David Festa

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• Twins' David Festa: Begins throwing

  Rotowire Mar 21, 2026

  Festa (shoulder impingement) threw Thursday at 60 feet and Friday at 75 feet, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Festa was shut down in late February due to a shoulder impingement and received an injection to address the injury. He's expected to be placed on the injured list to begin the season. He's coming back from thoracic outlet syndrome after being diagnosed in September, so the Twins may be cautious with his return.

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• Twins' David Festa: Expected to begin season on IL

  Rotowire Mar 11, 2026

  Festa (shoulder) remains shut down from throwing and is expected to begin the season on the injured list, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. Festa was shut down in late February due to a shoulder impingement and received an injection to address the injury. The 26-year-old could begin playing catch next week, but his buildup may take a while given that he's also coming back from thoracic outlet syndrome, which he was diagnosed with in September.

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• Twins' David Festa: Shut down with shoulder issue

  Rotowire Feb 26, 2026

  The Twins announced Thursday that Festa will be shut down for a couple of weeks due to a shoulder impingement, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports. Festa has received an injection to address the injury, but even if it yields the desired effect, his availability for the start of the season could be in jeopardy. The Twins were already in the process of easing Festa along during spring training after he dealt with a compressed nerve near his pitching shoulder last season, as he had only recently started to face hitters in live batting practice. On a positive note, Festa's shoulder impingement is considered unrelated to the previous injury.

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• Twins' David Festa: Throws against hitters

  Rotowire Feb 21, 2026

  Festa (shoulder) threw live at-bats against hitters Saturday and was sitting at 91-92 mph with his fastball, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Festa had a compressed nerve near his pitching shoulder last season and is working his way back to full strength. He still has a chance to win a rotation spot this spring despite being eased back into action. Saturday's session is a sign he's making progress as he had previously only been throwing bullpen sessions.

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• Twins' David Festa: Throwing bullpen sessions

  Rotowire Feb 17, 2026

  Festa (shoulder) is still throwing bullpen sessions while other Twins pitchers are throwing live batting-practice sessions, Bobby Nightengale of The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. Festa could begin throwing to live hitters next week. Festa had a compressed nerve near his pitching shoulder last season and isn't yet throwing at 100 percent intensity. He still has a chance to win a rotation spot, especially now that three slots are in competition following Pablo Lopez's elbow injury. Festa is competing against Taj Bradley, Simeon Woods Richardson, Zebby Matthews and Mick Abel for those spots.

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• Twins' David Festa: Beginning assignment Thursday

  Rotowire Aug 27, 2025

  Festa (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports. Shoulder inflammation has kept Festa out of commission since late July, but after throwing live BP on Saturday without any issues, he's been given the green light to return to game action. Given the duration of his absence, there's a good chance the 25-year-old will require multiple rehab starts before returning from the IL, though he should still be able to make it back before the end of the regular season.

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• Twins' David Festa: Gets injections for shoulder

  Rotowire Jul 28, 2025

  Festa has reported improvement since landing on the injured list Wednesday after he received two anti-inflammatory injections for his right shoulder, MLB.com reports. Festa got injections for both the front and back of his shoulder, and the shots appear to have alleviated most of the swelling that the right-hander had been experiencing. He could be ready to start throwing again in the next few days and may have a chance at returning from the 15-day injured list when first eligible Aug. 6, but Festa won't necessarily have a big-league rotation spot waiting for him once he's activated.

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• Twins' David Festa: Placed on IL with shoulder issue

  Rotowire Jul 23, 2025

  The Twins placed Festa on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to right shoulder inflammation. Festa struggled in his most recent start Monday against the Dodgers, allowing three home runs and four runs over 5.1 innings. It's not clear, however, whether his shoulder was bothering him during the outing. The right-hander will be eligible for activation Aug. 6, but the Twins won't have a clear idea regarding when he might return until he starts throwing again.

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• Twins' David Festa: Trouble with long ball Monday

  Rotowire Jul 22, 2025

  Festa (3-4) allowed four runs on four hits and a walk while striking out five over 5.1 innings to take the loss versus the Dodgers on Monday. Festa didn't give up many hits, but three of the four knocks he allowed went over the fence. He surrendered a two-run blast to Shohei Ohtani in the first inning before Will Smith added solo shots in the fourth and sixth frames. Festa has largely avoided homer trouble this year -- he's kept the ball in the yard in six of his 11 appearances, though he's given up multiple homers three times. Overall, he's run hot and cold, posting a 5.40 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 53:19 K:BB across 53.1 innings. Festa and Zebby Matthews are likely to be in contention for one spot in the rotation once Bailey Ober (hip) returns, which could happen this week, leaving the Twins' pitching plans up in the air for their weekend home series versus the Nationals.

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• Twins' David Festa: Bounces back in second win

  Rotowire Jun 27, 2025

  Festa (2-2) earned the win Friday against the Tigers, giving up two hits in 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out six without walking a batter. It was an encouraging performance by the 28-year-old right-hander, who was peppered for eight runs on 12 hits his last time out. Friday marked the first time this year that he didn't issue a free pass, and it was also Festa's first scoreless outing of at least five frames so far. Festa will aim to build on this showing in his next scheduled appearance against the Marlins, as he still holds a rough 5.40 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 38:15 K:BB over 36.2 innings.

