Ted Schwerzler | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Twins have closed the book on their first series of the 2026 Major League Baseball season. They started the campaign with new skipper Derek Shelton in Baltimore. After a three-game set, they’ll head to Kansas City owning a 1-2 record.

Neither of the bookend contests needed to be defeats, but untimely hitting and poor decision making cost them contests. That could be a focal point for a team trying to win on the fringes this season.

The bullpen might be the most fringe-laden aspect of the roster, and it should be expected to be in flux all year. Piling up depth at Triple-A St. Paul, additions continues to be fluid. Veteran reliever John Brebbia is the latest to join the organization.

On Saturday the Minnesota Twins signed veteran reliever Drew Smith to a minor league deal. He wasn’t the only addition though. Aaron Gleeman (The Athletic) reports that John Brebbia has been added as well.

Brebbia was a 30th round pick by the New York Yankees way back in 2011. He spent Spring Training this year with the Colorado Rockies. In nine innings, he allowed seven runs on nine hits, three of which left the yard. Brebbia did carry an 11/0 K/BB.

An eight-year veteran, Brebbia was at his best from 2017 through 2019 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Last season he threw 23 1/3 innings for the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves. He posted a gaudy 7.71 ERA (5.75 FIP) and had a 26/12 K/BB.

Pitchers like Brebbia, and the aforementioned Smith, are interesting pickups. Minnesota had similar arms in camp in the form of Liam Hendriks and Andrew Chafin. Both had opt-out clauses and exercised them when notified they wouldn’t make the big league team.

It doesn’t seem like Brebbia would be a higher caliber addition than either of those arms, but he’ll head to St. Paul anyways and look for his name to be called.

MN Twins bullpen a mixed bag early

There’s little reason to believe a Minnesota Twins bullpen using Cole Sands as the closer will look anything like the group that was torn apart last summer. However, they have largely held serve in the early going.

Kody Funderburk and Justin Topa gave up runs in the season opener, but were burned by an elementary outfield misplay by Austin Martin. The group put up 4 2/3 scoreless in game two, including back-to-back appearances from both of those arms.

Sunday’s contest saw Shelton inexplicably ride piggybacking starter Mick Abel for far too long, and Anthony Banda recorded the only two outs tasked of the bullpen. The group should be expected to be in flux all season though.

Whether it’s Smith or Brebbia doesn’t really matter. Dan Altavilla, Matt Bowman, and Grant Hartwig are all middling big leagues looking to hang on with strong performances bolstering their chances from St. Paul.