Caleb Thielbar Re-Signs with Cubs After Remarkable Comeback Season
There’s not a lot that gets Minnesota Twins fans cheering for another team - but this time, they’ll make an exception. Caleb Thielbar, the longtime Twins reliever and Minnesota native, is sticking around in the big leagues after signing a one-year deal to return to the Chicago Cubs. And after the season he just had, it’s a well-earned opportunity.
Thielbar, who turns 39 soon, isn’t just hanging on - he’s thriving. Coming off a resurgent 2025 campaign with the Cubs, he posted a 2.64 ERA and a sparkling 0.879 WHIP, backed by elite underlying metrics like xERA and hard-hit rate. In an era where soft contact is gold, Thielbar was spinning it with precision and keeping hitters off balance all season long.
For Twins fans, this feels like a full-circle moment. Thielbar grew up just south of Minneapolis and carved out a unique path to the majors.
He debuted with the Twins at age 26 and immediately made noise, putting up a 1.76 ERA and 0.826 WHIP in 49 appearances during his rookie season. Over his eight seasons in Minnesota, he became a fan favorite - not just for the numbers, but for the grit.
And grit is exactly what defined his journey. Between 2016 and 2019, Thielbar didn’t throw a single pitch in the majors.
Most players would’ve walked away. He didn’t.
Instead, he kept grinding, refining his craft, and when the shortened 2020 season rolled around, he was ready. Thielbar delivered a 2.25 ERA in 20 outings for the Twins that year, proving he still had something left in the tank.
His 2024 season in Minnesota, however, was a tough one. The ERA ballooned north of five, and it looked like his time in the majors might be winding down.
But the Cubs saw something others didn’t - and they were right. In 2025, Thielbar was nails.
He recorded scoreless outings in 56 of his 67 appearances and gave up just one run in five more. That kind of consistency, especially from a veteran lefty with three plus breaking balls in his arsenal, is rare.
One of his signature weapons? That devastating 75 mph curveball that’s been making hitters look silly for over a decade.
It’s not just effective - it’s art. And in a league increasingly dominated by velocity, Thielbar’s finesse and pitchability continue to stand out.
His return to the Cubs gives him another shot to contribute on a team looking to build on last season’s momentum. For Minnesota, meanwhile, the bullpen remains a work in progress.
There are still viable free-agent options out there, and the Twins are actively looking to shore up their relief corps. But even amid that uncertainty, there’s a sense of pride among Twins fans watching Thielbar extend his career.
He’s earned this. Every pitch, every bounce-back, every moment spent fighting for a roster spot - it’s all led to this next chapter. Caleb Thielbar is still here, still dealing, and still proving that perseverance pays off.