Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Somehow the Minnesota Twins have remained afloat in 2026 with a 27-29 record. That’s despite an owner who didn’t spend any money, and a roster that’s bleeding players onto the injured list left and right.
Credit manager Derek Shelton for navigating troubled waters. He has pulled a lot of the right levers this season, without having much for proven talent to work from.
Yet again Thursday, in fact, Shelty and his Twins will have to prove their flexibility after another starting pitcher was scratched from the lineup on the say of his scheduled start.
Kendry Rojas scratched with injury
This time, it is youngster Kendry Rojas who will no longer take the mound in Chicago, and the official diagnosis, according to Dan Hayes (The Athletic) is posterior elbow soreness.
In his place will be Simeon Woods Richardson, who has been a starter most of his MLB career, but was recently moved to a bullpen role after he started the season with a 7.20 ERA and 1.822 WHIP
Kendry Rojas has been scratched because of posterior elbow soreness.
Simeon Woods Richardson starting for #MNTwins.
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) May 28, 2026
Any type of elbow soreness is cause for concern on a young pitcher who throws in the high-nineties. According to MyMSK Clinic, posterior elbow soreness is often caused by olecranon bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sac at the joint’s tip) or triceps tendinitis (overuse of the triceps muscle).
Inflammation isn’t good… but tendinitis would be a bit more worrisome. However, we will have to wait to hear more from the Twins before we go too far down that road.
Rojas last appeared in relief on May 23 against the Red Sox (3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K). He started last (his first and only career start) on May 18 against Houston (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K).
The Minnesota Twins are attempting to split their four-game series today against the White Sox, after losing game three by a score of 15-2. Woods Richardson will go up against Chicago’s breakout starter, Davis Martin.
Rojas’ injury comes while Pablo Lopez (Tommy John) and Mick Abel (inflammation) have already been on the IR all season dealing with elbow injuries of their own.
MN Twins need Simeon Woods Richardson to be better
The Minnesota Twins can’t afford to keep running out the same Simeon Woods Richardson, but at this point, they don’t have much of a choice.
In his last seven starts before going to the bullpen, SWR posted a 9.79 ERA (7.02 FIP) and a horrendous 14/17 K/BB. He hasn’t missed bats all year, or much of his career in general, and that’s made his life increasingly difficult, as big league hitters begin to get more at bats against him.
Out of the bullpen, Simeon Woods Richardson had been a lot better, in part thanks to an uptick in velocity. He threw around 93 MPH as a starter, but pumped his fastball up to 95.1 MPH out of the bullpen.
Simeon Woods Richardson’s final fastball of the inning was 95.1 mph.
His average this season has been 92.6 mph and career average is 92.9 mph.
Of the more than 5,100 pitches he’s thrown in the majors, just 142 have been 95+.
It was just the 13th pitch he’s thrown 95+ this… pic.twitter.com/kE6Hik0J94
— Ted (@tlschwerz) May 25, 2026
Mentioned in this article: Injury Updates Kendry Rojas Simeon Woods Richardson
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