Twins place Carlos Correa on 10-Day IL, designate Michael Tonkin

The Twins announced a set of roster moves prior to their double-header with the Tigers, including the expected news that Carlos Correa has been placed on the 10-day injured list. 

Right-hander Michael Tonkin has also been designated for assignment, and the Twins have filled those two open roster spots by calling catcher Jair Camargo up from Triple-A and selecting the contract of right-hander Matt Bowman.

In addition, right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson was also called up as the extra 27th man for the double-header.

Correa suffered a right oblique strain in yesterday’s game, and while he told MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park and other reporters today that MRI results hadn’t yet come back, an IL stint seemed inevitable. 

The question now facing Correa and the Twins is just how much time the shortstop will miss, as oblique injuries have a tendency to linger unless Correa lucked out with a very low-level strain. 

It seems likely that Correa will miss more than just 10 days, and since third baseman Royce Lewis is also out with a quad strain, Minnesota is suddenly rather short-handed in the infield. 

Utilitymen Willi Castro and Kyle Farmer were already handling the bulk of third base duties, and since one of them will now be moved over to shortstop, Jose Miranda or Austin Martin could get more looks in the infield.

Camargo is perhaps something of an unusual call-up in this context, as the Twins already have Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez handling catching duties.  However, if Miranda gets more time at third base, that opens up some DH at-bats to allow Jeffers and Vazquez in the lineup at the same time, with Camargo providing depth behind the plate.

When and if Camargo does get into a game, it will mark the 24-year-old’s Major League debut.  An international signing for the Dodgers in 2015, he started his pro career at age 16 and has toiled away in the minors before getting his first crack at the Show. 

Camargo made it to Triple-A for the first time in 2023 and to date has hit .260/.328/.499 with 23 homers over 415 plate appearances at the top rung of the minor league ladder. Baseball America ranked Camargo as the 26th-best prospect in Minnesota’s farm system, citing his power, hard contact and an above-average throwing arm as pluses. 

However, Camargo’s defense as a whole is average at best, and he has posted some hefty strikeout rates across his minor league career.

Tonkin finds himself back on the DFA wire just over a week after the Mets initially designated the righty.  The Twins acquired Tonkin in a trade earlier this week, and he allowed two runs over two relief innings in yesterday’s 8-2 loss to Detroit.  

This could potentially mark Tonkin’s only appearance in his second career stint with Minnesota unless he clears waivers and accepts an outright assignment. Since electing free agency would mean giving up what remains of his $1M guaranteed salary from the Mets, Tonkin might decide to simply bide his time at Triple-A Saint Paul.

Speaking of guaranteed salaries, Bowman’s selection to the active roster means that the veteran reliever has now locked in $925K for 2024, as per the terms of the minors contract he signed with the Twins in January. 

Bowman posted a 4.02 ERA over 181 1/3 innings for the Cardinals and Reds from 2016-19 before an extended Tommy John rehab kept him from pitching at any level for the next three seasons. He finally returned to action with the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate last year and completed the comeback by tossing four innings over three MLB games for New York in September.

Bowman provides Minnesota’s pen with a fresh arm for at least today’s double-header and perhaps for a longer stint given how seven Twins relievers are still on the injured list.  

Caleb Thielbar and Josh Staumont have begun Triple-A rehab assignments, while closer Jhoan Duran has started to throw bullpen sessions as he worked his way back from an oblique strain.