The Twins and right-hander Hobie Harris have agreed to a minor league deal, per MLB Transactions Daily on Instagram. The Gaeta Sports Management client will make a salary of $750K if he cracks the major league roster.
Harris, 31 in June, made his major league debut in 2023 after almost a decade grinding away in the minor leagues. He was originally drafted by the Yankees in 2015 and finally made it to the show with the Nationals last year. He tossed 19 1/3 innings over 16 appearances with a 5.12 earned run average. His 9.9% strikeout rate and 14.4% walk rate were both well worse than league averages.
In addition to that major league work, he also tossed 32 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level. Despite a 5.57 ERA there, his peripherals were better than in the majors, but still subpar. He struck out 15.2% of Triple-A hitters on the year while walking 12%. The Nationals outrighted him off the roster at season’s end and he elected free agency.
Harris is not too far removed from some pretty strong showings at the minor league level. With the Jays in 2021 and Brewers in 2022, he tossed a combined 96 2/3 Triple-A innings with a 2.89 ERA and 27.4% strikeout rate, though the walks were still high at 12.6%.
The Twins will bring him aboard as some non-roster depth and see if he can get back into that form he showed prior to 2023. If he’s able to get onto their roster at any point, he still has a couple of option years remaining. The club lost relievers like Emilio Pagán and Dylan Floro to free agency and is now facing a budget crunch this winter due to uncertainty in their broadcast situation. The major league minimum salary is set to be $740K next year and Harris will barely be above that if he has his contract is selected at any point.
Harris is currently second all-time in wins above replacements among Hobies, with both Baseball Reference and FanGraphs having Hobie Landrith slightly ahead.
You can be the top WAR Hobie. I believe in you!
Soon, Target Field will be known as The House that Hobie Built
University of Pittsburgh legend, Hobie Harris.
How do the Twins teach their slider? WIll Hobie have one like Sonny?
“Their” slider?? They have their very own version??
Yeah It’s getting to be known
Matt Wisler
Sergio Romo
Sonny Gray
To now. Pablo lopez and Joe Ryan
Have all tinkered their sliders to the Twins way not a slurve a la berrios but more of a “sweeper”
I guess all teams now donn a player with this such version
But it started here folks. From what I can tell Cincinnati and minny
2018 is the first year in MLB more K’s than Hits. A Non Traditional Slider was introduced to MLB, Dozens of pitchers started throwing it. The Rays learned it in 2018 and blueprinted it in 2019. The Astros were actually the 1st team in 2017. Brad Peacock 8 k’s to 11 from 2016 and 2017 and then to 13 k’s per 9. Chris Devenski 8.6 to 11 k’s.
The 2017 Astros were the 1st team as team pitching to avg over a K an IP in MLB history.
You should read the letter to David Adler in 2018 about the guy who introduced it to MLB.
I’m asking, There is a non traditional slider out there since 2017 but in 2018 it was more known and thrown, I know that much.
Ai
It’s more likely he will become a candidate for Tommy John surgery.
Who?
THE Hobie Harris?!?
Let the season begin!
Start planning the parade route.
Or paper route
At least Hobie Landrith was “Hobert”. This guy is a fraud. There will always be just one Hobie.
He should probably just shorten his name to “Hob!” Much better than living a lie!
Enjoy your 2023 division title,Twins. Your reign ends this year to the motor city
I think that’s a little optimistic with Baez weighing them down
Wow, twins really going to rely on these non roster invites to fill out their roster this year? Just sad, what a slap in the face to us fans…
What’s the over/under on:
How many days into the season will the Twins claim to be handcuffed by lost broadcast revenue with regard to offering/paying player contracts?
You can still enjoy the game if you want to and tune out that BS
I’ll go with zero, pretty sure they are already doing so….
“Twins, Hobie Harris agree he needs a haircut.”
I went back to the list of MLBTR articles to see the picture and can confirm he needs a haircut
Minnesota is going all out on signing players!! Guess losing half of their starting rotation isn’t going to be as impactful as previously thought.
Still waiting on that trade that brings us a solid starting pitcher…..still crossing my fingers and hoping for Luzardo or one of Miami’s other young SP….