Sands earned a save against the Rangers on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
Minnesota carried a three-run lead into the ninth inning, and manager Rocco Baldelli elected to call upon Sands with primary closer Jhoan Duran having pitched on three consecutive days. The decision proved to be the right one, as Sands cruised to a save by retiring the side in order on just nine pitches. The right-hander has registered a career-high four saves on the campaign, though his opportunities in that regard are highly unpredictable with Duran having a firm grasp on the closer role and Griffin Jax typically second in line with eight saves on the season.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Snags third save
Rotowire
Sands picked up the save in Monday's 7-2 victory over the Phillies, pitching two clean innings with two strikeouts.
The 27-year-old reliever entered the game in the eighth inning with a 4-2 lead and was allowed to finish off the game for his fourth career save after the Twins scored three runs in the bottom of the frame. Sands has been a solid bullpen option this year, pitching to a 3.38 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 53:7 K:BB across 45.1 innings. However this save was an anomaly, as Jhoan Duran remains firmly cemented as the closer for the Twins, with Griffin Jax a more than capable understudy.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Earns second win in relief
Rotowire
Sands (2-0) earned the win in Saturday's 5-3 win over Texas. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out two over two perfect innings.
It was a nice bounce-back outing from Sands after he allowed five earned runs on five hits and two walks over 2.1 innings over his prior three appearances. He was used in some high-leverage spots while Jhoan Duran was out for a month with a back injury, but Sands may be used earlier in games with Duran healthy.
Sands struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his second save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Red Sox.
Jhoan Duran surprisingly worked the eighth and got the hold against the heart of Boston's order, leaving Sands to face the 7-8-9 hitters. With Brock Stewart (shoulder) on the shelf, Sands could be moving up in the bullpen pecking order for the Twins, but Griffin Jax and Caleb Thielbar had also both pitched Friday and were likely only available in an emergency. Sands has pitched well enough to earn a high-leverage role, posting a 2.93 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 22:2 K:BB through 15.1 innings.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Picks up first save
Rotowire
Sands earned the save in game two of Saturday's doubleheader against the Tigers, pitching 2.1 perfect innings while striking out three.
Sands relieved Kody Funderburk with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and was able to retire the final batter on just one pitch to close out the frame. The right-hander returned in the eighth and ninth innings and retired the final six batters in succession, earning his first save of the 2024 campaign. Sands has allowed just one run over 7.2 innings of relief to begin the season, posting a 12:1 K:BB over that early stretch. He's also recorded multiple strikeouts in each of his four appearances.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Gives up homer in season debut
Rotowire
Sands gave up a run over two innings with two strikeouts, no walks and a home run allowed in Sunday's blowout loss at Kansas City.
Sands made the major-league roster as a long reliever. He shuffled between Triple-A and the majors multiple times last season, working in a long-relief role with the Twins. He posted a respectable 3.74 ERA, but it was accompanied by an 8.7 K/9 and 5.5 BB/9. At least he didn't allow any walks in his first outing.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Could make Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Sands could make Minnesota's major-league roster in a long-relief role to begin the season, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Sands shuffled between Triple-A and the majors multiple times last season, working in a long-relief role with the Twins. He posted a respectable 3.74 ERA, but it was accompanied by an 8.7 K/9 and 5.5 BB/9. If he begins the season in the majors, he may end up splitting time between Triple-A and the big-league club again.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Sent down to minors
Rotowire
Sands was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
Sands wasn't going to be available for a couple days after needing 50 pitches to get through a two-inning relief outing Sunday. The Twins are expected to recall Louie Varland from St. Paul to replace Sands in the bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Sands was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.
Sands appeared in four games for the Saints after he was demoted July 28, throwing 5.1 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts. He'll work in a long relief role again with the Twins after Brent Headrick was sent to Triple-A after throwing 67 pitches over 3.1 relief innings in Friday's loss to the Phillies.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Minnesota optioned Sands to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.
Sands has posted a 4.50 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 14:9 K:BB in 14 innings of relief this season at the major-league level. Jorge Polanco (hamstring) is back from the injured list in a corresponding roster move.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Makes return from IL
Rotowire
The Twins reinstated Sands (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Sands showed that the shoulder impingement that landed him on the IL was fully behind him during a pair of rehab appearances last week at Triple-A St. Paul, as he tossed three scoreless frames while striking out six and allowing just two baserunners between those outings. He'll likely settle back into a multi-inning or long-relief role out of the Minnesota bullpen now that he's back in action after a month-long absence.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Sands (shoulder) is beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.
Sands had posted a 0.73 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 12.1 innings of relief for the Twins before he landed on the injured list in early June due to a right shoulder impingement. He could be an option again for the Minnesota bullpen sometime next week.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: To begin throwing
Rotowire
Sands (shoulder) is set to begin throwing off a mound this week, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Sands landed on the injured list on June 4 due to a right shoulder impingement. He'll likely need to go on a rehab assignment before returning. It wouldn't be surprising to see him activated and sent to Triple-A as he's mostly served as a long reliever in the majors.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
The Twins placed Sands on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right shoulder impingement.
Sands had not worked in a game since May 30 after throwing 2.1 scoreless frames against the Astros. The right-hander will be out for two-plus weeks while he recovers, and the Twins reinstated Caleb Thielbar (oblique) off the 15-day IL in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Called up from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Twins recalled Sands from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Sands made the Twins' Opening Day roster but got into just two games before being demoted in mid-April. He returns nearly a month later with Dereck Rodriguez optioned to Triple-A.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Sands was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.
Sands has appeared in two games with the Twins so far in 2023, surrendering one run on six hits, including a homer, while striking out three batters over four innings. It seems likely that the 25-year-old will get another shot with Minnesota at some point this season, but for now Louie Varland was called up from Triple-A and will replace him on the major-league roster.
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Looks set to make bullpen
Rotowire
Sands looks set to make the Opening Day roster for the Twins as a long reliever, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Danny Coulombe and Bailey Ober were sent to Triple-A, which makes it almost certain Sands will begin the season in the majors. Manager Rocco Baldelli said he wants to keep a long reliever in the bullpen, so Sands will fill that role. Despite a 5.55 ERA at Triple-A last season, Sands was called up to the majors several times thanks to a strong strikeout rate (10.5 K/9).
... See More... See Less
Twins' Cole Sands: Four-inning save
Rotowire
Sands picked up a four-inning save in Wednesday's 10-1 victory over the White Sox. He allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out one.
Sands entered the game with Minnesota up 10-0 in the sixth inning, and he pitched well, holding the White Sox to just one unearned run over four innings. The strong effort earned Sands the four-inning save, which was the first of his young career. Through 30.2 innings in the big leagues this season, Sands was 0-3 with a 5.87 ERA and 28 strikeouts.
