Balazovic was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.
Balazovic spent just two days on the active roster in his latest stint in the majors and did not get into a game. He'll make way for Joe Ryan, who returns from a groin injury in a corresponding move.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Back in majors
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The Twins recalled Balazovic from Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday, John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
With Oliver Ortega (back) headed to the injured list, Balazovic will come up from the minors to fill the opening in Minnesota's bullpen. The 24-year-old righty has made 18 appearances with the Twins this season, putting up a 4.44 ERA and 1.56 WHIP through 24.1 innings, and he will likely serve in middle relief while in the majors.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Returns to Triple-A
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The Twins optioned Balazovic to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Balazovic will head back to the minors after giving up three runs on three hits and three walks over an inning out of the bullpen in Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Pirates. He's struggled with an 8.71 ERA and 7:8 K:BB ratio in 10.1 innings over his last seven appearances. Balazovic could return to the Twins in September if he can rebound with a sustained run of success at Triple-A.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Struggles in loss
Rotowire
Balazovic allowed four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one over two innings in Wednesday's 9-5 loss to the Tigers.
Balazovic had become a productive middle reliever for the Twins since his call-up in June, but he's struggled recently by allowing four earned runs in his last six innings over three appearances. He has just a 3:3 K:BB ratio over that span. Overall, he has a 3.80 ERA and two holds, but a 5.9 K/9 is well below his minor-league strikeout rates (12.8 K/9 at Triple-A this season).
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Will be used in true relief role
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Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Tuesday that Balazovic will be used in a true relief role moving forward, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Balazovic came up through the minors mostly as a starter and he went 3.2 innings in his major-league debut last month. His outings have been shorter since then, though, and that is the role the Twins envision for him moving forward, with high-leverage usage possible. "We've always known he's had this type of ability. ... He's throwing the ball like a good Major League reliever right now," Baldelli said.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Called up by Minnesota
Rotowire
Balazovic was called up from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.
The 24-year-old will take the roster spot of Jorge Lopez, who was placed on the restricted list. Balazovic has shifted to a bullpen role at St. Paul this season and has a 4.79 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 50:21 K:BB across 35.2 innings.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Moves to bullpen at Triple-A
Rotowire
Balazovic has a 2.35 ERA with an 11:5 K:BB in 7.2 innings at Triple-A Rochester. He's made all five appearances out of the bullpen.
Balazovic was formerly a top starting pitching prospect but took a large step back in 2022 with a 7.39 ERA and 4:5 BB/9 at Rochester. It looks like he's permanently moving to the bullpen, which will limit his fantasy upside. However, he could still reach the majors due to his deceptive fastball.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Optioned to Triple-A level
Rotowire
The Twins optioned Balazovic (jaw) to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
It's the first cut out of Twins camp, and it comes after Balazovic suffered a broken jaw during an altercation at a Fort Myers bar Feb. 11. The 24-year-old former top prospect struggled to a 7.39 ERA over 70.2 innings at the Triple-A level in 2022, and he had yet to appear in any Grapefruit League games this spring.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Nearing mound work
Rotowire
Balazovic (jaw) said Tuesday that he plans to throw a bullpen session before the end of this week, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Balazovic suffered a broken jaw when he was involved in an altercation at a bar earlier this month. He doesn't think the injury will affect his availability for the start of the minor-league season. Balazovic struggled mightily during his first taste of the Triple-A level in 2022 but is still viewed as one of the Twins' better pitching prospects.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Suffers broken jaw
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Balazovic broke his jaw in an off-site altercation last Saturday and underwent surgery, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The nature of the altercation is unclear. Neither is Balazovic's timeline as far as his return to game action, though he's expected to be able to play catch within 10 days.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Begins rehab stint
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Balazovic (knee) gave up four runs over two innings Sunday for Single-A Fort Myers in a rehab start.
