Twins' Duran has moderate oblique strain; Thielbar, DeSclafani also injured

Minnesota Twins star closer Jhoan Duran will start the season on the injured list after sustaining a moderate oblique strain, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday, according to Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar will also start the campaign on the IL due to a hamstring injury.

Falvey added that right-hander Anthony DeSclafani will meet Dr. Keith Meister because of a forearm strain.

Duran, 26, posted a 2.45 ERA with 27 saves and 84 strikeouts over 62 1/3 innings for the AL Central-winning Twins last season.

Thielbar is another key piece of Minnesota's bullpen. The 37-year-old authored a 3.23 ERA with 10.6 K/9 over 36 appearances in 2023.

DeSclafani was acquired in the Jorge Polanco trade with the Seattle Mariners in late January. The 33-year-old has made 169 starts over his nine-year career and was projected to be part of the team's rotation to begin the season before the injury news.