Aaron Slegers

Position: RHP
Born: 09/04/92
Height: 6'10"
Weight: 245
B/T: R/R
Acquired: Drafted in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft (MIN).

Most Recent Stats at Time of Debut
13-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 21 starts including one shutout at Rochester (Triple-A), striking out 97 and walking 27 in 130 1/3 innings, while allowing 135 hits for a .266 BAA.

Info & MLB Debut Date
Contract purchased from Rochester on August 17, along with the activation of LHP Glen Perkins, when LHP Dietrich Enns went on the 10-day DL.
MLB Debut Date: 08/17/17

Debut Details
August 17, in a 4-2 win against the Indians in the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader. The starting pitcher, he did not get a decision, allowing two runs, both earned, on just two hits over six-and-one-third innings, walking two and striking out three. Of 82 pitches thrown, 52 were for strikes. He retired the first seven batters he faced and allowed just one hit in his first six innings. IN the first, Jason Kipnis grounded out to shortstop, Francisco Lindor lined out to left and Jay Briuce lined out to left. In the second, Edwin Encarnacion popped out to first base, Carlos Santana flew out to center and Austin Jackson grounded out to shortstop. In the third, Abraham Almonte struck out looking before Roberto Perez drew a walk to become the Indians' first baserunner of the game before being quickly erased when Giovanny Urshela grounded into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. In the fourth, Kipnis struck out swinging and Lindor lined out to left before Bruce homered to right for the first run. Encarnacion then walked before Santana grounded out to first unassisted. In the fifth, Jackson lined out to center, Almonte grounded out back to the mound and Perez grounded out to third. In the sixth, Urshela grounded out to second, Kipnis popped out foul to the catcher and Lindor flew out to center. Bruce struck out swinging to open the seventh before Encarnacion singled to left, prompting the end of the night for Slegers as right-handed reliever Trevor Hildenberger came on for him and promptly gave up a triple to Santana, scoring Encarnacion to account for Slegers' second run and closing the book on him for the night.

Player Notes
Slegers, drafted out of Indiana, technically came up as the 26th man when he arrived as southpaw Dietrich Enns went on the DL ahead of the Twins' doubleheader with the Indians. Though, accordingly, he was sent back down the next day, don't expect him to hang around on the farm for long. If you're not sure how to pronounce his last name, you can just call him "Big Boy," as, at 6-foot-10 and 245 pounds, he is quite the imposing figure on the mound (and, one would assume, anywhere else). The Big Ten Player of the Year in 2013 before he was drafted, he has moved slowly and steadily through the system, and comes off a strong spring training where he was a non-roster invitee after having been on the bubble to make the 40-man roster. After making it through the Rule 5 Draft unscathed - and through his debu - don't expect him to be taken off any time soon. He combined a fastball in the low 90s that he can bump a few ticks when needed, a sinker, a slider, and a changeup-in-progress that will complete the arsenal. He has great makeup and attitude.