Expectations were low for the Twins’ bullpen after the trade deadline, with front office moves creating a strange mix of long-term projects and short-term placeholders. While the starting staff struggled to carry momentum through the dog days of summer, the bullpen produced some surprising performances. August offered plenty of opportunities for relievers to prove themselves, and four pitchers in particular made their mark.

Here’s a closer look at the team’s top pitching performances for the month, complete with a few surprises.

#4 Kody Funderburk
14 G, 0.00 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 11 2/3 IP, 12 H, 7 BB, 11 K
At first glance, a sparkling 0.00 ERA should vault Funderburk to the top of any monthly ranking. But ERA can sometimes be deceptive, and in Funderburk’s case, his WHIP and underlying stats tell a more complicated story. His 1.63 WHIP was the highest among this group, and opponents actually posted an .840 OPS against him in August. He also inherited 12 runners from other pitchers, and five of those scored (but were charged to those teammates). Still, he delivered when it mattered most, ranking fifth on the team in WPA, and he proved to be one of the more flexible options in the bullpen.

The Twins weren’t afraid to push him past three outs, and he logged three appearances of more than an inning. He also notched his second career save to close the month. While there’s some risk in relying too heavily on his current profile, Funderburk showed flashes of being the kind of left-handed weapon the Twins will need next season.

#3 Thomas Hatch
6 G, 3.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 21 IP, 16 H, 12 BB, 16 K
Hatch’s role has been unconventional, and that’s part of what makes him stand out. He started one game, finished two others, and gave the Twins valuable innings whenever they needed them. His lone start was especially impressive, holding the division-leading Tigers to one run across five innings. Opponents hit just .213 against him for the month, though a dozen walks in 21 innings show there’s still work to be done.

The slider has been his bread and butter, generating a 26.5 Whiff% and keeping hitters to a .221 wOBA. Hatch is the kind of pitcher who’s hard to evaluate because he doesn’t fit neatly into a traditional role, but he’s proven he can help a team in multiple ways. With the Twins looking ahead to 2026, Hatch has at least put himself in the conversation for a swingman or depth role.

#2 Justin Topa
11 G, 2.13 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 12 2/3 IP, 13 H, 5 BB, 10 K
It’s been a winding road for Topa since arriving in the Jorge Polanco trade. Expected to slide into a late-inning role, injuries derailed his 2024 season, and his 2025 campaign has been full of inconsistency. But August may have been his most encouraging stretch as a Twin. He led the entire staff with 0.56 WPA, a clear sign of his ability to deliver in high-leverage moments.

Batters continue to struggle to barrel him up, as his 4.4 Barrel% ranks in the 94th percentile league-wide. When his command is sharp, he looks like the pitcher Minnesota envisioned when they acquired him. With a $2-million option looming for 2026, the Twins face an interesting decision: do they bet on Topa rediscovering his best self, or do they move on and free up a tiny morsel of payroll for other bullpen options?

#1 Cole Sands – Twins Daily Pitcher of the Month
13 G, 3.46 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 13 IP, 9 H, 4 BB, 18 K
Sands takes home the honor this month, mainly because he combined efficiency with dominance in a way no other Twins pitcher did. His ERA might not jump off the page, but his underlying numbers tell the story. Opponents mustered just a .597 OPS against him, and he racked up a stellar 34% strikeout rate.

Over his final seven appearances in August, Sands was untouchable: eight shutout innings, 13 strikeouts, just two walks, and an eye-popping 0.7 WPA. His WPA trailed only Topa for the team lead, and he gave manager Rocco Baldelli the kind of reliability every bullpen needs late in games. For a pitcher who broke out in 2024 but stumbled early this year, August felt like a step back toward that breakout form. If he can close the season strongly, he may enter 2026 as one of the frontrunners for a late-inning role.

When the Twins traded away key pieces at the deadline, the bullpen was supposed to be a patchwork group designed to hold things together. Instead, it became the team’s strength in August, and that could be a crucial development heading into 2026.

Sands earns the top spot this month, but cases could be made for Funderburk’s perfect ERA, Hatch’s versatility, or Topa’s high-leverage performance. That’s what makes this exercise fun, because everyone’s ballot looks a little different.

How would you rank the bullpen’s top arms for August? Leave a comment below and join the discussion.