MILWAUKEE (AP) 鈥� Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a left glute strain.
The team announced the move among a series of transactions that included the promotion of 2024 first-round draft pick Kaelen Culpepper, who was set to make his major league debut as Minnesota鈥檚 starting shortstop Friday night at Milwaukee.
Minnesota called up Culpepper and pitcher Zebby Matthews from Triple-A St. Paul, designated pitcher Taylor Rashi for assignment and optioned infielder Tristan Gray to St. Paul.
Twins manager Derek Shelton wouldn鈥檛 speculate on a possible return date for Ryan, who is 6-8 with a 3.65 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 125 2/3 innings this season. The two-time All-Star has allowed 17 runs 鈥� 16 earned 鈥� over 15 1/3 innings over his last three appearances.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got to see how he responds to treatment and kind of go from there,鈥� Shelton said before Friday night’s game against the Brewers. 鈥淭o put a number on it, I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 fair, because if we put a number on it, then everybody gets attached to that number. And then if you don鈥檛 hit that number, then it鈥檚 like, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 the setback?鈥� Sometimes people just heal differently. We probably won鈥檛 have any sort of timeline until he starts throwing again.鈥�
While Ryan went on the injured list, the Twins welcomed a promising infielder to the big leagues.
Culpepper is rated by as baseball鈥檚 No. 29 overall prospect. The Twins drafted him out of Kansas State with the 21st overall pick two years ago.
鈥淚 just want to show off, I guess my athleticism, and how hard I work,鈥� Culpepper said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been grinding. I鈥檓 still grinding. I just want to continue doing what I was doing down in St. Paul here, and just help contribute to what has already been done here. Just looking to make that push, for sure.鈥�
Culpepper, 23, has batted .271 with a .367 on-base percentage, .478 slugging percentage, 14 homers, 46 RBIs and 17 steals in 74 games with St. Paul this season. Shelton noted that Culpepper also has improved his fielding this year.
鈥淭hat was something we challenged him on going into the offseason and then during spring training,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 done a good job. He鈥檚 worked harder. He鈥檚 become a better defender. This is a kid who has some tools. That鈥檚 why he鈥檚 so highly touted.鈥�
Matthews was called up to start Friday night鈥檚 game. He was sent to the minors after striking out 10 and allowing three runs over five innings in a over the Seattle Mariners on July 31.
Matthews entered Friday with a 4-8 record and 5.22 ERA in 14 starts with Minnesota this season. He was 3-2 with a 4.72 ERA in seven starts at St. Paul.
Gray was hitting .225 with a .267 on-base percentage, four homers, 29 RBIs and two steals in 66 games with Minnesota. Rashi was 1-0 with a 9.82 ERA in three games.
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