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Aaron and John talk about the Twins' offseason needs, limited free agent starting pitching options, Miguel Sano's surgery to insert a titanium rod into his leg, Twins Daily's Offseason Handbook, losing Daniel Palka and Randy Rosario on waivers, Rick Anderson joining Ron Gardenhire in Detroit, Duck Duck Gray Duck, Francisco Liriano winning a World Series, and reviewing the preseason AL Central over/under picks. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Stitcher or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link.http://traffic.libsy...3?dest-id=74590 Click here to view the article

The Twins shift to the road part of their home-and-home series against the Brewers on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Kennys Vargas was recalled from Rochester to take the roster spot opened up by placing Adalberto Mejia on the disabled list. Including the DSL, the Twins affiliates went 5-0. Read up below the jump.RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 12, Columbus 3 Box Score After allowing the game’s first run, the Red Wings scored the next five and even after Columbus scored two more to narrow the lead to two, Rochester put up four runs in the next half inning to push the game out of reach. The offensive assault was led by Daniel Palka (3-4, HR, 2 RBI), Niko Goordum (3-5, 2 RBI) and Matt Hague (1-2, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 R). ByungHo Park and Tommy Field also contributed two-hit, two-RBI games. Eight different batters got hits and all 10 players who made a plate appearance reached base safely at least once. Hitting 8-18 with runners in scoring position typically helps you in the win column. Hector Santiago didn’t exactly “WOW!” in his rehab start. Throwing 98 pitches, but only 52 strikes and only lasting 4.1 innings, Santiago walked six, hit a batter and allowed three runs on two hits, including a home run. He struck out four. At this point, you have to figure that if he’s going to help the Twins in the short term, it’s out of the bullpen (and that’s even with Mejia going down). Dietrich Enns was tomorrow's scheduled starter, as this broke during the game. At 67-50, the Red Wings are a half game behind Lehigh Valley in the wild card race. Lehigh Valley was still playing at press time. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga - OFF DAY The Lookouts are 32-13 in the second half and 74-41 overall. They have clinched a playoff spot and will host the season-long runner-up (which is a tight 3-team race). Judging from their website (which is selling playoff tickets), it looks like the Lookouts have opted to host Games 1 and 2, which will be played on September 6 and 7. MIRACLE MATTERS Fort Myers 5, Palm Beach 2 Box Score The middle of the order provided the thump and enough offense to push the Miracle to victory on Wednesday evening. The 3-6 batters (Jermaine Palacios, Mitchell Kranson, Brent Rooker and Zander Wiel) went a combined 10-17, driving in two and scoring four runs. Rooker and Wiel both had three hits. The rest of the lineup was 2-19. Starter Lewis Thorpe avoided big damage despite allowing eight hits in five innings. He walked two, struck out five and allowed two runs. The win went to Tom Hackimer who struck out four in two one-hit innings. (Move him up!) Alex Muren collected the save. At 28-18, the Miracle have a two-game lead in the FSL South. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids - OFF DAY The Kernels are 20-25 in the second half, but have already clinched a playoff spot by way of finishing as division runners-up in the first half. E-TWINS E-NOTES Elizabethton 6, Greeneville 1 Box Score Edwar Colina pitched six shutout innings, allowing three hits and walking three. He struck out five and picked up his second win of the season. Blair Lasko gave up a run in his lone inning. Jose Martinez struck out two in two innings. Carson Crites had three hits, including a double. He scored a run and drove in a run as well. J.J. Robinson was 2-4 with a home run and 4 RBI. Kolton Kendrick and Rainis Silva each added doubles. The E-Twins have a four-game lead in their division with a record of 29-18. GCL TWINS TAKES GCL Twins 6, GCL Orioles 1 Box Score A balanced offensive attack led the GCL Twins to victory. No batter went hitless and five different guys scored the six runs. Royce Lewis had the lone multi-hit game, going 2-4 with a triple. Jean Carlos Arias had a three-run triple in the seventh inning. Colton Burns, Ricky De La Torre and Taylor Grzelakowski added doubles. Pedro Garcia struck out five in 5.2 scoreless, three-hit innings. His record improved to 6-1. Derek Molina picked up the save striking out six in 3.1 innings. He allowed a run on four hits. The GCL Twins are 23-16. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Edward Colina, Elizabethton Hitter of the Day – Daniel Palka, Rochester THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester vs Norfolk (6:05 CST) - LHP Stephen Gonsalves (0-0, -.-- ERA) Chattanooga at Birmingham (7:05 CST) - RHP Kohl Stewart (5-5, 3.65 ERA) Fort Myers vs Dunedin (6:05 CST) - RHP Randy LeBlanc (2-1, 1.80 ERA) Cedar Rapids vs Quad Cities (6:35 CST) - LHP Tyler Watson (0-1, 6.75 ERA) Elizabethton vs Greeneville (6:00 CST) - RHP Brusdar Graterol (1-0, 4.00 ERA) GCL Twins vs GCL Orioles (11:00 AM CST) - TBA Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Wednesday’s games. Click here to view the article

Good thing that the Twins won on Monday night against the Brewers because their five affiliates that played all lost. That isn’t to say there weren’t some solid performances. And, as we know, winning isn’t the most important thing in the minor leagues. Player development is. But, learning how to win and being part of that atmosphere can be an important part of development. This year, the combined record of the Twins affiliates ranks second in baseball to the Yankees organization. There are a lot of really good things going on in the Twins minor leagues.Find out everything and more that happened happened in the Twins system on Monday. Let’s start with the transactions of the day: As we heard on Sunday night, LHP Stephen Gonsalves and RHP Luke Bard have been promoted to AAA Rochester. On Monday morning, more parts of the transaction were announced:OF Edgar Corcino was sent back to the Lookouts. With Zack Granite returning to the Red Wings, and Daniel Palka now healthy, and JB Shuck in the picture, it makes sense to send Corcino to Chattanooga where he will play. Also, as mentioned yesterday, LaMonte Wade was placed on the disabled list.RHP DJ Baxendale was also sent from the Red Wings to the Lookouts.The other part of the move is Sam Clay’s promotion from Ft. Myers to Chattanooga.His season has been half-interesting, half-remarkable. In his first outing, he gave up six earned runs on 0.2 inning. Then he went 13 games (24.1 innings) without allowing a run. He then gave up one run in back-to-back games. Since then, he’s pitched in 20 games (31.0 IP) without allowing a run.Also, about a week ago, the Twins released infielder Zaino Henriquez from the Dominican Summer League roster. The Curacao native did a Q&A with Jeremy before the 2015 season. He had signed with the Twins in August 2015 at the age of 16.RED WINGS REPORTRochester 1, Columbus 4 Box Score Tim Melville was on the mound for the Red Wings, and as he has been since signing from the Atlantic League, he was very good. The right-hander gave up one run on one hit over seven innings. He walked three batters, but he struck out nine. When he left the game, it was tied at one. Drew Rucinski entered and because of an error, he was charged with three unearned runs on four hits in the eighth inning. He struck out two. Michael Tonkin came on and struck out the side in the ninth. Daniel Palka went 2-4. The Red Wings run scored on a single off the bat of Matt Hague. It scored Niko Goodrum, who had knocked his 23rd double. