2025 Stats
W-L
3-1
ERA
2.28
WHIP
0.89
K
18
SV
2
Rest-of-Season Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Sands, a 2018 fifth-round pick, was a bit of an afterthought as a swingman, but emerged as a solid contributor in a setup role last season. He saw a significant improvement in his velocity (to 95.5 mph average fastball from 93.6 mph in 2023) and improved control (1.5 BB/9). He increased the use of his cutter which went from a below average pitch (-2 run value per Baseball Savant) to a weapon (+7 run value). He may have been a little lucky with a 7.4 HR/FB%, but he could find a steady role as a setup man even if his skill set takes a slight step back. He could be a sneaky source of holds as a result. Read Past Outlooks
Picks up second save
Sands struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his second save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Brewers.
ANALYSIS
Jhoan Duran was unavailable after pitching Wednesday and Thursday, but manager Rocco Baldelli elected to use Griffin Jax in the eighth inning Friday against the top of Milwaukee's order before handing the ball to Sands for the ninth. Sands has earned his spot in Minnesota's high-leverage crew with a 2.55 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB through 17.2 innings on the season, but despite picking up two saves in the last three days -- his first came in the second game of Wednesday's twin bill after Duran had worked the matinee -- the 27-year-old righty still appears to be no higher than third in the pecking order for closing duties.
Jhoan Duran was unavailable after pitching Wednesday and Thursday, but manager Rocco Baldelli elected to use Griffin Jax in the eighth inning Friday against the top of Milwaukee's order before handing the ball to Sands for the ninth. Sands has earned his spot in Minnesota's high-leverage crew with a 2.55 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB through 17.2 innings on the season, but despite picking up two saves in the last three days -- his first came in the second game of Wednesday's twin bill after Duran had worked the matinee -- the 27-year-old righty still appears to be no higher than third in the pecking order for closing duties.
Pitching Stats
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2025
2024
2023
2022
Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
14
Last 10 Games
14
Last 5 Games
16
How many pitches does Cole Sands generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Cole Sands generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2023
-26%
BAA vs RHP
2025
-32%
BAA vs RHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023vs Left | .255 | 49 | 18 | 49 | 7 | |||
| Since 2023vs Right | .188 | 75 | 13 | 45 | 5 | |||
| 2025vs Left | .225 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 1 | |||
| 2025vs Right | .154 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 1 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .264 | 33 | 7 | 28 | 3 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .193 | 52 | 5 | 31 | 3 | |||
| 2023vs Left | .261 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 3 | |||
| 2023vs Right | .205 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 1 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2023
-9%
ERA at Home
2025
-13%
ERA at Home
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2023Home | 3.02 | 1.12 | 62.2 | 9.8 | 3.2 | ||||
| Since 2023Away | 3.33 | 1.02 | 54.0 | 9.3 | 1.5 | ||||
| 2025Home | 2.13 | 0.95 | 12.2 | 5.7 | 2.8 | ||||
| 2025Away | 2.45 | 0.82 | 11.0 | 8.2 | 1.6 | ||||
| 2024Home | 2.68 | 0.99 | 40.1 | 11.6 | 2.2 | ||||
| 2024Away | 4.06 | 1.00 | 31.0 | 9.6 | 0.6 | ||||
| 2023Home | 5.59 | 1.86 | 9.2 | 7.4 | 7.4 | ||||
| 2023Away | 2.25 | 1.25 | 12.0 | 9.8 | 3.8 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Cole Sands compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
3.00K/9
6.8BB/9
2.3HR/9
0.8Fastball
94.5 mphERA
2.28WHIP
0.89BABIP
.211GB/FB
1.23Left On Base
82.4%Exit Velocity
79.6 mphBarrels/BBE
4.8%Spin Rate
2199 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
26.0%Swinging Strike
10.9%Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
Sands shuffled between Triple-A and the majors multiple times last season, working in a long-relief role with the Twins. He posted a respectable 3.74 ERA, but it was accompanied by an 8.7 K/9 and 5.5 BB/9. If he begins the season in the majors, he may end up splitting time between Triple-A and the big-league club again.
More Fantasy News
Called on for first save
Sands recorded his first save of the season in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orioles, pitching a perfect ninth inning in an 8-6 win. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.
ANALYSIS
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Gets on track
Sands threw a perfect inning in Saturday's Grapefruit League win over Boston, striking out three without allowing a baserunner. He's given up three runs in 2.2 innings this spring with four strikeouts and two walks.
ANALYSIS
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Notches fourth save
Sands earned a save against the Rangers on Saturday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
ANALYSIS
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Snags third save
Sands picked up the save in Monday's 7-2 victory over the Phillies, pitching two clean innings with two strikeouts.
ANALYSIS
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Earns second win in relief
Sands (2-0) earned the win in Saturday's 5-3 win over Texas. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out two over two perfect innings.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Will be developed as starter
Sands will be developed as a starter during spring training, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Twins executive vice president Derek Falvey was asked if any starters will make the conversion to relief, and while he did mention Sands is the closest to an arm that would make that move, Sands will build up as a starter in the Grapefruit League. The 25-year-old appeared in 11 games for the Twins in 2022 -- three as a starter -- and struggled to a 5.87 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP in 30.2 innings. Sands may be worked as a starter, but he faces an uphill battle to make the Minnesota pitching staff out of spring training.
Twins executive vice president Derek Falvey was asked if any starters will make the conversion to relief, and while he did mention Sands is the closest to an arm that would make that move, Sands will build up as a starter in the Grapefruit League. The 25-year-old appeared in 11 games for the Twins in 2022 -- three as a starter -- and struggled to a 5.87 ERA with a 1.57 WHIP in 30.2 innings. Sands may be worked as a starter, but he faces an uphill battle to make the Minnesota pitching staff out of spring training.