innings split between four starts. As Matthews joins Festa in the Twins starting rotation, he represents an opportunity for Rocco Baldelli to run out a pair of top-100 prospects in the same season.
The Twins chasing down Cleveland, and holding serve with the Kansas City Royals, will largely rely on their youth. Pablo Lopez has struggled in 2024, and while Bailey Ober has been incredible, the back-end of the rotation is now entirely unproven. Matthews will make his first start on Tuesday against the Kanas City Royals. American League Cy Young candidate Seth Lugo will oppose him.
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