Alcala's flamethrowing resurgence earning him high-leverage looks

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Clearly, something has changed about the way the Twins view Jorge Alcala since they last shuttled him down to Triple-A St. Paul.

During those previous MLB stints in 2024, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli had been firm in asserting that any relief pitchers not in his leverage group would have to throw multiple innings -- even Alcala, who was coming off nearly two full seasons lost to elbow and forearm issues -- and Minnesota used the right-hander accordingly in lower-leverage situations.

But in Alcala’s last two outings, the Twins have used him for one-inning stints to protect leads -- and, notably, he’s been pulled after only one inning each time.

“I didn't even think about bringing him out for a second inning,” Baldelli said. “That was not even on my radar.”

So, what exactly has led to this difference in treatment?

“He's working his way into the leverage mix,” Baldelli said. “That's it. What he was throwing [Thursday] was -- and I think the outing before, too -- that was not what we had seen from him previously.”

What they saw on Thursday was a guy who touched 100.1 mph -- Alcala’s first triple-digit reading since 2021 -- and carved through the Kansas City lineup with a fastball that averaged 99.6 mph and a slider that averaged 91.1. That will play, especially since 30 of Alcala’s 33 fastballs since he was recalled on May 24 have been at 97 mph or harder.

That’s a considerable difference from his first stint in the Majors this year, when he only threw 13 of his first 40 fastballs at 97 mph or harder, including 12 at under 95 mph.

One point Baldelli made when Alcala was sent down on April 14 had been that the Twins needed to see Alcala have his best, most consistent stuff from pitch one of an outing -- and, to Alcala’s credit, he has followed through on that and showcased both electric stuff and pumped-up emotions across these last two dominant outings.

“Very grateful to the team for trusting me in those types of situations, but I keep the same, putting in the work, being focused so that whenever I get called for those moments, I'm ready,” Alcala said through team interpreter Mauricio Ortiz.

Seems like it’s that simple, really: Once Alcala showed his stuff was premium enough to play up in one-inning outings, the Twins were ready to use him accordingly.

“Three weeks ago, his fastball was 92, 93, 94,” Baldelli said. “And then he was throwing 99 [Thursday], touching 100. If we want the guy to throw 99, we probably shouldn't be throwing him 45 pitches an outing expecting him to come in when we need him to.”

What exactly has changed in Alcala since the Twins last sent him down? Baldelli had no idea -- and Alcala simply credited his focus and his routine that have finally, seemingly, allowed him to find his most dominant stuff since the end of 2021, when he posted a 0.96 ERA in the season’s final two months to prime him for a step forward into leverage work.

Once he lost nearly the entire 2022 and ‘23 seasons, though, he became a true unknown and wild card in this bullpen mix, and he’s now two years older and has a baby daughter that he welcomed into the world just after the Twins optioned him down to St. Paul the last time.

With Brock Stewart still on the mend from right shoulder tendinitis, there’s been room for new arms like Alcala, Diego Castillo and Josh Staumont to push for more prominent roles -- and Alcala seems to be taking this opportunity to finally take the stride forward the Twins hoped to see two years ago.

Better late than never -- and he’s feeling great.

“[It’s about] my confidence more than anything,” Alcala said. “Right now, I feel like I'm throwing better than when I started back in 2019.”