Cody Christie

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are in the midst of their All-Star break so they were out of action on Wednesday night. This didn't stop the Twins from announcing that one of their top prospects, Max Kepler, would be joining that club. He had been at extended spring training as he worked to recover from an elbow injury. The power hitting outfielder will take over a corner outfield spot since Byron Buxton is manning center field in Cedar Rapids. Liam Hendriks was also reinstated from the disabled list and this meant another move had to be made. Right-handed pitcher Virgil Vasquez was sent from Rochester to New Britain as the corresponding move. It has been a rough season so far for Hendriks and it would be nice to see him put together some strong starts in the second half of the year. Here's a look at Wednesday night's action in the Twins farm system. Rochester Red Wings 7, Scranton/WB RailRiders 10 Box Score Liam Hendriks returned to the mound on Wednesday night after missing over a month with right elbow inflammation. It was his first start since May 9th and there was certainly a little rust to work through. Over four innings, he surrendered seven runs on nine hits including two home runs. Out of his 77 pitches, 47 were for strikes but he limited his walks to two. The bottom four hitters in the Red Wings line-up all had an RBI. Doug Bernier went 3-for-5 with four RBI and a triple. Dan Rohlfing, James Beresford, and Drew Butera all knocked in a run. Jeff Clement and Chris Herrmann each added a double. The Red Wings had plenty of opportunities with runners in scoring position. Over the course of the night, Rochester went 5-for-15 with men in scoring position. The club also left 11 runners on base. Antoan Richardson stole his 14th base since joining Rochester and he now has 27 steals on the year between Double-A and Triple-A. Rochester started the year 2-11, hot play in recent weeks has gotten the Red Wings closer to the .500 mark. The team has still won six of their last eight games and they are within striking distance of a wild card spot. A win tomorrow would split the two-game set with Scranton/WB. New Britain Rock Cats 1, Erie SeaWolves 2 Box Score After starting his Double-A career 1-for-17 with a single, Miguel Sano finally notched his first home runs since being called up to New Britain. His long ball broke a scoreless tie to put the Rock Cats ahead in the top of the seventh inning. Sano's home run wouldn't be enough as the SeaWolves scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning. It was another tough luck loss for Pat Dean as he suffered his third consecutive defeat. In two of the three outings, he surrendered two runs or less and pitched into the seventh inning. The Rock Cats offense hasn't been able to support him when he is on the mound. Matt Hauser did a fantastic job in relief of Dean. He recorded the last four outs of the game on four strikeouts. His ERA lowered to 1.23 and he has only allowed one run since being promoted to New Britain at the end of May. Following last night's four hit game, Danny Santana had a couple of hits and his fifth double of the year. Eddie Rosario went 1-for-3 and he has hit safely in five of his six games since joining New Britain. Daniel Ortiz was the only other player to record a hit. Fort Myers Miracle 5, Palm Beach Cardinals 8 Box Score Jason Wheeler failed to pitch through the fifth inning for the first time since May 21 and the Miracle weren't able to dig themselves out of an early hole. It marked only the second time this season where Wheeler was saddled with the loss. He threw 4.1 innings, gave up eight runs, and got knocked around for seven hits. The Miracle bullpen did a fairly good job in relief. Nelvin Fuentes, Jose Gonzalez, and Corey Williams pitched 4.2 innings and allowed two base runners while striking out seven. Fuentes entered in a tough spot with the bases loaded and he allowed all of the inherited runners to score. From there, he was able to settle down and the zeros started to pile up. Kennys Vargas continued his power hitting ways with a double and two RBI. He finished the night 2-for-4 and he has had multiple hit in his last two games. Candido Pimentel and Mike Kvasnicka added a hit apiece. Stephen Wickens went 2-for-3 as he continues to get closer to a .250 batting average.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels are in the midst of their All-Star break so they were out of action on Wednesday night. This didn't stop the Twins from announcing that one of their top prospects, Max Kepler, would be joining that club. He had been at extended spring training as he worked to recover from an elbow injury. The power hitting outfielder will take over a corner outfield spot since Byron Buxton is manning center field in Cedar Rapids. Liam Hendriks was also reinstated from the disabled list and this meant another move had to be made. Right-handed pitcher Virgil Vasquez was sent from Rochester to New Britain as the corresponding move. It has been a rough season so far for Hendriks and it would be nice to see him put together some strong starts in the second half of the year. Here's a look at Wednesday night's action in the Twins farm system. Rochester Red Wings 7, Scranton/WB RailRiders 10 Box Score Liam Hendriks returned to the mound on Wednesday night after missing over a month with right elbow inflammation. It was his first start since May 9th and there was certainly a little rust to work through. Over four innings, he surrendered seven runs on nine hits including two home runs. Out of his 77 pitches, 47 were for strikes but he limited his walks to two. The bottom four hitters in the Red Wings line-up all had an RBI. Doug Bernier went 3-for-5 with four RBI and a triple. Dan Rohlfing, James Beresford, and Drew Butera all knocked in a run. Jeff Clement and Chris Herrmann each added a double. The Red Wings had plenty of opportunities with runners in scoring position. Over the course of the night, Rochester went 5-for-15 with men in scoring position. The club also left 11 runners on base. Antoan Richardson stole his 14th base since joining Rochester and he now has 27 steals on the year between Double-A and Triple-A. Rochester started the year 2-11, hot play in recent weeks has gotten the Red Wings closer to the .500 mark. The team has still won six of their last eight games and they are within striking distance of a wild card spot. A win tomorrow would split the two-game set with Scranton/WB. New Britain Rock Cats 1, Erie SeaWolves 2 Box Score After starting his Double-A career 1-for-17 with a single, Miguel Sano finally notched his first home runs since being called up to New Britain. His long ball broke a scoreless tie to put the Rock Cats ahead in the top of the seventh inning. Sano's home run wouldn't be enough as the SeaWolves scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning. It was another tough luck loss for Pat Dean as he suffered his third consecutive defeat. In two of the three outings, he surrendered two runs or less and pitched into the seventh inning. The Rock Cats offense hasn't been able to support him when he is on the mound. Matt Hauser did a fantastic job in relief of Dean. He recorded the last four outs of the game on four strikeouts. His ERA lowered to 1.23 and he has only allowed one run since being promoted to New Britain at the end of May. Following last night's four hit game, Danny Santana had a couple of hits and his fifth double of the year. Eddie Rosario went 1-for-3 and he has hit safely in five of his six games since joining New Britain. Daniel Ortiz was the only other player to record a hit. Fort Myers Miracle 5, Palm Beach Cardinals 8 Box Score Jason Wheeler failed to pitch through the fifth inning for the first time since May 21 and the Miracle weren't able to dig themselves out of an early hole. It marked only the second time this season where Wheeler was saddled with the loss. He threw 4.1 innings, gave up eight runs, and got knocked around for seven hits. The Miracle bullpen did a fairly good job in relief. Nelvin Fuentes, Jose Gonzalez, and Corey Williams pitched 4.2 innings and allowed two base runners while striking out seven. Fuentes entered in a tough spot with the bases loaded and he allowed all of the inherited runners to score. From there, he was able to settle down and the zeros started to pile up. Kennys Vargas continued his power hitting ways with a double and two RBI. He finished the night 2-for-4 and he has had multiple hit in his last two games. Candido Pimentel and Mike Kvasnicka added a hit apiece. Stephen Wickens went 2-for-3 as he continues to get closer to a .250 batting average.

