Fantasy News

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Beginning rehab assignment

  Rotowire Apr 21, 2024

  Duran (oblique) will report to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. The 26-year-old progressed to facing live batters Friday and has now been cleared for game action. Duran will likely require at least a few appearances with St. Paul before joining the Twins, and he could be activated before the end of April. It remains to be seen if manager Rocco Baldelli will ease Duran into high-leverage work or if the right-hander will immediately reclaim the closer role once reistated.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Throws live BP

  Rotowire Apr 19, 2024

  Duran (oblique) threw a 21-pitch live batting practice session Friday and felt no discomfort, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports. Duran was supposed to throw 20 pitches Friday, but manager Rocco Baldelli noted that the right-hander "wanted an extra [pitch], so that tells you he's feeling good." It's another positive step for Duran, and he appears close to starting a rehab assignment. He began the season on the 15-day IL due to a right oblique strain he sustained in spring training.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Should face hitters Friday

  Rotowire Apr 16, 2024

  Duran (oblique) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and expects to face live batters Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. It's an encouraging step for Duran, who recently progressed to mound work after starting the season on the injured list with an oblique strain. The right-hander should face hitters a few times before moving on to a rehab assignment, and he could be back with the Twins before the end of April.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Could face hitters soon

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Duran (oblique) will throw another bullpen session Tuesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. He threw his first bullpen session since his oblique strain on Friday, and if he gets through that with no issues he could be cleared for live batting practice sessions. Duran would figure to require at least a couple live BP sessions before beginning a rehab assignment.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Throws bullpen session

  Rotowire Apr 12, 2024

  Duran (oblique) threw a bullpen session Friday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. The conditions at Comerica Park on Friday were rainy, but Duran got in some mound work anyway. It's the first time he's thrown a bullpen session since he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 right oblique strain back in mid-March. Duran figures to require another bullpen session or two before progressing to facing hitters and eventually going out on a rehab assignment. He would appear to have a shot to be back with the Twins before the end of the month.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Still no set timetable for return

  Rotowire Apr 6, 2024

  Duran (oblique) threw on flat ground from 105 feet Saturday and said afterward that he no longer has pain in his oblique, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Duran said that it's been "a lot of days" since he's felt pain in his oblique, but he's still unsure of what his return timeline will look like. A better picture likely won't come into focus until he's further along in his throwing progression. Griffin Jax has the Twins' lone save so far this season in Duran's absence.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: IL move official

  Rotowire Mar 28, 2024

  The Twins placed Duran (oblique) on the 15-day injured list Thursday. Duran suffered a moderate right oblique strain nearly two weeks ago and is likely to miss most, if not all, of April with the injury. Manager Rocco Baldelli hasn't committed to a closer while Duran is out, but Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart are the top candidates.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Settling back in as closer

  Rotowire Mar 4, 2024

  Duran threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout in Sunday's Grapefruit League tie with Tampa Bay. He bounced back after giving up four earned runs over two-thirds of an inning in his first spring outing. Duran is healthy as spring begins and is entrenched as Minnesota's closer. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has a history of using his bullpen in disregard of the save rule, but he mostly used Duran in a traditional closer role last year. For this spring there's no sign that Baldelli plans any change even though the Twins may have the deepest setup crew in recent memory.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Punches out two in save

  Rotowire Oct 3, 2023

  Duran closed out the save in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Blue Jays in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series, allowing one walk in a scoreless inning. He struck out two. The young right-hander led the team with 27 saves in 59 regular-season games and the Twins unsurprisingly turned to him again in the ninth inning to close out Tuesday's win. Duran was making his first career appearance as a closer in the postseason. Also foreseeable were his two strikeouts, as Duran carried a 12.1 K/9 across 62.1 innings during the season.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Escapes with save

  Rotowire Sep 22, 2023

  Duran allowed a run on two hits and two walks in one inning Friday, striking out one and earning a save against the Angels. Duran threw just 17 of 34 pitches for strikes in a shaky performance. He gave up an RBI single to Michael Stefanic but was able to strand three runners to close out the 8-5 win. Duran now has 27 saves in 32 chances while registering a 2.54 ERA and an 81:24 K:BB through 60.1 innings. Friday was his first save since Sept. 12 and he's converted four straight since his last blown save Aug. 30.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Earns save Friday

