Kody Funderburk Bio
Kody Funderburk is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed reliever, he wears number 57 and made his MLB debut in 2023. He is regarded as a steady bullpen arm who has steadily climbed through the Twins organization since being drafted in 2018.
Born on November 27, 1996, Funderburk developed his game in the amateur ranks of Arizona and Texas before turning professional. He progressed from short-season ball to the majors in roughly five seasons, and has continued to handle high-leverage relief work for Minnesota.
Early Life and Background
Kody Funderburk graduated from Queen Creek High School in Queen Creek, Arizona, where he developed the pitching foundation that would carry him into collegiate competition. Coming out of high school, he drew attention as a hard-throwing left-hander and opted to continue his development in the junior college ranks rather than sign professionally out of the draft.
He began his college baseball career at Mesa Community College, where he faced a steady level of competition and refined his mechanics. After his time at Mesa, Funderburk transferred to Dallas Baptist University, a program that has produced several major league arms. The combination of junior college experience and a strong Christian university schedule helped him sharpen the arsenal that scouts would soon follow.
Path to Baseball
Funderburk’s path to professional baseball was built through steady work in the amateur ranks and a willingness to follow a less traditional route through junior college. His performance at Dallas Baptist University was enough to convince the Minnesota Twins to select him in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. The Twins used a 15th-round pick, 454th overall, to secure Funderburk, marking the official start of his professional career.
Once inside the Twins system, Funderburk progressed through several affiliates, learning the nuances of pitching across multiple innings and from the bullpen. Each promotion reflected growing trust from the organization in his ability to handle higher-level hitters. By the time he was added to the 40-man roster in 2023, Funderburk had built a reputation as a reliable strike-thrower with a durable frame.
Kody Funderburk Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Funderburk made his professional debut with the rookie-level Elizabethton Twins in 2018, recording a 4.93 ERA across 10 games as he adjusted to professional hitters. The experience gave him a measured introduction to the rigors of a long season, including travel, preparation, and a heavier workload than he had faced in college.
In 2019, he spent the bulk of the season with the Single-A Cedar Rapids Kernels, while also making a brief appearance with the High-A Fort Myers Miracle. Across 12 games, including 10 starts for Fort Myers, Funderburk posted a 4.68 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 50 innings, demonstrating the swing-and-miss profile that would become a hallmark of his career.
Minor League Development (2021–2022)
After missing the canceled 2020 minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Funderburk returned in 2021 and split the year between Cedar Rapids and the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge. In 18 games, including 10 starts, he combined for a 4-3 record and a 2.55 ERA with 82 strikeouts and 4 saves over 67 innings, showing that he could succeed in both starting and relief roles.
He spent all of 2022 back in Wichita, where he turned in a strong 10-5 record with a 2.94 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 107 innings. That breakout Double-A campaign established him as a legitimate prospect on the rise and put him on the radar for a 40-man roster spot the following year.
MLB Breakthrough (2023)
Funderburk began the 2023 season with Double-A Wichita and was promoted to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints after just five appearances. In 37 outings for the Saints, he posted a 2.60 ERA with 75 strikeouts and 5 saves across 52 innings, proving he could miss bats at the highest level of the minors.
On August 28, 2023, the Twins selected Funderburk to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues. That same day, he made his MLB debut and earned his first big league win, pitching two perfect innings in relief of Kenta Maeda during a 10-6 home victory over the Cleveland Guardians. The debut served as the culmination of a five-year climb through the Twins system.
MLB Career (2024–Present)
Funderburk opened the 2024 season on the Twins’ Opening Day roster, though he was optioned multiple times throughout the year. In 26 appearances for Minnesota, he logged a 5.61 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 33 and two-thirds innings. On July 21, 2024, the Twins placed him on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain, and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list on September 5. He was activated on September 27 to finish the year.
To begin 2025, the Twins optioned Funderburk to Triple-A St. Paul. Through that period of MLB service entering 2026, his big league line featured an 8-2 win-loss record, a 4.16 ERA, and 101 strikeouts. He remains a depth arm in the Minnesota bullpen, capable of being called upon in a variety of relief roles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Funderburk’s biggest early milestone came on August 28, 2023, when he recorded his first MLB win in just his debut appearance against the Cleveland Guardians. Reaching the majors in the same year he turned 26 highlighted the long, patient path that defined his rise. He has continued to add to his ledger of major league appearances, with each outing reinforcing the trust the Twins have placed in him as a relief option.
Kody Funderburk Career Wins
Funderburk’s career wins include both his first MLB victory, earned in relief of Kenta Maeda against the Cleveland Guardians in 2023, and subsequent big league decisions. Through MLB games played in 2024 and into the early portion of 2026, he has accumulated an 8-2 record in the major leagues. Combined with a strong 10-win season at Double-A Wichita in 2022, he has consistently found ways to collect wins wherever he has pitched.
MLB Highlights
Funderburk’s first MLB win in 2023 stands as his most celebrated individual moment, and his overall 8-2 big league record shows that he has been effective in his opportunities. He has worked primarily in relief, allowing the Twins to deploy him in middle and late-inning situations when matchups favor a left-handed specialist.
Kody Funderburk Family
Personal Life
Details about Funderburk’s personal and family life are not widely publicized. He is an American by nationality and was raised in the Queen Creek, Arizona area before pursuing his baseball career. Public records about his immediate family have not been widely shared, and he has kept his private life largely out of the spotlight while focusing on his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Funderburk entered the 2025 season optioned to Triple-A St. Paul, giving him a chance to reset after an up-and-down 2024 campaign that included a left oblique injury. The assignment allowed the Twins to keep him stretched out and ready while managing the major league bullpen around his timeline. It also gave him the opportunity to refine his secondary offerings and work on consistency against advanced Triple-A hitters.
Throughout 2025, Funderburk was positioned as a depth option for the Twins, ready to be recalled whenever a bullpen need arose. His prior major league experience, including 26 appearances in 2024, made him a known quantity for the organization. The Twins continued to value his left-handed profile and his track record of missing bats, both staples from his minor league résumé.
Looking ahead, Funderburk’s major league line of an 8-2 record, a 4.16 ERA, and 101 strikeouts reflects the steady role he has carved out in the Minnesota bullpen. With continued health after his 2024 oblique issue, he is expected to remain a reliable relief arm available for high-leverage situations. His mix of minor league polish and major league experience positions him as a long-term piece of the Twins’ relief corps.
