Minnesota Twins rookie starting pitcher David Festa improved to 2-2 in Monday's 3-0 win over the Cubs. Festa pitched five innings, allowing just two hits and two walks with nine strikeouts. The 24-year-old has made five appearances with the Twins this season, four of them starts and owns a 5.55 ERA with an 11.10 K/9 rate and a 2.22 BB/9 rate in 24 1/3 IP. Festa is the Twins' top pitching prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and showed high strikeout potential with Triple-A St. Paul, although he did struggle a bit with home runs. Both his strikeout upside and HR issues have carried over in his limited big-league sample size. His next start is scheduled to be a tough one against the Guardians. Fantasy managers may want to consider sitting him if they can.
Minnesota Twins pitching prospect David Festa was recalled by the major-league club on Wednesday. The Twins' No. 4 prospect, Festa made two starts with Minnesota this season with a 1-1 record and 10.80 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. At Triple-A St. Paul this season, the right-hander has a 4.03 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 89 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings pitched. Festa will get another shot to prove himself in the major leagues. At 6-foot-6, Festa has a good mound presence with a plus fastball. His strikeout rate in the minors is promising, but his rough starts with the Twins are concerning. It might be worth seeing some results before adding him in fantasy leagues.
Minnesota Twins right-handed pitching prospect David Festa will be called up from the minors to make his major-league debut on Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 24-year-old has one of the highest strikeout rates in the minors, which will immediately make him attractive to fantasy managers now that he's set to make his big-league debut. The team's No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, will temporarily take Chris Paddack's (forearm) spot in the starting rotation. Festa, a former 13th-round pick in 2021, has become the team's top pitching prospect after going 3-2 with a 3.77 ERA with 87 K's and 24 walks in 59 2/3 innings for Triple-A St. Paul this year. The 6-foot-6, 185-pounder features three above-average pitches with a fastball, slider and changeup that can all generate swings and misses.
Minnesota Twins starting pitching prospect David Festa could be nearing his major league debut, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Recently, the Twins placed right-hander Chris Paddack (forearm) on the 15-day injured list with right forearm fatigue, which opens a spot in the starting rotation. Festa has posted a 3.77 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and a 24:87 BB:K ratio through 59 innings in his first extended look at Triple-A ball this season. The Seton Hall product has struck out ten batters on three occasions and eight batters twice, which shows his elite strikeout potential. The 24-year-old right-hander was already a candidate to reach the major leagues this season but could now be promoted much sooner than expected due to Paddack's injury. Festa is worth stashing in all standard leagues as he could provide high-upside strikeout production when he receives the call.
David Festa Strikes Out 10 For The Third Time This Season
Minnesota Twins starting pitching prospect David Festa tallied 10 punchouts for the third time this season on Friday. He allowed two runs across five frames with five hits and one free pass. This strong outing brings him to a solid 3.50 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 24:81 BB:K ratio through 54 innings in his first extended look at Triple-A ball. He tossed 12 innings at this level at the end of last summer and held a 2.92 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and 9:15 BB:K ratio. Festa currently sits at number 100 on MLB.com's prospect ranking list and number five in the Minnesota system. With his strong performance at Triple-A, Festa should reach the majors during the second half of the season and is worth stashing in deeper redraft leagues for the time being.
Minnesota Twins starting pitching prospect David Festa struck 10 batters across five innings on Tuesday, which set a new season-high in punchouts. He allowed just three hits, one walk, and two runs. Across 20 2/3 innings at Triple-A this season, the 24-year-old is riding a solid 2.18 ERA and 1.45 WHIP with 30 strikeouts. Last season, Festa posted a 4.39 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 80 innings at Double-A. The fifth-ranked prospect in Minnesota is progressing quickly and has shut down Triple-A bats quite well this season compared to his struggles last year. Festa is projected to make his major-league debut later this summer and is worth watching in deeper redraft formats.
David Festa
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Twins
