Trevor Hildenberger wasn't charged with an earned run in his first 12 appearances this season. He was charged with at least two in six of his next eight, including three on Wednesday.
And shortly after that debacle, he lost his job, sent to Triple A with an ERA of 8.36.
The Twins did not immediately announce the corresponding move, although multiple reports had Austin Adams en route to join the team in Seattle, where the Twins play the Mariners tonight. The Mariners also have an Austin Adams, also a right handed reliever; the Twins version has more major league innings on his resume and a worse career ERA. No additional move to fit Adams onto the Twins 49-man roster has been announced either; that will have to come today.
Most demotions involve the fringes of the roster; this one does not. Hildenberger has been one of the four relievers Rocco Baldelli has relied on in high-leverage situations. He is not being replaced by a guy who figures to step into such a role. I have obsessed in this space for weeks about the need for a fifth dependable reliever. This is going backwards.
Hildenberger has a history of running hot and cold. Last summer, after the Twins traded closer Fernando Rodney, he was the defacto closer for a few weeks and wound up with seven saves but an ERA for the season of 5.42. He was charged with at least one run allowed in five of his final seven outings in 2018, including two meltdowns of five and four runs.
I expect Hildenberger to return, eventually. But his problems have severely thinned the Twins bullpen. There are still eight arms out there, but not nearly that many the manager wants to entrust games to.
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