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 3, Jackson 9 Box Score It was another Fernando Romero outing, which is normally a very good thing. On this night, Romero had one of those clunkers that every pitcher experiences. He gave up single runs in the first and second innings before giving up four runs in the third. He settled down and ended his night with two scoreless innings. In all, he gave up six runs on nine hits over five innings. He walked none and also struck out none. Dereck Rodriguez made his second straight appearance out of the bullpen. He gave up three runs on seven hits in his three innings. He struck out three. Todd Van Steensel dropped his season ERA to 1.45 with a scoreless ninth inning. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 4, Palm Beach 5 Box Score Take away the bottom of the third, and the Miracle would have posted a win, even a shutout, but that’s not how it works. Eduardo Del Rosario started, and he gave up five runs on six hits and four walks. The damage all came in that third inning. Williams Ramirez struck out two over two scoreless innings. Then Michael Theofanopoulos struck out one over two scoreless innings. The Miracle tried to come back. Brent Rooker went 2-4, and his three-run homer in the sixth inning cut the Miracle deficit to just 5-4. But they were unable to push another run across the plate. Mitchell Kranson and Brandon Lopez each had two base hits. Jaylin Davis and Tanner English each added a double. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 2, Wisconsin 7 Box Score The game was close throughout until a four-run eighth inning gave the TimberRattlers the final margin of victory. Ben Rortvedt and Trey Cabbage combined to give the Kernels their two runs. In the second inning, Rortvedt doubled and later scored on a Cabbage single. Again in the fourth, Rortvedt doubled, his 14th of the year. Two batters later, Cabbage knocked him in with a sacrifice fly. Eight of the nine Kernels hitters had at least one hit, but they were only able to score the two runs. 12 strikeouts may have played a factor in that too. Tyler Beardlsey started and went the first 4.2 innings. He was charged with three runs on three hits and three walks. He struck out two. Patrick McGuff came on and threw 2.1 scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out two. Colton Davis has been arguably the most consistent Kernels reliever all year, but it started out rough. The first batter of the eighth inning homered, and they added three more runs off of the Kernels reliever. His ERA jumped from 2.52 to 3.18 in this outing. E-TWINS E-NOTES Elizabethton, Bluefield Box Score The game was postponed by rain. GCL TWINS TAKES GCL Twins 0, GCL Orioles 6 Box Score There was very little offense for the Twins in this game. Alex Robles had the lone hit for the team. Colton Burns had the lone walk. Henry Centeno made his third rehab appearance. He went 2.2 innings and gave up one run on three hits. He struck out three without issuing a walk. Jordan Balazovic came on and gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits in 3.1 innings. He walked three and struck out two. Taylor Clemensia threw two scoreless innings. He gave up a hit, walked one and struck out one. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Tim Melville, Rochester Red Wings. Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Brent Rooker, Ft. Myers Miracle THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Columbus @ Rochester (6:05 CST) - LHP Hector Santiago Jackson @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - RHP Felix Jorge Ft. Myers @ Palm Beach (5:30 CST) - RHP Brady Anderson Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (7:05 CST) - LHP Bryan Sammons Elizabethton @ Bluefield (DH at 4:05 CST) - RHP Melvi Acosta, RHP Nick Brown GCL Orioles @ GCL Twins (11:00 am) - TBD Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Monday’s games. Click here to view the article

It was a relatively quiet day in the Twins minor league system on Wednesday. The Ft. Myers Miracle and Elizabethton Twins each had a rare day off. However, the other four affiliates played. There were two lopsided games, and two close games. A few players new to the organization pitched in the GCL, while one of the top prospects pitched well for the GCL as well. It was Fernando Romero night, and so much more.Find out everything and more that happened happened in the Twins system on Wednesday. Let’s start with the transaction of the day: As Jeff Johnson tweeted after the Kernels game on Tuesday night, Gorge Munoz was sent down to Elizabethton with 2017 draft pick Jordan Gore called up to Cedar Rapids.You'll see below that LHP Kevin Marnon signed with the Twins and made his GCL debut.The Twins also signed RHP Randy Dobnak and catcher Taylor Grzelakowski from the Utica Unicorns from the United Shore Professional Baseball League. Dobnak was assigned to Elizabethton. Grzelakowski was assigned to the GCL.Darling Cuestro, Jose Bermudez and Juan Mojica were sent from the GCL back to the Dominican Summer League.RED WINGS REPORTRochester 3, Lehigh Valley 4 Box Score The Red Wings clawed back from a 3-0 deficit only to lose by one. Niko Goodrum led the offense with a 3-5 game. Mitch Garver added his 22nd double. Daniel Palka went 2-5 and added his ninth home run. It was his first since returning from his injury. Palka also made a play on defense. Now, we do encourage outfielders to hit the cutoff man, and probably not to throw at the launch angle you see below, but this worked well for the Red Wings. Tim Melville made the start. The veteran right-hander went the first five innings. He gave up three runs on six hits, a walk and a hit batter. He struck out six. Drew Rucinski came on for the sixth inning. He gave up one run on two hits over two innings. Jake Reed worked two scoreless innings and struck out four. 20 of his 25 pitches were strikes. