Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Sunday, March 8, 2015

➢ Twins-Red Sox: Dozier (illness) scratched from lineup. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 1 ➢ After rough start vs. Red Sox, Hughes recovers. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 2 ➢ Twins day at camp: Dozier falls ill as flu bug persists. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 2 ➢ Twins in on top international prospect; plus notes from 4-2 loss to Boston. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 3 ➢ Hartman: Jim Pohlad expecting Twins turnaround in 2015. Star Tribune (Hartman) p. 4 ➢ Byron Buxton is whole again. Star Tribune (Souhan) p. 5 ➢ Tom Powers: Doug Mientkiewicz cooling down after being passed over by Twins and warming to new job. Pioneer Press (Powers) p. 6 ➢ Twins: Brian Dozier scratched due to illness. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7 ➢ : Josmil Pinto hopes to return next week. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 8 ➢ Minnesota Twins' Ervin Santana is San Cristobal's favorite son. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 8 ➢ Twinsights: New pitching coach Neil Allen emphasizing the changeup. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 11 ➢ Hughes pleased with debut as Twins fall to Sox. MLB.com (Browne) p. 11 ➢ Pinto to give strained right quad a break. MLB.com (Roberts) p. 12 ➢ Pelfrey officially enters rotation battle with spring debut. MLB.com (Roberts) p. 12 ➢ Spring debut provides Hughes some important work. MLB.com (Roberts) p. 12 ➢ Buchholz, Red Sox get the best of Twins. Associated Press p. 13 ➢ Twins-Red Sox update: Victorino scratched. The News-Press (Rathgeber) p. 13 ➢ : behind the scenes in Fort Myers. The News-Press (Dorsey) p. 14

Twins-Red Sox: Dozier (illness) scratched from lineup

La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | March 7, 2015

Greetings from Fenway South, where the Twins and Red Sox will meet this afternoon in one of the 30-something fake games before the 162 real ones begin. First, some news: Brian Dozier was in the original lineup today but has been sent home sick. Caught Dozier walking out of the clubhouse carrying three bottles of water and three bottles of Gatorade (impressive feat). Doug Bernier takes his place in the lineup. This early in the season, it's no big deal. But the Twins had a rash of illnesses last week and thought they were done with it. The last time the Twins were here, it was the final game of the 2014 spring training schedule. And Adam Brett Walker cleared the "other" Green Monster with prodigious blast. Well see if one of the Twins hitters today can connect off of Red Sox righthander Clay Buchholz. Josmil Pinto has yet to play in a spring training game because of strained right oblique. But he said he's feeling better and will play catch and in the cages today. No drills or catching bullpens yet. Sounds like he will miss a couple more days because he'll have to be able to get a full workout in to prove he's healthy. Alex Meyer and Trevor May both threw yesterday. Meyer "thinks" he's pitching one of the games on Monday in Bradenton against the Pirates. May "thinks" he's pitching on Wednesday against the Rays at Hammond Stadium. Phil Hughes is on the mound for the Twins and will face some big names in opposing lineup.

After a rough start vs. Red Sox, Hughes recovers

La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | March 7, 2015

FORT MYERS. FLA. – After a laborious first inning, Phil Hughes asked about the decision to pitch a second inning Saturday. “I had to drive all this way,” Hughes said, “So I might as well go out for a second inning.” The Twins’ Hammond Stadium is about 5 miles from Boston’s JetBlue Park, so Hughes didn’t have to go far. But he has a ways to go before he stirs memories of last season, when he went 16-10 and walked only 16 batters. Nope, Saturday’s outing was far from that as he fought command and sharpness and pretty much got a workout in as the Twins lost 4-2 to the Red Sox. The Twins were hitless for 6⅓ innings before Kennys Vargas legged out an hit when Sean Coyle couldn’t pull off the barehanded stab. Damage control was a running theme as Boston collected 16 hits. “Considering we gave up 16 hits, we pitched pretty good,” Twins said. Hughes gave up a single, threw a wild pitch then another single to open the first inning. But he regrouped to retire on a pop out, strike out Hanley Ramirez looking then get Pablo Sandoval to fly out to escape damage. “A lot of dynamics out there today,” Hughes said. “Immediate jam, first and third with nobody out in the first. Sometimes you want a nice easy outing and get your legs under you but there is something to be said about being able to work out of a jam and some high stress situations to get 2015 off to a good start. “It wasn’t exactly how I would like it to go, but it’s all a process.”

Twins day at camp: Dozier falls ill as flu bug persists

La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | March 7, 2015

Brian Dozier was in the original Twins starting lineup against the Red Sox on Saturday, but was seen in street clothes and carrying three bottles of water and three bottles of an energy drink. Dozier is sick, meaning the Twins aren’t quite done with the bug that swept the clubhouse during the first week of workouts that forced five players to be sent home to recover. It’s early enough in camp for any missed time to have an impact on the approaching regular season. But, after watching Oswaldo Arcia,Jordan Schafer, Trevor May, and Trevor Plouffe miss workouts or games, the Twins thought they had survived the storm. Dozier coming down sick raises fears that another wave is coming. “I thought we were past it about two days ago,” Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said. “Unfortunately we’re not. The good thing about that is you know what you are dealing with, it’s about a two- or three-day thing. “And hope it doesn’t creep up into the front office.” In every other case, players missed two to four days because of the flu, which makes Dozier doubtful to play Sunday against Baltimore. Pinto update Catcher Josmil Pinto played catch and hit in the cage Saturday as he tried to recover from a strained right quadriceps suffered during a running drill. “It feels better,” he said. But Pinto hasn’t been cleared to take part in drills or catch in the bullpen yet. Until then, Pinto will remain the only position player not to have appeared in a spring training game. And he needs to get on the field and impress the coaching staff enough to bring him north at the end of camp.

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“He’s been set back a couple days here,” Ryan said. “But for the most part we’re just getting going. I don’t think this is going to affect him at all with the ability to make this club.” Ryan said Pinto came to camp in good shape, so to get banged up is disappointing.

