A player on the Minnesota Twins got an update on his future in MLB.
The Minnesota Twins made an unexpected move this past weekend when they called up pitching prospect Andrew Morris to the big leagues following Cody Laweryson’s injury.
The decision was surprising because Morris has been a starting pitcher throughout his entire career, both in college and in the minors. But with the Twins needing bullpen help and Morris already stretched out, he became a natural fit for a multi-inning role.
Morris made his MLB debut on Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays and delivered exactly what the Twins needed. The 24-year-old threw three innings, allowed one run and recorded his first two major-league strikeouts in a win over Toronto. It was an impressive first look at a pitcher who has steadily climbed Minnesota’s system. After the outing, Twins manager Derek Shelton spoke with reporters and shared the plan for Morris' career now that he is in MLB and whether or not he would fully transition to a long relief role.
“Sounds like the Twins plan to keep Andrew Morris in the majors for now, likely in a multi-inning relief role. Derek Shelton said the team still views Morris as a starter long term, but ‘opportunities come into play,’” reported Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic.
Shelton’s comments serve as a meaningful update for Morris. While the Twins still see him as a long-term rotation piece, they also recognize the value he can provide immediately in a flexible bullpen role. With the Twins dealing with injuries and inconsistent relief outings early in the season, Morris’ ability to cover multiple innings is especially valuable.
Morris remains one of the Twins’ more intriguing young arms. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft, he has dominated the minors across five seasons. He owns a 2.98 ERA in 68 appearances with 307 strikeouts in 320 1/3 innings and a 22-13 record.
For now, though, the Twins are prioritizing immediate needs. Morris’ presence gives them stability in the middle innings and allows Shelton to manage workloads more effectively while the rotation and bullpen continue to sort themselves out.
If Morris continues to pitch well, he could force his way into a larger role as the season progresses, especially with so many spots up for grabs in the rotation. And once the Twins’ staff inevitably needs reinforcements later in the year, he may be one of the first names considered.
For a rookie who was not expected to reach the majors this quickly this year, Morris has already made a strong impression, and the Twins clearly believe he can help them win right now.