The Minnesota Twins have decided to take a chance on right-hander John Brebbia, signing him to a minor league deal. Brebbia, who turns 36 next month, is looking to bounce back after a couple of challenging seasons.
Brebbia first made his mark in the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017, quickly establishing himself as a reliable reliever.
Over his initial three seasons, he posted an impressive 3.14 ERA and a 3.39 FIP, striking out 27.4% of batters while maintaining a solid 7.5% walk rate across 175 innings. Unfortunately, his momentum was halted by Tommy John surgery in 2020, which sidelined him for the entire season and led to the Cardinals non-tendering him.
In the 2020-21 offseason, Brebbia joined the San Francisco Giants. His return to the mound in 2021 was rocky, with a 5.89 ERA over 18 appearances as he worked his way back from surgery. However, the Giants' patience paid off as Brebbia rebounded with two productive seasons, recording a 3.47 ERA and 3.54 FIP over 106 1/3 innings from 2022 to 2023, though his strikeout rate dipped to 22.5%.
After his tenure with the Giants, Brebbia signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox in the 2023-24 offseason. Despite a promising strikeout rate of 26.9% and a respectable 7.7% walk rate, his stint with the White Sox was marred by struggles, particularly with home runs, leading to a 6.29 ERA in 54 appearances. Brebbia allowed nine homers in just 48 2/3 innings, prompting the White Sox to release him.
Brebbia found a temporary home with Atlanta, finishing the 2024 season on a positive note. However, his return to free agency led him to the Detroit Tigers on a smaller one-year deal.
Injuries limited his impact, as a triceps strain sidelined him, and he struggled to a 7.71 ERA in 18 games. Atlanta picked him up again, but his struggles persisted with the same 7.71 ERA.
This offseason, Brebbia signed a minor league deal with the Rockies but didn't make their roster, posting a 7.00 ERA in nine innings during camp. Now, with the Twins seeking bullpen depth after trading away key relievers, Brebbia has another opportunity to prove his worth and potentially contribute to their bullpen.