Pitcher Zebby Matthews was caught by surprise when his manager, Toby Gardenhire, announced his promotion to the majors during a team meeting. Matthews, who was preparing for a bullpen session with Triple-A Saint Paul, will make his MLB debut for the Minnesota Twins against the Kansas City Royals.
The 24-year-old pitcher has had a rapid rise through the Twins’ farm system, starting the season in Class-A Cedar Rapids and earning promotions to Double-A Wichita and Triple-A before getting called up to the big leagues. Matthews expressed his excitement about fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing in the MLB in front of his friends and family, who will be in attendance for his debut.
The Twins will be looking to secure back-to-back wins over the Royals after their 8-3 victory in the series opener. However, they might have to do it without outfielder Byron Buxton, who left the game early due to hip discomfort. Buxton’s status for the upcoming games is uncertain.
On the other side, the Royals are determined to even the series and force a decisive game with Bobby Witt Jr. leading the charge. Witt hit a home run in the series opener and despite being hit by a pitch, he remained in the game. Royals’ right-hander Seth Lugo will take the mound for his 25th start of the season, aiming to bounce back from a tough outing against the Red Sox.
In the previous matchups between the two teams, Lugo has had success against the Twins with a 1-0 record and a 1.73 ERA. With key players on both sides dealing with injuries and uncertainties, the upcoming game promises to be an exciting and competitive matchup.
As the Twins had not announced their starting pitcher for Tuesday’s game by late Monday night, the fans will have to wait to see who will take the mound against the Royals. Stay tuned for more updates and don’t miss Zebby Matthews’ MLB debut as he fulfills his lifelong dream on the field.
