Alcala (0-1) took the loss in Saturday's 5-1 defeat to the Cardinals. He allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while failing to record an out in the sixth inning.
Alcala was hit in the shoulder area by a line drive on the first batter he faced. While he stayed in the game and there wasn't a report of an injury, he may have been rattled as he then had trouble throwing strikes. The right-hander has premium velocity and reached a career-high 101.2 mph last summer, and he could work his way into a high-leverage role if he can string together better results.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Looks set to make bullpen
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Alcala is expected to be included in Minnesota's Opening Day bullpen, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. He's thrown nine scoreless innings with a 5:2 K:BB ratio this spring.
Given Alcala's 3.24 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 54 outings in 2024, his roster status shouldn't really be in question, but the Twins curiously sent him to the minors several times last year. Alcala has outstanding velocity with an average fastball of 97.9 mph, reaching a career-high 101.2 mph last summer. His strikeout rates haven't been as overpowering (8.95 K/9 last season) as he's struggled to get hitters to chase with a 19th percentile chase rate, but he limits hard contact (91st percentile hard-hit rate). He should be in the setup mix again this season if he can stay healthy and could be a good source of holds.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Option exercised
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The Twins exercised Alcala's $1.5 million club option for 2025, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Alcala spent some time in the minors in 2024 but pitched well over 58.1 innings with the Twins, posting a 3.24 ERA and 58:20 K:BB over 58.1 frames. He'll be used in middle relief in 2025.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Up from St. Paul
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The Twins recalled Alcala from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
Alcala owns a 6.75 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 20 innings in the majors since the All-Star break, but he'll be called upon to give the Twins a fresh bullpen arm as they fight to secure a wild-card spot. He'll take the place of Brent Headrick, who was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Moved to minors
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Alcala was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
The Twins have elected to demote Alcala in order to make room for Cole Irvin, who was claimed off waivers earlier in the day. Alcala's recent performance likely led to the demotion, as he's allowed three runs in his last three appearances out of the bullpen.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Career-high velocity
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Alcala allowed a hit while striking out two over a scoreless inning Saturday against Seattle. He reached a career-high 101.2 mph on the radar gun, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Alcala has been an impact setup man for the Twins since returning from his inexplicable demotions to Triple-A in May and April. Alcala has a 1.05 ERA with a 19:7 K:BB over 17.2 innings since returning to the majors in late May.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Rejoins bullpen
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The Twins recalled Alcala from Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
The club had previously optioned Caleb Boushley and now have announced Alcala as his replacement on the roster and in the bullpen. In eight appearances this season, Alcala has collected a 3.27 ERA and 10:6 K:BB. He figures to be utilized in middle relief.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Heads back to Triple-A
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The Twins optioned Alcala to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Alcala allowed four runs and threw 48 pitches over two innings in Tuesday's 10-6 loss to the Mariners, so he's being sent out in favor of a fresh arm. Right-hander Josh Staumont was recalled from St. Paul in a corresponding move.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Recalled from Triple-A
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The Twins recalled Alcala from Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
He's taking the roster and bullpen spot vacated by Caleb Boushley, who was sent back to St. Paul on Thursday. Alcala never deserved to be optioned in the first place, as he has given up just one unearned run on three hits through six appearances this season.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Sent to Triple-A
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The Twins optioned Alcala to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.
The right-hander has given up just one unearned run on three hits through six appearances this season, but he'll be the odd man out of the bullpen with Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) making his return from the injured list. Alcala should rejoin Minnesota once additional bullpen help is needed.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Returns to action Tuesday
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Alcala (undisclosed) struck out two over a scoreless inning of relief in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers.
Per Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com, Alcala dealt with some unspecified soreness coming out of his most recent relief appearance in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Cleveland, prompting the Twins to hold him out of Monday's series-opening 4-2 loss to Los Angeles. Alcala was able to play light catch Sunday without incident, and after returning to action Tuesday and delivering a solid outing, he looks to be good to go moving forward. The right-hander is off to an excellent start to the 2024 campaign, striking out six over 5.2 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and two walks.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Dealing with soreness
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Alcala experienced some soreness during his last appearance Saturday against the Guardians, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
It's not clear exactly what is sore on the reliever, but Alcala was able to play some light catch Sunday and will be reevaluated Monday. Consider him day-to-day for the time being.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Throws two scoreless innings
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Alcala threw two scoreless innings with two walks and two strikeouts in Tuesday's loss to Milwaukee. He's thrown 2.2 scoreless innings in two games this season.
