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Right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer was drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft, and has been called up to the big league club for the first time in his career. While his long-term future is still likely viewed as a starting pitcher, he's set to join the bullpen after posting fantastic numbers in AAA since being taken out of the rotation.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Twins are calling up Alex Meyer one month after demoting him to the bullpen at Triple-A. 0.53 ERA and 20/6 K/BB in 17 innings as a reliever.</p>— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronGleeman/status/614138779939553281">June 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Meyer dealt with control problems this season, and the hope is that by "focusing on working 1-2 innings at time" it will allow him to "fully unleash his powerful raw stuff". He has an upper 90s fastball, and will provide Paul Molitor with an overpowering arm to bring out of the bullpen. Glen Perkins is the closer, but Meyer could find himself in a set-up role depending on how he performs in his first taste of major league action.
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After calling up Byron Buxton, Meyer represents the latest Twins prospect to make the jump to the majors, and Miguel Sano could be next. Minnesota is enjoying a surprisingly good season, and with a record of 39-33, sit just 3.5 games back of the Royals in the AL Central, and are tied for the lead in the Wild Card race with the Yankees. With the playoffs in sight, the Twins are clearly committed to putting their best team on the field, and Meyer's promotion is the most recent confirmation of that fact.