Twins place Jorge López on 15-day mental health list, call up pitching prospect Jordan Balazovic
The Minnesota Twins have transferred relief pitcher Jorge Lòpez to the 15-day mental health injured list and called up pitching prospect Jordan Balazovic prior to Sunday's series finale with the Detroit Tigers.
López is the fourth MLB player to be placed on the mental health injured list this season as Colorado Rockies reliever Daniel Bard was placed on the list at the beginning of the season. Oakland Athletics reliever and former Twins pitcher Trevor May and Detroit Tigers outfielder Austin Meadows have also spent time on the mental health injured list.
López's career has had its share of ups and downs and this year has been no exception. The 30-year-old began this season by not allowing a run in his first 13 appearances but has allowed 15 runs in his past 15 innings, giving him a 2-2 record and 5.00 ERA on the season.
At this time last year, López was one of the top relievers on the trade market, earning his first career All-Star appearance by posting a 1.68 ERA and recording 19 saves for the Baltimore Orioles. But things changed after he was traded to Minnesota, allowing a 4.37 ERA in 23 appearances with the Twins last season.
With this season included, López has allowed a 4.71 ERA in 49.2 innings with the Twins.
While López is away from the team, the Twins have called up Balazovic, who was the Twins' fifth-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. The 24-year-old climbed as high as 86th on MLB.com's top prospect list prior to the 2020 season but injuries and poor performance have allowed him to fall to the No. 7 prospect and 20th overall in the Twins organization per MLB.com.
Balazovic got off to a delayed start this season after breaking his jaw in an off-site altercation during spring training but posted a 1-1 record and 4.79 era with Triple-A St. Paul this season.
Balazovic made his major league debut, entering Sunday's game in the fifth inning.
