Report From the Fort: 3/22 News and Notes

The news of the day was definitely Carlos Correa’s signing being made official. Minnesota put out a few different social media posts and noted that they had designated reliever Ralph Garza Jr. to make room for Correa on the 40-man roster. He will be formally announced to the media tomorrow at 9 am EST. Stay tuned to @tlschwerz on Twitter for live updates from that event.

It’s also arbitration deadline day in which players must be tendered contracts to avoid a hearing. As Matthew Lenz wrote up at Twins Daily, Minnesota has three players needing to be sorted out. In that process, Taylor Rogers and Luis Arraez are joined by new backstop Gary Sanchez.

Joe Ryan made his Spring Training debut for the Twins. Now working as an assumed big-league starter, this is his first spring with a place on the 26-man roster. Last season Ryan worked just three innings in three games for the Rays. He pitched two innings for Minnesota and worked around three hits. In the first inning, a bit of loud contact was generated, and newly extended centerfielder Byron Buxton kept a two-spot off the board when he robbed a homer from Atlanta’s free-agent first basemen, Matt Olson.

Devin Smeltzer was a standout on the mound today for Minnesota. He worked three innings allowing just a single hit and punching out two. Smeltzer never topped 90 mph, but continues to make the lower velocity work. He's no longer on the 40-man roster, but could factor in as a depth rotation arm or someone out of the pen. Despite it being just his second outing of the spring he was stretched out to 46 pitches.

Royce Lewis took over at shortstop today for Nick Gordon when substitutions were made. He was wearing his new number 23 uniform, after ceding number 4 to Correa. 23 was last worn by Nelson Cruz, and then Mitch Garver prior to that.

Wrapping up the game that didn't count today, Minnesota lost 4-0 to the Atlanta Braves. Spencer Strider came in for Atlanta late and was pumping 100 mph pitches with regularity. It was fun seeing former Twins reliever Michael Tonkin back on the mound. He hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2017 but is trying his hand with Atlanta.