Love 'em or hate 'em, the Yankees are headed to town in early July. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the first of four Twins postseason defeats at the hands of the Bronx Bombers, so we thought we'd take the opportunity to look back at what has been a lopsided -- but always entertaining and memorable -- rivalry between the two franchises. Over the next couple weeks leading up to the Yankees series at Target Field, various writers here at Twins Daily will look back at some of the Yankee moments that stick in our minds. 
 Chuck Knoblauch The name alone can bring up a wide-range of feelings for Twins fans. From World Series champion to the business end of a sea of flying hot dogs, Knoblauch suffered through some highs and lows in Minnesota. Those opposite ends of the spectrum are what make his story so intriguing. 
 One of the brightest highlights in Knoblauch’s career had to have been the Twins' run to the 1991 World Series. The rookie second baseman put up strong numbers in the Series, hitting .308/.387/.346. In the pivotal seventh game, Knoblauch and shortstop Greg Gange appeared to deceive Lonnie Smith, who was on first base. Terry Pendleton hit a clear double but Knoblach pretended to start a double play and Smith, buying the fake, only made it to third base. This run, or non-run, turned out to be crucial in a tight game. 
 Originally posted at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com During his time with the Twins, Knoblauch compiled some very good numbers. From 1991-1997, he hit .304/.391/.416 with 210 doubles, 51 triples and 43 home runs. His best three-year stretch was from 1994-1996 when he batted .330/.422/.491. Before he was traded, Knoblauch accumulated a career total of 37.8 WAR which puts him in some elite company for the Twins. 
 Knoblauch's Twins' tenure didn't end well as he suffered through some of the toughest years in Twins Territory history. He wanted to go to a winning team; the Twins didn't look to be moving in that direction. The club traded him to the Yankees following the 1997 season for a package of players. Minnesota got his best years and there would be some dark moments ahead for him. 
 Two future All-Stars, Cristian Guzman and Eric Milton were among the players who were part of the Knoblauch deal. In a bit of a strange turn, Knoblauch left town because he wanted to win and the players he was traded for became part of Minnesota’s new winning tradition. Here is how the package of players fared in their Twins careers: Eric Milton 14.7 WAR (6 seasons) Cristian Guzman 7.5 WAR (6 seasons) Brian Buchanan 0.3 WAR (3 seasons) Danny Mota 0.0 WAR (1 season) While the Twins got back a value of 22.5 WAR, Knoblauch produced 7.4 WAR during his time in a Yankees uniform. He helped New York to three consecutive World Series Championships from 1998 to 2000. Knoblauch had important home runs in the 1998 and 1999 series and the Yankees won the American League pennant every year he was with the team. 
 Things weren't all positive during his years in New York, though. In 1999, he began to have a tough time making throws to first base. This condition would worsen enough in 2000 that he began to spend more time at DH. In 2001, he didn't play a game at second as the team moved him to left field and this allowed Alfonso Soriano to slide into the line-up. 
 One of the most memorable moments in Metrodome history took place after Knoblauch moved to the outfield. When the Yankees visited Minnesota at the beginning of May, 2001, things turned ugly in the outfield stands. It was "Dollar Dog Night" so fans had access to plenty of cheap ammo. Minnesota was still trying to get back to respectability in the AL so tickets were cheap. This led to some poor decision-making from the Metrodome faithful. 
 In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Twins took a three run lead on a Matt Lawton single. The fans had had plenty of rounds of beer and hot dogs in them by this time. As excitement ran through the crowd, hot dogs and other objects were thrown on the field. PA Announcer Bob Casey did his best to calm the raucous crowd but it wasn't until manager Tom Kelly walked out and spoke with the fans that things finally got back to order. 
 Overall, Knoblauch put together some solid numbers in his 12-year MLB career. His post-playing career has been filled with more than one black eye and this has tarnished some of his on-the-field legacy. A portion of Twins fans remember the solid second baseman who helped the club win a championship. Others think of flying hot dogs and steroid accusations. Either way, Knoblauch is a very polarizing figure. It also doesn’t help that he was a Damn Yankee.

Love 'em or hate 'em, the Yankees are headed to town in early July. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the first of four Twins postseason defeats at the hands of the Bronx Bombers, so we thought we'd take the opportunity to look back at what has been a lopsided -- but always entertaining and memorable -- rivalry between the two franchises. Over the next couple weeks leading up to the Yankees series at Target Field, various writers here at Twins Daily will look back at some of the Yankee moments that stick in our minds. 
 Chuck Knoblauch The name alone can bring up a wide-range of feelings for Twins fans. From World Series champion to the business end of a sea of flying hot dogs, Knoblauch suffered through some highs and lows in Minnesota. Those opposite ends of the spectrum are what make his story so intriguing. 
 One of the brightest highlights in Knoblauch’s career had to have been the Twins' run to the 1991 World Series. The rookie second baseman put up strong numbers in the Series, hitting .308/.387/.346. In the pivotal seventh game, Knoblauch and shortstop Greg Gange appeared to deceive Lonnie Smith, who was on first base. Terry Pendleton hit a clear double but Knoblach pretended to start a double play and Smith, buying the fake, only made it to third base. This run, or non-run, turned out to be crucial in a tight game. 
 Originally posted at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com During his time with the Twins, Knoblauch compiled some very good numbers. From 1991-1997, he hit .304/.391/.416 with 210 doubles, 51 triples and 43 home runs. His best three-year stretch was from 1994-1996 when he batted .330/.422/.491. Before he was traded, Knoblauch accumulated a career total of 37.8 WAR which puts him in some elite company for the Twins. 
 Knoblauch's Twins' tenure didn't end well as he suffered through some of the toughest years in Twins Territory history. He wanted to go to a winning team; the Twins didn't look to be moving in that direction. The club traded him to the Yankees following the 1997 season for a package of players. Minnesota got his best years and there would be some dark moments ahead for him. 
 Two future All-Stars, Cristian Guzman and Eric Milton were among the players who were part of the Knoblauch deal. In a bit of a strange turn, Knoblauch left town because he wanted to win and the players he was traded for became part of Minnesota’s new winning tradition. Here is how the package of players fared in their Twins careers: Eric Milton 14.7 WAR (6 seasons) Cristian Guzman 7.5 WAR (6 seasons) Brian Buchanan 0.3 WAR (3 seasons) Danny Mota 0.0 WAR (1 season) While the Twins got back a value of 22.5 WAR, Knoblauch produced 7.4 WAR during his time in a Yankees uniform. He helped New York to three consecutive World Series Championships from 1998 to 2000. Knoblauch had important home runs in the 1998 and 1999 series and the Yankees won the American League pennant every year he was with the team. 
