In a surprising move on Monday, the Minnesota Twins claimed pitcher Cole Irvin off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. The 30-year-old left-hander had recently been designated for assignment by the Orioles on Sunday, making him available for other teams to acquire.

Irvin, who appeared in 25 games for Baltimore this season, started in 16 of them and maintained a 6-5 record with a 4.86 ERA. Joining the Twins on Tuesday, he is expected to bolster their pitching rotation and provide valuable depth as they continue their season.

To make room for Irvin on the 40-man roster, the Twins designated Saints starter Randy Dobnak for assignment. Further adjustments will be made on the 28-man active roster, with changes expected to be announced before the next game.

Irvin's journey to the Twins began when he was traded from the Oakland Athletics to the Baltimore Orioles before the start of the 2023 season. Over the past two seasons, he has pitched in a total of 184⅔ innings, with 49 of those appearances coming in as a starter.

Selected as a fifth-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2016 after a remarkable college career at Oregon, Irvin made his major league debut in 2019. However, he was subsequently traded to the Oakland Athletics before the 2021 season in exchange for cash considerations.

While the addition of Irvin brings excitement to the Twins' pitching staff, it's worth noting that he will not be eligible to participate in postseason play, as his acquisition took place in September.

The Twins are set to kick off a four-game series tonight at Progressive Field against the Cleveland Guardians. The pitching matchup for the opener will feature Pablo López (15-8, 3.88) on the mound for the Twins, while Matthew Boyd (2-1, 2.18) takes the hill for the Guardians.

With the addition of Cole Irvin, the Twins hope to strengthen their roster and make a strong push in the remainder of the season. Only time will tell if this move will pay off, but fans are eager to see how Irvin's skills will translate to his new team as they aim for a playoff berth.