Former Twins Debuter Faces Another Tough Career Twist

The Pittsburgh Pirates bolster their minor league roster by re-signing outfielder Kyler Fedko, providing stability as he rehabs from significant knee surgery.

The Pirates are bringing back Kyler Fedko on a two-year minor league deal, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, giving the outfielder a place to keep rehabbing after a brutal knee injury.

Fedko had surgery in August to repair a torn ACL, MCL, and LCL, and that recovery will keep him sidelined for much of the 2027 season. The new deal gives him some stability as he works his way back.

The 27-year-old got his first shot in the Majors with the Twins this season after grinding through parts of six minor league seasons. He spent roughly a month in the big leagues beginning in mid-June, appearing in 14 games and making 19 plate appearances.

Fedko drew two walks and picked up his first RBI on a sacrifice fly, but he never logged his first big league hit. Minnesota sent him down to Triple-A St.

Paul on July 10th.

He was productive there before the injury cut his year short. Fedko hit .274/.362/.545 with a 128 wRC+ at Triple-A this season, and his combination of pop and speed showed up again before the knee issue ended things in early August.

In 75 games for St. Paul, he hit 17 homers, stole 10 bases, and walked at an 11.1% clip.

This year was Fedko’s second at the Triple-A level. In 2025, he reached St.

Paul after a promotion from Double-A in August and posted a .268/.353/.476 line with a 115 wRC+ over 187 plate appearances. He struck out at around average rates while flashing power, speed, and plate discipline.

Minnesota released Fedko on September 1st, and the Pirates claimed him three days later. The move gives Pittsburgh a low-risk depth option to stash in the minors for 2028, or even late 2027 if he moves quickly enough.

Fedko’s path to the majors was a long one for a 12th-round pick out of Minnesota in 2021, and that breakthrough makes his story stand out. For now, he’ll stay in the Pirates organization and keep working toward a return sometime in 2028. He sits behind Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, and Esmerlyn Valdez on the depth chart, all of whom are under contract through at least then, but his recent minor league production still gives him some appeal as depth.

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