Twins Activate Pitchers, Place Paredes on IL With Oblique Injury

The Minnesota Twins have reinstated left-hander Connor Prielipp and right-hander Cole Sands from the 15-day injured list, bolstering their pitching depth at an important point in the season. The moves come with a cost, however—infielder Mike Paredes has been placed on the IL with an oblique strain, a particularly troublesome injury for a position player who relies on core strength and mobility.

Rotation reinforcements. Prielipp's return from a left middle finger blister and Sands' activation suggest both pitchers have recovered well enough to resume contributing. In the minors, Prielipp and Sands will have worked on maintaining their arm strength and mechanics, so their conditioning heading into games will be closely monitored. The Twins are gambling that neither will require a lengthy rehab period before pitching in meaningful situations.

Paredes' setback. Oblique strains can be particularly vexing because of their unpredictability. Even seemingly minor strains can flare up unexpectedly, and players often struggle with pain in the first few days after returning. Paredes' specific placement on the 15-day list suggests the Twins are taking a cautious approach to his recovery, but the timeline to return remains uncertain. Jack Anderson was optioned to make roster space.

Looking ahead. The pitching additions should provide Minnesota with more flexibility in their rotation and bullpen depth. However, losing an infielder—even temporarily—can stress the position player reserves if other injuries strike. The club's ability to win games over the next couple of weeks may hinge on whether Prielipp and Sands can deliver innings efficiently while Paredes rehabilitates his oblique.

Source: original report ↗