JUSTIN TOPA NEWS

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

Resumes playing catch Topa (knee) has resumed playing catch, Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Impact Topa missed the first four months of the season due to a tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee. He began a rehab assignment July 23 but was shut down Aug. 10 due to right elbow inflammation. Topa remains optimistic that he can return this season, but he still likely has several weeks of building up his throwing even before he could start a rehab assignment.

AUGUST 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Setback while playing catch Topa (elbow) had a setback when he experienced soreness while playing catch, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact Topa missed the first four months of the season due to a tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee. He began a rehab assignment July 23 but was shut down Aug. 10 due to right elbow inflammation. It seems unlikely that he'll be able to return from the injured list before the regular season ends.

AUGUST 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

MRI shows elbow inflammation An MRI on Topa's right elbow showed inflammation, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Impact Topa had his minor league rehab assignment shut down Saturday after experiencing tightness in his right arm. The right-hander has been on assignment since July 23 as part of his recovery from a tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee. He's yet to make his 2024 major league debut. Topa says he shouldn't be out too long, but it's not clear he'll even be able to return this season.

AUGUST 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Pulled from rehab stint Topa (knee) was returned from his minor-league rehab assignment Saturday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Impact Topa has shown decreased velocity recently, and it's been revealed that he's been battling arm fatigue. The right-hander has been on assignment since July 23 as part of his recovery from a tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee. He's yet to make his 2024 debut. While it's unclear how far the arm fatigue will set him back, Topa shouldn't be expected back any time soon.

AUGUST 10, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Pulled from rehab stint Topa (knee) was returned from his minor-league rehab assignment Saturday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Impact Topa has shown decreased velocity recently and it's been revealed that he's been battling arm fatigue. The right-hander has been on assignment since July 23 as part of his recovery from a tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee. He's yet to make his 2024 debut. While it's unclear how far the arm fatigue will set him back, Topa shouldn't be expected back any time soon.

AUGUST 10, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Not ready to return from IL Topa (knee) has thrown six scoreless innings at Triple-A St. Paul during his current rehab assignment, but isn't seen ready to be activted from the injured list due to decreased ve...

Impact It's telling that the Twins have not activated Topa from the injured list despite several injuries on the pitching staff in the past week. Topa hasn't pitched in the majors this season due to a small tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee which required a platelet-rich plasma injection in mid-May. He started a rehab assignment July 23. It's not clear how much longer he'll need at Triple-A or what kind of progress he'll need to show to be activated from the injured list.

AUGUST 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Report: Justin Topa, yet to make Twins debut, to begin rehab assignment Already boasting the eighth-best bullpen in the majors — based on a 3.61 ERA — the Minnesota Twins could be getting even deeper in the near...

JULY 23, 2024 • SI.COM

Sent on assignment Topa (knee) will start a rehab assignment with Single-A Fort Meyers on Tuesday, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.

Impact Topa hasn't played in 2024 with a tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee, but will see his first in-game action since being returned from a rehab assignment in early May. The reliever will likely need several rehab appearances before being activated and it's likely he won't be back in action until August.

JULY 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Throws bullpen session Topa (knee) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and is expected to throw again Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact Topa has been out all season with a small tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee and had a platelet-rich plasma injection in mid-May. He still will likely need to throw several more bullpen sessions before he can go out on a rehab assignment.

JULY 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Throws bullpen session Topa (knee) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and is expected to throw again Saturday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact Topa has been out all season with a small tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee and had a platelet-rich plasma injection in mid-May. He still will likely need to throw several more bullpen sessions before he can go out on a rehab assignment.

JULY 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing bullpen sessions Topa (knee) will throw two bullpen sessions this week, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact Topa has been out all season with a small tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee, but he seems to be inching closer to a return. The reliever will need to face hitters and make a handful of rehab appearances before a clear return date can come into focus.

JULY 2, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Set to throw bullpen session Topa (left patellar tear) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session next week, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact The right-hander was diagnosed with a small tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee in mid-May. It's his first sign of progress since the injury and he likely has several more weeks of throwing before he can begin a rehab assignment. He could return in late July if all goes well.

JUNE 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE