Sands threw a perfect inning in Saturday's Grapefruit League win over Boston, striking out three without allowing a baserunner. He's given up three runs in 2.2 innings this spring with four strikeouts and two walks.
Sands emerged as a solid relief arm in 2024. His average fastball velocity jumped from 93.6 mph in 2023 to 95.5 mph last season, and his control improved as well. He'll be used in a high-leverage role again and could be a sneaky source of holds after recording only six in 62 appearances last year.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Notches fourth save
Rotowire
Sands earned a save against the Rangers on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
Minnesota carried a three-run lead into the ninth inning, and manager Rocco Baldelli elected to call upon Sands with primary closer Jhoan Duran having pitched on three consecutive days. The decision proved to be the right one, as Sands cruised to a save by retiring the side in order on just nine pitches. The right-hander has registered a career-high four saves on the campaign, though his opportunities in that regard are highly unpredictable with Duran having a firm grasp on the closer role and Griffin Jax typically second in line with eight saves on the season.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Snags third save
Rotowire
Sands picked up the save in Monday's 7-2 victory over the Phillies, pitching two clean innings with two strikeouts.
The 27-year-old reliever entered the game in the eighth inning with a 4-2 lead and was allowed to finish off the game for his fourth career save after the Twins scored three runs in the bottom of the frame. Sands has been a solid bullpen option this year, pitching to a 3.38 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 53:7 K:BB across 45.1 innings. However this save was an anomaly, as Jhoan Duran remains firmly cemented as the closer for the Twins, with Griffin Jax a more than capable understudy.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Earns second win in relief
Rotowire
Sands (2-0) earned the win in Saturday's 5-3 win over Texas. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out two over two perfect innings.
It was a nice bounce-back outing from Sands after he allowed five earned runs on five hits and two walks over 2.1 innings over his prior three appearances. He was used in some high-leverage spots while Jhoan Duran was out for a month with a back injury, but Sands may be used earlier in games with Duran healthy.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Gives up homer in season debut
Rotowire
Sands gave up a run over two innings with two strikeouts, no walks and a home run allowed in Sunday's blowout loss at Kansas City.
Sands made the major-league roster as a long reliever. He shuffled between Triple-A and the majors multiple times last season, working in a long-relief role with the Twins. He posted a respectable 3.74 ERA, but it was accompanied by an 8.7 K/9 and 5.5 BB/9. At least he didn't allow any walks in his first outing.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Sands was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.
Sands appeared in four games for the Saints after he was demoted July 28, throwing 5.1 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts. He'll work in a long relief role again with the Twins after Brent Headrick was sent to Triple-A after throwing 67 pitches over 3.1 relief innings in Friday's loss to the Phillies.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Minnesota optioned Sands to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.
Sands has posted a 4.50 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 14:9 K:BB in 14 innings of relief this season at the major-league level. Jorge Polanco (hamstring) is back from the injured list in a corresponding roster move.
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Twins' Cole Sands: To begin throwing
Rotowire
Sands (shoulder) is set to begin throwing off a mound this week, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Sands landed on the injured list on June 4 due to a right shoulder impingement. He'll likely need to go on a rehab assignment before returning. It wouldn't be surprising to see him activated and sent to Triple-A as he's mostly served as a long reliever in the majors.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
The Twins placed Sands on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right shoulder impingement.
Sands had not worked in a game since May 30 after throwing 2.1 scoreless frames against the Astros. The right-hander will be out for two-plus weeks while he recovers, and the Twins reinstated Caleb Thielbar (oblique) off the 15-day IL in a corresponding move.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Called up from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Twins recalled Sands from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Sands made the Twins' Opening Day roster but got into just two games before being demoted in mid-April. He returns nearly a month later with Dereck Rodriguez optioned to Triple-A.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Rejoins team for finale
Rotowire
The Twins recalled Sands from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.
Sands will give the Twins a fresh arm out of the bullpen behind starter Louie Varland in Wednesday's season finale. Minnesota optioned Simeon Woods Richardson to Triple-A to clear room on the active roster for Sands.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Moves down to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Twins optioned Sands to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Minnesota will replace Sands in the bullpen with a fresh arm in Jharel Cotton, whose contract was selected from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Sands worked 3.1 innings in relief of Chris Archer (pectoral) -- who was placed on the injured list Sunday -- in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Guardians, giving up three earned runs on two hits and five walks.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Activated by Minnesota
Rotowire
Sands (elbow) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Thursday, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.
Sands spent the last two weeks on the injured list with an elbow issue but recently made a pair of rehab appearances at Triple-A St. Paul. The right-hander posted a 1.29 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in seven innings over four appearances for the Twins in August.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Starts up rehab assignment
Rotowire
Sands (elbow) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday and made his second appearance for the affiliate Sunday, covering 2.2 innings while allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two.
Sands wasn't quite as sharp Sunday as he was during his first appearance four days earlier, when he gave up one earned run on two hits and no walks over two innings. The right-hander will likely get at least two days to rest up before the Twins decide whether to have him make another rehab outing or make his return from the 15-day injured list. He'll work as a long reliever out of the bullpen whenever he's activated.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Hit by comebacker
Rotowire
Sands exited Tuesday's loss to the Astros after being struck in the upper right arm by a comebacker, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
The 24-year-old followed starter Aaron Sanchez and allowed a run on four hits with three strikeouts and zero walks over two innings before being hit by the comebacker. Sands threw 38 pitches and was likely to be unavailable for a day or two regardless of the injury due to the workload, and he should be considered day-to-day for now.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Headed back to minors
Rotowire
The Twins optioned Sands to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday.
Minnesota is expected to get Joe Ryan (illness) back from the COVID-19-related injured list and Sonny Gray (pectoral) from the 15-day injured list this week, so the team had no need to keep Sands around as a No. 5 starter. Sands has made five appearances (three starts) with the big club this season, going 0-3 with an 8.82 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB across 16.1 innings. He should slot back into the Triple-A rotation upon his return to St. Paul.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Struggles again Sunday
Rotowire
Sands (0-3) allowed five runs on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Rays.
Sands got through the Rays' order once without trouble, but he struggled after that. While this was his longest appearance of the year, he didn't enjoy any additional success, as he's now allowed at least four runs in all three of his starts this year. The 24-year-old has an 8.82 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB across 16.1 innings in five appearances overall. With Joe Ryan (illness) and Sonny Gray (pectoral) due back this week, Sands is likely to slip out of the rotation, and he could head back to Triple-A St. Paul or end up in the bullpen again.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Struggles in loss
Rotowire
Sands (0-2) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks over 3.2 innings against the Yankees. He struck out three.
Sands struggled in his second start of the season, allowing four runs and throwing 89 pitches in just 3.2 innings to take a second straight loss. In four appearances this season, Sands has now generated an unwieldy 8.49.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Picking up spot start Tuesday
Rotowire
The Twins will call up Sands from Triple-A St. Paul to start Tuesday's game against the Yankees in Minnesota, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Sands is most likely just making a spot start for the Twins, who could have either Joe Ryan (illness) or Josh Winder (shoulder) ready to return from the COVID-19-related injured list and 15-day injured list, respectively, by the weekend. The 24-year-old Sands has previously made three appearances (one start) for Minnesota this season, giving up seven earned runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out 10 over eight innings.
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Twins' Cole Sands: Stuck with first loss Tuesday
Rotowire
Sands (0-1) took the loss in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Tigers, giving up four runs on five hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out four.
Making his first career start in the majors, Sands labored to find the plate and threw only 54 of 91 pitches for strikes before getting the hook. The Twins could get Sonny Gray (pectoral) or Joe Ryan (COVID-19) back shortly, so Sands will likely return to the bullpen in a long-relief role or get sent back to Triple-A St. Paul.
