Paddack looks, feels strong before rain washes out game
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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. ¨C Twins manager Rocco Baldelli gave right-hander Chris Paddack a choice of throwing live batting practice at the Lee Health Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Fla., or making his first Spring Training start of the season against the Rays on Monday afternoon.
Paddack, who hasn't pitched in a game since July 14 because of back issues, chose the latter because he wanted opposing hitters to tell him how he was throwing. Turns out, Paddack wasn¡¯t bad in a game that was canceled after two innings because of rain at Charlotte Sports Park.
¡°Paddack got out there, threw the ball, looked good and was able to get a good amount of work there,¡± Baldelli said. ¡°So yeah, we got that work out of our starting pitcher.¡±
Paddack pitched two innings, allowing a run on two hits and striking out two. His fastball was clocked as high as 95.4 mph.
¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t pitch the second half of the season last year, so it¡¯s been a little while since I¡¯ve got that itch to be able to toe the rubber again,¡± Paddack said. ¡°This is just the beginning stages of getting all [the] goals accomplished.¡±
With one out in the first inning, Paddack allowed a solo homer to Danny Jansen and a single by Brandon Lowe. Paddack found his rhythm after that and retired the next five hitters he faced.
¡°I¡¯m just glad I was able to get two innings in before the rain,¡± Paddack said. ¡°I felt great. ¡ I was attacking hitters, trying to establish the fastball. Obviously, they got a long ball, but if I get ahead there, maybe a different situation. But overall, I really liked where my stuff was today.¡±
Paddack is slated to be in the Twins¡¯ rotation to start the season, and he has high expectations for himself. Paddack wants to make at least 35 starts and reach the 200-inning plateau. If either one happens, it will be a first: Paddack has never started more than 26 games in a season, and his career high in innings is 140 2/3. Both stats occurred during his rookie season with the Padres in 2019.
Castellano has nice first outing
It¡¯s early, but the Twins may have found a gem in right-hander Eiberson Castellano, who was a Rule 5 Draft pick from the Phillies in December.
Castellano pitched in his first game for the Twins on Sunday, and he struck out the side around one walk against the Pirates in the fourth inning, making an impression on Baldelli.
¡°He is a big guy. He has a loose body and arm. He is a great strike thrower historically,¡± Baldelli said. ¡°The stuff is really good. You could see the swing and miss showing up already. That¡¯s what you are looking for.
¡°If you have an opportunity to add a really good arm like that, you take a shot when it¡¯s the right time and the right guy. We don¡¯t do that very often. It¡¯s hard to carry Rule 5 players ¡ but this guy fits the bill. We¡¯ll see what he can do.¡±
The 23-year-old Castellano split the 2024 season between High-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading, going a combined 6-5 with a 3.99 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings. Castellano¡¯s success earned him Philadelphia¡¯s Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
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¡°I never imagined that I was going to get Pitcher of the Year. But I was really consistent throughout the full year,¡± Castellano said.
It will be interesting to see if Castellano sticks with the Twins because they are loaded with pitching depth. He said he is willing to be a starter or a reliever.