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 5, Montgomery 2 Box Score It was Fernando Romero’s turn to start on Wednesday. He improved to 11-6 and dropped his ERA to 2.60. He gave up one run on six hits over five innings. He hit a batter and struck out six. Of his 72 pitches, 50 of them were strikes. Dereck Rodriguez, back from his weekend in Cooperstown, returned to the mound and worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. He walked two and struck out three. Ryan Eades got the eighth and gave up one run on three hits. Gabriel Moya worked a scoreless ninth inning to record his 18th save and reduced his ERA to 0.77. Travis Harrison had the big hit early. He went 2-4 with a two-run homer, his third of the season. Levi Michael continues to hit well. He went 2-4. Ryan Walker went 1-2 with two walks. Alex Perez also walked twice. Nick Gordon added his 25th double of the season. The win ended a rare one-game losing streak for the Lookouts in the second half. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers Box Score The Miracle had a rare scheduled day off. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 1, Kane County 9 Box Score It was a long night in Cedar Rapids. Lefty Evan Sanders made the start. He gave up five runs on six hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out three. Another lefty, Bryan Sammons came on for his first Kernels appearance. He pitched a quick 1-2-3 sixth inning. His final line was three runs on five hits and two walks over three innings. He struck out three. Logan Lombana gave up a run on two hits in one inning. The Kernels offense just wasn’t able to bunch together enough hits to score much. Christian Cavaness went 2-4 with his seventh triple. Lewin Diaz went 2-4. Jimmy Kerrigan was also 2-4. He’s hitting .333 and has at least one hit in all five games he’s played for the Kernels. In the second inning, Ben Rortvedt was called out on strikes to start the inning. That was the last play of the game for manager Tommy Watkins as he was ejected for arguing. E-TWINS E-NOTES Elizabethton Box Score There are not very many off days once the Appalachian League starts. GCL TWINS TAKES GCL Twins 9, GCL Rays 4 Box Score A couple of pitchers rehabbed. A top 2017 prospect put in his longest outing. The offense provided plenty of offense. And a guy with a fun story made his debut in affiliated ball. Just another day in the Gulf Coast League. Michael Kohn started for the GCL Twins. He gave up one run on one hit in the first inning. The 30-year-old right-hander pitched in the big leagues from 2010-2015. He hasn’t pitched since May of 2015 because of a shoulder injury. He worked out for a couple of teams, but the Twins offered him a two-year deal with an invitation to major league spring training next year. Next, Henry Centeno gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in the next 1.2 innings. He struck out one. It was his second rehab appearance. He has missed the whole season so far with an elbow injury. Next in for the GCL Twins was 2017 draft pick Blayne Enlow. He recorded his first professional win in his longest outing so far. In 4.1 innings, he gave up one run on four hits. He struck out four and did not issue a walk. ‘ The final two innings were pitched by left-hander Kevin Marnon. He signed last week after pitching for the Birmingham/Bloomfield Beavers of the United Shore Professional Baseball League. The Ball State grad threw two scoreless innings. He gave up one hit and struck one out. The offense was led by Alex Robles who hit his fifth double and his third home run. He drove in four runs. Kidany Salva went 2-5. Ben Rodriguez was 1-3 with two walks. Royce Lewis went 0-2, but he walked three times and stole his ninth and tenth bases. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Fernando Romero, Chattanooga Lookouts Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Daniel Palka, Rochester Red Wings THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Lehigh Valley @ Rochester (6:05 CST) - LHP Hector Santiago Chattanooga @ Montgomery (7:05 CST) - RHP Felix Jorge Jupiter @ Ft. Myers (6:05 CST) - RHP Brady Anderson Kane County @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - LHP Tyler Watson Burlington @ Elizabethton (6:00 CST) - RHP Edwar Colina GCL Rays @ GCL Twins (11:00 am CST) - No Game Scheduled Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Wednesday’s games. Click here to view the article

Last week, I began review of my updated, midseason Top 40 Minnesota Twins prospects with Part 1 (31-40) and Part 2 (21-30). Yesterday, we entered the Top 20 with my selections for Twins Prospects 16-20. And today, in Part 4, I present my choices for Twins prospects 11 through 15. Below you’ll find brief profiles on those five prospects, and we certainly welcome your questions and discussion in the forum.This group of prospects is a little more experienced than most you’ll find. Four of these five players are at least in AA, with three of them spending most of this season in AAA, one step away from the big leagues. So grab some coffee and check out who is in this section. 15. Jermaine Palacios, SS, 20 While he has cooled off from his torrid April in which he was the Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Month, Palacios has reclaimed his place as a top prospect in the organization. The Twins signed Palacios out of Venezuela in September of 2013. He burst on the scene in 2015 when he hit .421 in the GCL and .336 in Elizabethton as an 18-year-old. Last year, he went to Cedar Rapids and really struggled. Whether it was the adjustment to a full season or the weather in the Midwest League, Palacios hit just .222/.276/.287 (.564) in 71 games before being hit by a pitch ended his season. He is healthy and he returned to Iowa where he has put up strong numbers offensively while also playing a very solid defensive shortstop. Preseason Ranking: 32 Pre-2016 Ranking: 21 14. Zack Granite, OF, 24 It’s been an interesting year for Zack Granite. Consider he began the 2016 season in Chattanooga in large part due to an injury to Shannon Wilkerson. But, given that opportunity, he took off and had a terrific season, one commemorated by the Twins with their Minor League Player of the Year award. He hit .295/.347/.382 (.729) with 18 doubles, eight triples and four home runs. He also collected 56 stolen bases. The Twins 14th-round pick in 2013 out of Seton Hall, he was added to the Twins 40-man roster after last season. He made a great impression on teammates and his future manager during spring training. Unfortunately, he missed a little more than a month because of an oblique injury, but after a short rehab stint with the Miracle, he moved up to Rochester. He has hit .247 in his first 21 games since his return to the Red Wings. He has already stolen seven bases in AAA. Preseason Ranking: 25 13. Mitch Garver, C, 26 Since the Twins made him their ninth-round pick in 2013 after four years at the University of New Mexico, Garver has been a very good hitter. He was the Twins Daily choice for Minor League Hitter of the Year after a strong 2014 season in Cedar Rapids. He moved up to Ft. Myers in 2015. Last year he was a Southern League All- Star for the Lookouts in the first half, and he finished the season by hitting .329/.381/.434 (.815) in 22 games for the Red Wings. He