Twins in on top international prospect; plus notes from 4-2 loss to Boston

La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | March 7, 2015

Before we get to some game highlights, some news: The Twins are preparing to spend as much as $4 million to land one of the top Latin American prospects this year. Wander Javier, a from the Dominican Republic with some power potential, is in the Twins' crosshairs, according to sources with knowledge of the interest. The international signing period doesn't begin until July 2, when teams can ink players who have turned 16 by then. If the bonus does rise to $4 million, it would set a club record for the largest bonus awarded to an international prospect, surpassing the $3.15 million the Twins signed Miguel Sano for in 2009. Signing Javier for that much would require some maneuvering. The Twins have the fifth-largest international signing bonus pool this year, but it is only $3,948,500 - $51,500 shy of the $4 million it's expected to cost to land Javier. The Twins would have to pay a 100 percent tax on the $51,500 overage but since it's less than five percent over their cap they won't face further penalties. So the Twins could simply accept the penalty to sign Javier and move on. But they also could trade for allocation money and avoid the tax. They also might decide to trade for much more than $51,500 so they can sign more players. I was told that the Twins are looking at all options on this one. And the word aggressive was used to describe their approach to this. The Twins haven't stepped out into the deep international waters since they singed Miguel Sano in 2009. Sano has yet to play in the majors, but has tantalizing power. It doesn't sound like Javier has that type of power , but you can watch him for yourself here. Keep in mind that we are four months - four - from international signing season. And all kinds of things could happen. But the Twins are definitely in on this one. Some quick game notes Hard to get fired up about the first spring outing. Phil Hughes' cut fastball looked like a slider. With improved arm strength, that should work itself out. For others like Michael Tonkin, his pitch selection was an issue. Tonkin threw 24 pitches, 21 were fastballs. He's been asked to mix in a breaking ball before. ``Early down here I would like to see them build arm strength,'' Twins manager Paul Molitor said, ``but it's got to be a pitch that he's getting more comfortable throwing.'' Funny scene in the second inning. Mike Napoli, the No. 6 hitter, was batting. Ryan Hanigan, the Red Sox No. 8 hitter, was in the on deck circle. Either Hanigan was too early or Xander Bogaerts, the No. 7 hitter forgot where he batted in the order. Bogaerts eventually emerged from the dugout, bumped fists with Hanigan then replaced Hanigan in the on deck circle. Brian Dozier was in the original starting lineup on Saturday, but was seen in street clothes an carrying three bottles of water and three bottles of an energy drink. Dozier is sick, meaning the Twins aren't quite done with the bug that swept the clubhouse during the first week of workouts that forced five players to be sent home to recover. He could miss Sunday's game against Baltimore. Catcher Josmil Pinto played catch and hit in the cage on Saturday as he tries to recover from a strained right quadriceps suffered during a running drill.'' ``It feels better,'' he said. But Pinto hasn't been cleared to take part in drills or catch in the bullpen yet. Until then, Pinto will remain the only position player to not have appeared in a spring training game. And he needs to get on the field and impress the coaching staff enough to bring him north at the end of camp. Mike Pelfrey's entered the game in the third inning and got Mookie Betts, his first batter, to pop out to right field. Eric Farris camped under the ball - and dropped it for an error. Betts, of course, eventually scored. And Pelfrey ended up as the losing . But it was a victory, of sorts, for Pelfrey because it was his first outing since May 23 when he pitched for Class AAA Rochester. He soon had season-ending surgery to remove scar tissue from his elbow that was pressuring the ulnar nerve. 3

In two innings, Pelfrey gave up that unearned on three hits. ``It was good to see Mike out there,'' Twins manager Paul Molitor said. ``He's put in a lot of work to get back to where he is. Command wasn't great but he got through a couple, which was good.'' Righthander Alex Meyer, who missed four days last week to attend his grandfather's funeral, will make his spring debut on Monday in a B game in Bradenton against . Righthander Trevor May, who missed two days last week because of the flu, will make his spring debut on Wednesday when the Twins play host to Tampa Bay. The Twins turned a 4-6-3 play - Doug Bernier to Danny Santana to Max Kepler - in the second, third and fourth innings.

Hartman: Jim Pohlad expecting Twins turnaround in 2015

Sid Hartman | Star Tribune | March 7, 2015

Twins owner Jim Pohlad said he knew that when Target Field opened in 2010, it would be a big draw and that attendance would skyrocket. But he also was aware that continued interest in the team in the years to follow would have less to do with the ballpark than with winning. The Twins drew 3.2 million fans that opening season and went to the playoffs. In 2011 they drew 3.1 million fans but lost 99 games. In 2012 the attendance dropped to 2.7 million and they lost 96 games. In 2013 it was 2.4 million and the team lost 96 games, again. Last year, even with the All-Star Game at Target Field, they drew 2.2 million fans and lost 92 games. Their attendance was good for eighth out of 15 teams in the . Pohlad was asked if he is worried about attendance going into this season. “That is our own fault,” he said in a recent interview. “We’ve hurt our brand by four years of losing. We’re still relatively happy about the season ticket sales, considering the fact that we’ve had four straight losing years.” Pohlad said winning would be the only factor for attendance going forward. “We compounded that problem by four straight losing seasons,” he said. “Yes, the shiny new stadium tends to go away after a few years, but when you lose too, that really hurts.” This offseason the Twins signed Ervin Santana to the highest free-agent contract in team history at $54 million for four years. They also brought back popular Torii Hunter on a one-year, $10.5 million deal. Pohlad says that there is hope that the team, which finished fifth in the American League in runs scored last season, will make a marked improvement in 2015. “We expect a lot from the team every year, and the last four years it hasn’t delivered at all,” Pohlad said. “But we’re optimistic, and I think little by little building a really good, solid foundation, and with our young players we expect a lot, yes.” Asked if it would be more disappointing to post another bad year after increasing the payroll to $101 million, he said: “We have been disappointed for four years; I don’t equate it to payroll. There is a lot of disappointment. But this year if we don’t improve and aren’t significantly better, yes I’ll be disappointed, but so will [General Manager] Terry [Ryan] and so will the rest of the organization. “Payroll is a cycle, I think the payroll on a team is a cycle. You have a bunch of young players, they come up and the payroll is favorable during those years. The older they get the more the payroll escalates. Then if you have an issue, like we had with the flow of young players coming up, then you have to go out and maybe increase payroll a little more.” Excited for Molitor Pohlad knows how disappointing the past four years have been for Twins fans and the organization, but he said last year, despite the record, showed a silver lining. “I think last year was a really good, productive year for a lot of young players,” he said. “I think everybody thinks that this year we’ll have more young players and the young players from last year should improve, also.” Pohlad is also excited about the addition of Paul Molitor as manager. Pohlad said Molitor was the best choice to replace Ron Gardenhire. “There is no doubt, we feel we picked the best of the best,” he said. “We had a lot of great candidates and I think we picked the best one.”