 Things weren't all positive during his years in New York, though. In 1999, he began to have a tough time making throws to first base. This condition would worsen enough in 2000 that he began to spend more time at DH. In 2001, he didn't play a game at second as the team moved him to left field and this allowed Alfonso Soriano to slide into the line-up. 
 One of the most memorable moments in Metrodome history took place after Knoblauch moved to the outfield. When the Yankees visited Minnesota at the beginning of May, 2001, things turned ugly in the outfield stands. It was "Dollar Dog Night" so fans had access to plenty of cheap ammo. Minnesota was still trying to get back to respectability in the AL so tickets were cheap. This led to some poor decision-making from the Metrodome faithful. 
 In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Twins took a three run lead on a Matt Lawton single. The fans had had plenty of rounds of beer and hot dogs in them by this time. As excitement ran through the crowd, hot dogs and other objects were thrown on the field. PA Announcer Bob Casey did his best to calm the raucous crowd but it wasn't until manager Tom Kelly walked out and spoke with the fans that things finally got back to order. 
 Overall, Knoblauch put together some solid numbers in his 12-year MLB career. His post-playing career has been filled with more than one black eye and this has tarnished some of his on-the-field legacy. A portion of Twins fans remember the solid second baseman who helped the club win a championship. Others think of flying hot dogs and steroid accusations. Either way, Knoblauch is a very polarizing figure. It also doesn’t help that he was a Damn Yankee.

The middle of June has come and gone and there is no sign of Kyle Gibson in the Twin Cities. Teams like the Rays and the Mets are calling up top prospects like Wil Myers and Zack Wheeler because the deadline has passed for players to qualify for Super Two status. This means the Rays and Mets can control these high level players for a big chunk of the next decade. Gibson has a different story than some other players. The former first round pick entered the Twins system with three years of college experience. This allowed him to move through the organization at a fast pace in 2010. Tommy John surgery was the only thing that could slow him down on his way to the major leagues. Originally posted at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com Now Gibson has worked his way back to the form he showed before his injury. Over his last 10 games, he has a 6-2 record with a 2.89 ERA. In 65.1 innings pitched, he has 54 strikeouts and 20 walks. He also has two complete game shutouts during that stretch and that's more than he's had in any professional season. It sure seems like Gibson is ready so what's the hold-up? At the beginning of June, the reasoning used by Twins general manager Terry Ryan was the team was looking for more "consistency." In his three starts since that interview, Gibson has pitched at least six innings and he has given up three earned runs or less while striking out a total of 14 batters. By looking back even further, Gibson hasn't been pulled from a game before the sixth inning since the middle of May. The consistency is there but Gibson isn't getting the call. One of the problems for Gibson is the improved performance of the Twins starting rotation. In the month of May, the Twins staff had the third worst ERA (5.06) in all of baseball. They ranked last in strikeouts and opponents had a higher batting average against the Twins than any other team. This lead to some changes like Deduno’s call up and Vance Worley's demotion. Since the calendar switched to June, the Twins pitching numbers have been greatly improved. Minnesota ranks seventh in all of baseball for team ERA this month. The club's WHIP and hits allowed are right in the middle of the pack. During the team's last 18 games, the team has gone 11-7 and the starters have helped to keep the team in games. So far in the month of June, here is what the starting rotation has done: 1. Sam Deduno (3 Starts): 2.00 ERA, 18 IP, 1.28 WHIP 2. Kevin Correia (3 Starts): 4.00 ERA, 18 IP, 1.50 WHIP 3. Scott Diamond (3 Starts): 5.51 ERA, 16.1 IP, 1.47 WHIP 4. PJ Walters (3 Starts): 2.41 ERA, 18.2 IP, 1.55 WHIP 5. Mike Pelfrey (2 Starts): 4.05 ERA, 13.1 IP, 1.05 WHIP The Twins have said that Gibson will be on an innings limit and it is expected to be in the range of 130-140 innings. He currently sits at 85.2 innings and that means his next start will likely push him over the 90 innings mark. This would leave him with less than 50 available innings at the big league level this season. All of the Twins moves this season should be focused on the future. It might have been good for Gibson to get some more experience at the Triple-A level and his performance this spring proved that he needed to work on some things this season. It is just tough to know how much longer the Twins can wait to call him up. As the starters continue to pitch well, Gibson gets one step closer to reaching his innings limit with each start in Rochester. If the Twins don't call him up before his limit, the club will be missing out on a opportunity for him to gain some big league experience. Rookies can have some ups and downs and it would be nice to get some of those out of the way in 2013. Gibson is part of the plan for the future but it's hard to see what the club's plan is for the present. The 25-year old has been through a lot in his professional career and it’s time to take the training wheels off and see if he can make it ride at the big league level.

The middle of June has come and gone and there is no sign of Kyle Gibson in the Twin Cities. Teams like the Rays and the Mets are calling up top prospects like Wil Myers and Zack Wheeler because the deadline has passed for players to qualify for Super Two status. This means the Rays and Mets can control these high level players for a big chunk of the next decade. Gibson has a different story than some other players. The former first round pick entered the Twins system with three years of college experience. This allowed him to move through the organization at a fast pace in 2010. Tommy John surgery was the only thing that could slow him down on his way to the major leagues. Originally posted at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com Now Gibson has worked his way back to the form he showed before his injury. Over his last 10 games, he has a 6-2 record with a 2.89 ERA. In 65.1 innings pitched, he has 54 strikeouts and 20 walks. He also has two complete game shutouts during that stretch and that's more than he's had in any professional season. It sure seems like Gibson is ready so what's the hold-up? At the beginning of June, the reasoning used by Twins general manager Terry Ryan was the team was looking for more "consistency." In his three starts since that interview, Gibson has pitched at least six innings and he has given up three earned runs or less while striking out a total of 14 batters. By looking back even further, Gibson hasn't been pulled from a game before the sixth inning since the middle of May. The consistency is there but Gibson isn't getting the call. One of the problems for Gibson is the improved performance of the Twins starting rotation. In the month of May, the Twins staff had the third worst ERA (5.06) in all of baseball. They ranked last in strikeouts and opponents had a higher batting average against the Twins than any other team. This lead to some changes like Deduno’s call up and Vance Worley's demotion. Since the calendar switched to June, the Twins pitching numbers have been greatly improved. Minnesota ranks seventh in all of baseball for team ERA this month. The club's WHIP and hits allowed are right in the middle of the pack. During the team's last 18 games, the team has gone 11-7 and the starters have helped to keep the team in games. So far in the month of June, here is what the starting rotation has done: 1. Sam Deduno (3 Starts): 2.00 ERA, 18 IP, 1.28 WHIP 2. Kevin Correia (3 Starts): 4.00 ERA, 18 IP, 1.50 WHIP 3. Scott Diamond (3 Starts): 5.51 ERA, 16.1 IP, 1.47 WHIP 4. PJ Walters (3 Starts): 2.41 ERA, 18.2 IP, 1.55 WHIP 5. Mike Pelfrey (2 Starts): 4.05 ERA, 13.1 IP, 1.05 WHIP The Twins have said that Gibson will be on an innings limit and it is expected to be in the range of 130-140 innings. He currently sits at 85.2 innings and that means his next start will likely push him over the 90 innings mark. This would leave him with less than 50 available innings at the big league level this season. All of the Twins moves this season should be focused on the future. It might have been good for Gibson to get some more experience at the Triple-A level and his performance this spring proved that he needed to work on some things this season. It is just tough to know how much longer the Twins can wait to call him up. As the starters continue to pitch well, Gibson gets one step closer to reaching his innings limit with each start in Rochester. If the Twins don't call him up before his limit, the club will be missing out on a opportunity for him to gain some big league experience. Rookies can have some ups and downs and it would be nice to get some of those out of the way in 2013. Gibson is part of the plan for the future but it's hard to see what the club's plan is for the present. The 25-year old has been through a lot in his professional career and it’s time to take the training wheels off and see if he can make it ride at the big league level.