was added to the Twins 40- man roster in the offseason and reported to his third big league spring training (first as a rostered participant). He was sent to Rochester where he had hit .256/.413/.463 (.877) with eight doubles and three homers in his first 26 games. His defense has steadily improved over the years to the point that he’s ready. Now it’s about opportunity as Jason Castro and Chris Gimenez are in the big leagues. He should see big league time in 2017. Preseason Ranking: 11 Pre-2016 Ranking: 24 Pre-2015 Ranking: 26 12. Felix Jorge, RHP, 23 Jorge signed with the Twins in February of 2011 out of the Dominican Republic. The Twins were able to sneak him past the Rule 5 draft following the 2015 season, but they didn’t try it again after a nice 2016 season. He started the season with Ft. Myers where he went 9-3 with a 1.55 ERA in 14 starts. He walked just 11 and struck out 77 in 93 innings. He moved up to Chattanooga where he went 3-5 with a 4.12 ERA in 11 starts. He has made nine starts this season with the Lookouts and gone 5-1 with a 3.48 ERA. Like Stewart, Jorge will need to figure out a way to miss more bats. He attacks the zone, sitting in the low-90s and touching 94 at times. He gets good movement on all of his pitches. He generally has thrown a lot of strikes. Ideally he can spend the full season at Chattanooga though a late season promotion to Rochester is possible. Preseason Ranking: 10 Pre-2016 Ranking: 22 Pre-2015 Ranking: NR Pre-2014 Ranking: 19 11. Daniel Palka, OF, 25 Palka came to the Twins from Arizona in the offseason following the 2015 season in exchange for catcher Chris Herrmann. He had a strong debut season in the Twins system and was named by Twins Daily as the Minor League Hitter of the Year. Between Chattanooga and Rochester, he hit .254/.327/.521 (.848) with 24 doubles and 34 home runs. He was added to the Twins 40-man roster in November and impressed the manager during his time in big league spring training. He is currently hitting .261/.316/.452 (.768) with six doubles and eight homers through 41 games. Unfortunately, he is now on the DL with a fractured left index finge and will be out for some time. He is another guy that we could see in 2017. Preseason Ranking: 15 Pre-2016 Ranking: 25 Starting soon, we’ll jump into the Top 10 Twins prospects. Feel free to discuss this group, your Top 10 or Top 20, and ask any questions you may have. Click here to view the article

The Ft. Myers Miracle played a morning game on Wednesday. All four Twins affiliates played, but the Miracle game was the only one that didn’t go to extra innings. Kevin Chapman arrived in Rochester. The move also meant that Raul Fernandez was sent down to Chattanooga. Those moves happened before the Twins claimed Adam Wilk and sent Drew Rucinski down to Rochester.Find out everything and more that happened happened in the Twins system on Wednesday. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 1, Lehigh Valley 2 (11) Box Score David Hurlbut continued the terrific start to his season. The left-hander went six innings and gave up just one run on seven hits. He walked one and struck out three to drop his season ERA to 1.59 on the season. Trevor Hildenberger struck out one in a perfect seventh inning. Nik Turley then threw two shutout innings. He gave up two hits, walked one and struck out two. Alex Wimmers pitched a scoreless tenth inning. However, he went back out for the 11th inning and gave up a game-winning, walkoff homer. Despite extra innings, the Red Wings managed just six hits. Their lone run came off rehabbing Aaron Nola when Ben Paulsen drove in a run with a single. Daniel Palka went 2-3 with a walk and his fourth double. Tommy Field added a double. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 3, Montgomery 4 (12 innings) Box Score The Lookouts also needed extra innings to decide their Wednesday game. And unfortunately, they too came up short. Randy LeBlanc made the start. He gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out two. Raul Fernandez, just sent down from Rochester, threw 2.2 scoreless innings. He gave up two hits, walked two and struck out two. Mason Melotakis finally gave up a run. The left-hander came into the game with 12.1 scoreless innings. He surpassed 13 innings before giving up a run on a wild pitch, which tied the game at three in the 11th. Todd Van Steensel came in for the 12th frame. He recorded two outs, but he gave up a run on two hits to take the loss. LaMonte Wade went 3-6. Nick Gordon went 2-6 with his seventh double. Engelb Vielma went 2-5 with two RBI. Levi Michael went 2-4 with a walk and his third double. Jon Rodriguez went 2-5 with a walk. LaMonte Wade’s season has been very interesting. In his first ten games, he hit .103/.229/.103 (.332). In his next 20 games, he hit .421/.557/.667 (1.224). And that was before the 3-6 on Wednesday. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 0, Palm Beach 5 Box Score The Miracle played a morning education game with lots of kids at the stadium. Keaton Steele was on the mound to start for Ft. Myers. He gave up two runs in the first inning and three more in the second despite leaving with two outs. In 1.2 innings, he gave up five runs on eight hits. Jonny Drozd came on and provided 3.1 shutout innings. He gave up just two hits and struck out one. Williams Ramirez walked two and gave up one hit over two scoreless innings. He struck out two. Sam Clay and Nick Anderson each pitched a scoreless inning. That puts Anderson at 13.1 scoreless innings to start the season. Sam Clay has a streak of 17.2 scoreless innings. Sean Miller provided much of the Miracle offense. He went 3-4 with his seventh double. Zander Wiel went 1-3 with a walk and his 12th double. Max Murphy went 1-3 with a walk. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 6, Dayton 5 (10 innings) Box Score Apparently the theme of the night is extra innings, and the Kernels needed to go one extra frame before settling their game. Tyler Wells made the start. The right-hander gave up three runs on four hits (including two homers) in five innings. He walked two and struck out six. Hector Lujan gave up four hits over two scoreless innings. Alex Robinson struck out two in his scoreless inning. Colton Davis came in for the ninth inning to protect a two-run lead. However, he gave up a two-run homer which sent the game to extra innings. Lewin Diaz went 3-5 with his 13th double. Ariel Montesino was 2-3 with his fourth double and two sacrifice flies. He also stole his first base. Shane Carrier went 3-4 and was hit by a pitch. He also singled in the game-winning run in the top of the tenth. Colton Davis went back out for the bottom of the tenth inning. He got the first two outs and left with the tying run on third base. Tom Hackimer came on and struck out the one batter he faced to end the game and record his third save. Lewin Diaz hit .224/.264/.358 (.622) in his first 18 games with the Kernels this year. In his past 13 games (including Wednesday night), he has hit .346/.370/.635 (1.005). TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Randy LeBlanc, Chattanooga Lookouts Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Shane Carrier, Cedar Rapids Kernels THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Pawtucket (5:05 CST) - LHP Adalberto Mejia Chattanooga @ Montgomery (7:05 CST) - LHP Matt Tracy Ft. Myers @ Charlotte (5:35 CST) - LHP Lachlan Wells Cedar Rapids @ Bowling Green (2:05 CST) - RHP Sean Poppen Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Wednesday’s games. Click here to view the article