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Byron Buxton is whole again

Jim Souhan | Star Tribune | March 7, 2015

The ink latticing Byron Buxton’s left arm symbolizes traits sought by the ragtag characters in a famous movie. ¶ The roses on his forearm represent, he says, “heart.” ¶ The lion on his biceps represents “strength, and courage.” ¶ Born in 1993, Buxton didn’t solicit the tattoos to pay homage to a movie made in 1939. ¶ He did it because he wants to become the Wizard of Ahs, which he heard again last week after a year of mostly silence. Three years after the Twins chose him with the second pick in the draft, two years after becoming the consensus top prospect in baseball, and a year after entering spring training with his major league debut in sight, Buxton is back in Twins camp trying to forget, or learn from, a season destroyed by injuries. In 2013, he produced one of the most remarkable minor league seasons in recent history, eliciting comparisons to Mike Trout’s rise to stardom. In 2014, he spent months without being able to play catch. “It was frustrating,” he said. “I mean, very frustrating, to not be able to play the game you love.” Buxton wears the frustration well. His small-town sensibilities — his willingness to embrace the mundane chores of off-the-field conditioning and rehabilitation, his patience — helped him survive his first year of relative inactivity since he learned to walk. “I’m country, all the way,” Buxton says. “I even listen to country music. Everywhere I go.” He favors Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum. He drives a large red pickup truck. As a kid in the small and remote town of Baxley, Ga., Buxton usually chose ATVs and outdoor sports over television. “I started playing tee ball when I was 5,” he said. “From then on, baseball was my game. I was always asking my dad to take me outside and play catch, or pitch to me.” When he earned a $6 million signing bonus as a first-round draft pick in 2012, Buxton bought his parents a house, and he still mows their lawn, “usually, with country music in my headphones.” Last summer, stuck in Fort Myers while rehabilitating a wrist injury, he and fellow Twins prospect Miguel Sano would drive their trucks to a nearby irrigation ditch lining a major road. A duo worth about $10 million in signing bonuses and with the earning power of a middling European economy would stand in the afternoon heat, jabbing hooks through foul-smelling bait, competing at ditch fishing because they couldn’t compete in baseball. “People would drive by, honking their horns,” Buxton said. “I can outfish the majority of people, but Miguel kills me. And he won’t tell me his secret.” • • • Last summer, Buxton and Sano had to stand next to each other to play catch. Sano couldn’t throw because of Tommy John elbow surgery. Buxton couldn’t catch, during a season in which his bones and joints lost a yearlong argument with his playing style. In the spring of 2014, he dived for a ball in a minor league game. “I felt my wrist bend back,” he said. “I knew something wasn’t right.” He tried to come back, and aggravated the injury. After playing only 30 games at Class A Fort Myers, the Twins promoted Buxton to Class AA New Britain in August. In his first game there, he dived for a line drive in right-center. So did right fielder Mike Kvasnicka. The collision left Buxton immobile on the field for a half-hour. He suffered a concussion and didn’t play again until the Arizona Fall League. “I really don’t remember it,” Buxton said. In Arizona, Buxton broke his left middle finger on another outfield dive, ending his season. Wednesday night, he played in his first game since that injury, going 2-for-3 with two doubles in an exhibition against the Gophers. • • • Torii Hunter, like Buxton a first-round draft pick out of high school who played center field in a small town in the South, said he routinely ran into fences regardless of the situation when he became a pro. “You learn,” Hunter said. “You want to sell out on every play to help your team, but there are situations where you have to think about the big picture.” That is one of the lessons Hunter has imparted this spring. He sits two lockers away from Buxton. Last week, after a particularly long workout, Hunter brought Buxton and fellow center fielder Aaron Hicks to the batting cage for extra tutoring, long after other players had finished. The Twins drafted Hunter in 1993. He didn’t become a standout in the big leagues until 2001. “I expect big things from him,” Hunter said of Buxton. “I know he got hurt last year, and will have to go to the minors and get some work in, but I expect to see him in the bigs this year. 5