Plouffe reentered the Twins line-up this weekend with a bang. This was great to see from the former first round pick but one has to look at the future of Twins baseball and wonder what his place will be with this organization. It seems as if the Twins are still a couple years away from contending and that could mean some changes for the 27-year old Plouffe. Twins fans will best remember Plouffe for his Ruthian like hot streak during the middle of last season. In a stretch of 14 games, he hit .375/.397/.982 with 10 home runs and four doubles. It looked like the Twins had found their man at third base but a hand injury would slow him down. Fans were left wondering what version of Plouffe the Twins would have in 2013. Originally posted at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com So far this season, Plouffe has missed time on the 7-day concussion DL and this was quickly followed by another DL trip for a leg injury. He has played in 39 games and he has hit .264/.344/.457 with five home runs and 10 doubles. His batting average is higher than any point at last season and this has helped some of his other numbers to improve. One of the problems facing Plouffe in the future could be the players coming up through the minor league system behind him. Deibinson Romero has put together strong numbers this season at Double-A and Triple-A. This leaves him a step away from the big leagues and the Twins might be willing to give him a look at some point this season. Further behind in Plouffe's rear-view mirror is uber prospect Miguel Sano. The Twins recently promoted Sano to Double-A and some of the best prospects in baseball don't even make a stop at Triple-A. Sano will probably be in New Britain for the rest of this season but that doesn't mean he couldn't be in the mix for the starting third base job in 2014. In the past, there have been some questions about Sano's ability to stick at third base. He was a little raw at the hot corner and one of his biggest improvement areas over the last couple of years has been his defense. Last season, he had 42 errors in 361 chances at third. This season he has 12 errors in 170 chances. As we gaze into our crystal ball and look toward the future of Twins baseball, there are a few different situations that could transpire for Plouffe... 1. Move to a corner outfield spot: When Michael Cuddyer didn't work out at third base, the club moved him to a corner outfield spot and this is where he truly began to flourish. He would earn his lone All-Star selection as an outfielder and he became a strong veteran presence in the clubhouse. Plouffe would need to continue to make improvements at the plate and if he can make those adjustments, this seems like the most likely path. 2. Stay at third base: If Sano has to be moved from third base to first base, this would leave a hole at a corner infield spot. For the majority of his minor league career, Plouffe was a shortstop so he has been learning some of his third base skills on the fly. Plouffe has been below average on defense when compared to the rest of the league so he would need to continue to improve. 3. Find another team: There is a strong crop of minor league players moving through the organization and this youth movement could push Plouffe to the side. The Twins have control of Plouffe through the arbitration process until 2018. He would be 32-years old and his production level might be less than what the Twins would have to pay him. This could mean a new organization for Mr. Plouffe. Overall, the Twins hope Plouffe's performance on the field makes it an easy decision to keep him around and in the line-up on a daily basis. Sano might have a lot to say about Plouffe staying at third base but a corner outfield spot might be a welcome sight for Plouffe as he gets closer to 30. There are a lot of variables to the equation of Trevor Plouffe's future. Fans can hope he figures things out at the plate and in the field to become a strong veteran player on some Twins team's that should be back near the top of the American League Central.

Plouffe reentered the Twins line-up this weekend with a bang. This was great to see from the former first round pick but one has to look at the future of Twins baseball and wonder what his place will be with this organization. It seems as if the Twins are still a couple years away from contending and that could mean some changes for the 27-year old Plouffe. Twins fans will best remember Plouffe for his Ruthian like hot streak during the middle of last season. In a stretch of 14 games, he hit .375/.397/.982 with 10 home runs and four doubles. It looked like the Twins had found their man at third base but a hand injury would slow him down. Fans were left wondering what version of Plouffe the Twins would have in 2013. Originally posted at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com So far this season, Plouffe has missed time on the 7-day concussion DL and this was quickly followed by another DL trip for a leg injury. He has played in 39 games and he has hit .264/.344/.457 with five home runs and 10 doubles. His batting average is higher than any point at last season and this has helped some of his other numbers to improve. One of the problems facing Plouffe in the future could be the players coming up through the minor league system behind him. Deibinson Romero has put together strong numbers this season at Double-A and Triple-A. This leaves him a step away from the big leagues and the Twins might be willing to give him a look at some point this season. Further behind in Plouffe's rear-view mirror is uber prospect Miguel Sano. The Twins recently promoted Sano to Double-A and some of the best prospects in baseball don't even make a stop at Triple-A. Sano will probably be in New Britain for the rest of this season but that doesn't mean he couldn't be in the mix for the starting third base job in 2014. In the past, there have been some questions about Sano's ability to stick at third base. He was a little raw at the hot corner and one of his biggest improvement areas over the last couple of years has been his defense. Last season, he had 42 errors in 361 chances at third. This season he has 12 errors in 170 chances. As we gaze into our crystal ball and look toward the future of Twins baseball, there are a few different situations that could transpire for Plouffe... 1. Move to a corner outfield spot: When Michael Cuddyer didn't work out at third base, the club moved him to a corner outfield spot and this is where he truly began to flourish. He would earn his lone All-Star selection as an outfielder and he became a strong veteran presence in the clubhouse. Plouffe would need to continue to make improvements at the plate and if he can make those adjustments, this seems like the most likely path. 2. Stay at third base: If Sano has to be moved from third base to first base, this would leave a hole at a corner infield spot. For the majority of his minor league career, Plouffe was a shortstop so he has been learning some of his third base skills on the fly. Plouffe has been below average on defense when compared to the rest of the league so he would need to continue to improve. 3. Find another team: There is a strong crop of minor league players moving through the organization and this youth movement could push Plouffe to the side. The Twins have control of Plouffe through the arbitration process until 2018. He would be 32-years old and his production level might be less than what the Twins would have to pay him. This could mean a new organization for Mr. Plouffe. Overall, the Twins hope Plouffe's performance on the field makes it an easy decision to keep him around and in the line-up on a daily basis. Sano might have a lot to say about Plouffe staying at third base but a corner outfield spot might be a welcome sight for Plouffe as he gets closer to 30. There are a lot of variables to the equation of Trevor Plouffe's future. Fans can hope he figures things out at the plate and in the field to become a strong veteran player on some Twins team's that should be back near the top of the American League Central.

