LHP Mason Melotakis has been virtually untouchable out of the bullpen.
photo by Tim Evearitt
Mason Melotakis was the Twins second-round pick in 2012 out of Northwestern State (in Louisiana) where he was a reliever. The Twins gave him the opportunity to start in Cedar Rapids in 2013 with mixed results.
After two starts in 2014 in Ft. Myers, he was moved to the bullpen. He spent some time in AA that year as well, but he started experiencing elbow issues. Following the season, he had Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2015 season.
He returned to the mound in 2016 having been added to the Twins 40-man roster during the offseason.
He spent all of 2016 in Chattanooga where he was clearly being handled with kids gloves, which is wise following the surgery.
He missed most of spring training with an oblique injury. That, along with likely not wanting him to pitch in the cold of Rochester early in the season, is why he began the year back in Chattanooga.
While he is yet to pitch on back-to-back days, he has twice worked two innings. He has not yet given up a run this season, and opponents are hitting just .139 against him. He has walked just one batter so far this year. The strikeouts aren’t where they will be, but he is tough against left-handers.
--- Source: Twins Daily