Twins Promote Matt Carson Over Chris Parmelee

Paragon Sports Marketing Agency tweeted today that the Minnesota Twins are promoting Matt Carson from AAA-Rochester to complete the roster moves they started after yesterday’s afternoon game. Carson, who has primarily played right field in Rochester, was likely added to provide outfield depth due to the day-to-day status of outfielders Denard Span and Ben Revere. Span hurt his shoulder in a game on Sunday and had not played since. Revere hurt his ankle in yesterday’s game.

This is not Carson’s first time in the majors. The 31-year-old had exactly 100 at-bats with the A’s in 2009 and 2010, hitting .200. This year with Rochester, he was hitting .277 with a 785 OPS, including 14 HR, 102 strikeouts and 33 walks. In his career in AAA, he has hit .280 with a .500 slugging percentage. According to Seth Stohs, he is often lauded by for his attitude, work effort and class, as well as his play on the field.

The Twins chose to promote Carson over first base/right field prospect Chris Parmelee, who is tearing up AAA with a .348 batting average and 15 home runs in just 181 at-bats. This likely indicates the Twins feel that Span and Revere are healthy enough to be playing regularly soon. It is likely better for Parmelee, who is just 24 ear old, to develop by playing every day in AAA than only occasionally with the Twins.

However, Parmelee could still be an option soon. The Twins have been slow to place their players on the Disabled List this season and it’s certainly possible they could do so with Span retroactively. Also, after September 1^st, rosters can expand to up to 40 players. It is likely Parmelee would be promoted at that time.

Yesterday, the Twins demoted pitchers Luis Perdomo and Jeff Manship to Rochester and reactivated pitcher Anthony Swarzak from the disabled list. An additional move was anticipated to fill out the 25-man roster. The delay was likely to give the Twins an extra day to evaluate the status of Revere and Span and their ability to play regularly. Also, the Twins will need to make a subsequent 40 man roster move as Pedro Florimon grabbed the final spot when he was called up on Wednesday. Matt Capps could go to the 60 Day DL, or someone will need to be DFAd.