Louis Varland has come a long way from starting pitcher to shutdown reliever

Louis Varland made his last start for the Twins on August 14, 2024, filling in for Bailey Ober. He performed well but was demoted to Triple-A the next day. After a brief stint in the minors, he returned as a September call-up, transitioning to a relief role. Since then, Varland has excelled as one of the top relievers in baseball, achieving impressive fWAR and bWAR metrics. His previous role as a starter now seems less fitting given his current success in relief.

"Varland's transition from starting pitcher to a relief role has proven to be a pivotal moment in his career, as he has become one of the best relievers in baseball this season."

"Despite being demoted after a quality start, Varland's return to the Twins as a September call-up marked the beginning of his transformation into a right-handed weapon out of the bullpen."

"The decision to trade Varland, who had five-plus years of team control remaining, raises questions about the Twins' strategy, especially given his subsequent success in relief."

"Varland's performance metrics, including a 1.0 fWAR and a 0.9 bWAR, highlight his significant impact as a reliever, contrasting sharply with his earlier struggles as a starter."

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