One Twins minor league pitcher had fans wondering if they were going to see a no-hitter. A couple of the Twins top pitching prospects were on the mound on Wednesday, Jose Berrios for Rochester and Fernando Romero for Chattanooga. The Miracle bats exploded, something they really needed. The Kernels played a get-away game before heading home for a homestand.There was some #PalkaPower and #GarvSauce. One prospect launched two home runs to power his team to a win. Another prospect finished just shy of the cycle. Be sure to continue reading to find out everything that happened in the Minnesota Twins minor league system on Wednesday. INJURY UPDATE - Before we get started, we want to wish a speedy recovery to Miracle second baseman Luis Arraez. The Venezuelan was in Minneapolis on Wednesday and had knee surgery. Arraez tore his ACL running and tripping over first base about ten days ago. He will miss the entire season. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 6, Gwinnett 7 Box Score With two on and two outs, the Red Wings down 5-4 in the top of the ninth inning, JB Shuck hit a triple to score two and give the Red Wings the lead. Alex Wimmers came in to close the game, but after getting the first out, he walked the next three batters before giving up a two-run single to end the game. Tough loss for the Red Wings. Jose Berrios was on the mound to start for the Red Wings. He came in having thrown 14 innings without giving up an earned run. On Wednesday night, he was charged with four runs (three earned) on five hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out five. 65 of his 97 pitches were strikes. Alan Busenitz came on in relief. The Georgia native, and Kennesaw State alum, gave up one run on one hit and two walks in 1.1 innings. He struck out two. Buddy Boshers came on and gave up a hit before getting the final two outs of the seventh inning. Raul Fernandez pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Mitch Garver got the Red Wings on the board with a line drive over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. Daniel Palka added his fifth home run and later drove in a second run with a single. Tommy Field and Leonardo Reginnato each had two hits as well. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 3, Peoria 15 Box Score It was a getaway game for the Kernels, their final game in Peoria before heading back to Cedar Rapids to start a homestand. It’s probably fair to say that the Kernels just wanted to get away as it was not a great performance by the pitchers or the defense. Eddie Del Rosario got the start and went just two innings. He was charged with five earned runs on eight hits and two walks. Hector Lujan came on and worked two innings. He was charged with six runs, though just two were earned, on five hits. Max Cordy got the next two innings, and he was charged with two earned runs on five hits and two walks in two innings. Alex Robinson pitched the 7th inning and gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. At that point, the day’s starting catcher, Caleb Hamilton, came to the mound. He walked one and struck out two in a scoreless - that’s right, scoreless - inning. The Kernels scored three runs on seven hits. Jermaine Palacios led the way with a 2-4 day. He had an RBI. Lewin Diaz and Aaron Whitefield each added a double. It was Diaz’s fourth and Whitefield’s third. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Nik Turley, Chattanooga Lookouts Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – LaMonte Wade, Chattanooga Lookouts THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Gwinnett (11:05 am CST) - RHP Nick Tepesch Biloxi @ Chattanooga - (6:15 CST) - RHP Felix Jorge Florida @ Ft. Myers (5:35 CST) - RHP David Fischer Kane County @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Tyler Wells Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Wednesday's games. Click here to view the article

I had a discussion at work the other day with a friend asking who would be called up when or if the Twins make the move from 13 pitchers to 12 pitchers. It got me thinking well beyond just that singular question. Looking around the diamond, if a certain player or a certain position had an injury or needed a demotion, who would be the player to be called up next? Most players promoted to the big leagues come from AAA, but occasionally we will see a player promoted directly from Double-A. So, let’s look at each position and think about who might be the logical player promoted if there was a need at that position.In many cases, we will lump together some positions where it makes sense. I’d certainly welcome your feedback on each. Of course, circumstances in the big leagues and in the minor leagues can alter any of this thinking from day to day. PITCHING The Twins are already at 13 pitchers, and as Nick noted it would probably be good if they can drop down to 12 pitchers in the near future. Obviously that change would happen in the bullpen as opposed to dropping to a four-man rotation. Starting Pitcher Who would be the next starting pitcher up if the Twins need a new starting pitcher? What if Adalberto Mejia struggles for three or four more starts? What if one of the five starters got hurt? One option, of course, would be to move Tyler Duffey back into the starting rotation. That isn’t a terrible option, but frankly, I’ve enjoyed watching his performance and how his stuff plays out of the bullpen. Jose Berrios threw six shutout innings in his first outing of the Rochester season. He will be back on the mound on Thursday afternoon. He’s been there, and maybe if he had not gone to the WBC, he would be in the rotation now. No real way to know that with certainty. 40-Man Roster Options: Two starters at AA Chattanooga are on the 40-man roster. Felix Jorge and Fernando Romero could be options for spot-start scenarios now. Maybe by season’s end, they will be ready for more. Non-Roster Options: Nick Tepesch was one of the last pitchers sent back to the minor leagues, so he is an option. Aaron Slegers made his first AAA start on Tuesday and threw six no-hit innings. Paul Clemens made 16 MLB starts last year (between the Padres and Marlins). He struggled in his first start for Chattanooga, but he could be an option as well. Left-Handed Relief Pitcher The Twins currently have two relief pitchers, Taylor Rogers and Craig Breslow. Ryan O’Rourke is on the 10-Day disabled list. Glen Perkins is on the 60-Day D. As of today the guy who would be called up would be Buddy Boshers. 