Alcala hurt his hand late in spring training (struck in the right hand by a line drive) but it has not been an issue during the regular season. After two injury-plagued seasons, Alcala could move into a higher-leverage role later this season. He features a plus fastball, but control as been a recent problem (5.2 BB/9 last season), so keep an eye on his walk rate.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Returns to action Sunday
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Alcala (hand) gave up five runs (three earned) on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 1.1 innings of relief Sunday in the Twins' 8-3 loss to the Orioles in Grapefruit League play.
Alcala returned to the mound four days after he left his appearance against the Tigers early due to being struck in the right hand by a line drive. While Alcala was fortunate to avoid structural damage and seemingly needed only a few days off for any pain he was experiencing to subside, his results in his return to the mound were less than stellar. Given that he's missed most of the last two seasons with arm issues and is now sporting a 6.30 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 10 innings in the Grapefruit League, Alcala may not be a lock for a spot in the Twins' Opening Day bullpen. He still has three minor-league options remaining, so Minnesota could elect to send Alcala to Triple-A St. Paul if the organization feels he isn't ready to contribute out of the big-league bullpen.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Clean X-rays on pitching hand
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X-rays on Alcala's pitching hand showed no broken bones after he was hit in the hand by a line drive in Wednesday's game, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Alcala's index and middle finger on his right hand were sore after the game, but sounds like he could be ready for Opening Day. Alcala has had a strong spring and looks back to full strength after two injury-plagued seasons. He threw just 17.1 innings last season with an ugly 6.23 ERA and missed more than four months with a stress fracture in his right forearm. He threw just 2.1 innings in 2022 due to an elbow injury that required season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery. He's likely to win a spot on the Opening Day roster due to injuries to Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) and Jhoan Duran (oblique).
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Exits appearance with injury
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Alcala was removed from a Grapefruit League appearance Wednesday versus the Tigers with a right hand injury, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The reliever had a comebacker deflect off his pitching hand before going into his glove. He initially stayed in, but it affected the grip of his pitches, so he was removed. Consider Alcala day-to-day for now.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Likely to make MLB bullpen
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Alcala looks set to begin the season in the Minnesota bullpen with injuries to Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) and Jhoan Duran (oblique), MLB.com reports. He has a 2.16 ERA this spring with a 10:3 K:BB in 8.1 innings.
Alcala has had a strong spring and looks back to full strength after two injury-plagued seasons. He threw just 17.1 innings last season with an ugly 6.23 ERA and missed more than four months with a stress fracture in his right forearm. He threw just 2.1 innings in 2022 due to an elbow injury that required season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery. He could become part of the setup mix if his fastball can come close to averaging in the high-90s as it did earlier in his career (97.4 mph average in 2021).
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Could begin season in minors
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Alcala may begin the season in the minors since he has minor league options available after the Twins added several veterans to the bullpen, MLB.com reports. Alcala has thrown two scoreless innings with a strikeout and walk this spring while reaching a 96-97-mph range with his fastball.
Alcala is fully healthy after struggling with injuries the past two seasons. He threw just 17.1 innings last season with an ugly 6.23 ERA and missed more than four months with a stress fracture in his right forearm. He threw just 2.1 innings in 2022 due to an elbow injury that required season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery. He features a plus fastball but control as been a recent problem (5.2 BB/9 last season). He'll likely need to prove himself at Triple-A before becoming a part of the bullpen mix in the majors this summer.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Agrees to terms
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Alcala agreed to a one-year, $790,000 deal with the Twins on Thursday that includes a $1.5 million club option for 2025, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Alcala gets a $55,000 buyout if the Twins decline the 2025 option. The 28-year-old righty has sat around 95 mph with his fastball over the past two seasons after previously sitting around 97 mph in 2020 and 2021. He has been limited by injuries the past two seasons and will likely work in low-leverage situations initially in 2024.
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Twins' Jorge Alcala: Activated Sunday
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Alcala (forearm) was activated from the 60-day injured list Sunday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
He logged a 3.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in six innings over five rehab appearances. Alcala hasn't pitched since Sept. 22, so he could see action in the season finale against the Rockies.
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