“Just watching him in that first game, my first time seeing him in action, you see the way he runs the bases, his plate presence, his bat head awareness. He’s more polished than I was.” The Twins have been raving about Buxton, uncharacteristically, since the summer of 2013, even though they could easily exercise caution. Buxton is 21. He has played one full, uninterrupted season of minor league baseball. He played for a high school in a small town. He has taken three at-bats above Class A. To those who work in the game, Buxton is a classic-yet-rare five-tool prospect, meaning he excels at running, throwing, fielding, hitting and hitting for power. To those who create false equivalencies between past failed prospects and Buxton, he is another kid who could disappoint, who could continue to get hurt. “Sure, we’ve praised other prospects,” Twins assistant GM Rob Antony said. “But when was the last time we raved about somebody as a five- tool player? Byron has remarkable speed. He is an outstanding fielder. He has a tremendous arm. He can hit. Of the five tools, maybe the least developed is power. But he’s someone who could hit 20 home runs even if he doesn’t become a pure power hitter. “He’s also a guy who wants to be great, and who is preparing himself to be a superstar. He and Sano are a lot alike in that way. They don’t just want to get to the big leagues — they want to be star players on championship teams.” Said Twins General Manager Terry Ryan: “There are a lot of players who don’t know what it takes to be a complete major leaguer, from work ethic to understanding the responsibilities to the community and the media that come with being a star. Byron will handle it the right way.” • • • From Kirby Puckett to Kent Hrbek, from to , from Tony Oliva to Sano and Buxton, the Twins are accustomed to seeing their star players’ careers shortened or damaged by injuries. Buxton was rarely hurt in high school, and proved durable during his first two seasons as a pro. The Twins can only hope their run of bad luck doesn’t continue with their best prospect since Mauer. “The setbacks have taught him a lot, have matured him,” said Buxton’s agent, Al Goetz. “He had never dealt with injuries or failures in his life before last season. It was tough for him. I think it was also good for him. If he goes through some adversity in the big leagues, he’ll be better prepared to handle it.” Goetz pitched in the Tigers organization and scouted for Atlanta before becoming an agent. The winter after the Twins made Buxton the second pick in the 2012 draft, Buxton bought a condo in Atlanta and began working out with Goetz and his team, and taking batting practice with big- leaguers. “I think he needs a couple of hundred at-bats in the minors and he’ll be ready for the big leagues,” Goetz said. “I wouldn’t have any fear of him hitting against big-league pitching. Defensively, I don’t think he would have any problems. The challenge for him, once he gets there, will be to learn how to handle big-league pitching and the adjustments make. “He doesn’t like swinging at the first pitch. I told him, ‘Dude,’ that might be the only fastball you see.’ ” Buxton’s is a sweet story, deferred. At 21, after two years of national attention, he remains a quiet kid whose nature reveals his roots. “He is the best of what his generation has to offer,” said Doug Mientkiewicz, the former Twins who managed Buxton at Class A Fort Myers last year. “If you have a daughter, you’d want her to marry him. He wants to get to the big leagues as quickly as possible. He wants to be great. He wants to be a star. You’d think all players thought that way, but they don’t.” Buxton walks slowly, like someone who has never faced rush-hour traffic. The product of two hard-working parents, he arrives early and stays late. He addresses everyone he meets as “sir” or “m’am.” He spends his free nights at home with his fiancée and son, 14-month-old Brix, hoping he can get a full night’s sleep. “You don’t know how important sleep is,” he said, “until you don’t get it.” Two lockers down, Hunter nods at Buxton. “I see a five-tool player with a great attitude,” Hunter said. “He just has to put the work in and learn a little more and that’s the future, sitting right there.’’

Tom Powers: Doug Mientkiewicz cooling down after being passed over by Twins and warming to new job

Tom Powers | Pioneer Press | March 7, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Doug Mientkiewicz still has steam coming out of his ears. Not as much as he did in early November, when Terry Ryan told him he wasn't going manage the Twins. At least he's no longer stomping around the house, barking at the four walls and threatening to leave the organization. Some of the fury has dissipated. But not all of it. 6

"There's no candy coating it," Mientkiewicz said. "I was ticked. No disrespect to Paul (Molitor), but I felt like the timing was right for me and for the organization and for the ballplayers we're going with here the next couple of years. Yeah, nothing personal, but I wasn't real pleased." Hang on; he's just getting warmed up. "I kept hearing: we want change, we want change, we want shock and awe," Mientkiewicz said. "I heard the term 'shock and awe' a few times. And I think everybody up there that follows Twins baseball knows that if they want somebody to shock and awe, it's me." With spring training in full swing, Mientkiewicz appears to be almost over it. "Yeah, I'm over it," he said. "I know when I got over it, too. On my drive over here. "It is what it is. I told Terry that I was lucky and fortunate to be a player for as long as I was in the big leagues. But I was born to do this. I was born to manage. I was born to lead a group of players." This is just Doug being himself. He puts it all out there and it is his most endearing quality. Twins fans know that he is a passionate, emotional guy. It's one reason he will get a chance to manage a big league team someday. I thought he would have brought fire and youth to a Twins team that already has some youth but little fire. But it is difficult to argue with the selection of a man with Molitor's credentials. Instead, Mientkiewicz will manage the Twins' new Double-A team in Chattanooga, Tenn. And he is very happy to be reuniting with some of his players from last season's championship Fort Myers team, including Byron Buxton and Stuart Turner. This was the reason he decided to return to the Twins organization after the disappointment of not getting the top job. "Look, I don't want it come across like I'm bitter because I'm not bitter," he said. "But honestly, what brought me back was the guys I'll have a chance to manage. I went through the same thing when I came from the Dodgers to the Twins organization. I felt like I was leaving a group of kids in the Dodger system that had gained trust in me. And I felt that I was letting them down by leaving." Just an hour earlier, Mientkiewicz was happily immersed in baseball drills, moving from field to field, kibitzing with the players and the other coaches. He was in his element. It's just that he has all these emotions flowing below the surface and you never know when a tidal wave will gather. I talked with Ryan about Mientkiewicz not long after Molitor was hired. Terry noted that Doug didn't take the news very well at all. He also noted that it was exactly how he expected him to react. He knows him as well as anybody. Thinking back, Mientkiewicz says Ryan probably delivered the bad news to him in the best way possible: short and sweet. "They just said we're going in a different direction," Mientkiewicz said. " 'We're going another way.' They didn't tell me who. They didn't tell me why. I kind of appreciate that. I don't think there's an answer that would have appeased me.'' Mientkiewicz is just 40 years old. His time will come. He says he's working well with Molitor this spring and still learning from him. He clearly is excited to get started with what should be a very talented Double-A team. "My near future is that I'm going to figure out how to get my guys to Triple-A," he said. "That's how I think. I think nearsighted. As a manager, you can't get too far away. If I'm thinking about how to better myself, I'm losing sight of why I'm here. I'm here to give back knowledge and to teach these kids how to play the game the right way and to help them fulfill their dreams. "If I get players to progress, that speaks for itself and someone, somewhere, will have the faith in me and give me the reins of a major league club. Some day, some day soon, I will have enough backing from an organization to give me a chance to be a manager in the big leagues."

Twins: Brian Dozier scratched due to illness

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | March 7, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Brian Dozier was in the original Twins lineup for Saturday's road game against the , but the second baseman was scratched due to illness. Dozier, who was sent home early, becomes at least the sixth different Twins player to fall victim to an ailment that has been sweeping through the Southwest Florida area, but not (to this point) the Red Sox clubhouse. "I guess those things can linger," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We had a nice little break from it, but it crept back in there today." Veteran Doug Bernier took Dozier's place in the lineup and started double plays in three straight innings in a 4-2 loss to Boston.

