Twins pitching prospect Kendry Rojas on fast track toward the big leagues

Two batters into his start with the Class AAA St. Paul Saints against Toledo on Wednesday, lefthanded pitching prospect Kendry Rojas was already backed into a tough situation.

Rojas gave up a leadoff triple, leaving a two-strike changeup over the middle of the plate, and he plunked the next batter. This was just the fifth career start at AAA for the 22-year-old Cuban, and his ninth outing above High-A, so there is still a large development curve.

Then he showed why the Twins coveted him at the trade deadline. Rojas pitched out of the first-inning jam with a strikeout and two infield popups. He completed four scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers’ AAA team, striking out five with one walk, his cleanest start since joining his new organization.

The Twins traded away North St. Paul native Louie Varland, who was thriving in his first year as a full-time reliever and five seasons from reaching free agency, a move that puzzled Varland’s former teammates. Rojas was a big part of it, drawing congratulatory cheers inside the front office’s board room when he was included in the deal, in addition to acquiring outfielder Alan Roden, who recently underwent season-ending thumb surgery.

“You have a lefthanded starting pitcher in AAA that is throwing 93-98 mph, doesn’t walk guys and gets a ton of swings and misses,” Twins President Derek Falvey said. “There aren’t many of those guys walking around that have that kind of ability.”

Rojas was shocked he was traded, he admits. He was on the fast track in Toronto’s farm system, posting one of the best strikeout rates in the minor leagues.

After missing the first two months of the season because of an oblique strain suffered in the final week of spring training, Rojas has totaled 80 strikeouts and 19 walks in 58⅓ innings.

Rojas features a three-pitch mix — four-seam fastball, slider and splitter — and they all generate a high number of whiffs. The Blue Jays promoted him from Class AA after only four starts when he struck out 30 and walked two across 18⅔ innings, yielding a 3.86 ERA.

His numbers in AAA haven’t been as dominant. In five starts at the level, one with Toronto and four with the Twins, he owns a 5.40 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 12 walks in 21⅔ innings. Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising when, two months ago, he had yet to pitch above High-A.

“The adjustment is to execute pitches better because in the lower leagues, they might swing more,” Rojas said. “Around here, there are hitters with better experience. The adjustment is executing the pitch where it should be.”

Injuries are a reason why Rojas hasn’t been considered an elite prospect. He hasn’t thrown more than 84 innings in a season. He missed two months during the 2024 season because of a shoulder injury.

Listed at 6-2 and 190 pounds, Rojas has consistently gained velocity. When he signed with the Blue Jays for $215,000 in 2020, he was throwing 88-90 mph fastballs. Now, he is sitting in the mid-90s and peaking at 98 mph.

The Twins hope several of their young starting pitchers will accelerate this current version of their rebuild, recently promoting Mick Abel and Taj Bradley. Rojas is the youngest pitcher on the Saints roster, and he could factor into major league plans next year.

Rojas grew up in a baseball family. His younger brother, Yendry, was with the San Diego Padres’ minor league system until he was released this year. His uncle, Yoelvis Fiss, played in Cuba’s top national league for 21 seasons.

Rojas often wears cleats with the Cuban flag or the country’s primary colors. It’s important, he says, to remember his roots.

“I always want to have something that represents me as a Cuban,” Rojas said. “I have many Cuban friends who are in the major leagues who do, and they’ve told me to do [the same] because it’s really good, really nice representing the country.”