Twins acquire minor league pitcher Garrett Acton from Marlins

The Twins also transferred right-hander David Festa to the 60-day injured  list as he deals with a right shoulder impingement.

Seth Stohs | Twins Daily

Shortly after the Twins left Kansas City following a 5-1 win over the Royals on Thursday afternoon, the team announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Garrett Acton from the Miami Marlins in exchange for minor league righty Logan Whitaker. 

Acton will report to St. Paul this weekend. This might just be another case of an arm that the Twins can use their five options per season on as they need pitchers to move up and down throughout the season.  The 28-year-old has a combined 31 days of MLB service time, and he’s got two years of minor-league options remaining. There may be some value in that information. 

Acton is a native of Illinois and was the 35th round pick of the White Sox way back in 2016. He decided not to sign and instead went to the University of St. Louis. After missing the 2018 season, he transferred home to pitch two seasons at the University of Illinois. Of course, in that 2020 season, he only pitched in six games before the season ended abruptly. In those six innings, he tossed 6 2/3 innings and recorded six saves. 

Late that summer, he signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Oakland A’s. In 2021, e combined for 34 games between the two Class A levels. In 2022, he split the season between Double-A and Triple-A.

In 2023, he went 5-2 with a 5.59 ERA over 29 innings with Triple-A Las Vegas and posted an ERA of 12.71 in 5 2/3 inning of big-league action.

He missed the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery. In December of 2023, the Rays signed him to a two-year minor-league deal.

In 2025, he made 45 appearances for the Rays Triple-A ballclub and went 5-1 with a 3.68 ERA over 58 2/3 innings. He pitched one inning for the big-league club. The Rays DFAd him after the 2025 season completed and the Rockies claimed him. In early February, the Rockies DFAd him and the Marlins claimed him.

He made two appearances this weekend for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. and had four strikeouts in 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Acton’s average fastball is about 95 mph, and he also throws a changeup 8-10 mph slower, as well as a slider.

Logan Whitaker is a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher. The Twins made him their 19th round pick in 2025 out of North Carolina State. He pitched in two games for the Mighty Mussels in 2024, and last year, he combined for 25 games between Cedar Rapids and Wichita. He went 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA. In 38 1/3 innings, he had 33 strikeouts and 10 walks.

He was set to begin his 2026 season with the Wind Surge.

To make room on the Twins 40-man roster, David Festa was transferred to the 60-Day Injured List.