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Also, Twins catcher Josmil Pinto continues to take treatment on his strained right quad and is hopeful of making his spring debut on Monday or Tuesday. "That's what I want," he said Saturday morning. Pinto wasn't sure exactly when he suffered the injury, but he believes it took place during a drill on Wednesday or Thursday. Briefly --Twins pitching prospect Alex Meyer will make his spring debut in Monday's "B" game in Bradenton against minor leaguers. Meyer, who missed three days recently after the death of his grandfather, also pitched in Bradenton the past two springs, including a "B" game in 2014. --Twins right-hander Trevor May threw 35-40 pitches to hitters on Friday and is fully recovered from the flu that went through the clubhouse. The plan is for May to make his spring debut on March 11 at home against Tampa Bay. Either May or lefty Tommy Milone could start that one. --Twins right-hander Jose Berrios is scheduled to work in relief of Ervin Santana on Sunday at home against Baltimore. Berrios, who tossed two scoreless innings on Wednesday against the University of Minnesota, figures to work two innings the next time out as well. --Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo, a finalist for the Twins managerial post last fall, managed Boston's split-squad game in Sarasota on Saturday. Lovullo did visit Hammond Stadium on Thursday night when the teams opened their spring schedule.

Minnesota Twins: Josmil Pinto hopes to return next week

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | March 7, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Twins catcher Josmil Pinto was hopeful of making his spring debut early next week after suffering a strained right quad in a baserunning drill Thursday. Pinto was scheduled to take swings in the batting cage Saturday, and Twins general manager Terry Ryan noted he was "making some progress." Ryan also noted Pinto came to camp in outstanding shape. Twins manager Paul Molitor said Pinto "tried to continue to do things" after suffering a "little tweak" in his quad. He later sought treatment and was re-evaluated the following day. Pinto might get his first action at before being cleared to catch, but Molitor said caution would be exercised. "As a catcher, we're going to make sure he (can) do everything he needs to do," Molitor said. "I don't want to push him. I know sometimes when a guy is fighting for a job, he's going to try to get out there too soon. I'm going to have to monitor that so he doesn't come out and reinjure himself." Molitor said he was hopeful Pinto would make his spring debut in the "near future."

Minnesota Twins’ Ervin Santana is San Cristobal’s favorite son

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | March 7, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Growing up in the town of San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic, Alexi Casilla always looked up to the neighbor everybody called "Magic." Literally and figuratively. "He was tall and skinny and he was a hard thrower," Casilla, the former Twins infielder, said of Ervin Santana, then known as Johan. "I faced him when I was like 12 or 13 years old." Were local kids scared to face him on the ballfield? "Oh, yeah," Casilla said. "For that league, that was too much." Nineteen months younger than Santana and maybe a foot shorter back then, Casilla still managed to hit off the towering "Magic" in a way few others could.

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They might have faced each other a total of 10 times back then, but Casilla still takes particular pleasure in recounting a long he hit off Santana at age 13. It happened on a softball field in their hometown (population 275,000), back when Casilla hit exclusively from the right side. "It went, like, far," said Casilla, who signed a minor league deal this offseason with the Tampa Bay Rays. "Like, real far. He still reminds me of that." How far are we talking here? Four hundred feet? "Well, that one went over ... all right, we have the wall, and then we have a space from here to that wall over there," said Casilla, pointing to a spot maybe 20 feet away. "We have a fence, and then we had a house. That was on top of the house, second floor. It was far." Sounds like it. "They had a coconut tree over there, too," Casilla said. "It was over the coconut tree." The coconut tree was maybe 50 feet high. "Yeah, it was far," Casilla said. Casilla remembers swinging through Santana's first pitch, a blazing fastball, and thinking, "Holy cow." He made sure to start his swing a little earlier on the 0-1 pitch. This time, he connected for a homer he estimates was maybe only the second of his life. He did not flip his bat and walk halfway to first. "I was surprised," Casilla said, "and I just took off running." In terms of favorite homers for a speedster with few of them to recall, Casilla ranks that blast off Santana behind only the go-ahead homer he hit off Francisco Cordero in the late innings of a round-robin final in the Dominican Winter League. "Don't tell him about that," Casilla said with a grin. Hearing Casilla's story relayed to him Saturday morning as he sat by his locker, Santana smiled and nodded. It is true, he said. Santana was 15 at the time, but he still remembers the two-story house, the 50-foot coconut tree, all of it. "Alexi was short -- real short -- but he was hitting every single pitcher who pitched that day," Santana recalled. "When I came in, he hit a ball to left field. I don't know how far it went, but it was far. He got it. Everybody for his team was very excited." That was the last time the two neighbors faced each other, Santana recalled, but when he signed his first pro contract (at 17) with the Los Angeles Angels in September 2000, he made sure to tell his agent about the diminutive infielder from his hometown. "I told him, 'Hey, you've got to get this kid,' " said Santana, who will make his Twins spring debut Sunday at home against the Baltimore Orioles. The two have remained close through the years. They roomed together briefly at Double-A Arkansas with the Angels in 2005, sharing an apartment with two other Dominican prospects: Erick Aybar and Alberto Callaspo. Those who could cook handled the food preparation. Those who couldn't washed the dishes. All four roommates have gone on to enjoy big-league careers. MAGIC ON THE COURT, FUTURE ON THE MOUND Santana legally changed his name to Ervin in 2003, the same year Casilla signed with the Angels. The two friends stayed in touch even after the Twins acquired Casilla for J.C. Romero in December 2005. Casilla doesn't ever remember calling Santana by his given name of Johan. Back then he was "Magic" and remains the same to this day to those who know him best. "The other kids gave me that nickname when I was young, maybe 10," Santana said. "It was because I always played basketball. I loved basketball." They would watch the international broadcast of NBA games, and there was no doubt which two superstars best captured Santana's attention: Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. "After we'd watch the game, we'd go to the basketball court and try to do what they did," said Santana, 32. "That's why they called me 'Magic.' I was shooting really good. I was doing all the tricks."

