From the Twins Daily newsroom....

 

In today's Strib, beat writer Phil Miller notes that the relationship between the Saints and Twins has thawed considerable since Dave St. Peter took over, and that's part of why Caleb Thielbar is in the Twins organization.

 

St. Peter helped lobby for funding for the Saints’ new Lowertown Ballpark, scheduled to open in 2015. The Saints, who moved to the independent American Association in 2005, are a part of TwinsFest each January. Kris Atteberry, the Saints’ radio play-by-play announcer for five seasons, now hosts pregame and postgame shows for the Twins.

 

And Saints players — Thielbar first, and Rochester reliever Dan Sattler last summer — are being signed by Twins scouts.

 

 

This raises the question, of course, that when the new ballpark for the Saints is built, could they somehow become the Twins Low A affiliate? I know there are challenges on both sides, but can you imagine the buzz in this town right now about the Twins future if Byron Buxton was doing his thing in St. Paul? Or if the Twin Cities would have been introduced to Miguel Sano last year? That would have to be a good things, right?

 

Souhan: Look within for starting pitchers, or do without | StarTribune.com

I don't know if they can become the low A affiliate - I doubt they would be allowed to join the organized minor leagues.

 

But, can they serve as a secondary, unofficial grooming place for potential players? The Twins see someone who is in indy ball who looks interesting, but there is not room in the organized minors for them, so they sign a side deal with them, have them play in St. Paul, and if they truly develop then move them into the official system? I don't know - just wondering.