Cuban-born Kendry Rojas’ road to the Majors is nearly complete. The Twins are expected to promote Rojas to the Majors before Minnesota’s series against the Mets. In the interim, the move will give the Twins a hard-throwing lefty who has dealt with injuries over the last few seasons.
A Look at Rojas
Last July, the Twins offloaded Ty France and Louie Varland to the Blue Jays as part of the roster blowup undertaken by Minnesota. That trade netted the Twins outfielder Alan Roden, plus pitching prospect Kendry Rojas. Rojas was the more notable piece.
The 23-year-old began to percolate as a prospect back in 2022 with Low-A Dunedin. There, Rojas got his first work in full-season ball and sat as high as 94 MPH but more 90-92 MPH with the baby Blue Jays. However, that was four years ago as a teenager. The stuff has picked up since then.
He pitched fine in Low-A Dunedin again in 2023, then struck out 69 over 62 innings between High-A and Double-A the year later.
Rojas then spent the first three months of 2025 on the IL before he rejoined the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. He was three for just a handful of weeks before the trade. After the move, Rojas moved to Triple-A but walked 23 over 27 innings with the St. Paul Saints.
The Twins added him to the 40-man roster in November along with five other prospects.
This year, between Low-A and Triple-A, Rojas started two games and appeared in three, tossing in 7.1 IP with St. Paul. He struck out seven and walked four before the reported move.
Big, powerful fastball from Rojas, one that, as indicated above, has more cutting action and not so much ride per se. Mid-to-high-90s fastball that hit as high as 99 MPH that, nonetheless, plays well up and can get obvious late swings. And, Rojas does possess above-average extension, almost releasing at seven inches of it down in the Minors.
The other two offerings are a changeup that sat around 90 MPH, as well as a high-80s slider.
There wasn’t a lot of total chase (26.4%) from him in the abbreviated action in Triple-A, notable given that Rojas will walk batters. Rojas had a 37.8% cumulative Whiff% in limited action with St. Paul.
Per multiple outlets, the Twins will promote Kendry Rojas when the team starts its series against the Mets.
Analysis
With Kody Funderburk expected to go on paternity leave, the Twins could get their first big-league look at Rojas.
Rojas started 2026 on the IL and has not yet borne a big workload in the Minors. His season-high of pitches is 50, which came on April 16 after he piggybacked for Connor Prielipp.
Big arms always have the potential to be impact pitchers, whether it be in the bullpen or rotation. Rojas has been given every opportunity to succeed as a starter with the Blue Jays and Twins. However, it will be interesting to see whether Rojas’ future is in the bullpen.
Armed with a big fastball that could only play up further, as well as being a three-pitch pitcher, that arsenal could work better there.
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