Balazovic is on the IL at Triple-A with a left knee strain. It's not clear how many rehab outings he'll need before joining Triple-A, but at least this this shows his knee issue isn't a long-term injury.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Moved to Triple-A
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The Twins optioned Balazovic to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Balazovic was one of six pitchers optioned to minor-league camp as the Twins made their first round of cuts. The 23-year-old right-hander will move up a level to begin the 2022 campaign after he turned in a 3.62 ERA and 102:38 K:BB in 97 innings at Double-A Wichita in 2021.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Nearing return
Rotowire
Balazovic (back) is expected to be activated from the 7-day injured list to start for Double-A Wichita at some point this upcoming weekend, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.
Balazovic suffered a back injury during spring training that forced him to begin the minor-league season on the injured list. However, after remaining sidelined throughout the month of May, the right-hander is on track to take the ball this weekend for Wichita.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Out with back injury
Rotowire
Balazovic will begin the season on the inured list at Double-A Wichita as he works his way back from a back injury he suffered in spring training, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
The Twins' top pitching prospect didn't get much work last summer as he was a late addition to the team's alternate training camp, and he will now have his return to minor-league action delayed.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Sent to minors
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The Twins optioned Balazovic to their minor-league camp Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Along with Balazovic, fellow pitchers Dakota Chalmers, Jhoan Duran and Bailey Ober were also optioned as Minnesota made its first cuts of spring training. One of the Twins' top pitching prospects, Balazovic is expected to open the season at either Double-A Wichita or Triple-A St. Paul.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Shielded from Rule 5 draft
Rotowire
Balazovic's contract was purchased by the Twins on Friday.
The Twins' top pitching prospect was a lock to be shielded from the Rule 5 draft by getting added to the 40-man roster. He was a late addition to the team's alternate training site this summer, so he didn't get as much developmental time as some of the team's other pitching prospects. Even so, he is ready for an assignment to Double-A or Triple-A in 2021.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Joins 60-man player pool
Rotowire
Balazovic was added to the 60-man roster and assigned to the team's alternate training site in St. Paul, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
It was somewhat of a surprise that Balazovic was not included in the 60-man player pool ahead of summer camp since he was regarded as one of Minnesota's top pitching prospects. While he's unlikely to be called up to the majors, this will at least get him some work with the Twins coaching staff, which could improve his position for next season.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Not in 60-man player pool
Rotowire
Balazovic was not included in the 60-man player pool ahead of summer camp before the 2020 season begins, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Balazovic may be Minnesota's top pitching prospect, so it was surprising he wasn't added to the player pool when most of Minnesota's top hitting prospects were included. The Twins said they formed their player pool with a focus on winning this season, so they may not have emphasized pitching prospects.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Moves up to Double-A
Rotowire
The Twins promoted Balazovic from High-A Fort Myers to Double-A Pensacola on Wednesday, Brandon Warne of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
The 20-year-old right-hander will aid the Blue Wahoos during their postseason run after turning in a stellar season between Fort Myers and Low-A Cedar Rapids. He earned a promotion to the Florida State League after just four starts with Cedar Rapids and didn't see his productivity wane at the higher level, posting a 2.84 ERA to go with a 96:21 K:BB in 73 innings. The 2016 fifth-round pick will likely open the 2020 campaign as a full-time member of the Pensacola rotation.
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Twins' Jordan Balazovic: Back to Low-A
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Balazovic will open the year back with Low-A Cedar Rapids, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
This is a pretty surprising assignment, as Balazovic logged a 3.03 FIP, 1.17 WHIP, 23.6 K-BB% and 48.1 GB% in 61.2 innings at Low-A last year. A 6-foot-4 righty from Ontario, Balazovic can touch the upper-90s with his fastball and his slider and changeup should be at least average pitches. He has as much upside as any pitcher in the Twins' farm system other than Brusdar Graterol, and could have a breakout year, likely splitting time between Low-A and High-A.