40-man Roster Options: Mason Melotakis is healthy, and he’s pitched well so far in Chattanooga. He should surface sometime in 2017. Randy Rosario was just promoted to Chattanooga. We saw what he can do in spring training. Both of these guys throw in the mid-to-upper 90s with very good sliders. Non-Roster Options: Tyler Jay is the name to watch but as you know, he’s on the DL with some biceps tendinitis. Still, he could be in the equation later in the year. The other option is to go with one left-hander in the bullpen and select a right-handed reliever. Right-Handed Relief Pitcher The Twins currently have six right-handers in the big league bullpen. That includes Rule 5 pick Justin Haley. But if there were an injury, who would be called up? The answer for who I think would be called up now might be surprising. I think they call would go to Trevor Hildenberger. The side-winding right-hander is again off to a great start, this time in AAA. He is not on the 40-man roster 40-Man Roster Options: It was a surprise when JT Chargois was optioned late in camp. For those who follow the daily minor league reports, you’re aware that although he isn’t on the DL, he has yet to pitch. It isn’t believed to be long-term. Non-Roster Options: Jake Reed is on the DL due to his side injury. Alex Wimmers lasted late into spring training. His first outing of the year was rough, but he is capable. One name not often talked about is Alan Busenitz. He came from the Angels in the Ricky Nolasco trade. While he’s not a big man, he does throw very hard. Outfielders The Twins outfield is currently playing great defensively, but all three have struggled with the bat to start the season. So has fourth outfielder Danny Santana. And Robbie Grossman has only DHd, but he could play both corner spots. Right now, I think that Daniel Palka would be the guy called up if any of the three starting outfielders went on the D. He plays right field and can play left field (as well as DH), and both Eddie Rosario and Max Kepler can play center field. 40-Man Roster Options: Zack Granite started the season on the DL with a strained oblique, but once healthy and with a few games under his belt, he could certainly be an option as well. Non-Roster Options: Ben Paulsen had a good spring training, and he’s off to a fast start in Rochester. He’s primarily played left field, but he can play first base too.JB Shuck was one of the last cuts from big league camp too. Third Base/Second Base/Shortstop Miguel Sano, Brian Dozier and Jorge Polanco are going to play most every day. Eduardo Escobar has spelled Sano a couple of times, and Polanco once. Danny Santana can also play at any of those positions. I think if there was a short-term (maybe 10-day DL) situation that the Twins would call up Engelb Vielma. If it was more of a potentially long-term injury situation, I think that Tommy Field would likely be added to the 40-man roster and called up. He can be a backup at all three spots, plus has spent some time in the outfield too. 40-Man Roster Options: Ehire Adrianza is on the DL. Since he is out of options, the team will need to make a decision on him when he is ready to return. Or, they would need to make a decision on someone else. Non-Roster Options: Niko Goodrum chose to stay with the Twins organization this year rather than test free agency. He made a good impression during spring training, and he’s off to a fast start in Rochester, playing a lot of shortstop but also second base and center field so far. Matt Hague might be a possibility at third base. Bengie Gonzalez also had a terrific showing in big league camp. Nick Gordon? Probably not yet, but maybe by the end of the season. First Base/Designated Hitter Joe Mauer is at first base most days with Chris Gimenez as his backup. Robbie Grossman has been the main DH, particularly against left-handers. Right now, the easy choice for call up is Kennys Vargas. He’s on the 40-man roster. He lost time due to being in the WBC (and hardly playing). He recently hit his first home for the Red Wings. 40-Man Roster Options: I mean, the option is Vargas, though I think there is another good option. Mitch Garver has always been a hitter. And, he’s off to a fast start in Rochester. But he’s a catcher, right? Sure, but he’s played quite a bit of first base in his career, and he can DH, plus he can get time behind the plate. Non-Roster Options: Byungho Park may have been the choice at the end of spring training, but he went on the DL with a hamstring injury on Tuesday. Matt Hague was strong in spring training and has a long track record of success in the International League. Ben Paulsen is also a candidate for first base, DH and can play the corner outfield spots too. Catcher The Twins have had fast starts from Jason Castro and Chris Gimenez both at the plate and behind the plate. But if one of them was to get hurt, who would come up? Truthfully, I think it depends on which player got hurt. I think that if Chris Gimenez were to go on the DL, the Twins would call up John Ryan Murphy to be the backup to Jason Castro. I think if it was Castro was the one to get hurt, we could see Mitch Garver so that he can be the primary starter. Those are the two options right now on the 40-man roster, and both are at AAA Rochester. At AA are Dan Rohlfing and Jose Gonzalez. So there you have it, a lot of words to cover the What Ifs that the game of baseball can present. As we know, there will likely be eight to ten pitchers who will make starts at some point this season. It’s also likely that up to 15 relievers will pitch for the Twins. Even for position players, there will be injuries, maybe some demotions, and then September. What are your thoughts on who will surface in the big leagues and the scenarios it could happen? Click here to view the article

As Easter weekend comes to a close, many of the Twins minor league affiliates are starting to settle into an early season groove. With the weather continuing to warm up, pitchers and batters can be more comfortable and play up to their full potential. Even though there were only three affiliates playing on Easter Sunday, there was still plenty of action. Big name players hit home run. There were also some strong pitching performances. Who stood out above the crowd? Read on to find out.RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 10, Syracuse 6 (Game 1- 7 Innings) Box Score Rochester exploded for multiple runs in three of the first four innings to outpace Syracuse in game one of the double-header. The Red Wings got things off to a good start by plating four runs in the first frame. Ben Paulsen had the big hit in the inning as his two-out double drove in three runs. Tommy Field cracked a two-run home run in the second inning to push the lead to 6-1. In the bottom of the fourth, Kennys Vargas helped to extend the lead by knocking a three-run shot, his second of the year. Every batter in the Red Wings lineup reached base and Matt Hague was the lone hitter not to record a hit but he drew a walk and scored a run. Jason Wheeler started and allowed three earned runs over five innings of work. He gave up seven hits