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

"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."

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.

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