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Over time it became clear Santana's best sport was actually baseball. He burst into prominence soon after the Angels called him up in 2005, and he has proved to be one of the most durable and successful pitchers in the game. MARTINEZ: HERO, MENTOR, FRIEND Proud of his heritage, Santana was moved by Pedro Martinez's election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame earlier this year. Surprisingly, that gave the Dominican Republic just its second Cooperstown-electee, along with Juan Marichal, who was inducted in 1983. Martinez has become a mentor to Santana, who worked out with him two offseasons ago. "We talk all the time," Santana said. "When I was practicing with him, we were trying to work on fixing some stuff. He's the nicest guy you'll ever meet. We are very close friends." Despite the difference in their frames and repertoires, Santana immediately names Pedro when asked who his favorite pitcher was growing up. "A lot of gasolina," he said, using the Spanish word for gas. "He's very smart and he knows how to pitch. That's another good thing." One of just 10 Dominican pitchers all-time with 100 or more victories in the majors, Santana (119 wins) already has passed Mario Soto and last year moved past Jose Rijo for seventh on the list. With 17 more wins, Santana would climb to fourth, passing Joaquin Andujar, Pedro Astacio and Ramon Martinez, Pedro's older brother. From there, a large gap separates the top three of Marichal (243), Martinez (219) and Bartolo Colon (204), but Santana -- who ranks seventh in strikeouts and ninth in innings for Dominican pitchers -- is pleased to be on the list. "I'm happy for that," he said. "I'm very excited to see that group of guys and those categories and to see I'm in there." Does it drive him to become a historically significant performer? "As a pitcher, I'm not thinking about it," he said. "I'm just trying to go day by day and every time I take the mound I'm just trying to do my job. If it comes, it comes. If not, I'm not worried about it." In early February, Santana joined Martinez at a news conference in the Dominican Republic to announce a new project designed to improve baseball opportunities for young athletes in their country. "It's just trying to help people," Santana said. "Pedro is a very, very nice guy. He's just trying to help everybody he can, just trying to teach them the right way to play baseball. If we're talking about Pedro, I have to be in good company." NATURAL LEADER, HERE AND AT HOME Having recently bought a new home in Clearwater, Fla., to go along with his home in San Cristobal, Santana will have earned more than $112 million by the end of his new four-year, $55 million deal with the Twins. Rather than leave his roots behind, Santana continues to return to the community that molded him and looks for ways to improve conditions. In this way, Santana has placed himself even higher on the list of Dominican baseball standouts, Casilla said. "In my country, when people have money, they just put their friends on the side, but he's not that way," Casilla said. "He's the kind of guy, his friends are always going to be his friends. That's one of the things I like a lot about him. He is loyal." And fun to be around, as Twins manager Paul Molitor and pitching coach Neil Allen have noted. "Love him. Absolutely love him," Allen said. "His attitude is fantastic, especially with the young Latin guys. They're just watching everything he does. He's a leader in his own way. He comes across as a quiet guy, but he's also a loose guy and he has fun. Having his presence here in the locker room has been fantastic." To hear Casilla tell it, it's impossible to stay in a bad mood when Santana is around. "He was a good teammate when we played together in Arkansas, "Casilla said. "He's always playing around with you, making you laugh, but he tries to do things the right way, too. He will help you out if you need it. He's a good friend." Santana doesn't seek credit for his charity, but Casilla notes his friend has been helping disadvantaged students in the Dominican for years. "One of the things he does, but he does it on his own, is give books, notebooks, backpacks to schools for poor students," Castilla says. "He gives away toys for Christmas. That's a good thing he does to help poor people in San Cristobal." Maybe it's because Santana, who loves playing video games with his 6-year-old son Jonathan and this weekend spent 45 minutes putting together a play kitchen for his 4-year-old daughter, Sofia, has never forgotten what it was like to be a young kid on the playgrounds and ball fields of his hometown. He certainly isn't in any hurry to forget the day Casilla crushed that ball that flew over the coconut tree and landed atop a two-story house. 10

"As a young kid, you're going to always remember that," Santana said. "Those are good times. You have nothing on your mind. You don't have any distractions. You just love to play baseball."

Twinsights: New pitching coach Neil Allen emphasizing the changeup

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | March 7, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. — On the surface, Phil Hughes’ spring debut was a little shaky. Three singles allowed, plus a five-pitch walk to Daniel Nava on Saturday afternoon at JetBlue Park. “Not exactly how I would have liked it to go, but it’s all a process,” Hughes said. Under new Twins pitching coach Neil Allen, that process will include a renewed emphasis on the changeup, a pitch Hughes threw just 32 times last season — or 1.1 percent of his more than 3,000 offerings. Back in 2012, when Hughes went 16-13 for the , he threw changeups a career-high 9.9 percent of the time, according to PITCHf/x data. That figure dropped to 5.8 percent in a nightmare 2013, and Hughes subsequently put his change on the same shelf as his slider (22 times in 2014). “I talked to Neil a lot,” Hughes said. “He wanted to try and incorporate a changeup into what we’re doing out there. No better time than spring training to work on stuff like that.” Hughes didn’t throw his change in a 27-pitch first, once that started with back to back singles before he plowed through Boston’s 3-4-5 gauntlet of David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. After volunteering to go back out for a second inning of work, Hughes threw back-to-back changeups to Nava, missing low both times. “Both stayed down and weren’t ever really in the zone,” Hughes said. “But my feel has been fine with it.” Hughes ended up throw 13 balls among his 33-pitch outing, but he started six of seven batters with strikes and dropped in a nifty frontdoor cutter to freeze Ramirez for strike three in the first. Mike Pelfrey, who worked the third and fourth innings and gave up an unearned run on three hits, also mixed in a handful of split-finger changeups in his 29-pitch return. “I just think it’s another pitch that will help,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “It’s less toil. Your pitch count might go up, but it just puts another pitch in the opposing team’s head. You can use it right on right, right on left. Down here is a good chance to get a feel for it.” Coming over from the Rays, where the changeup is preached throughout the system and used far more at the big-league level than anywhere else in recent years, Allen has made the change an early priority for everyone. Even reliever Stephen Pryor threw three or four changeups in live batting practice this week, which the ex-Seattle Mariner said might have been more than he’d thrown in his entire career in game settings. “Neil has talked a lot about (how) people are going to need that pitch,” Molitor said. “You look at the best pitchers in the game, they might throw really, really hard but almost all of them have that changeup as part of their repertoire. Whether it’s (Max) Scherzer, (Justin) Verlander or (Madison) Bumgarner, it’s a big pitch for those people.”

