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Minnesota • #58 • SP

David Festa

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Schedule

Regular season
@
STL
Sat, Mar 29
L 5-1
@
STL
Sun, Mar 30
L 9-2
@
CHW
Mon, Mar 31
L 9-0
@
CHW
Tue, Apr 1
W 8-3
@
CHW
Wed, Apr 2
W 6-1
vs
HOU
Thu, Apr 3
4:10 pm
MLBN
vs
HOU
Sat, Apr 5
2:10 pm
TWTV
vs
HOU
Sun, Apr 6
2:10 pm
TWTV
@
KC
Mon, Apr 7
7:40 pm
TWTV
@
KC
Tue, Apr 8
7:40 pm
TWTV
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Player Outlook
David Festa showed promise in his first season in the majors and enters 2025 ready to secure a spot in the big league rotation. Nicknamed "The Slim Reaper," the 6-6 top pitching prospect excelled at Triple-A to begin last season with a 13.1 K.9 and 3.3 BB/9 while posting a less than impressive 4.06 ERA (3.68 FIP, however). Festa held his own in the rotation when called up in June with a 10.8 K/9 and 12.7% swing strike rate but a 4.40 ERA (though a 3.75 FIP). Festa has improved his velocity from the low-90s mph early in his pro career to reaching the high 90s mph and averaging a 94.5 mph fastball in the majors last season. His slider has become a plus pitch as it held batters to a .249 wOBA last season. Festa struggled in a few areas as he didn't pitch far into games averaging just 4.6 IP per start, gave up a few too many homers (1.26 HR/9) and had a 6.03 ERA on the road with seven homers allowed in six starts. Both his fastball and change-up, which were plus pitches in the minors, graded below average in the majors. Still, there's reason to think he'll improve as he had low home-run and walk rates in the minors and should get more efficient to extend his outings.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
ip
Innings Pitched
w
Wins
l
Losses
sv
Saves
so
Strikeouts
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
era
Earned Run Average
whip
Walks and Hits Allowed Per Inning
2025 — — — — — — — — 0.00 0.00
2024 96.56.9 64.3 2 6 — 77 23 4.90 1.32
2023 — — — — — — — — 0.00 0.00
3y Avg. 96.56.9 64.3 2 6 — 77 23 4.90 1.32
Full Career Stats

Fantasy News

  • Twins' David Festa: Optioned to Triple-A

    Rotowire
    Festa was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. Festa was a candidate to win a rotation spot, but struggled with an 11.94 ERA and 11: 3 K:BB in 11.1 innings this spring. Festa showed promise last season with a 10.8 K/9 and 12.7 percent swinging strike rate, but he recorded a 4.40 ERA (though a 3.75 FIP) in 14 games with the Twins. He could join the rotation early in the season if there's an opening.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Looks sharp in spring debut

    Rotowire
    Festa threw two scoreless innings Sunday against Pittsburgh with two strikeouts and no walks in his spring debut. He pitched exclusively out of the stretch, which he plans to do this season, MLB.com reports. He also debuted a new sinker during the outing. Festa is competing with Chris Paddack, Simeon Woods Richardson and Zebby Matthews for the final two spots in the rotation. Paddack and Woods Richardson are the favorites, but Festa could force his way into the rotation with a strong spring. Festa showed promise last season with a 10.8 K/9 and 12.7 percent swinging strike rate, but he recorded a 4.40 ERA (though a 3.75 FIP) in 14 games.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Strikes out five in no-decision

    Rotowire
    Festa did not factor into the decision in an extra-innings loss to the Marlins on Thursday, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five. Festa got tagged for a run in the first inning after issuing a leadoff walk to open the frame and then surrendering an RBI double to Jake Burger two batters later. The right-hander then went on to retire nine of the next 10 batters he faced before allowing four of the first five batters to reach in the fifth, leading to his early departure. Festa has failed to make it through five frames in three of his last four outings, allowing multiple runs three times over that span. He carries a 4.91 ERA in September and hasn't won a start since Aug. 5 against the Cubs, a span of nine starts.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Takes sixth loss

    Rotowire
    Festa (2-6) allowed four runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters over four innings in a loss to the Angels on Monday. Festa fell behind quickly in the contest, giving up a pair of runs on a walk and two hits in the first inning. The other two runs he allowed came on a two-run Brandon Drury homer in the third frame. The rookie right-hander has lost each of his past four starts, though this was the first time in that span that he's given up more than three runs. Despite going 1-5 since the All-Star break, Festa has been fairly effective, posting a 3.70 ERA and 54:15 K:BB over 41.1 innings.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Folds against Cards

    Rotowire
    Festa (2-3) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks over 3.2 innings as the Twins fell 6-1 to the Cardinals. He struck out five. The rookie right-hander tossed an inefficient 75 pitches (45 strikes) as he saw another early exit. The Twins are being cautious with Festa and the 24-year-old has yet to pitch more than five innings in any of his first eight big-league appearances (seven starts), but that babying hasn't led to impressive numbers. Through 36.1 innings, he's served up seven homers and been saddled with a 5.20 ERA and 1.32 WHIP, despite a 44:11 K:BB that highlights his potential. Festa will try to keep the ball in the yard in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against Atlanta.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Gets no help in loss

