JUSTIN TOPA NEWS

José Ramírez reaches milestone, then scores winning run in Guardians' 4-3, 10-inning win over Twins

José Ramírez became the first player in Cleveland franchise history to reach 250 career homers and 250 steals and then scored the winning run in the 10th inning as the Guardians ra...

MAY 1 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Joe Ryan strikes out season-best 11 as Twins top Angels 5-0 for 3-game series sweep

Joe Ryan struck out a season-high 11 in seven shutout innings and the Minnesota Twins beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-0 for their first three-game win streak since August

APRIL 27 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Buxton, Larnach homer to help the Twins beat the White Sox, 6-3

Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach homered help the Minnesota Twins beat the last-place Chicago White Sox 6-3 on Wednesday night

APRIL 24 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Verdugo has 4 hits, drives in go-ahead run as Braves top Twins 4-3 to finally win back-to-back games

Alex Verdugo, making his second start as Atlanta’s left fielder and leadoff hitter, had four hits that included a go-ahead single in the sixth inning, and the Braves beat the Minne...

APRIL 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Twins' Justin Topa to make 1st big league start after 102 relief appearances

Minnesota Twins right-hander Justin Topa was to make his first big league start against the Atlanta Braves after 102 relief appearances

APRIL 19 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Opening Saturday Topa will open Saturday's game against Atlanta, Phil Miller of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Impact Topa has given up just one run in 6.2 innings this season, and he'll now be tasked with facing the top of Atlanta's lineup Saturday in what will be the first start of his major-league career. The 34-year-old righty will likely remain in the game for just one inning before handing things over to Simeon Woods Richardson, who is due to pitch in bulk relief.

APRIL 19 • ROTOWIRE

Soto hits 2nd homer and Mets top lowly Twins 5-1

Juan Soto hit his first home run since the opening weekend of the season and the New York Mets beat the slumping Minnesota Twins 5-1

APRIL 15 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Twins include Randy Dobnak in long relief role for his 1st opening day roster spot in 4 years

The Minnesota Twins set their opening day roster with right-hander Randy Dobnak in a long relief role, the first time in four years he broke camp with the major league club

MARCH 27 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Returns to action Topa (shoulder) gave up a run with two strikeouts in an inning in Monday's spring training loss to Pittsburgh.

Impact Topa left an outing March 6 due to right shoulder tightness. He had been throwing in minor league games, but his return to a major league game likely signals he'll be ready for Opening Day.

MARCH 18 • ROTOWIRE

Throws in minor league game Topa (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch Monday, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.. He threw 22 pitches Friday in a minor league game.

Impact Topa left an outing Mar. 6 due to right shoulder tightness. It sounds like he's making progress and could avoid begging the season on the injured list.

MARCH 17 • ROTOWIRE

Throws bullpen session Topa (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Impact Topa left Wednesday's game due to right shoulder tightness. He said the move was largely precautionary and he did not have an MRI. Topa expects to throw again Friday. While he's making progress, it's not clear if he'll be ready for Opening Day.

MARCH 13 • ROTOWIRE

Twins reliever Justin Topa returns to the mound after a shoulder scare Topa felt tightness in his previous appearance, but a week of caution had him feeling strong Wednesday.

MARCH 13 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Won't need MRI on shoulder Topa is dealing with right shoulder tightness, but has not needed an MRI, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Impact Topa left Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles due to right shoulder tightness. This doesn't sound like a serious injury, but it could land him on the injured list to begin the season as he works his way back into regular season form.

MARCH 8 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with shoulder discomfort Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said that Topa was removed from Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles due to right shoulder tightness, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnea...

Impact Topa served up a home run and tossed just seven pitches before meeting with a trainer on the mound and then getting pulled from the contest. Baldelli said Topa's shoulder will be further evaluated Thursday, and while the skipper is hopeful that the right-hander isn't dealing with anything overly serious, it could affect his availability for Opening Day. The 33-year-old has had rotten luck on the injury front during his career, having missed most of the 2024 season due to torn patella tendon in his right knee and having previously required a flexor tendon surgery and two Tommy John surgeries for his elbow.

MARCH 6 • ROTOWIRE

Topa exits game early with right shoulder tightness FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Reliever Justin Topa suffered an arm injury during Wednesday’s Grapefruit League game against the Orioles. Topa was remo...

MARCH 5 • MLB.COM

Twins reliever Justin Topa exits spring outing because of right shoulder tightness The veteran righthander threw only seven pitches before leaving the Grapefruit League contest.

MARCH 5 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Leaves with apparent injury Topa was removed from Wednesday's Cactus League appearance against the Orioles with an apparent injury, Bobby Nightengale of The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact Topa threw only seven pitches in the outing, surrendered a solo home run and showed diminished velocity. The reliever made just three appearances for the Twins in 2024 while dealing with knee and elbow problems. His status should be updated by the club later Wednesday.

MARCH 5 • ROTOWIRE

Twins' Justin Topa, a lifelong card collector, chases his own baseball card The righthander had been waiting to appear on cardboard since becoming a professional in 2013.

MARCH 3 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

After losing most of 2024, Twins' reliever Justin Topa is finally healthy His three late appearances last season were a building block for what the right-hander hopes is a productive 2025.

FEBRUARY 15 • TWINCITIES.COM

Topa, Stewart, McKenzie, Sulser reach deals ahead of tender deadline

Minnesota pitchers Justin Topa and Brock Stewart agreed to one-year contracts ahead of Friday’s tender deadline along with fellow right-hander Triston McKenzie of Cleveland and Col...

NOVEMBER 25, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Avoids arbitration with Minnesota Topa agreed to a one-year deal with the Twins on Friday to avoid arbitration.

Impact 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.

NOVEMBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Returns from injured list The Twins reinstated Topa (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Impact 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's surrendered three earned runs over two innings since restarting his minor-league assignment Friday, but he's 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.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Feels ready to return 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.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Injured Justin Topa, Chris Paddack could pitch for Twins in final six week of regular season Topa hasn’t pitched all season in the major leagues because of a knee injury, and Paddack has missed most of the second half because of a fo...

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Throwing bullpen sessions Topa (knee/elbow) threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports. It was his third bullpen session this week.

Impact 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.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE