Cody Laweryson, the Moscow native who pitched for the University of Maine, was released Tuesday by the Minnesota Twins.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound right-handed reliever began the season on the Twins’ 40-man roster. In 15 appearances, he had a 1-0 record with a 4.86 ERA, striking out 18 batters in 16 2/3 innings.

Minnesota designated Laweryson, 28, for assignment Saturday. When a player is designated for assignment, he is removed from the 40-man roster, and the club has to decide within a week what to do with him, whether it’s trade, release, place on waivers or an outright assignment to the minor leagues.

Three days later the Twins released Laweryson, making him a free agent who can sign with any MLB organization.

Laweryson, who was not immediately available for comment, made his Major League Baseball debut last season in a 5-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 13. He finished the regular season in Minnesota, striking out seven batters in 7 2/3 innings. He had a 1.17 ERA.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Laweryson said before his call-up. “… I’ve met a lot of the goals that they’ve wanted from me. There’s been some bumps in the road, some injuries. But this year I feel like I’ve finally put everything together that they’ve asked me to do. I think they appreciate that, and obviously I appreciate them for the opportunity. There’s not many minor leaguers left from that 2019 draft class. I think I’m ready to go out there and compete.”

He was picked up off waivers Nov. 6 by the Los Angeles Angels but was released in early February. Though he had interest from multiple teams, Laweryson returned to the Twins, earning a bullpen role during spring training.

Laweryson suffered a forearm strain to his pitching arm, forcing him to the 15-day injured list on April 11. He returned to the Twins on May 29 and pitched for the club for a month before being optioned to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints on June 23.

Laweryson was recalled by the Twins on June 29 but optioned back to St. Paul on July 6. He was placed on the 7-day IL by the Saints on July 19 with an unspecified injury and has not been on the field since. In eight appearances with the Saints, he had an ERA of 7.00, striking out eight in nine innings.

Laweryson was sidelined for a month by a strained forearm last year while with St. Paul.

He battled a similar injury last year in St. Paul, sidelined for a month with a forearm strain.

Minnesota drafted Laweryson in the 14th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Following his graduation from Valley High in Bingham, he spent three seasons at UMaine, where he made 55 appearances, including 19 starts.