Twins Starter Returns From IL, But Departs Game After 2 Innings

It wasn't supposed to happen this way. When the Minnesota Twins' Tyler Mahle was placed on the 15-day IL with inflammation in his right shoulder just over two weeks ago, he was expected to return with no problem.

Mahle was activated on Saturday, but his return to the mound didn't go well at all.

Tyler Mahle pretty clearly isn't right.

Velocity was down about two mph from his pre-injury levels in the first inning, and then down even further, into the high 80s, in the second inning.

One swing and miss on 37 pitches, including zero on 21 fastballs.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) September 3, 2022

As reported by Twins beat writer Aaron Gleeman, Mahle's velocity was down about two mph from his pre-injury levels in the first inning, and then down even further, into the high 80s, in the second inning.

He induced only a single swing and miss on 37 pitches; none on his 21 fastballs. He departed after two innings.

Clearly, Mahle isn't right. Sure enough, the Twins have announced he left the game with a recurrence of the same injury.

The #MNTwins have announced right shoulder inflammation for Tyler Mahle.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) September 4, 2022

Of note, the right-hander, acquired by the Twins at the trade deadline Aug. 2nd, already missed three weeks in July due to a shoulder strain. His trade market was in doubt as a result of that injury, but the Twins still went for it, and it paid off initially. Mahle started with a 2.51 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in his first three Minnesota starts.