The Twins placed Topa on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a left oblique strain.
Topa was removed from Sunday's game with left knee discomfort, but he'll head to the injured list Friday with a different ailment. The 34-year-old has been serving as a high-leverage arm since Jhoan Duran was dealt to the Phillies. He's blown two of his six save chances during that stretch and has allowed seven runs (six earned) across his last nine appearances. Cody Laweryson was brought up from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move. Cole Sands, Kody Funderburk and Michael Tonkin are candidates for save chances.
Topa was removed from his relief appearance in Sunday's 5-1 win over Kansas City in the ninth inning due to left knee discomfort, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. "I had the doctor look at it and he said that structurally, everything looks good," said Topa.
Topa was in line for a save chance but exited with two outs in the ninth with the Twins holding a four-run lead, paving the way for Genesis Cabrera to record the game's final out. While Topa said that his knee is fine, he may need a few days off for any soreness to subside. Topa previously missed most of the 2024 season due to patellar tendinitis and a small tear in the patellar tendon in his left knee.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Can't rebound in loss, blown save
Rotowire
Topa (1-5) was charged with the loss and a blown save in a 4-3 defeat to the White Sox on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and no walks with one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.
That's consecutive blown saves for Topa, who has now given up at least one run in four straight outings. Given the right-hander's recent struggles, it wouldn't be surprising to see manager Rocco Baldelli turn to a different high-leverage arm, such as Cole Sands or Kody Funderburk, for Minnesota's next save chance. Topa has a 4.03 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 58 innings this season.
Topa allowed a run on two hits in one inning of work while earning a save over Toronto on Tuesday. He struck out one batter.
Topa was given a 7-4 lead in the ninth inning and worked around an RBI double by Daulton Varsho to convert the save chance. It was Topa's fourth save of the year, and they've all come since Aug. 5. He's converted all four of his save chances and earned one hold since the trade deadline. During that span, Topa owns a 1.53 ERA across 11.2 innings.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Picks up third save Friday
Rotowire
Topa notched the save in Friday's 9-7 win over the White Sox, allowing two hits and one walk with no strikeouts in 1.2 scoreless innings.
Topa registered save No. 3 on the year, and each of those have come following the trade deadline. The right-hander appears to have the upper hand over Cole Sands, who worked the seventh inning Friday, in Minnesota's closer committee in the aftermath of the Jhoan Duran trade. Topa has a 0.84 ERA over 10.2 innings in August, whereas Sands owns a 4.50 ERA across his 10 frames this month.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Notches six-out save
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Topa recorded the save in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Yankees, striking out one and allowing one hit and no walks in two scoreless innings.
Topa finished off the Yankees to net his second save of the season, working multiple frames for the first time since July 26 versus the Nationals. The 34-year-old right-hander is operating in tandem with Cole Sands for Minnesota's closer gig after the Twins shipped out Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax at the trade deadline, though Sands has given up five runs over six appearances this month. Topa, on the other hand, has pitched seven shutout frames to open August, improving his ERA to 3.55 and his WHIP to 1.30 to go with a 44:13 K:BB for the year.
Topa struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning to earn a save against Detroit on Tuesday.
Topa threw 12 of his 15 pitches for strikes and quickly retired the Tigers' 8-9-1 batters to preserve the 6-3 win. He joined Erasmo Ramirez as the two bullpen arms to record saves for the Twins since the team traded Jhoan Duran at the deadline. Topa owns a 3.86 ERA and a 41:12 K:BB through 46.2 saves this season. It was his first save with Minnesota, and he entered Tuesday's contest with three in his career, all of which came during his final season with Seattle in 2023. Cole Sands allowed two runs in the eighth inning Tuesday, and it appears the Twins are still working out how the bullpen arms will be utilized moving forward.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Moving to high-leverage role
Rotowire
Topa is likely to be used as the primary setup man ahead of new closer Cole Sands after the Twins traded most of their bullpen Thursday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He allowed a hit in a scoreless seventh inning in Friday's 3-2 loss against the Guardians.
Topa was used in the seventh inning with the Twins tied 2-2, which was a high-leverage role, though he was not being used with a lead. Still, Baldelli's comments show Topa will have an increased role in the bullpen and could be a candidate for save chances if Sands struggles.
Topa will open Saturday's game against Atlanta, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Topa has given up just one run in 6.2 innings this season, and he'll now be tasked with facing the top of Atlanta's lineup Saturday in what will be the first start of his major-league career. The 34-year-old righty will likely remain in the game for just one inning before handing things over to Simeon Woods Richardson, who is due to pitch in bulk relief.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Returns to action
Rotowire
Topa (shoulder) worked one inning of relief in Monday's 4-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates, striking out two while giving up an earned run on one hit.
Topa made his first Grapefruit League appearance since March 6, when he exited that game due to shoulder tightness. He made an appearance in a minor-league game Friday and checked out fine, prompting the Twins to include him back on the Grapefruit League pitching schedule. Topa will look to re-establish himself as a key setup man for Minnesota in 2025 after throwing just 2.1 innings last season due to a left knee injury.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Slated to pitch Monday
Rotowire
Topa (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Topa exited his most recent Grapefruit League appearance back on March 6 due to right shoulder tightness, but he seems to be feeling fine after throwing 22 pitches Friday in a minor-league game on the back fields of camp. Assuming his appearance Monday goes without a hitch, Topa could avoid a stint on the injured list to begin the season.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
Topa (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Topa left last Wednesday's game due to right shoulder tightness. He said the move was largely precautionary, and he did not require an MRI. Topa expects to throw again Friday. While he's making progress in his recovery, it's not clear if he'll be ready for Opening Day.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Won't need MRI on shoulder
Rotowire
Topa is dealing with right shoulder tightness, but he has not needed an MRI, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Topa left Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles due to right shoulder tightness. This doesn't sound like a serious injury, but it could land him on the injured list to begin the season as he works his way back into regular season form.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Dealing with shoulder discomfort
Rotowire
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said that Topa was removed from Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles due to right shoulder tightness, Bobby Nightengale of The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Topa served up a home run and tossed just seven pitches before meeting with a trainer on the mound and then getting pulled from the contest. Baldelli said Topa's shoulder will be further evaluated Thursday, and while the skipper is hopeful that the right-hander isn't dealing with anything overly serious, it could affect his availability for Opening Day. The 33-year-old has had rotten luck on the injury front during his career, having missed most of the 2024 season due to torn patella tendon in his right knee and having previously required a flexor tendon surgery and two Tommy John surgeries for his elbow.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Leaves with apparent injury
Rotowire
Topa was removed from Wednesday's Cactus League appearance against the Orioles with an apparent injury, Bobby Nightengale of The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Topa threw only seven pitches in the outing, and he surrendered a solo home run while showing diminished velocity. The reliever made just three appearances for the Twins in 2024 while dealing with knee and elbow problems. His status should be updated by the club in the near future.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Avoids arbitration with Minnesota
Rotowire
Topa agreed to a one-year deal with the Twins on Friday to avoid arbitration.
Topa started the 2024 regular season on the Twins' 15-day injured list due to left patellar tendinitis, and he was transferred to the 60-day IL in late May after an MRI revealed a small tear in his left patellar tendon. Topa managed to return from the injured list Sept. 25, and across three outings he threw 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out two batters and allowing one hit. The 33-year-old right-hander should be good to go for spring training.
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