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“Struggle bus.” I was introduced to this term about six or seven years ago when I was making sandwiches for a living. I was having a rough day in the store and having none of it and my manager comes up to me and says, “You’re riding the struggle bus, aren’t you?” I looked at her with a confused look. “You’re having a rough day, struggling to get through it, right? You’re on the ‘struggle bus’.”
March and April for righty Trevor Hildenberger was pretty nice: 2-1 with 5 holds, a 1.93 ERA over 9.1 IP, 2 ER, 11/4 K/BB. And then May came (no, not Trevor May), where he put a 21.21 ERA over 4.2 IP, allowing 11 ER in 6 games, walking none and striking out three batters. He was tagged with the L once and earned one hold in his lone appearance where he did not allow an earned run. Hildenberger was not riding the struggle bus - he was driving it, and he’s been sent to Rochester to figure out his issues.
The Minnesota Twins officially announced that decision today and have selected the contract of right-hander Austin Adams. Adams has seen 53 games over three season with the Cleveland Indians from 2014 to 2016, posting a career 6.29 ERA over 58.2 innings, allowing 41 earned runs and notching 44 strikeouts (6.8 K/9). He’s only allowed eight homers in that time. Rave reviews say that Adams is “the hardest thrower on the Red Wings” and can top 96-98 miles-per-hour on the radar gun. He sports a 4.50 ERA in Rochester this year over 11 games and 18 innings, with a K/9 of 14.0. Adams will wear number 31 (last worn by Tyler AUSTIN - coincidence??).
To make room for Adams on the 40-man roster, the Twins have designated Addison Reed for assignment. If you recall, Reed was on rehab assignment with Rochester after starting this year on the injured list with a sprained left thumb. His rehab assignment was probably going not as planned: 14.40 ERA, 5 games, 5.0 IP, 8 ER, 4 HR, 5 K, BB, 2.800 WHIP. He signed on with the Twins to a two-year, $16.75 million deal and wasn’t the greatest in is 2018 campaign, putting up a 4.50 ERA in 55 appearances, allowing 28 earned runs, and 44 strikeouts against 15 walks.
Fun fact: The Seattle Mariners also recently called up a guy by the name of Austin Adams who works from the bullpen. And guess who we play tonight?
Welcome back to the big leagues, Austin Adams!