Twins bringing up Meyer for MLB debut

In late May, Alex Meyer owned a 7.09 ERA and 1.91 WHIP after his first eight starts (39 1/3 innings) for Triple-A Rochester. A move to the bullpen and a month later, he's headed to the Majors for the first time. 

The Twins are calling up their No. 3 prospect on Friday for his Major League debut, according to a tweet by MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. Right-handed reliever Michael Tonkin was optioned to Rochester on Wednesday, and Meyer will take his spot in the Minnesota bullpen. 

There were high hopes that the 25-year-old right-hander would climb his way to the Majors this season as a starter after he posted a 3.52 ERA with 153 strikeouts in 130 1/3 innings during a full season in the International League in 2014. However, he struggled mightily in that role out of the gate this season and was moved to the bullpen for the first time as a Minor Leaguer on May 29. Meyer has thrived ever since. In seven appearances as a reliever, Meyer has given up just one earned run with 20 strikeouts and six walks in 17 innings. His ERA and WHIP as a reliever stand at 0.53 and 1.06, respectively, which are obviously stellar but look even better in light of his numbers as a starter. 

The 6-foot-9 hurler earned a 70 grade for his fastball, which usually sits in the mid 90s but can come close to triple-digits when he reaches back, and a 65 for his slider from MLB.com last offseason. He's had control issues in the past, and they were present again with a 5.5 BB/9 rate as a starter earlier this season. (His BB/9 as a reliever is down to 3.2.) A big thrower with heat and some control issues always pointed to a potential future remaining in the 'pen, but Bollinger points out that the Twins don't believe Meyer's move to relief is permanent yet.

Meyer, the 23rd overall pick in the 2011 Draft, was traded to the Twins in November 2012 as Minnesota's return in the deal that sent Denard Span to the Nationals. When he first sets foot on a Major League mound, the right-hander will join Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco as top-10 Twins prospects to have played on the game's biggest stage this season.