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** Trevor May fared well in his second spring start. The first batter he faced was Cesar Hernandez who May got ahead 0-2 but then misfired with a fastball up and clipped Hernandez in the shoulder. Hernandez ended up coming around to score on a sac fly by Odubel Herrera. May said later that he felt that the transition from the windup to the stretch threw him out of whack for a few batters. He recovered and allowed one single while striking out two Phillies.
May said that last season he went away from the windup because he was told by Torii Hunter and Paul Molitor that he was tipping his pitches. Prior to starting his windup, he would close his glove around the ball in his hand and hold it lower in the pocket when he threw his breaking balls and leaving it unclenched when throwing his fastball. May says he has since corrected this and hasn’t had any more issues.
“He was doing certain things on certain pitches,” Molitor said after his outing. “If I can see them when I’m not really trying to study that stuff then you know it’s somewhat flagrant.”
How is it that Molitor still picks up on these things even when he’s not on the field?
“Old habits die hard.”
** Berrios struck out four over two innings but admitted he struggled in his first inning of work. He went deep into counts and walked two. While he didn’t want to use it as an excuse, Berrios said the transition coming in from the bullpen was challenging and didn’t feel fully ready in that initial inning.
The Twins would like to see better command out of Berrios, have him avoid rushing his delivery and strive for more efficient innings.
** Miguel Sano struck out in three of his at-bats, albeit the first of which he appeared to check his swing. During Jose Berrios’ post-game presser, Sano sidled up behind the reporters. Berrios was then asked if he thought he could strike out Miguel Sano. Sano shook his head and replied “Everyone can strike me out.”
Molitor was not concerned about Sano’s performance so far this spring which has included seven strikeouts in ten plate appearances.
“I don’t think he’s recognizing spin great yet,” he said. “He's had some good swings at fastballs, just maybe a tick late. He’s got the right approach, trying to stay inside instead of trying to hit everything to left field.”
** Eddie Rosario made back-to-back long distance bus rides to Sarasota and then Clearwater.
“The schedule doesn’t always work out,” Molitor said. “I told myself I’m not going to be overly concerned about who goes on what trip. It’s about getting time for them to play. Got some at-bats yesterday, center field today, might play right field on Sunday.”
Molitor said that the Puerto Rico team was contemplating using him as a right fielder so the Twins manager obliged and will give him some reps on the other side of the field. He added that it was a good opportunity to try outfielders in other places in the event of an in-season injury.
Rosario, who has been given limited exposure versus left-handed pitching in his major league career, faced the Orioles’ side-arming lefty Donnie Hart and the at-bat went pretty much as you would expect.
Overall, Molitor wants to see more consistency out of the outfielder.
“He can get zoned in pretty good for a while then he might lose it for a day or two. I think he knows he’s trying to plan on being a more consistent player. Something that would center around his at-bats more than any other part of his game.”
** Back in Fort Myers, Twins prospect Mason Melotakis threw a 25-pitch bullpen without any issues. The 25-year-old left-handed has suffered an oblique strain and was listed as day-to-day. Armed with a fastball that reaches 97, Melotakis spent 2016 in Chattanooga where he worked 33 innings in relief and struck out 42.
** Glen Perkins threw a bullpen session as well on Thursday. The review from Molitor? M’eh. “I didn’t hear anything over-the-top encouraging and I didn’t hear anything alarming.”
** Nick Gordon, Twins Daily’s 4th ranked prospect, won the bat toss contest:
** Molitor shared his thoughts on how things are working out with the new members of his coaching staff.
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