  Rotowire Sep 8, 2023

  Duran issued one walk in a scoreless inning against the Mets on Friday. He struck out two and picked up a save. Duran worked around a leadoff walk to close out the 5-2 win on just 14 pitches. He's converted two straight save chances after blowing one against Cleveland on Aug. 30. Duran is up to 25 saves with a 2.56 ERA and a 77:21 K:BB through 56.1 frames.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Bags 24th save

  Rotowire Sep 2, 2023

  Duran earned a save against Texas on Saturday, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out two batters over one inning. Duran entered in the bottom of the 10th inning after Minnesota took a three-run lead in the top of the frame. The right-hander retired the first two batters he faced before Jonah Heim laced a single to score the inherited runner. Robbie Grossman followed with an infield single to bring the winning run to the plate, but Duran struck out Josh Smith to escape the jam. The save was the 24th of the season for Duran, seventh most in the American League.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Notches 22nd save

  Rotowire Aug 16, 2023

  Duran picked up the save in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Detroit. He allowed a solo home run and a single while striking out two in the ninth inning. The 25-year-old closer served up a solo homer to Spencer Torkelson and a base hit to Kerry Carpenter before striking out Zach McKinstry to end the game. Duran is now 10-for-11 in second-half save chances despite a 5.11 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 12.1 innings during that stretch.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Escapes with 18th save

  Rotowire Aug 2, 2023

  Duran recorded his 18th save of the season in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Cardinals, giving up a run on a solo home run while striking out two in the ninth inning. Tyler O'Neill drove a 102-mph Duran fastball over the wall in right field to make things interesting, but the Twins' closer shook it off and fanned Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson to end the night. Duran has looked a little vulnerable lately, getting tagged for runs in three straight appearances and posting a 6.75 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over 10.2 innings since the beginning of July despite a 15:3 K:BB, but his spot at the head of the bullpen doesn't appear to be in any jeopardy.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Earns 16th save

  Rotowire Jul 20, 2023

  Duran allowed a hit and struck out two over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Mariners. Duran had a rough patch of allowing five runs (four earned) over three appearances earlier in July, but this was his third straight scoreless outing. The hard-throwing righty is up to 16 saves in 19 chances this season. He's maintained a strong 2.11 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 49:15 K:BB through 38.1 innings as the Twins' closer.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Notches 15th save

  Rotowire Jul 16, 2023

  Duran allowed one hit in a scoreless inning while earning a save over Oakland on Sunday. Duran gave up a one-out double but was able to work around the small threat to close out the 5-4 game. He'll likely be unavailable Monday against Seattle after throwing an inning in each of the last three games against the Athletics. He's now sporting a 2.17 ERA and a 47:15 K:BB through 37.1 frames.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Perfect for 14th save

  Rotowire Jul 15, 2023

  Duran picked up the save Saturday against the Athletics. He struck out two over one clean inning. After giving up five runs over his last three appearances, Duran bounced back with a perfect inning to nail down his 14th save of the campaign Saturday. Though Duran has struggled as of late, he owns a 2.23 ERA through 33 appearances (36.1 innings) on the year and is locked into closing duties for Minnesota.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Picks up 13th save

  Rotowire Jul 15, 2023

  Duran picked up the save Friday against Oakland. He allowed one run on two hits over one inning. He did not walk a batter. Duran's form has been shaky recently -- he's posted an 0-2 record with an 8.31 ERA in the month of July so far. However, the 25-year-old's 13 saves are a career high, and he still sports highly impressive ratios on the year (2.29 ERA, 1.05 WHIP).

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Secures 11th save

  Rotowire Jun 26, 2023

  Duran fired a clean inning while striking out a batter en route to his 11th save of the season in a win over the Tigers on Sunday. Duran was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the 10th inning and was flawless in doing so. He sits in the middle of the pack with 11 saves on the year but has been the shutdown guy the Twins need in the back end of their bullpen, especially with Jorge Lopez (personal) currently away from the team. The 25-year-old Duran now boasts a 1.45 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 42:14 K:BB in 31 innings thus far.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Twins' Jhoan Duran: Secures 10th save

  Rotowire Jun 23, 2023

  Duran picked up the save Friday against the Tigers. He allowed one walk while striking out three over a scoreless inning. Duran handed out a free pass to Matt Vierling but bounced back to retire Miguel Cabrera and Zack Short via strikeout. While he doesn't have as many saves as the league leaders, Duran has been as steady as they come this season with a 1.50 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 41 strikeouts and 10 saves in 12 chances. Griffin Jax has been serving as the team's top setup man in front of Duran.

  ... See More ... See Less