David Festa to Make MLB Debut Thursday

With Chris Paddack placed on the injured list with arm fatigue, the Twins needed someone to fill in for him tomorrow against Arizona. Top pitching prospect David Festa got the call and will make his MLB debut.

Festa, 24, is the latest hidden draft gem discovered by Derek Falvey and the Twins’ scouting department. On the season, Festa has a 3.77 ERA/3.92 FIP with a remarkable 35.1% strikeout rate, though that’s come with plenty of hits and walks along the way. Drafted in the 13th round of the 2021 MLB Draft, Festa’s time in the system has brought a drastic increase in velocity, with his fastball jumping from 91 MPH in college to 95-98 MPH in the minors. His fastball, slider, and changeup all rate as above-average pitches, but he could probably use something a bit slower to help throw off hitters’ timing.

He’s always struck out plenty of batters, but there are concerns with his command. He started the season walking over five batters per nine innings, and while that has come down over his last three starts, it’s come at the expense of the long ball, giving up homers at a higher rate in that same stretch. Home runs haven’t been a major concern in the past for Festa, so there’s a chance it’s just a symptom of him working on his pitch mix as he prepares to face big leaguers.

The most encouraging things about Festa are his size and his strikeouts. His 6’ 6” 185 LB frame fits the mold the Twins have targeted (see: Bailey Ober, Chris Paddack, Zebby Matthews, Charlee Soto, etc.) and gives him the look of a guy who could be a front-end starter. According to Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs, who has been high on Festa much longer than other scouts, Festa currently projects as a solid fourth starter with the potential for more.

Even though Festa is 24, his rare combination of size and athleticism might portend another gear of arm strength and/or command as he continues to refine the feel for his endless limbs. He’s projected here as an innings-eating no. 4 starter on a contender who might have peak years as an impact mid-rotation guy if either his command or velocity levels up one more time.

Paddack is still projected to return before the All-Star break, so Festa may not be here long, but the Twins will inevitably have to rely on him sooner or later. Knock on any and all wood in your vicinity, but the Twins have enjoyed a remarkable (and frankly, unsustainable) run of starting pitcher health over the past two years. Combine that with Louie Varland’s struggles and Simeon Woods Richardson’s likely regression and Festa could find himself thrust into a regular role soon.

Welcome to the Bigs, David! Don’t let Bailey Ober scare you, we’re all pretty nice here.