The Minnesota Twins are likely to have their bullpen situation figured out, though not in the way that they'd hoped. Right-hander Kyle Waldrop has been considered one of the options for a remaining bullpen spot, but had some competition in Anthony Swarzak. While the latter was favored, Waldrop played well in Spring Training and had started to make a case for himself. Unfortunately, Waldrop will now be sent to the 15-day disabled list, according to Rhett Bollinger's MLB Blog.
Twins general manager Terry Ryan confirmed to reporters in Dunedin that right-hander Kyle Waldrop will start the season on the Major League disabled list with a strained right elbow.
This means, for now, the Twins will have to move on without him, limiting Waldrop's chances to progress and make it back to the bullpen once the roar of the regular season gets going. Waldrop had posted a 1.50 earned run average in six Grapefruit League appearances, and isn't going to let the injury bring him down. In the piece, he notes that he just wants to come back healthy and keep at it.
Waldrop's injury isn't a serious one, but it's enough to make him unreliable on the mound. The Twins don't have enough time to rehab him and get a precise return date, so the 15-day disabled list does make sense.
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