KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Twins chose to add another catcher to the active roster Friday without making a definitive decision on the status of Ryan Jeffers.
Jhonny Pereda, promoted from Triple-A St. Paul before the game, started behind the plate to catch right-hander Pablo López’s return from the injured list after three months away. Pereda also caught the final two of López’s three rehab starts in the minors.
The Twins continue to monitor Jeffers after he sustained a head contusion the day before against the White Sox at Target Field. Jeffers was hit in his headgear twice in the third inning on foul tips — once off his mask, the other on the left side of his helmet. After striking out weakly in his at-bat in the fourth, the Twins removed Jeffers from the game.
Jeffers was not in concussion protocol before the series opener against the Royals, but manager Rocco Baldelli said it was prudent to sit him anyway.
“Jeffers is going to remain active right now,” Baldelli said. “We’re going to continue to monitor him and see how he’s doing as the day goes on. We’re still looking at it as if it’s a contusion. He got dinged, and felt it, but didn’t come back with concussion symptoms initially. So, let’s see where he is as the day goes on, and we’ll figure out more.”
Jeffers was present in the Twins’ clubhouse before the game but with the situation in flux said he needed more time before making a statement. A spokesperson said Jeffers — in his sixth season with the Twins — has never had a concussion as a major leaguer. Being vulnerable to concussions is part of being a catcher.
Jeffers came in batting .262 with a .353 on-base percentage and .394 slugging in 114 games. He also has nine home runs, 24 doubles and 48 walks.
The Twins optioned outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. to St. Paul to make room for Pereda on the active roster, but he’s probably been told to stick close for possible future transactions. Keirsey and Baldelli had a long meeting in the manager’s office before the game. Keirsey, hitting .110 with two homers and 33 strikeouts in 85 plate appearances, has been on the St. Paul shuttle before.
Pereda was hitting .294/.448/.500 in 20 games for St. Paul but also has 40 games of MLB experience, mostly with the Athletics earlier this season. In addition to catching López, he added an RBI double in the fifth on Friday.
Keaschall patient with throwing
Coming off his first career four-hit performance Thursday, Twins rookie Luke Keaschall said he’s pleased with his offensive production so far.
He ought to be. Keaschall is having one of the best starts for a first-year player in Twins’ history, reaching base in 30 of his first 33 games, and batting .328/.418/.508 with four homers, 10 doubles, 16 walks and 21 RBIs in his first 141 plate appearances.
The 59 times Keaschall reached base coming into Friday is the most ever for a Twins’ player in their first 33 career games. He added a bloop single in the first against the Royals.
Keaschall also is remaining patient with the defensive side of his game, specifically his throwing.
Doctors and Twins medical staff told Keaschall that, in the wake of ulnar collateral ligament surgery, he wouldn’t throw as effectively as he did before for a while. But for how long?
“They told me to be very patient,” Keaschall said. “They put no timeline on it.”
Keaschall ranks 61st of 86 second basemen in throwing strength by MLB’s Statcast. He’s made some wild throws, and some odd looking ones, too. He’s just going to keep working at it.
“I’m trying to keep a good head about things, and go out there and play the best defense I can play every day,” Keaschall said.
Keaschall’s surgery happened the second week of August 2024. When one considers the recovery time of pitchers who had Tommy John surgery, Keaschall is within typical parameters of performance.
He doesn’t think his broken right arm, sustained early this season and costing several weeks of playing time, affected how his recovery from UCL surgery went. It just delayed him a little getting back on the field.
Baldelli, an outfielder in his playing days who also had Tommy John surgery, knows what Keaschall is going through.
“I’ve had that surgery — I know that it takes time to build back up,” Baldelli said. “It takes time to regain confidence in throwing, throwing from different angles, throwing at different velocities. Your touch has changed after having that surgery. He’s actually handled it well. I think he’s come back pretty good, and I would expect him to continue to improve.
“He’s a very motivated young man.”
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