After a rough road trip over the last week, the Twins returned home to face a Phillies team with it's own share of struggles. Minnesota won the first two games of the series but both games were close. The Tigers come to town for Father's Day weekend and this marks the start of nine straight games against AL Central opponents. This can become a crucial part of the schedule if the Twins want to stay in the hunt for a division crown. The club has a winning record so far in June and that is a good way to get back to the .500 mark. So far this season, the Twins are 9-15 versus AL Central foes. There has been plenty of news from around Twins Territory this week so let's dive into the latest edition of "Friday Links-N-Thinks." While watching the FSN broadcasts, it might not seem like advance stats are being used but Dick Bremer continues delve deeper into this world. Miguel Sano was promoted to Double-A this week and there were a variety of reasons why he was ready. Bookmark this site as there will be plenty of coverage from New Britain on Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario. With the move to Double-A, is it time to shift Sano over to first base? A couple of Twins prospects have been terrorizing the minor leagues. Paul Molitor sees a lot of what happens in the Twins minor league system. There is plenty more to the Cedar Rapids Kernels beyond Byron Buxton. The pitcher the Twins got back for Denard Span is suffering some shoulder soreness and that can be a bad sign for the future. Target Field has more than enough options when it comes to stuffing your face. Joe Mauer has eyes in the back of his head. The Twins had an interesting situation play out on the mound earlier this week. It sure seems like a time when a bullpen car would have been helpful. Former Twins prospect Wilson Ramos suffered another set-back as he reinjured his ailing hamstring. That's not a good injury for a catcher to be suffering through. My favorite baseball movie of all-time turned 25 years old this week. The Twins might have interested in the always injured Grady Sizemore. Next year's draft is less than a year away! It's never too early to dig into who are some of the top college arms. It's impossible to hit the ball over Carlos Gomez's head. As Twins fans know, Alexi Casilla can make some outstanding plays on the defensive side of the ball. The Royals farm system was one of the strongest a couple years ago but those names haven't panned out. This serves as a good reminder for Twins fans that prospects aren't always sure things. A sick Oakland A's fan used a robot to throw out a first pitch. JJ Hardy really doesn't like the center fielders for the Angels. Be careful when you walk behind the mound in Texas. Mariano Rivera continues to deliver pizza to important employees as he makes his last trip around the American League. It turns out that Superman was bad at coaching baseball. My Weekly Rundown Sunday: Deibinson Romero is knocking on the door Monday: Twins' center field depth to be tested Wednesday: Twins Top 10 Prospects: Post-Draft Edition Twins Minor League Report (6/12): Double-A Debuts Video of the Week: Byron Buxton and the Cedar Rapids Kernels were featured on FSN North earlier this week. Buxton didn't disappoint as he had a great day at the plate and he made one of the best defensive plays you are going to see all year. If you haven't seen this catch yet, here it is. If you have seen it, you should probably watch it a few more times. It never gets old.

After a rough road trip over the last week, the Twins returned home to face a Phillies team with it's own share of struggles. Minnesota won the first two games of the series but both games were close. The Tigers come to town for Father's Day weekend and this marks the start of nine straight games against AL Central opponents. This can become a crucial part of the schedule if the Twins want to stay in the hunt for a division crown. The club has a winning record so far in June and that is a good way to get back to the .500 mark. So far this season, the Twins are 9-15 versus AL Central foes. There has been plenty of news from around Twins Territory this week so let's dive into the latest edition of "Friday Links-N-Thinks." While watching the FSN broadcasts, it might not seem like advance stats are being used but Dick Bremer continues delve deeper into this world. Miguel Sano was promoted to Double-A this week and there were a variety of reasons why he was ready. Bookmark this site as there will be plenty of coverage from New Britain on Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario. With the move to Double-A, is it time to shift Sano over to first base? A couple of Twins prospects have been terrorizing the minor leagues. Paul Molitor sees a lot of what happens in the Twins minor league system. There is plenty more to the Cedar Rapids Kernels beyond Byron Buxton. The pitcher the Twins got back for Denard Span is suffering some shoulder soreness and that can be a bad sign for the future. Target Field has more than enough options when it comes to stuffing your face. Joe Mauer has eyes in the back of his head. The Twins had an interesting situation play out on the mound earlier this week. It sure seems like a time when a bullpen car would have been helpful. Former Twins prospect Wilson Ramos suffered another set-back as he reinjured his ailing hamstring. That's not a good injury for a catcher to be suffering through. My favorite baseball movie of all-time turned 25 years old this week. The Twins might have interested in the always injured Grady Sizemore. Next year's draft is less than a year away! It's never too early to dig into who are some of the top college arms. It's impossible to hit the ball over Carlos Gomez's head. As Twins fans know, Alexi Casilla can make some outstanding plays on the defensive side of the ball. The Royals farm system was one of the strongest a couple years ago but those names haven't panned out. This serves as a good reminder for Twins fans that prospects aren't always sure things. A sick Oakland A's fan used a robot to throw out a first pitch. JJ Hardy really doesn't like the center fielders for the Angels. Be careful when you walk behind the mound in Texas. Mariano Rivera continues to deliver pizza to important employees as he makes his last trip around the American League. It turns out that Superman was bad at coaching baseball. My Weekly Rundown Sunday: Deibinson Romero is knocking on the door Monday: Twins' center field depth to be tested Wednesday: Twins Top 10 Prospects: Post-Draft Edition Twins Minor League Report (6/12): Double-A Debuts Video of the Week: Byron Buxton and the Cedar Rapids Kernels were featured on FSN North earlier this week. Buxton didn't disappoint as he had a great day at the plate and he made one of the best defensive plays you are going to see all year. If you haven't seen this catch yet, here it is. If you have seen it, you should probably watch it a few more times. It never gets old.

With two rainouts on Tuesday, there was a duo of double headers on Wednesday night. Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, and Angel Morales all made their Double-A debuts. Jason Wheeler helped the Miracle to win even with a new core of players in their everyday line-up. The Kernels had a chance to clinch a playoff birth. 
Earlier today I released an updated list of the top 10 prospects in the Twins organization. There was a new name at the top of the list and two other players sneaking into the top 5. Newly drafted high school pitcher Kohl Stewart is on the list but where does he rank? Lots of members from my top ten list were in action on Wednesday. Let's see what happened down on the farm! 