while striking out four and walking two. Alan Busenitz walked three batters in the sixth frame as he allowed three earned runs to make the game closer than it needed to be. Trevor Hildenberger closed out the game with a perfect ninth including two strikeouts. Rochester 6, Syracuse 7 (Game 2- 7 Innings) Box Score Syracuse got revenge in the second game as they jumped on Aaron Slegers early for four runs in the first inning. Slegers wouldn't make it out of the fourth inning as he allowed five runs on 11 hits. He struck out six batters and only gave up one walk. Buddy Boshers finished off the fourth for Slegers but the damage had already been done. Rochester did their best to claw back into the game. Daniel Palka drove in a run with a second inning double. Niko Goodrum continued the scoring with a sacrifice fly. Palka would add to the scoring as he led off the fourth inning with his third home run of the year. Palka finished the game 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, three RBI and four runs. Raul Fernandez ran into some late inning trouble as he surrendered two home runs in his 1.2 innings of work. Alex Wimmers collected the last four outs without allowing a runner and striking out one. Former Twins closer Joe Nathan earned his second save even though he allowed Palka's second home run. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 1, Jacksonville 0 Box Score In a tightly contested pitchers duel, the Lookouts were able to find a way to scratch out a win. Paul Clemens started for Chattanooga and pitched into the sixth frame. He scattered five hits and struck out four while walking one. After pitching 1.2 scoreless frames, Todd Van Steensel earned his first victory of the year. Mason Melotakis picked up his first save after tossing two perfect frames. The hits were few and far between for both clubs. Jonathan Rodriguez picked up the game's biggest hit as he smashed a solo home run with one out in the seventh. Engelb Vielma finished 1-for-4. Ryan Walker and Jose Gonzalez each picked up a hit. Levi Michael and Nick Gordon were the only Lookouts hitters who didn't strike out in the game. With the win, Chattanooga won the rubber game of the three-game set with Jacksonville. The Lookouts moved to 5-5 on the season. MIRACLE MATTERS Fort Myers 5, Daytona 0 Box Score Randy LeBlanc was the story of this game. He tossed seven scoreless innings for the second straight start. He limited the Tortugas to three hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Nick Anderson completed the shutout with two innings of work. He allowed two base runners and struck out a pair of batters. Daytona went on an error spree in this game to help Fort Myers separate themselves. The Tortugas combined for four errors which led to three unearned runs. Zander Wiel drove in a pair of runs with his first home run of the year. Chris Paul and Brian Navarreto each knocked a double and Navarreto drove in a run. After losing five straight games by one run, the Miracle have won two of their last three including a pair of shutouts. Fort Myers now sits with a 3-8 record on the season. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Randy LeBlanc, Fort Myers Miracle Hitter of the Day – Daniel Palka, Rochester Red Wings WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester- Scheduled Off Day Chattanooga vs. Biloxi (6:15 CST) - TBD Fort Myers vs. Florida (5:35 CST) - LHP Lachlan Wells (0-1, 1.29 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Peoria (6:30 CST) - RHP Clark Beeker Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games. Click here to view the article

It's early in the minor league season and there are plenty of games left to be played. However, it's great to see some of the Twins affiliates playing well to start the year. Nick Gordon is hot to start the season and he looked to continue that streak. Rochester was scheduled to play two games due to some early season weather problems. Would Gordon stay hot? Could the Red Wings sweep their twin-bill? Read on to find out all about Sunday's results.RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 6, Syracuse 2 (Game 2- 7 Innings) Box Score Nick Tepesch made his debut in the Twins organization on Sunday by starting the first game of a double-header. He allowed two runs on six hits while striking out two and walking two. His first inning was all over the board. He allowed two hits, two walks, and struck out two. He settled in from there before turning things over to the bullpen. With the Wings down 2-0, Tommy Field got things started in the fourth inning. He doubled to start the frame before Kennys Vargas drove him in with a two-out single. The next two batters walked but Ben Paulsen left the bases loaded. Paulsen would get another opportunity. In the sixth inning, Matt Hague singled before ByungHo Park struck out and Vargas grounded out. Daniel Palka and Mitch Garver collected back-to-back singles before Paulsen smacked a three-run shot. Trevor Hildenberger in his Triple-A debut struck out the side in the sixth to keep the game at 5-2. After tacking on another run in the top of the seventh on a Vargas double, Hildenberger faced one over the minimum in the ninth for his first save. Rochester 10, Syracuse 4 (Game 2- 7 Innings) Box Score Rochester pounded out four home runs including Daniel Palka's first two home runs of the year (see video of both below) to defeat Syracuse in game two. It was a tight game until the fifth and sixth frames when the Red Wings lit up the scoreboard for eight runs. The two through six hitters all combined for multiple hits. Paulsen homered for the second straight game. Drew Rucinski started for Rochester and pitched well. In four innings of work, he limited the Chiefs to one run, a home run, on three hits. He struck out five and failed to walk a batter. Alex Busenitz pitched two scoreless innings and was credited with the win. Alex Wimmers had a rough final frame as he allowed three solo home runs. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 5, Mobile 4 Box Score For the second time in three games, the Lookouts were walk-off winners against the BayBears. Edgar Corcino started the 10th inning with a single. After two fly outs, a wild pitch moved Corcino to second. With first base open, Jonathan Rodriguez walked. LaMonte Wade followed with a walk to load the bases. This left Dan Rohlfing to play the hero as he drew the walk to win the game. Friday night's hero, Nick Gordon, got the game off to a fast start as he cranked his first home run of the year. He finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. He has seven hits in the team's first four games including two three-hit efforts. Felix Jorge made his first start of the year. In four innings of work, he allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Todd Van Steensel and Nick Burdi combined for three shutout innings. Raul Fernandez struggled with control in the ninth as he allowed three walks and took the blown save. Luke Bard earned the win as he allowed one hit and struck out one. MIRACLE MATTERS Fort Myers 2, Jupiter 3 Box Score Keaton Steele cruised through four innings before running into some trouble in the fifth. The first four batters of the frame reached base and two runs would eventually cross the plate. Randy Rosario and Michael Theofanopoulos combined to allow one earned run and struck out four over the final four frames. The seventh inning is where the Miracle missed their opportunity. Daniel Kihle plated a run with an RBI single. With one out, Fort Myers loaded the bases. Sean Miller struck out and Nelson Molina grounded out to end the frame. Kihle and Miller both finished the game with multiple hits including their second doubles of the year. Fort Myers scored a ninth inning run to cut the lead to one but that was the end of their luck. The Miracle begin a seven-game road trip on Monday. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 6, Beloit 1 Box Score Alex Schick tied his career high with seven strikeouts and pitched a career-high seven innings on the way to his first victory of the year. He struck out at least one batter in each of the first six innings. Max Cordy took over for Schick and struck out the side as part of a perfect eighth inning. Alex Robinson finished the game with a perfect frame while striking out one. Travis Blakenhorn and Jermaine Palacios combined for six hits and four runs scored. Blankenhorn knocked his second home run, his second home run in as many days. Brandon Lopez joined the hit parade with three hits of his own. Mitchell Kranson went 2-for-4 with a double. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Alex Schick, Cedar Rapids Kernels Hitter of the Day – Ben Paulsen, Rochester Red Wings WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester at Buffalo (12:05 CST) - LHP Jason Wheeler (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Chattanooga vs. Mobile (6:15 CST) - RHP Paul Clemens (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Fort Myers @ Tampa (6:00 CST) - RHP Randy LeBlanc (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Kane County (6:30 CST) - RHP Clark Beeker (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Sunday’s games. Click here to view the article

In 2016, the Rochester Red Wings went 81-63. However, they finished third in their division and just shy of a playoff spot. The 2017 Red Wings will again have a good combination of prospects and veterans. It is a team that has the potential to put the Red Wings back in playoff contention while providing the Minnesota Twins with players to help as they look to improve.Today we look at the Rochester Red Wings players and coaching staff. We try to figure out a solid everyday lineup, and discuss the top prospects. Feel free to share any thoughts you may have on the team or roster, and ask as many questions as you would like. COACHING STAFF Mike Quade returns to the Red Wings for his third year as manager. The former Cubs manager has led the Wings to a 158-130 record over the last two seasons. Because of the car accident he was involved in in Ft. Myers this spring, he had rotator cuff surgery and will not be able to coach third base this season. That job will go to Toby Gardenhire, who was brought in to be a coach in the GCL. He will have other duties with the coaching staff as well. Chad Allen is back for his second season as the Red Wings hitting coach. Stu Cliburn returns as the pitching coach for the second straight season, though he also was their pitching coach from 2006 to 2008. He’s been a pitching coach in the Twins organization dating back to 1993. ROSTER Here is a look at the Red Wings Opening Day roster. 16 of these 26 players have spent at least some time in the big leagues. 17 of the players spent at least some time with the Red Wings last year. Eight players are on the 40-man roster. Note that this is a tentative roster and can be updated before their season starts on Thursday. HITTERS Catchers: Mitch Garver, John Ryan Murphy Infielders: Byungho Park, Ben Paulsen, Kennys Vargas, Tommy Field, Matt Hague, Bengie Gonzalez, Niko Goodrum, Leonardo Reginnato, Outfielders: Quintin Berry, Zack Granite, Daniel Palka, JB Shuck, Ryan Strausborger PITCHERS Starting Pitchers: Jose Berrios, David Hurlbut, Aaron Slegers, Nick Tepesch, Jason Wheeler, Yohan Pino (DL), Nick Greenwood (DL) Relief Pitchers: DJ Baxendale, Buddy Boshers, Alan Busenitz, JT Chargois, Trevor Hildenberger, Jake Reed, Drew Rucinski, Alex Wimmers, Zack Jones (DL-shoulder) POTENTIAL LINEUP CF - Zack Granite RF - JB Shuck 1B - Byungho Park LF - Daniel Palka DH -Kennys Vargas C - Mitch Garver 3B - Matt Hague SS - Niko Goodrum 2B - Tommy Field TOP PROSPECTS JT Chargois - Needs to work on command, but should have a big future in late innings.Mitch Garver - Needs to play most every day. He’s close to ready.Daniel Palka - Huge power, needs to put the ball in play a bit more because he hurts the ball when he does.Zack Granite - His game is more impressive than his numbers. He does so many things well.Jake Reed - Gets great movement on his fastball and slider. Should debut in 2017.Aaron Slegers - Also seems more impressive than his numbers. Sits 90-92, touches 94.Trevor Hildenberger - He has put up video game numbers the last two season in the minors. Funky delivery, should debut this season.Niko Goodrum - Could have been a free agent. Returned. Performed well in big league spring. Can play all over the diamond.STORIES TO WATCHWhen will Kennys Vargas and Byungho Park get moved up to Minnesota. Could someone else be called up when the Twins go from 13 to 12 pitchers… sometime?Daniel Palka was Twins Daily’s Minor League Hitter of the Year in 2016. Zack Granite was the Twins choice for Minor League Player of the Year. Both were added to the 40-man roster this offseason. They are almost polar opposite in terms of player type, but both could surface with the Twins in 2017.The Red Wings bullpen could provide the Twins with some much needed depth throughout the season. JT Chargois needs to harness his control. Jake Reed injured his side and could miss a couple of weeks, but his stuff can be very good too. Trevor Hildenberger has been incredible and should surface with the Twins this year. DJ Baxendale will spend his first full season as a reliever after a strong showing in the 2nd half of the Red Wings ‘pen last year. Alex Wimmers was arguably the Twins best reliever this spring and should get another opportunity with the big league club. Alan Busenitz throws hard too.Mitch Garver and John Ryan Murphy are both on the 40-man roster. Jason Castro is around for the next three years, but Chris Gimenez was added to the 40-man roster. Gimenez’s ability to play other positions mean that the Twins could, at times, go with another catcher.Can Jose Berrios improve his command. I mean, that’s the biggest question there is for Twins fans. His ability to find any semblance of command will determine when (or if) he will become a solid MLB starter.Please feel free to discuss this roster. Ask lots of questions and check back often. What stories will you be following? Click here to view the article