2025 Stats
W-L
3-3
ERA
3.97
WHIP
1.17
K
54
SV
2
Rest-of-Season Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Sands, a 2018 fifth-round pick, was a bit of an afterthought as a swingman, but emerged as a solid contributor in a setup role last season. He saw a significant improvement in his velocity (to 95.5 mph average fastball from 93.6 mph in 2023) and improved control (1.5 BB/9). He increased the use of his cutter which went from a below average pitch (-2 run value per Baseball Savant) to a weapon (+7 run value). He may have been a little lucky with a 7.4 HR/FB%, but he could find a steady role as a setup man even if his skill set takes a slight step back. He could be a sneaky source of holds as a result. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a one-year contract with the Twins in March of 2025.
Used in setup role Sunday
Sands threw a scoreless eighth inning, allowing a walk while striking out two to earn his ninth hold Sunday against Cleveland.
Analysis
Sands was thought to be the presumptive closer after the top five options were traded away at the deadline, but he was used in the eighth inning with the Twins having a three-run lead. Michael Tonkin was used to begin the ninth inning but struggled, and Erasmo Ramirez got the final two outs for the save. It's possible Sands was used in the eighth inning to face the heart of the order and is still thought of as the top option in the bullpen. However, after one game it looks like manager Rocco Baldelli may use a committee in save situations.
Sands was thought to be the presumptive closer after the top five options were traded away at the deadline, but he was used in the eighth inning with the Twins having a three-run lead. Michael Tonkin was used to begin the ninth inning but struggled, and Erasmo Ramirez got the final two outs for the save. It's possible Sands was used in the eighth inning to face the heart of the order and is still thought of as the top option in the bullpen. However, after one game it looks like manager Rocco Baldelli may use a committee in save situations.
Pitching Stats
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2025 MLB Game Log
2025
2024
2023
2022
Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
16
Last 10 Games
16
Last 5 Games
18
How many pitches does Cole Sands generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Cole Sands generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
-13%
BAA vs RHP
2025
-10%
BAA vs LHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023vs Left | .249 | 67 | 22 | 66 | 10 | |||
| Since 2023vs Right | .216 | 93 | 18 | 67 | 6 | |||
| 2025vs Left | .230 | 23 | 7 | 26 | 4 | |||
| 2025vs Right | .255 | 31 | 8 | 28 | 2 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .264 | 33 | 7 | 28 | 3 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .193 | 52 | 5 | 31 | 3 | |||
| 2023vs Left | .261 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 3 | |||
| 2023vs Right | .205 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 1 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
-7%
ERA at Home
2025
-6%
ERA at Home
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023Home | 3.48 | 1.13 | 82.2 | 9.3 | 2.8 | ||||
| Since 2023Away | 3.76 | 1.15 | 69.1 | 9.7 | 1.8 | ||||
| 2025Home | 3.86 | 1.07 | 32.2 | 6.9 | 2.2 | ||||
| 2025Away | 4.10 | 1.29 | 26.1 | 9.9 | 2.4 | ||||
| 2024Home | 2.68 | 0.99 | 40.1 | 11.6 | 2.2 | ||||
| 2024Away | 4.06 | 1.00 | 31.0 | 9.6 | 0.6 | ||||
| 2023Home | 5.59 | 1.86 | 9.2 | 7.4 | 7.4 | ||||
| 2023Away | 2.25 | 1.25 | 12.0 | 9.8 | 3.8 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Cole Sands compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
3.60K/9
8.2BB/9
2.3HR/9
0.9Fastball
94.7 mphERA
3.97WHIP
1.17BABIP
.299GB/FB
1.29Left On Base
64.4%Exit Velocity
81.9 mphBarrels/BBE
6.3%Spin Rate
2182 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
28.6%Swinging Strike
9.7%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
Sands shuffled between Triple-A and the majors multiple times last season, working in a long-relief role with the Twins. He posted a respectable 3.74 ERA, but it was accompanied by an 8.7 K/9 and 5.5 BB/9. If he begins the season in the majors, he may end up splitting time between Triple-A and the big-league club again.
More Fantasy News
Set for closer role
Sands will likely work as the primary closer after the trades of Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax and Louis Varland, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told Sands and Justin Topa to be prepared for late-inning high-leverage roles.
Analysis
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Serving as opener Sunday
Sands will serve as the Twins' opening pitcher in Sunday's game against the Nationals.
Analysis
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Opening Saturday's game
Sands will serve as the Twins' opening pitcher for Saturday's game against the Pirates.
Analysis
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Opening Saturday
Sands will start Saturday's game against the Rays.
Analysis
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Picks up second save
Sands struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his second save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Brewers.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Will be developed as starter
Sands will be developed as a starter during spring training, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Analysis
Twins executive vice president Derek Falvey was asked if any starters will make the conversion to relief, and while he did mention Sands is the closest to an arm that would make that move, Sands will build up as a starter in the Grapefruit League. The 25-year-old appeared in 11 games for the Twins in 2022 -- three as a starter -- and struggled to a 5.87 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP in 30.2 innings. Sands may be worked as a starter, but he faces an uphill battle to make the Minnesota pitching staff out of spring training.
Twins executive vice president Derek Falvey was asked if any starters will make the conversion to relief, and while he did mention Sands is the closest to an arm that would make that move, Sands will build up as a starter in the Grapefruit League. The 25-year-old appeared in 11 games for the Twins in 2022 -- three as a starter -- and struggled to a 5.87 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP in 30.2 innings. Sands may be worked as a starter, but he faces an uphill battle to make the Minnesota pitching staff out of spring training.