Twins Claim Pitcher Off Waivers With 96 MPH Fastball
.jpg "Houston Astros pitcher Christian Roa pitches during 2026 game.")
To open a 40-man roster spot, Minnesota designated infielder and outfielder Eric Wagaman for assignment.
Roa has been optioned to Triple-A St. Paul.
Houston designated Roa earlier this week after he made 8.2 innings across a handful of appearances this season, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits with seven walks and three hit batters while striking out six.
The command issues that have followed him throughout his career showed up in Houston, and with the Astros needing a 40-man spot to handle their ongoing outfield injury crisis, Roa was the roster casualty.
What Roa Brings
Roa, 27, is a Houston native and former second-round pick of the Cincinanti Reds in 2020 who signed a minor league deal with the Astros in December.
He won an Opening Day roster spot with a clean spring, allowing just one run in nine and two-thirds Grapefruit League innings without a single walk.
His stuff has always been legitimate.
Former Astros RHP Christian Roa has been claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins…Roa was designated for assignment on Tuesday.
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelV) April 23, 2026
He carries a fastball and sinker that each sit around 96 mph and pairs them with a mid-80s slider, but his inability to consistently throw strikes has kept him from sticking anywhere long enough to develop into a reliable big league arm.
His career Triple-A ERA sits at 4.52 across 171.1 innings, with a walk rate that has ranged from 11 to 17 percent in most seasons.
Last year with the Miami Marlins, he showed some improvement as a full-time reliever, posting a 2.83 ERA across 60.1 Triple-A innings with a 26.1 percent strikeout rate.
That is the version of Roa that Minnesota is hoping shows up in St. Paul.
Why the Twins Made This Move
This claim requires very little explanation when you look at Minnesota's bullpen situation.
The Twins' relief corps ranks 23rd in baseball with a 5.07 ERA, has the fourth-worst strikeout rate among all bullpens in the league, and carries the third-slowest average fastball velocity at 93.4 mph.
They signed Luis Garcia to a minor league deal this week for the same reason they are claiming Roa off waivers.
From the Astros: RHP Christian Roa has been claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins…Roa was designated for assignment on Tuesday.
— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) April 23, 2026
Every arm with any upside is worth a look when you are this desperate for bullpen depth.
Roa still has options, can be stashed in St. Paul without any roster risk, and has enough raw stuff to potentially contribute if the command ever finds a consistent level.
Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
