Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
This MLB season has not gone the way the Minnesota Twins would have hoped. They are staring down a 90-loss campaign for the first time since 2016. With just 16 games remaining, there’s only individual performances and dates ripping off the calendar left to focus on.
The roster has to remain intact through the finish line, though. After trading away nearly 40% of it at the deadline, new faces have been cycling through Rocco Baldelli’s clubhouse like it’s the Tour de France. Another pitching injury has forced yet another new arm to be promoted. And this time, it will result in a big league debut.
Cody Laweryson headed to Minnesota Twins
Since Derek Falvey gutted the major league roster at the trade deadline, the bullpen has basically become a training ground. Justin Topa has been put in high-leverage spots to differing levels of success. Now though, he’s dealing with an oblique injury, and Cody Laweryson is headed to the big leagues.
We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/ZYpN4fPb4u
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 12, 2025
At points this season we saw glimpses of the reliever that Minnesota traded Jorge Polanco to acquire. He has been operating in high-leverage spots since the departure of Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax. Now, his season comes to an end as he’ll finish with a 3.90 ERA (3.04 FIP) in 60 innings of work.
Laweryson with a 14th round pick by Minnesota during the 2019 MLB Draft out of Maine. He reached Triple-A St. Paul in 2023, but struggled with a 4.80 ERA and went back to Double-A Wichita last season. In 44 innings this season, split between both levels, Laweryson owns a 2.86 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 14 walks.
The 27-year-old right hander is unlikely to work into high-leverage opportunities, but he’s getting an early chance to audition for a 2026 Twins bullpen that is wide open. When he gets into a game, assuming that happens before he’s optioned, he will be making his major league debt. He will be the sixth Twins player to do so this year.
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There has been a considerable jump in his velocity from 2023. When he first reached Triple-A he sat 89.7 mph with his fastball and is now at 93.6 mph. Primarily Laweryson throws his fastball and a cutter, but he does have a changeup to mix in as well.
Minnesota starts a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night before welcoming the New York Yankees to town on Monday.
Mentioned in this article: Cody Laweryson Justin Topa
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