Three Twins pitchers, including Jhoan Duran, to start season on injured list

The Twins will start the season without their most feared reliever.

Ten days ahead of the season opener March 28 against the Kansas City Royals, the Minnesota Twins are suddenly dealing with a barrage of injuries. 

Derek Falvey, the Twins' chief baseball officer, announced during the radio broadcast of the spring training game against the Red Sox on Monday, that star closer Jhoan Duran, left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar and right-hander Anthony Desclafani will all start the season on the injured list. 

Duran has a strained oblique, Thielbar is fighting a hamstring injury and Desclafani is dealing with a forearm strain. 

Duran is one of the most feared closers in the game while Thielebar is Minnesota's left-handed specialist. It's unclear how much time any of the pitchers will miss. 

DeSclafani was brought in before spring training to compete with Louie Varland for the No. 5 spot in the the starting rotation. With DeSclafani sidelined and reportedly set to meet with a doctor to determine how to move forward with his injury, Varland is the man for the job. Varland has pitched 11 scoreless innings while striking out 11 batters and allowing only six hits this spring. 

Meanwhile, center fielder Byron Buxton was scratched from the spring training lineup on Monday due to back tightness. MLB.com's Do-Hyoung Park is reporting that it was a precautionary move. 

Oct 4, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game two of the Wildcard series for the 2023 MLB playoffs at Target Field / Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports