Cole Sands returns at good time for Twins bullpen

Jul 26, 2026 - 18:50

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The Twins got good news Sunday when reliever Cole Sands was activated from the injured list, where he had been since May 2 because of a forearm strain.

“It’s a good return for us, a guy we planned on him being a big part of our bullpen early in the year as missed significant time,” manager Derek Shelton said. “So, to get him back is nice.”

Sands, 29, was one of the few bullpen veterans left after last July’s trade deadline, when Minnesota traded away Louis Varland, Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Danny Coulombe and Brock Stewart. He hasn’t pitched since April, allowing six earned runs on 12 hits and four walks in 12 appearances.

He struck out 11 in 11⅔ innings and had one save.

Coles arrived in time to take the roster spot of Michael Peredes, who suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain while warming up for what was to be the first part of a bullpen on Saturday against the A’s.

“So, not days; it’s gonna be weeks,” Shelton said. “So, we’ll figure it out as we get more into this. But overall, not the greatest of news. But with the way he responded in the bullpen, and the way he responded afterwards, we kind of thought this was the case.”

With Coles back, the Twins now have four relief pitchers on the injured list: Peredes, Garrett Acton (shoulder strain), Anthony Banda (lat strain) and Marco Raya (shoulder impingement).

Rookie left-hander Connor Prielipp was reinstated from the 15-day IL (blister) and started Sunday’s series final against the A’s. To make room on the active roster, the Twins optioned reliever Jack Anderson back to St. Paul.

Ryan skips a start

Right-hander Joe Ryan missed a regular start this weekend for what Shelton on Saturday called arm fatigue. Instead, he threw a bullpen session on Saturday.

In his last start, his first since pitching an inning in the All-Star Game on July 13, Ryan allowed a franchise-high six home runs in a 10-6 loss at Cleveland on July 22. He is slotted to pitch Wednesday against Kansas City at Target Field.

“After the bullpen yesterday, I talked to him last night after the game and he was in a good spot,” Shelton said. “We just wanted to make sure we backed it up to give him enough rest to do it.”

Shelton said Taj Bradley will pitch Tuesday and that Bailey Ober is set for the third game of the series against the Royals.