Rochester Red Wings (Schedule Off Day) It's the last scheduled off day of the month for Rochester. In fact, the club will play 20 games in the last 19 days of June. The Red Wings have lost four of their last six games so the team would like to get back on track as they play four games at home over the weekend. Rochester has a 30-36 record and the team sits eight games out of first place in the International League North. Over their last ten games, the Red Wings have gone 6-4 so things are moving the right way. The first goal is to try and sneak back closer to the .500 mark and that can start this weekend. New Britain Rock Cats 1, Altoona Curve 7 (7 Innings-Game 1) Box Score The Double-A debuts for Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, and Angel Morales didn't exactly go as planned. New Britain's pitching staff was roughed up for seven runs in the loss. The new trio of players went 1-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI. Sano made three plate appearances that resulted in a walk, a ground out, and a deep sac fly. Rosario had one of the team's three hits in the game and he scored the lone run. Reynaldo Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with the only extra-base hit for the Rock Cats. As a team, New Britain went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Pat Dean lost his second consecutive start and he was hit around a bit in less than six innings of work. He surrendered nine hits and five earned runs while striking out one. 62 of his 86 pitches were strikes so he was near the plate for most of the evening. New Britain Rock Cats 1, Altoona Curve 3 (7 Innings- Game 2) Box Score For the second game in a row, the Rock Cats struggled to push runs across the plate. Only three players were able to collect hits and that will make it tough to score. Danny Santana went 1-for-3 and scored a run. Eddie Rosario picked up his second hit at Double-A and Sano added his second RBI on a sac fly. The team left five runners on bas and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Trevor May started on the mound and he did his best to keep the Rock Cats in the game. He pitched into the seventh inning and allowed three runs on five hits. He struck out eight and limited his walks to three. He was out pitched on this night by former Twins minor leaguer David Bromberg. In six innings, Bromberg gave up one run on two hits and struck out 12. The loss drops New Britain three games under .500 but the team will look to salvage the last game of the series with Altoona tomorrow. Fort Myers Miracle 6, Daytona Cubs 3 (7 Innings- Game 1) Box Score Jason Wheeler continued his stretch of strong starts in the Florida State League. In the make-up of Tuesday's washed out contest, Wheeler tossed five strong innings and limited the Cubs to two runs on four hits. There was a little trouble with control as he walked five batters and struck out three. It was his sixth win of the season and he improved his record to 6-1. Anderlin Mejia paced the new look Miracle line-up with three hits including his fifth double. Jhon Gonclaves and Stephen Wickens each added a double and two RBI. Former Gopher Mike Kvasnicka had his first multi-hit game since joining the team earlier on Monday. Zach Jones picked up his seventh save of the season by getting the last four outs of the game. Three of the four batters he faced ended up striking out and he lowered his ERA to 1.46. Over his last ten games, Jones has only given up four hits and two earned runs. Fort Myers Miracle 5, Daytona Cubs 4 (7 Innings- Game 2) Box Score Dayton made things interesting by scoring four runs in the last three innings but the Miracle were able to hang on for a nail-biting win. It was the club's 43rd victory and the team has only lost 20 games. Some of Miguel Sano's powerful swing must have stayed at third base for Fort Myers. Stephen Wickens was playing in the position formally occupied by Sano and he hit his first home run of the season. For the game, Wickens went 2-for-4 with a couple of RBI. Aderlin Mejia and Jairo Rodriguez each had two hits and an RBI. Matthew Summers only pitched four innings but he didn't allow a run and he struck out six. After not walking more than three batters in any of his last 10 games, Summers issued five free passes in this game. Taylor Rogers was credited with the win and Corey Williams picked up his ninth save. Cedar Rapids Kernels 12, Quad Cities River Bandits 4 Box Score A huge eighth inning helped the Kernels to clinch a first half playoff birth. Cedar Rapids entered the frame tied with Quad Cities but the club would see eight runs cross the plate. With their win and the River Bandits loss, the Kernels are guaranteed one of the two playoff spots for the first half. Jose Berrios pitched six strong innings by not giving up an earned run and striking out six. There were multiple errors on behind him that meant two unearned runs ended up on his final line. Steven Gruver would pick up the win but this came after allowed two runs to score in the seventh. Travis Harrison might of had his 15th error at third base but he continued his strong season at the plate. He went 2-for-3 with his 10th home run. Jorge Polanco collected four hits including two doubles and two RBI. Uber-prospect Byron Buxton went 3-for-6 with his 15th double and his 48th and 49th RBI. Since the Kernels have now clinched, Buxton will probably be making his way to Fort Myers in the next week or so.

With two rainouts on Tuesday, there was a duo of double headers on Wednesday night. Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, and Angel Morales all made their Double-A debuts. Jason Wheeler helped the Miracle to win even with a new core of players in their everyday line-up. The Kernels had a chance to clinch a playoff birth. 
Earlier today I released an updated list of the top 10 prospects in the Twins organization. There was a new name at the top of the list and two other players sneaking into the top 5. Newly drafted high school pitcher Kohl Stewart is on the list but where does he rank? Lots of members from my top ten list were in action on Wednesday. Let's see what happened down on the farm! 