    Rotowire
    Festa (1-2) took the loss Tuesday as the Twins were downed 2-0 by the Mets, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out six. The rookie right-hander put together his best performance so far in the majors, tossing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes, but Minnesota managed only two hits in support of him. Festa has allowed just three runs in 9.1 innings since returning to the 26-man roster last week, but he continues to have trouble keeping the ball in the yard -- a solo shot by Mark Vientos in the fifth inning Tuesday was the sixth homer Festa has served up in 19.1 big-league frames. With the Twins having failed to add any rotation help at the trade deadline, his spot seems fairly secure for the moment, and Festa lines up to make his next start on the road early next week against the Cubs.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Drawing start Tuesday

    Rotowire
    Festa is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Mets at Citi Field. After being roughed up for 12 earned runs in 10 innings in his first two big-league starts earlier this summer, Festa was deployed as a bulk reliever in this past Wednesday's game against the Phillies following his call-up from Triple-A St. Paul. Upon entering the game behind opening pitcher Steven Okert, Festa delivered by far his best MLB outing to date, striking out seven over four innings of relief while giving up one earned run on four hits and two walks. Despite Festa's success out of the bullpen, the Twins will give him another look in a starting role when his next turn through the rotation comes up in New York. Festa brings plenty of strikeout upside to the table, though keeping the ball in the yard has been a major issue for the 24-year-old both in the majors and minors in 2024.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Called up, set for bulk relief

    Rotowire
    The Twins recalled Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday. Festa started in his two appearances with the Twins earlier this season back on June 27 and July 3, giving up 12 earned runs while striking out eight batters over 10 innings. Though the Twins have an opening in the rotation for Wednesday's game against the Phillies after Chris Paddack (forearm) landed on the injured list, Festa looks set to work as a bulk reliever rather than a traditional starter, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Reliever Steven Okert will start the contest and likely work an inning or two before giving way to Festa, who owns a 4.06 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 93:28 K:BB over 64.1 innings at Triple-A this season.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Promotion imminent

    Rotowire
    The Twins will recall Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports. The Twins will use Steven Okert as an opener for Wednesday's series finale against the Phillies, and Festa is expected to work in bulk relief once Okert is removed from the game. Doing so will allow him to avoid facing Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper to begin the game, though Festa's 10.80 ERA in the majors doesn't exactly spark confidence in his ability to handle Philadelphia's high-scoring offense at any point in the contest.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Back up as 27th man

    Rotowire
    The Twins recalled Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday. Festa will serve as the 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader against the White Sox and will be available, if needed, in long relief. The young right-hander had previously allowed 12 runs over 10 innings in two starts for Minnesota this season.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Optioned to Triple-A

    Rotowire
    The Twins optioned Festa to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday. Festa had a rough welcoming to the majors in his first two starts, allowing 12 runs over 10 innings. The Twins will announced a corresponding move prior to Friday's game versus the Astros. Chris Paddack (arm) could be ready to rejoin the rotation next week in the spot Festa had occupied.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Awarded another start

    Rotowire
    Festa is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Tigers at Target Field. Tabbed as a replacement in the big-league rotation this past Thursday for the injured Chris Paddack (forearm), Festa surrendered five earned runs on seven hits and one walk and struck out just two batters but received enough run support to come away with a win against the Diamondbacks. Festa was cruising early in his debut and faced just one batter more than the minimum through three innings, but he began to unravel over his final two frames, when he allowed all seven of his hits. Festa may need a better showing in Minnesota against a weaker Detroit offense to ensure he gets additional turns through the rotation, as Caleb Boushley has been pitching well at Triple-A St. Paul and looms as an alternative as the Twins' No. 5 starter if Festa can't get the job done.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Earns win in first career start

    Rotowire
    Festa (1-0) allowed five runs on seven hits and one walk over five innings to earn the win Thursday against the Diamondbacks. He struck out two. Festa's first career start began about as well as he could have possibly imagined. By the time he hit the mound in the fourth inning, he had faced just one batter over the minimum and was staked to an 11-run lead. Following a solo homer to open the fourth, Festa struck out the next two but followed up by allowing five consecutive singles and three additional earned runs. Festa then allowed one more run in the fifth as the Twins coasted to victory. It was an up-and-down debut, but Festa should continue to earn additional starting opportunities for the Twins if they continue to have a rotational need. His next chance is slated to come in the middle of next week when the Twins welcome the Tigers to Minnesota.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Set to make MLB debut Thursday

    Rotowire
    Festa will be called up from Triple-A St. Paul to make his major-league debut Thursday in Arizona, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. Festa is assuming the rotation spot vacated by Chris Paddack, who went on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right arm fatigue. With Paddack slated to miss at least two turns through the rotation, Festa will have an opportunity to remain in the majors beyond Thursday's outing, although that could hinge on how his debut goes. Festa is among the minor-league leaders with 87 strikeouts this season and has also walked 24 while posting a 3.77 ERA over 59.2 innings.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Hot start at Triple-A

    Rotowire
    Festa has a 1.46 ERA and 11.2 K/9 through four games (12.1 innings) at Triple-A St. Paul. Festa threw four scoreless innings in his last start Wednesday. Festa is perhaps Minnesota's top pitching prospect, and his early success is notable with the last two spots in the big-league rotation struggling (Louie Varland and Chris Paddack). However, Festa has an ugly 8.2 BB/9 and hasn't gone more than four innings in any start. As a result, he may not be seen as an option this early in the season even if Varland and Paddack continue to labor.
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  • Twins' David Festa: Promoted to Triple-A

    Rotowire
    Festa was promoted to Triple-A Rochester on Monday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Festa had a 4.39 ERA at Double-A Wichita but had a strong 11.7 K/BB and 3.11 FIP. He's one of Minnesota's top pitching prospects, so a strong final few starts at Triple-A could put him on the cusp of competing for a big-league job next spring.
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