Thielbar threw two perfect innings while striking out two in Friday's 6-3 win over the Guardians.
Thielbar struggled to start the season with a 8.04 ERA and 5.2 BB/9 in his first 15.2 innings. However, he's turned his season around since June 12 with a 2.81 ERA and 19:5 K:BB over his last 16 innings. He had seemingly lost the ability to control his looping curveball early in the season, but has gotten back to peak form. He could play a key role in high-leverage spots for the Twins as the top southpaw in the bullpen, and he's picked up two of his eight holds on the year in his last three appearances.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Encouraging outing
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Thielbar threw 1.1 scoreless innings without a strikeout or walk Thursday against Arizona.
It was a confidence-building performance for Thielbar, who has struggled in June. Thielbar allowed nine runs (seven earned) and eight hits in his previous 3.2 innings over seven games. He had seemingly lost the ability to control his looping curveball, but he looked back to form Thursday. He's been limited to lower-leverage chances while he works out of his slump.
Thielbar struck out two batters in a scoreless inning and earned a save over the Mariners on Monday.
Thielbar faced the heart of Seattle's lineup after Jhoan Duran pitched a perfect eighth inning. It was Thielbar's third save of the year and first since April 29. He lowered his ERA to 6.14 with a 9:3 K:BB through 7.1 innings. Duran should still see most of the save chances in Minnesota but there should still be some vulture save opportunities for the likes of Thielbar and Griffin Jax.
Thielbar earned the save Monday against the White Sox, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts over a scoreless inning.
Theilbar followed both Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart for his second save in as many appearances. However, with Jhoan Duran (oblique) expected to be activated Tuesday after an IL stint, Thielbar will likely return to a middle relief role.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Converts first save
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Thielbar allowed a hit and recorded one out to pick up a save over the Angels on Friday.
Thielbar entered a 5-2 game with two outs and two runners on base. He gave up an RBI single to Zach Neto -- which was charged to Matt Bowman -- before closing out the contest. It was Thielbar's first save of the season and he was used to get the final batter with both Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart having thrown the past two games. He now owns a 10.38 ERA with 4:2 K:BB through 4.1 frames, but has improved after struggling in his first four outings after coming back from a hamstring injury. He's thrown 1.1 scoreless innings in his last two outings.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Reinstated from injured list
Rotowire
The Twins activated Thielbar (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Sunday.
Thielbar opened the season on the injured list with a hamstring strain but is ready to join the big club after two rehab appearances with Triple-A St. Paul. The left-hander recorded 14 holds and had a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB across 30.2 innings last season, and he should fill a high-leverage role for the Twins now that he's healthy.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Sharp in second rehab appearance
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Thielbar (hamstring) gave up a home run with four strikeouts and no walks over two innings Thursday for Triple-A St. Paul. He could be activated from the injured list this weekend, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Theilbar has made two appearances for St. Paul during his rehab stint and given up one run over three innings with a 5:1 K:BB. The Twins had indicated they wanted him to make two rehab appearances as he completes his recovery from a hamstring strain, so he looks ready to return.
Thielbar (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
The Twins' bullpen has been hit hard by injuries, but they should get one of their key relievers in Thielbar back soon. He posted a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 ERA and 36:6 K:BB over 30.2 innings for Minnesota last season.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Nearing rehab assignment
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Thielbar (hamstring) threw a 20-pitch live session Saturday and is progressing towards a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Thielbar started the season on the 15-day injured list after missing spring training action due to a left hamstring strain. In 2023 with the Twins, Thielbar posted a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 ERA and 36:6 K:BB over 30.2 innings.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Goes on IL
Rotowire
The Twins placed Thielbar (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Thielbar is one of six Twins relievers that will begin the season on the injured list. He's eligible for activation April 9, but since he didn't pitch in any Grapefruit League games while recovering from the left hamstring strain, Thielbar may need more than the minimum 15 days to complete his recovery before being ready to join Minnesota.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Slated to open on IL
Rotowire
Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday that Thielbar (hamstring) will begin the season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Thielbar had a setback with his left hamstring during Saturday's live batting practice session. There's no timetable at this juncture for the left-handed reliever's return. It's a blow to a bullpen that will also be without Jhoan Duran (oblique) at the start of the season.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Throws another batting practice
Rotowire
Thielbar (hamstring) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session without issue Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Thielbar hasn't been able to run at full speed with his injury, but he hasn't had issues pitching. There's still time for him to be ready for Opening Day, but he may need to show he can pitch in a major-league spring training game in the next week.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Still not running full speed
Rotowire
Thielbar (hamstring) still isn't able to run at full speed, but he believes he'll be ready for Opening Day, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. He threw another batting practice session Tuesday.
It's a little worrisome he can't run at full speed, but it sounds like he has enough time to be ready for the start of the season. He will try to progress to appearing in a spring game in the next week. Thielbar is an impact reliever who will serve in the setup corps for the Twins again this season.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Faces hitters
Rotowire
Thielbar (hamstring) threw a live batting practice session Saturday, MLB.com reports. "I don't know exact timeline, but I anticipate being just fine for the second half of March at least to get into some games and be ready to go," Thielbar said afterward.
The Twins could have Thielbar throw one more live BP session before turning him loose in a game setting for his Grapefruit League debut, but the reliever still looks on pace to be ready for Opening Day. Thielbar, who is recovering from a left hamstring strain, turned in a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB while collecting 14 holds and three wins in 30.2 innings out of the Minnesota bullpen in 2023.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Nursing hamstring strain
Rotowire
Thielbar is dealing with a left hamstring strain and is throwing a bullpen session Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.comreports.
The left-hander's start to spring training has been slowed by the injury, but it's encouraging he's now throwing off a mound. Thielbar is scheduled for a live bullpen session next week and should then work through his standard spring buildup.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Avoids arbitration with Minnesota
Rotowire
The Twins and Thielbar avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.225 million contract Thursday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.
Thielbar was arbitration-eligible for the third and final time. The left-handed reliever missed some time with injury in 2023 but was highly successful when on the bump, contributing a 3.23 ERA and 36:6 K:BB over 30.2 frames. He'll be a setup man again in 2024.
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Twins' Caleb Thielbar: Makes return from IL
Rotowire
The Twins reinstated Thielbar (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Sunday.
Thielbar will rejoin the Minnesota bullpen for the first time since early June after he recently completed a two-appearance rehab assignment at Triple-A St. Paul in which he struck out two over two scoreless innings. The left-hander was one of the Twins' top setup options in both of the previous two seasons, but he's been limited to just 10.1 innings at the big-league level in 2023 due to oblique injuries.