Rochester Red Wings (Schedule Off Day) It's the last scheduled off day of the month for Rochester. In fact, the club will play 20 games in the last 19 days of June. The Red Wings have lost four of their last six games so the team would like to get back on track as they play four games at home over the weekend. Rochester has a 30-36 record and the team sits eight games out of first place in the International League North. Over their last ten games, the Red Wings have gone 6-4 so things are moving the right way. The first goal is to try and sneak back closer to the .500 mark and that can start this weekend. New Britain Rock Cats 1, Altoona Curve 7 (7 Innings-Game 1) Box Score The Double-A debuts for Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, and Angel Morales didn't exactly go as planned. New Britain's pitching staff was roughed up for seven runs in the loss. The new trio of players went 1-for-6 with a run scored and an RBI. Sano made three plate appearances that resulted in a walk, a ground out, and a deep sac fly. Rosario had one of the team's three hits in the game and he scored the lone run. Reynaldo Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with the only extra-base hit for the Rock Cats. As a team, New Britain went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Pat Dean lost his second consecutive start and he was hit around a bit in less than six innings of work. He surrendered nine hits and five earned runs while striking out one. 62 of his 86 pitches were strikes so he was near the plate for most of the evening. New Britain Rock Cats 1, Altoona Curve 3 (7 Innings- Game 2) Box Score For the second game in a row, the Rock Cats struggled to push runs across the plate. Only three players were able to collect hits and that will make it tough to score. Danny Santana went 1-for-3 and scored a run. Eddie Rosario picked up his second hit at Double-A and Sano added his second RBI on a sac fly. The team left five runners on bas and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. Trevor May started on the mound and he did his best to keep the Rock Cats in the game. He pitched into the seventh inning and allowed three runs on five hits. He struck out eight and limited his walks to three. He was out pitched on this night by former Twins minor leaguer David Bromberg. In six innings, Bromberg gave up one run on two hits and struck out 12. The loss drops New Britain three games under .500 but the team will look to salvage the last game of the series with Altoona tomorrow. Fort Myers Miracle 6, Daytona Cubs 3 (7 Innings- Game 1) Box Score Jason Wheeler continued his stretch of strong starts in the Florida State League. In the make-up of Tuesday's washed out contest, Wheeler tossed five strong innings and limited the Cubs to two runs on four hits. There was a little trouble with control as he walked five batters and struck out three. It was his sixth win of the season and he improved his record to 6-1. Anderlin Mejia paced the new look Miracle line-up with three hits including his fifth double. Jhon Gonclaves and Stephen Wickens each added a double and two RBI. Former Gopher Mike Kvasnicka had his first multi-hit game since joining the team earlier on Monday. Zach Jones picked up his seventh save of the season by getting the last four outs of the game. Three of the four batters he faced ended up striking out and he lowered his ERA to 1.46. Over his last ten games, Jones has only given up four hits and two earned runs. Fort Myers Miracle 5, Daytona Cubs 4 (7 Innings- Game 2) Box Score Dayton made things interesting by scoring four runs in the last three innings but the Miracle were able to hang on for a nail-biting win. It was the club's 43rd victory and the team has only lost 20 games. Some of Miguel Sano's powerful swing must have stayed at third base for Fort Myers. Stephen Wickens was playing in the position formally occupied by Sano and he hit his first home run of the season. For the game, Wickens went 2-for-4 with a couple of RBI. Aderlin Mejia and Jairo Rodriguez each had two hits and an RBI. Matthew Summers only pitched four innings but he didn't allow a run and he struck out six. After not walking more than three batters in any of his last 10 games, Summers issued five free passes in this game. Taylor Rogers was credited with the win and Corey Williams picked up his ninth save. Cedar Rapids Kernels 12, Quad Cities River Bandits 4 Box Score A huge eighth inning helped the Kernels to clinch a first half playoff birth. Cedar Rapids entered the frame tied with Quad Cities but the club would see eight runs cross the plate. With their win and the River Bandits loss, the Kernels are guaranteed one of the two playoff spots for the first half. Jose Berrios pitched six strong innings by not giving up an earned run and striking out six. There were multiple errors on behind him that meant two unearned runs ended up on his final line. Steven Gruver would pick up the win but this came after allowed two runs to score in the seventh. Travis Harrison might of had his 15th error at third base but he continued his strong season at the plate. He went 2-for-3 with his 10th home run. Jorge Polanco collected four hits including two doubles and two RBI. Uber-prospect Byron Buxton went 3-for-6 with his 15th double and his 48th and 49th RBI. Since the Kernels have now clinched, Buxton will probably be making his way to Fort Myers in the next week or so.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4409[/ATTACH] At the end of last week, the Twins added some strong talent to their organization through the MLB Draft. Minnesota's farm system was already considered one of the best in baseball and having another top 5 pick can only help to improve their top level talent. My last prospect ranking came back when I was helping to put together the "Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook." There have been a few changes to the list as players begin to move closer to the big leagues. Aaron Hicks has graduated off of this list (He had been ranked 4th) and Joe Benson is now with another organization after he had also been in the top 20. There was a little bit of shifting at the top with a new number one and two new players making the top five. It's an exciting time for the Twins minor leagues and it starts with the players at the top of this list. 1. Byron Buxton (Previous Rank: 2)- OF - Cedar Rapids Kernels Buxton has been better than the Twins could have ever thought. He has been tearing up the Midwest League to the tune of batting .350/.444/.578 with seven home runs, eight triples, and 14 doubles. Buxton has also been terrific in the field as many fans saw on FSN earlier this week. There is a chance for him to be the number one prospect in all of baseball by the end of the year. Buxton fever is hitting Twins Territory and he is still multiple levels away from making his big league debut. 2. Miguel Sano (1) - 3B- New Britain Rock Cats Since I started writing this blog back in 2010, Sano has been a regular name that I have penciled in at the top of this list. He might be the best pure power hitter in the minor leagues. So far this season, he destroyed the usually pitcher friendly Florida State League. Over 56 games, he hit .330/424/.655 with 16 home runs and 15 doubles. His defense at third base has been questioned in the past but he continues to improve with 11 errors so far this year. It's not like Sano is doing anything wrong to move out of the number one spot but Buxton has just been that good. 3. Oswaldo Arcia (5) - OF- Rochester Red Wings Fans have gotten a little taste of Arcia at the beginning of this year. He has been back in forth between Rochester and the MLB club. So far this year, he is hitting .255/.318/.449 with four home runs and five doubles in 30 big league games. The power is definitely there in his swing and he will continue to work to raise some of his other numbers. He's played more games at the MLB level than the Triple-A level so there is a little bit of a rookie learning curve. 4. Eddie Rosario (7) - 2B - New Britain Rock Cats Rosario continues to be one of the hitting prospects in the organization. His new promotion to the Rock Cats could test some of his skills but he has a very advanced swing for his age. With quick wrists, he is able to send the ball to all fields and he could continue to move quickly through the organization. In 52 games for Fort Myers this year, he batted .329/.377/.527 with six home runs, five triples, and 13 doubles. The former outfielder is in his second year playing second base and there will continue to be some bumps along the way. This year he has four errors in 275 chances at his new position. 5. Kohl Stewart (NR) - RHP This year's fourth overall pick has yet to sign with the organization but he quickly becomes the team’s best pitching prospect. It is going to take him some time to develop in the minor leagues but he could be the ace this team has been searching for since Johan Santana left. Stewart's name will likely be near the top of this list for multiple seasons as he works his way from the lower levels of the minors. He has a killer fastball, a dominant slider, and fans will have to hope he can develop the rest of his pitches along the way. For the first time in his life, he won't be worrying about the up-coming football season and that could be dangerous for opposing batters. 