Twins' Justin Topa: Avoids arbitration with Minnesota
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Topa agreed to a one-year deal with the Twins on Friday to avoid arbitration.
Topa started the 2024 regular season on the Twins' 15-day injured list due to left patellar tendinitis, and he was transferred to the 60-day IL in late May after an MRI revealed a small tear in his left patellar tendon. Topa managed to return from the injured list Sept. 25, and across three outings he threw 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out two batters and allowing one hit. The 33-year-old right-hander should be good to go for spring training.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Returns from injured list
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The Twins reinstated Topa (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Topa has been on the injured list all season while working his way back from a torn patellar tendon he suffered during spring training and an elbow issue that appeared during a rehab assignment in August. He surrendered three earned runs over two innings after restarting his minor-league assignment Friday, and he's now been given the green light to return to Minnesota's bullpen for the team's final playoff push. Given the amount of time he's missed, the 33-year-old righty will likely be limited to middle relief. Cole Irvin was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Feels ready to return
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Topa (knee/elbow) said Tuesday that he feels ready to return after making two rehab appearances with Triple-A St. Paul, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Topa allowed three runs in the first of those outings before bouncing back with two strikeouts in a scoreless frame in the second appearance. He's been out all season, first while recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his left knee and more recently due to right elbow inflammation. While Topa appears healthy now, it's unclear how eager the Twins would be to throw him into action during the final week of the season when they're pushing for a playoff spot.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Throwing bullpen sessions
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Topa (knee/elbow) threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports. It was his third bullpen session in the past week.
Topa hopes to face live hitters in a few days and then try to pitch in a rehab game with Triple-A St. Paul in late September. Topa still hopes to pitch in the majors this season, but he still has several more steps to go. Topa has resided on the injured list all season, first while recovering from a torn patellar tendon in his left knee before being pulled off a rehab assignment in August due to right elbow inflammation.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Pulled from rehab stint
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Topa (knee) was returned from his minor-league rehab assignment Saturday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Topa has shown decreased velocity recently, and it's been revealed that he's been battling arm fatigue. The right-hander has been on assignment since July 23 as part of his recovery from a tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee. He's yet to make his 2024 debut. While it's unclear how far the arm fatigue will set him back, Topa shouldn't be expected back any time soon.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Throwing bullpen sessions
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Topa (knee) will throw two bullpen sessions this week, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Topa has been out all season with a small tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee, but he seems to be inching closer to a return. The reliever will need to face hitters and make a handful of rehab appearances before a clear return date can come into focus.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Dealing with small tear in knee
Rotowire
Topa underwent an MRI on Tuesday that revealed a 25 percent tear in his left patellar tendon, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. He'll be immobilized for the next week and isn't expected to resume throwing for another six weeks.
After getting a second opinion on the knee injury, Topa will forgo surgery, but he's still need considerable rest and rehab before being ready to make his season debut. He's currently using crutches and will spent the next week recovering from a platelet-rich plasma injection before he kicks off his ramp-up program. Topa appeared to be on the cusp of rejoining the Twins, but felt discomfort in his knee following the fourth appearance of his rehab assignment May 5 with Triple-A St. Paul and now appears unlikely to be ready for activation until sometime in July.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Closing in on rehab assignment
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Topa (knee) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Tuesday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Everything seemed to go as hoped, which means Topa should be able to begin a rehab assignment any day now. He's been out since late March with left patellar tendinitis and figures to require a handful of rehab appearances before being activated.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Slated to throw live BP
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Topa (knee) will throw live batting practice Tuesday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
If Topa is able to get through BP without any issues, it's possible the Twins send him out on a rehab assignment. He's been on the injured list since the beginning of the season due to left patellar tendinitis, so he would likely require multiple appearances in the minors, but it appears the 33-year-old righty isn't too far away from rejoining the Twins' bullpen.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Set to throw bullpen session
Rotowire
Topa (left patellar tendinitis) plans to throw a bullpen session Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Topa was placed on the 15-day injured list at the end of spring training with left patellar tendinitis. He started playing catch last Saturday and it sounds like he could return at some point in April.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Begins playing catch
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Topa played catch from 75 feet Saturday and has been pain-free in his left knee, MLB.com reports.
Topa was placed on the 15-day injured list at the end of spring training with left patellar tendinitis. He'll start throwing more over the next week and then will get a timetable to begin a rehab stint in the minors.
