Cody Stashak

Stashak built on his breakout 2019 season and showed he can be a steady part of Minnesota's setup corps. Stashak had a 17:3 K:BB ratio, improving his strikeout rate to 33% albeit in a small sample of 15 innings. He also improved against lefties allowing a .434 OPS against left-handed batters compared to .844 OPS in 2019. The only blemish on his season was missing a month with a lower back injury. Stashak has mediocre velocity (91.9 mph fastball), but his pinpoint control and effective slider help keep hitters off balance. Stashak's 15.2% swinging-strike rate was 23rd best among all pitchers with 10 or more innings pitched. If he can maintain the improvements from his short 2020 season, Stashak's prominence could rise in the Minnesota bullpen.

Stashak, a 13th-round draft pick in 2015, was not a highly-regarded prospect but his high minor-league strikeout rates showed potential. After a dominant season at Double-A in 2018 (2.75 ERA, 11.2 K/9), Stashak improved with a combined 12.5 K/9 at Double-A and Triple-A with outstanding control (1.5 BB/9). Stashak continued those trends when called up in July with a strikeout per inning and just one walk in 25 frames. Stashak has mediocre velocity (91.8 mph fastball), but his pinpoint control and effective slider help keep hitters off balance. Stashak's 17.1% swinging-strike rate was 15th best among all pitchers with 20 or more innings pitched. He will have to improve against left-handed batters to earn a higher-leverage role (.844 OPS vs. lefties). In the meantime, Stashak should find steady work in middle relief for the Twins.