6. Alex Meyer (3) - RHP - New Britain Rock Cats In his first year in the Twins organization, Meyer has been putting up decent numbers at the Double-A level. The 23-year old righty has posted a 3.69 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 27 walks in 61 innings. His 1.311 WHIP is the highest of his young professional career. He hasn't pitched since June 1st after he felt some discomfort in his throwing shoulder. Hopefully, it is nothing too serious and he just needed to miss a few starts to rest his arm. 7. Jose Berrios (9) - RHP - Cedar Rapids Kernels A supplemental round pick in last year's draft, Berrios has settled nicely into the rotation for the Kernels. Over 42.1 innings, he has a 3.61 ERA and 50 strikeouts with 12 walks. He is giving up more than a hit an inning but he has the ability to strike batters out and that has been lacking in the Twins system. If Berrios and Stewart can both make it as starters, they could provide a powerful front end of the rotation. 8. Kyle Gibson (8) - RHP - Rochester Red Wings It shouldn't be long before Gibson joins the rotation of the Minnesota Twins. The club is looking for more consistency out of him on his way back from Tommy John surgery. In his last ten starts, he has an ERA under 3.00 with a 6-3 record. He has pitched close to 80 innings this season with 69 strikeouts and 26 walks. His walk total is higher than most would like but this still shouldn't stop him from becoming part of the Twins rotation for the better part of the next decade. 9. Travis Harrison (11) - 3B - Cedar Rapids Kernels I have been high on Harrison since the Twins drafted him in the supplemental round of the 2011 Draft. He is beginning to show some of his power potential this season in Cedar Rapids. He has nine home runs and 17 doubles in 61 games. His defense at third base hasn’t been the greatest with 12 errors in 57 games. Harrison might have to move from the hot corner but his power is legit. 10. Jorge Polanco (14) - 2B - Cedar Rapids Kernels There are plenty of prospects up and down the roster for the Kernels. Polanco might get lost in the shuffle but this takes nothing away from his time in the organization. So far this year, the switch-hitting infielder is hitting .291/.342/.447 with 26 extra-base hits. It has been tough for the Twins to develop middle infielders but Polanco is among a promising crop at multiple levels in the system. Just Missed: Max Kepler, Kennys Vargas, Trevor May, Adam Walker, Josmil Pinto

At the end of last season, the Twins had plenty of options to play center field for the club. Denard Span and Ben Revere spent most of the year manning that position. Darin Mastroianni made a good fourth outfielder because he could play center field when it was necessary. Joe Benson and Aaron Hicks were on the 40-man roster but there wasn't much room for them with three other players in front of them. Things have certainly gone from crowded to scarce in a hurry. As most fans know, Span and Revere were traded in the offseason to try and add some pitching depth to a weak area in the organization. This left the club with no starter lined-up for Opening Day but that would change in a hurry. Hicks, Mastroianni, and Benson would all battle in spring training to be the full-time starter. Mastroianni and Benson were a little dinged up but it didn't matter because Hicks put together some tremendous performances to earn himself the starting role. News came out today that Hicks will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a left hamstring strain. He suffered the injury while trying to beat out an infield hit during the second game of the Twins' doubleheader in Washington on Sunday. Hicks' injury leaves the team in a little bit of a jam. Mastroianni will be out until July after undergoing surgery on his ankle. Wilkin Ramirez had been another option in the outfield but he is still dealing with some concussion symptoms. This leaves a lot of center fielders on the disabled list. The man left standing after all of this mess wasn't even on the 40-man roster a handful of days ago. Clete Thomas was having a decent year for the Rochester Red Wings before he got called up to serve as an insurance policy for Hicks. Since his promotion, Thomas has one hit in ten at-bats (.100) with a strikeout. In parts of four different MLB seasons, Thomas has hit .242/.322/.378 with nine home runs and 23 doubles over 482 plate appearances. Out of players on the active roster, there are three full-time outfielder, Chris Parmelee, Josh Willingham, and Thomas. Chris Herrmann can play a little bit in a corner outfield spot and Oswaldo Arcia will be promoted to take the place of Hicks. Ron Gardenhire might have to get a little creative with his outfield alignments. There are not other outfielders on the 40-man roster. So what you see is what you get when it comes to men patrolling the grass of Target Field. An injury to Thomas before one of the other players is healthy would mean another 40-man roster move and another call-up from the minor leagues. Antoan Richardson has taken over the center field duties in Rochester. This could make him the next in line to join the Twins if there were another injury. In 59 games between New Britain and Rochester, he has hit .314/.451/.386 with three triples and nine doubles. The 29-year old outfielder got a taste of the big leagues back in 2011 with the Braves. If Richardson wasn't the guy, the Twins could look down to the Double-A level. Angel Morales will be the man taking over the center field duties for the Rock Cats but he is just arriving with the club. He was part of the group of players promoted from Fort Myers after the team clinched the first half championship. Morales has no experience above this level so it seem unlikely for him to be promoted to the big leagues at this time. When the Twins entered last offseason, it would have been hard to imagine a situation where the club would be struggling to find a man to put in center field. Strange things can happen in baseball and this rash of injuries will test the depth of the organization. Thomas might not be the ideal man for center field but the Twins have to play with the hand they were dealt. Even if it seems like the hand is a couple cards short...

At the end of last season, the Twins had plenty of options to play center field for the club. Denard Span and Ben Revere spent most of the year manning that position. Darin Mastroianni made a good fourth outfielder because he could play center field when it was necessary. Joe Benson and Aaron Hicks were on the 40-man roster but there wasn't much room for them with three other players in front of them. Things have certainly gone from crowded to scarce in a hurry. As most fans know, Span and Revere were traded in the offseason to try and add some pitching depth to a weak area in the organization. This left the club with no starter lined-up for Opening Day but that would change in a hurry. Hicks, Mastroianni, and Benson would all battle in spring training to be the full-time starter. Mastroianni and Benson were a little dinged up but it didn't matter because Hicks put together some tremendous performances to earn himself the starting role. News came out today that Hicks will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a left hamstring strain. He suffered the injury while trying to beat out an infield hit during the second game of the Twins' doubleheader in Washington on Sunday. Hicks' injury leaves the team in a little bit of a jam. Mastroianni will be out until July after undergoing surgery on his ankle. Wilkin Ramirez had been another option in the outfield but he is still dealing with some concussion symptoms. This leaves a lot of center fielders on the disabled list. The man left standing after all of this mess wasn't even on the 40-man roster a handful of days ago. Clete Thomas was having a decent year for the Rochester Red Wings before he got called up to serve as an insurance policy for Hicks. Since his promotion, Thomas has one hit in ten at-bats (.100) with a strikeout. In parts of four different MLB seasons, Thomas has hit .242/.322/.378 with nine home runs and 23 doubles over 482 plate appearances. Out of players on the active roster, there are three full-time outfielder, Chris Parmelee, Josh Willingham, and Thomas. Chris Herrmann can play a little bit in a corner outfield spot and Oswaldo Arcia will be promoted to take the place of Hicks. Ron Gardenhire might have to get a little creative with his outfield alignments. There are not other outfielders on the 40-man roster. So what you see is what you get when it comes to men patrolling the grass of Target Field. An injury to Thomas before one of the other players is healthy would mean another 40-man roster move and another call-up from the minor leagues. Antoan Richardson has taken over the center field duties in Rochester. This could make him the next in line to join the Twins if there were another injury. In 59 games between New Britain and Rochester, he has hit .314/.451/.386 with three triples and nine doubles. The 29-year old outfielder got a taste of the big leagues back in 2011 with the Braves. If Richardson wasn't the guy, the Twins could look down to the Double-A level. Angel Morales will be the man taking over the center field duties for the Rock Cats but he is just arriving with the club. He was part of the group of players promoted from Fort Myers after the team clinched the first half championship. Morales has no experience above this level so it seem unlikely for him to be promoted to the big leagues at this time. When the Twins entered last offseason, it would have been hard to imagine a situation where the club would be struggling to find a man to put in center field. Strange things can happen in baseball and this rash of injuries will test the depth of the organization. Thomas might not be the ideal man for center field but the Twins have to play with the hand they were dealt. Even if it seems like the hand is a couple cards short...