The Minnesota Twins bullpen looks a lot different these days. Of course that’s to be expected when you trade five of your eight relievers on a single day.
Rocco Baldelli is basically holding open tryouts for the leftovers, where Justin Topa has been the latest reliever to get a crack at the Twins’ now-vacant closer role, an opportunity he has taken advantage of so far. Of course, he doesn’t bring the heat like Jhoan Duran does, either on the mound or during his entrance.
The Phillies paid a premium price for the MN Twins closer, which made the scene at Nationals Park in Washington DC Friday night — where Duran was on the mound for his new team to finish off the Nationals for Philly’s 70th win of the season — even harder to digest.
Disaster strikes former MN Twins closer Jhoan Duran
In the bottom of the 9th inning, Washington infielder Paul DeJong sat on an 87.1 mph Jhoan Duran bender that he lined back at the Phillies’ closer (94.1 mph exit velo), hitting him first in the left knee, then ricocheting off his right foot and toward first base.
Duran hobbled after the ball that ricocheted all the way to the first base dugout. Once he crossed the first base line though, he pulled up in legitimate pain. After being unable to put weight on the foot, Duran was picked up by the bullpen cart and taken off the field.
It has been over two weeks since the Phillies received Jhoan Duran from the Twins, in exchange for the second-best prospect moved at the deadline. Now, Philadelphia is left hoping for a best-case scenario. Because last night didn’t look good…
Phillies need Jhoan Duran in a bad way
When Philadelphia traded for Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Durand they grabbed the best reliever moved at the deadline. It cost the a top 50 prospect, and another former top 100 prospect as well.
This was just Duran’s fifth outing for the Phillies. Across four innings he has allowed just a single hit with three strikeouts and no walks. To suggest he has been everything Philadelphia has hoped for would be accurate.
Thankfully, the x-rays on Duran’s foot came back negative. There shouldn’t be much concern about a muscle malady for this type of circumstance. He’s still likely to be very sore for a bit, and not having the full complement of his lower half on the mound is tough.
While the Minnesota Twins won’t make the postseason, Duran and the Phillies certainly will. They want him at the back end of their bullpen when they get there.