Hughes pleased with debut as Twins fall to Sox

Ian Browne | MLB.com | March 7, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox no-hit the Twins for 6 1/3 innings on Saturday afternoon, losing the bid on a slow roller to third by Kennys Vargas. Clay Buchholz, one of the top candidates to pitch for the Red Sox, fired three dominant innings and retired the final eight batters he faced in his Grapefruit League debut as a split squad of Sox topped the Twins, 4-2, on Saturday. The righty walked Danny Santana to open the game, but quickly erased him with a double play and was untouched for the rest of his outing. Craig Breslow, Anthony Varvaro and Brandon Workman were the other Red Sox pitchers who didn't allow a hit. Vargas tapped a roller against Dana Eveland that third baseman Sean Coyletried to make a play on, but couldn't get a handle on it.

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David Ortiz and Pablo Sandoval both had RBI singles to lead Boston's offense, with Sean Coyle adding an RBI double in the seventh. Twins righty Phil Hughes went one inning (plus two batters in the second), allowing three hits and a walk while striking out one. Hughes took a measure of satisfaction from working his way out of the first after Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia opened the frame with back- to-back singles. "The last thing you want to do is have first and third with none out and David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval coming up," said Hughes. "It's three pretty good hitters right there, with experience. To be able to work out of a jam like that isn't ideal, but at least I had something positive to take away." Up next: The Twins play host to the Orioles at Hammond Stadium on Sunday, with the contest beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET. It will be the first of five meetings between the clubs this spring. Right-hander Ervin Santana takes the hill in his first Grapefruit League start. The game can be seen live on MLB.TV or listened to with Gameday Audio.

Pinto to give strained right quad a break

Quinn Roberts | MLB.com | March 7, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Twins catcher Josmil Pinto continues to be held out of action as he deals with a strained right quad. Pinto said the injury occurred during a baserunning drill a few days ago. "I feel good right now, but I am having small issues, which they are working on," Pinto said. "I've done some treatment and will be practicing." Pinto, 25, took a few swings in the batting cage on Saturday and will continue to do more over the next few days as long as no setbacks occur. The Twins are being cautious with Pinto, because it's an injury he's never experienced. "As a catcher, we are going to make sure he does everything he needs to do," manager Paul Molitor said. "We have to get him an at-bat or two as a designated hitter until he's ready to go behind the plate. We'll see. I don't want to push him. When a guy is fighting for a job, he can try to get out there too soon. I need to monitor that."

Pelfrey officially enters rotation battle with spring debut

Quinn Roberts | MLB.com | March 7, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Mike Pelfrey looked solid in relief on Saturday against the Red Sox as he battles to become the Twins' No. 5 starter. The right-hander allowed one unearned run on three hits over two innings in a4-2 defeat. "His command wasn't great, but he got through a couple [innings], which was good," said manager Paul Molitor. Pelfrey underwent surgery last June to decompress a nerve in his throwing elbow, limiting him to just five games in 2014. He began throwing bullpen sessions last September and made his first start of the spring in Saturday's game. "It was good to see Mike out there," Molitor said. "He's waited a long time and put in a lot of work to get where he is." Pelfrey was one of seven pitchers who combined to surrender 16 hits on Saturday. However, the team limited the damage by turning three double plays, two of which were when Pelfrey was on the hill.

Spring debut provides Pelfrey some important work

Quinn Roberts | MLB.com | March 7, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- While his first spring start on Saturday against the Red Sox didn't go as planned, Twins right-hander Phil Hughes isn't reading too much into it. Hughes labored through the outing, allowing three hits in one inning of work, plus facing two hitters in the second. 12

"Some interesting dynamics out there today," Hughes said after the 4-2 loss. "Sometimes you just want to get your legs underneath you and get a nice easy outing, but there's something to be said for working out of a jam and some high-stress situations and really get 2015 off to a good start. "It's not exactly how I would have wanted things to go. It is all a process. Some good things and bad things." Hughes allowed back-to-back hits to begin the outing, before retiring David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval in order to get out of the jam. He tossed 27 pitches in the inning. Because of the high pitch count, the Twins put some thought into whether Hughes should go out for the second. But once they decided to send him back out to the mound, the right-hander was able to work his changeup into the mix. While Hughes didn't find much success with it, manager Paul Molitor believes the changeup can be an important pitch for Hughes come the regular season. "It is another pitch that will help," Molitor said. "It just puts another pitch in the opposing team's head. You can use it at any time. He'd like to incorporate that more, and down here is his chance to get a feel for it." Hughes' main focus going into his next start will be to have better command. "I was a little all over the place today," Hughes said. "It is expected not to feel great the first time out. Hopefully I just take those baby steps and get a little bit better command with everything."

Buchholz, Red Sox get best of Twins

Associated Press | March 7, 2015

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Clay Buchholz pitched three hitless innings and struck out four as a Boston Red Sox split squad beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 Saturday. Buchholz allowed just a walk in his first outing against big league hitters. He pitched a perfect inning against Northeastern earlier in the week. "Results, obviously, aren't that big of a deal in spring training," he said. "But you can gain some confidence from any outing you pitch in." "I've still got some things to work on, too, so it's just a process of trying to keep everything moving in the right direction. I was able to execute some quality pitches today," he said. Twins starter Phil Hughes left after pitching to two batters in the second inning, having allowed three hits and a walk in his spring debut. "Some interesting dynamics out there today," Hughes said. "It's not exactly how I would have wanted things to go. It is all a process. Some good things and bad things," he said. Hughes gave up two singles to start the game, then retired David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval. "Immediate jam, first and third with nobody out in the first," he said. "Sometimes you want a nice easy outing and get your legs under you, but there is something to be said about being able to work out of a jam and some high stress situations to get 2015 off to a good start," Hughes said. Ramirez had two hits and Ortiz hit an RBI single off losing pitcher Mike Pelfrey. Mookie Betts also had two hits and scored twice. Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier was scratched from the lineup because he was ill. He could also miss Sunday's game against Baltimore.

