Kyler Fedko got the call to join in the list of former UConn baseball players in Major League Baseball. The swift, slugging outfielder was promoted Sunday night, and will join the Twins for their series in Texas this week.
The Twins drafted Fedko in the 12th round in 2021 and he has moved slowly through their farm system. Splitting last season between Double-A Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul, he hit 28 home runs and stole 38 bases, but did not get a September call, and played only briefly in big league spring training camp.
After a slow start to the new season at St. Paul, Fedko, 26, hit three homers in a game on April 12, and he has hit .315 since. He has 15 home runs, 45 RBI and nine steals, and he has impressed on defense at all three outfield positions. The Twins have even tried him at second base this season.
Fedko has really hit lefthanded pitchers well, .379 with five homers, a .486 on-base and .776 slugging percentage, so the Twins, who designated veteran infielder Orlando Arcia for assignment, making room on the 40-man roster, will likely look for ways to get Fedko’s righthanded bat in the lineup at several positions.
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Minnesota (33-40), 6 1/2 games behind the White Sox and Guardians in the AL Central, is hitting .234 vs. lefthanders this season. They next play in this area on July 3 at Yankee Stadium.
Fedko, the 24th former UConn player to reach the majors, joins George Springer of the Blue Jays, PJ Poulin, of the Nationals, Anthony Kay of the White Sox, Ben Casparius of the Dodgers, all of whom have been active in MLB this season. At UConn from 2019-21, Fedko hit .330 across 119 games, with 19 homers and 88 RBI, helping the Huskies reach the NCAA Tournament twice. His brother, Christian, was among his teammates in Storrs. His father, John Fedko, was a longtime sportscaster in Pittsburgh.
