The Minnesota Twins look like they are trying to make a deeper run than last year by adding some pitching power.

Matt Shoemaker was signed to a one-year deal for $2 million dollars. The Twins website says Shoemaker will make the rotation stronger and be the 5th starter in the rotation.  Shoemaker joins a strong rotation in Kenta Maeda, Jose Berrios, Michael Pineda, and J.A. Happ. He will have to battle Randy Dobnak for the role but it looks like Shoemaker is the stronger pitcher.

The Twins Website says Shoemaker has had some injury issues over the last few years but has had surgery to repair a nerve in his forearm in 2017, then in 2019 tore his ACL, and in 2020 missed time because of his shoulder. Shoemaker feels he is healthy coming into 2021 after getting some rest in the COVID shortened season. The Twins are also ready to gamble on him and make them a contender.

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The Twins say one of the biggest reasons they signed Shoemaker is his fastball got 2 miles an hour faster and has developed his sinker and splitter in the past couple of years. The splitter became his best pitch making 34% of the batters he faced miss the pitch.

The Twins say they are hoping Shoemaker can keep Minnesota in the race as they develop Jordan Balazovic and Jhoan Duran in the minors, whom the Twins think have a year or two before they will be brought up to the majors. Plus, The Twins say Devin Smeltzer and Lewis Thorpe are going to be battling Shoemaker to be in the last starting position in the pre-season, so that will make the pitching stronger.

2021 Minnesota Twins Schedule Highlights

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