Brian Duensing

2013

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2012

After going 12-3 with a 2.97 ERA as a starter in 2009 and 2010, Duensing finally won a spot in the starting rotation last spring, going 9-13 with a 5.24 ERA in 28 starts. However, he was exposed to too many right-handed hitters as a starter, as they had a .947 OPS against him. Meanwhile, Duensing dominated left-handed hitters by allowing just a .522 OPS. The Twins plan to move Duensing back to the bullpen in 2012 after he had a 1.80 ERA as a reliever in 2010, so he can be an impact arm against lefties in that role.

2011

Duensing began last season in the bullpen but moved into the rotation in July and enters 2011 as Minnesota's No. 3 or No. 4 starter. Duensing lost out on a rotation job in the spring despite a strong late season performance in 2009 (5-1 with a 2.59 ERA and 31:14 K:BB ratio in 48.2 innings over eight starts). He was effective out of the bullpen with a 1.67 ERA, but moved back into a starting role in July. He repeated his 2009 success in the rotation by going 7-2 with a 3.05 ERA. However, behind those strong numbers were a weak strikeout rate (5.3 K/9IP) and a likely unsustainable .276 BABIP. Duensing does have good control and keeps the ball on the ground (52 percent of balls in play), so there are reasons to think he can sustain his recent success in the rotation. However, don't overpay for the success he's had as a starter the past two seasons.

2010

Duensing wasn't a highly regarded prospect, but when given a chance to start last September he caught fire to help the Twins in a pennant race and made a strong case to begin 2010 in the starting rotation. Duensing moved into the rotation in late August and went 5-1 with a 2.59 ERA and 31:14 K:BB ratio in 48.2 innings over eight starts. However, there are several signs he may not be able to keep up that success since he had just 5.7 K/9IP and had mediocre strikeout rates in the minors along with just average control. Still, he came up big in several tough starts in a pennant race and is the leading candidate for the fifth starter job.

2008

The 2005 third-round draft pick was 11-5 with a 3.24 ERA and 86:30 K:BB ratio in 116.2 innings at Triple-A Rocheter last season. He then was the starting pitcher as Team USA beat Cuba to win the IBAF Baseball World Cup last fall. He's got a fastball around 90 mph so he's not posting huge strikeout totals and his command is good enough, while not great, to keep moving up in the system. He'll likely begin the season at Triple-A, but could be a factor in the majors later in the season.