Twins-Red Sox update: Victorino scratched

Bob Rathgeber | The News-Press | March 7, 2015

Five nuggets of news and notes from today's Twins-Red Sox game at Jet Blue Park It's Lee County Day at the ball park and Lee County's five commissioners – John Manning, Larry Kiker, Brian Hamman, Cecil Pendergast and Frank Mann tossed the ceremonial first pitches.

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A buzz went through the press box and media room about noon when it was learned that ace pitcher Yu Darvish may be facing Tommy John surgery because of a sprained ulnar collateral ligament. Twins 2B Brian Dozier and RF Shane Victorino, both of whom had been slated to start, missed the game. Dozier was sent home with the flu and Victorino was scratched because of general leg soreness. Ervin Santana, the $54 million free agent signee this winter, will start for the Twins Sunday when they play the Baltimore Orioles in a 1:05p.m.game at Hammond Stadium. Stop the presses. Twins starter Phil Hughes walked a batter in the second inning of today's game. A base on balls from Hughes is a rarity. He walked just 16 batters in 209.2 innings last year. Hughes left the game after walking outfielder Daniel Nava. Five things to know about today's 1:05 game between the Red Sox and Twins at JetBlue Park 1. It was chilly this morning but the clouds are expected to burn off and it be a nice, warm day at the ballpark. 2. Most of today's starters for the Red Sox are likely to be in their starting lineup on Opening Day in Philadelphia. However, since the designated hitter won't be used in that first series, either 1B Mike Napoli or DH David Ortiz will sit. 3. Today's game is the12th for the Twins at JetBlue and the first of five this year. The Sox have won six of the 11 previous games. 4. Today's starting pitchers, Phil Hughes for the Twins and Clay Buchholz for the Red Sox, are the likely Opening Day pitchers for each team. Twins manager Paul Molitor has said that Hughes will get the start against the . Boston manager John Farrell hasn't announced who will open for him but signs point to the veteran Buchholz. 5. Eight different places are represented on the Red Sox roster – U.S., Japan, Jamaica, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Aruba.

Spring training: behind the scene in Fort Myers

David Dorsey | The News-Press | March 7, 2015

BEHIND THE SCENES Every spring training in Fort Myers since 2005, Dave Calkins can be found, usually at JetBlue Park but lately also at Hammond Stadium, hawking Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins and other baseball and football team and player memorabilia. Calkins, 60, works for the Ted Williams Museum and Hitter's Hall of Fame, which is located at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, regular season home of the Tampa Bay Rays. At every home Red Sox game this spring training, Calkins sets up shop on the concourse in the shaded area behind home plate, closer to the first base side and near the Red Sox gift shop. For most Twins home games, Calkins will set up in a new location, on the widened concourse behind the third-base seating section. Fans can bid on silent auction items. Most items start at below $100. But at Boston's Grapefruit League home opener Friday against the , a signed photograph of the late Johnny Pesky had an opening bid of $75 but was listed at $125 prior to the game's first pitch. A Dustin Pedrioa signed photo started at $90 and was listed at $225. A new item, New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and the "butt fumble" of this past season's playoffs, also was autographed. It started at $90 but had been bid up to $200. "People think this is all donated," Calkins said. "It's not." The museum purchases the items, auctions them off and puts the proceeds toward various charities, including the Ted Williams Foundation, the Red Sox Foundation, etc. "We have 12 to 14 items, depending on the game," Calkins said. "For the Yankees and the Cardinals, we'll have a few extra items, plus we'll have their items." The memorabilia sale also serves as a way for Calkins to get the word out about the museum, which opened in Hernando in Citrus County, where Williams lived in his later years and until his death in 2002. Fans buying tickets to regular season Rays games can get into the museum for free. "I just had two people tell me they were there last year and they liked it better than Cooperstown," Calkins said. "Now, that's their opinion. But it is pretty special." 14

Calkins knew Williams well for the last four years of his life. Calkins moved to Franklin, N.H. from Syracuse, N.Y. about 11 years ago and met Dave McCarthy, the museum's director. McCarthy served as a personal security guard to Williams and also was his friend. Calkins retired from his maintenance supervisor job and works for the museum full-time. He sets up the memorabilia table at every Boston Red Sox regular season home game at Fenway Park, too. "You get to meet all of these nice folks here," Calkins said in between greeting his frequent customers at JetBlue Park. ON DECK Here's a look at the teams visiting Fort Myers this week and what to watch for when they play the Red Sox and Twins. Note: There's no guarantee the players mentioned below will make the road trips. Many of them won't. Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday at Red Sox, 1:05 p.m. Wednesday at Twins, 1:05 p.m. Some are calling the Rays one of the worst teams in baseball, but according to PECOTA, an acronym for "Player Empirical Comparison and Optimization Test Algorithm," a forecasting barometer based on sabermetrics, Tampa Bay will tie the Red Sox for the best record in the . The Rays have made wholesale changes, including hiring Kevin Cash as manager to replace Joe Maddon. Third baseman Evan Longoria remains the team's top player and Alex Cobb is the No. 1 pitcher on a top-notch pitching staff. Miami Marlins Thursday at Twins, 1:05 p.m. Miami has one of the top young outfields in the game – RF Giancarlo Stanton, CF Marcell Ozuna and LF Christian Yelich. The club added 1B Michael Morse and 3B Martin Prado in a trade with the Yankees. And RHP Jose Fernandez will return in June or July following Tommy John surgery. The Marlins likely will be a wild-card contender this year. St. Louis Cardinals Sunday at Twins, 1:05 p.m. The Red Birds remain the team to beat in the National League Central. It's a veteran club loaded with stars like RHP Adam Wainwright, 3B Matt Carpenter, C Yadier Molina, LF Matt Holliday and RF pickup Jason Heyward.

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