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Twins' Justin Topa: Bound for IL
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Topa will begin the season on the injured list after being diagnosed with knee tendinitis Sunday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander believes he can pitch through the injury, but the Twins will instead play it safe to start the season. Topa, who was acquired from Seattle as part of the return package for Jorge Polanco, recorded three saves and 24 holds with a 2.61 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 61:18 K:BB across 69 innings last season with the Mariners.
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Mariners' Justin Topa: Evens record in win
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Topa (4-4) secured the win over the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing an earned run on two hits over one inning. He did not issue any walks or record a strikeout.
Topa got a true backdoor victory to even his season mark, as he actually failed to protect the 3-3 tie he was tasked with preserving by allowing doubles to Aledmys Diaz and Esteury Ruiz during his one inning. However, Topa was able to escape the frame without further damage when Ruiz was thrown out at home on a Ryan Noda flyout, and he then became the pitcher of record when the Mariners took the lead for good with a two-run rally in the home half of the frame. The stumble actually snapped what had been a 26-appearance stretch for Topa without allowing an earned run that dated back to June 27.
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Mariners' Justin Topa: Nabs third win Tuesday
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Topa (3-3) got the victory over the White Sox on Tuesday, firing 1.1 perfect innings during which he recorded a strikeout.
Topa breezed through his brief time in the game, impressively firing nine of his 11 pitches for strikes while getting Eloy Jimenez on an inning-ending groundout with two aboard when he first entered in the seventh. The right-hander hasn't allowed a run since July 22, a span of 13.1 innings during which he's recorded two wins overall alongside seven holds.
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Mariners' Justin Topa: More high-leverage shots likely
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Topa, who recorded his 17th hold in Wednesday's win over the Red Sox with a scoreless one-third of an inning, could see some closing opportunities in the wake of Paul Sewald's trade to the Diamondbacks on Monday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
Topa was called on to get the last out of the eighth inning Wednesday with the Mariners holding a three-run lead, but Kramer notes the 32-year-old could occasionally see higher-leverage opportunities than that the rest of the way. Topa has given up just four earned runs across the 16.2 innings covering his last 20 appearances while producing a 16:3 K:BB, and his 59.8 percent groundball rate for the season speaks to his ability to keep the ball down. Topa has primarily been called on for seventh- and eighth-inning work thus far, yet with manager Scott Servais noting he'll "mix and match" to an extent with the closer role moving forward, the right-hander could get some save chances as well.
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Mariners' Justin Topa: Collects second save
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Topa gave up a run on three hits while striking out one in the ninth inning of Saturday's 9-8 win over the Blue Jays, recording his second save of the season.
Paul Sewald had pitched Thursday and Friday, while Andres Munoz and Matt Brash had both worked earlier in Saturday's contest, leaving Topa to get a rare save chance. The right-hander got the job done, although he got tagged for his first earned run in nearly a month while doing so. Topa has been a solid addition to the Seattle bullpen this season, posting a 2.84 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB through 38 innings while collecting 14 holds and a win in 42 appearances in addition to his two saves.
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Mariners' Justin Topa: Solid in six spring appearances
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Topa owns a 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 7:2 K:BB across six innings in six Cactus League appearances.
The big right-hander is an intriguing reclamation project of sorts for the Mariners after previously having undergone a pair of Tommy John surgeries and finishing last season with the Brewers on the injured list with an ankle contusion. Topa has appeared healthy this spring while working an inning apiece in each of his six appearances out of the bullpen. He projects for a low-leverage role to open the season, which will limit his fantasy appeal overall.
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Brewers' Justin Topa: Summoned from minors
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The Brewers recalled Topa from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.
Just over a week after being optioned to Triple-A, Topa will rejoin the Milwaukee bullpen after starter Adrian Houser (groin) was placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Topa, who has given up two earned runs over 5.1 innings at the big-league level in 2022, will likely serve as a low-leverage reliever over the final week of the season.
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Brewers' Justin Topa: Returns to Triple-A
Rotowire
Topa was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.
Topa would have been unavailable for a day or two after pitching three of the last four days, so the Brewers decided to remove him from the roster to open up a spot for fellow pitcher Aaron Ashby. Topa will likely be at or near the top of the list if the Brewers need to add a reliever before the season comes to a close.
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Brewers' Justin Topa: Remains in majors
Rotowire
Topa was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Friday.
Topa joined the big-league club as the 29th man for Thursday's doubleheader against the Giants, and he'll remain in the majors after Freddy Peralta (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday. Topa hasn't yet pitched for the Brewers this year but should serve mainly as a middle reliever.