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• Twins' David Festa: Yanked in fourth inning

  Rotowire Jun 17, 2025

  Festa didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Reds, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks with four strikeouts over 3.2 innings. Festa joined the Minnesota rotation in early June after Pablo Lopez (shoulder) was placed on the injured list. Festa has failed to complete four innings in two of three starts since and has allowed 12 earned runs with a 14:7 K:BB spanning 13.1 innings. In six starts this season, he has a 4.78 ERA in 26.1 innings. He's scheduled to make another turn in the rotation Sunday against Milwaukee.

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• Twins' David Festa: Gets into win column Wednesday

  Rotowire Jun 12, 2025

  Festa (1-1) earned the win over Texas on Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four batters over six innings. Festa finally picked up a victory in his fifth start of the season and also notched his first quality start. In fact, Wednesday marked the first time over his five outings that the right-hander has completed more than 4.2 frames. It was certainly a promising turnaround after Festa surrendered eight runs across 3.2 innings against the A's in his previous start. Festa has an opportunity to lock down a rotation spot with Pablo Lopez (shoulder) and Zebby Matthews (shoulder) both out for an extended period, and Festa's performance Wednesday could go a long way toward achieving that goal. He'll try to take another positive step the next time he takes the mound, which tentatively lines up to be on the road against Cincinnati.

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• Twins' David Festa: Remaining in rotation

  Rotowire Jun 10, 2025

  Festa is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Rangers at Target Field. Despite getting roughed up for eight earned runs over 3.2 innings in his start against the Athletics last Thursday after being called up from Triple-A St. Paul, Festa will receive at least one more chance to prove he belongs in the rotation. With Zebby Matthews (shoulder) recently joining Pablo Lopez (lat) on the injured list, Festa has a fairly clear runway to make additional starts with the big club if he can avoid further blowups.

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• Twins' David Festa: Tagged for eight runs in loss

  Rotowire Jun 5, 2025

  Festa (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the A's, allowing eight runs on six hits and two walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out six. It was a rough day for Festa, who was recalled from Triple-A ahead of the game to make his first start with the Twins since April 23. The right-hander gave up four runs in the opening inning, with three coming on a Max Muncy homer, before Festa gave up three more runs on a pair of long balls in the third. The 25-year-old Festa sports a 5.40 ERA through four major-league starts (16.2 innings) this season with a 1.50 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB. Despite his struggles Thursday, Festa could get another look in Minnesota's rotation with Pablo Lopez (shoulder) facing an extended absence.

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• Twins' David Festa: Punches out five in no-decision

  Rotowire Apr 23, 2025

  Festa did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's win over the White Sox. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five across four-plus innings. Festa was able to get through the first four innings with relative ease, but he was pulled in the fifth frame after putting the first two batters on base, both of which came around to score. He tossed 80 pitches (52 strikes) with 13 first-pitch strikes, and he has steadily increased his pitch count in his three starts since being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on April 11. Festa will likely return the minors as Pablo Lopez (hamstring) is set to return during the Twins' weekend series against the Angels.

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• Twins' David Festa: Getting another start

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2025

  Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Sunday that Festa will start Wednesday against the Mets, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports. Festa was called up from Triple-A St. Paul to start Friday with Pablo Lopez (hamstring) on the injured list. He performed well, allowing one unearned run in 4.2 innings with four strikeouts in a no-decision against the Tigers. The Twins had said they planned to give two starters extra rest this week ahead of a long stretch of consecutive games, so Festa could be in line for just one more start in the majors before returning to Triple-A. However, with the Twins possibly shaking up the roster after a sluggish start to the season, it's possible the right-hander could remain in the majors with another strong outing.

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• Twins' David Festa: Fine work in no-decision

  Rotowire Apr 12, 2025

  Festa allowed an unearned run on three hits and a walk while striking out four over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Tigers on Friday. Festa threw 41 of 64 pitches for strikes in his first major-league outing of the season. He came up short of having a chance at the win, though the Twins' bullpen blew the lead in the sixth inning anyway. The 25-year-old right-hander pitched to a 4.90 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 77:23 K:BB over 64.1 innings in 2024, starting in 13 of his 14 appearances last year. Festa has a chance to stick in the rotation while Pablo Lopez (hamstring) is out and would line up for a tough home matchup versus the Mets next week -- that is, unless the Twins add Zebby Matthews and move to a six-man rotation, in which case Festa would face Atlanta on the road.

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• Twins' David Festa: Recalled from Triple-A

  Rotowire Apr 11, 2025

  The Twins recalled Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Friday. Minnesota placed Pablo Lopez (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Festa is expected to make the start Friday against the Tigers. In two starts at the Triple-A level this season, the right-hander has an 8:2 K:BB and 5.40 ERA across 8.1 innings. He made 14 regular-season appearances (13 starts) for the Twins last season, turning in a 4.90 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 77:23 K:BB in 64.1 innings of work.

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• Twins' David Festa: Expected to start Friday vs Detroit

  Rotowire Apr 10, 2025

  The Twins are expected to promote Festa from Triple-A St. Paul to start Friday's game against the Tigers, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports. The Twins have an opening in their rotation with Pablo Lopez (hamstring) expected to land on the 15-day injured list. Lopez's next turn would have come Sunday, but the club is electing to bring Festa up Friday and push Chris Paddack and Simeon Woods Richardson each back a day. Festa has permitted six runs (five earned) with an 8:2 K:BB over 8.1 innings in his first two starts with St. Paul this season. He's a candidate to receive additional starts while Lopez is out, although the Twins could also give Zebby Matthews a look.

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• Twins' David Festa: Looks sharp in spring debut

  Rotowire Feb 23, 2025

  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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