Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Friday, July 3, 2015

 Gibson gets Twins off on right foot vs. Royals. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 1  First hit not much, but Sano says it's first of many with Twins. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 2  Postgame: Molitor hopes Twins learn value of bunting. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 3  Twins will give 16-year-old shortstop Javier record $4 million. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 4  Twins: numb, but arm survives tag collision. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 4  : Kyle Gibson stars in shutout of Royals. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 5  Minnesota Twins: Kyle Gibson stars in shutout of Royals. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 6  Postgame Twinsights: Miguel Sano and his movie crew. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 6  Twinsights: Ricky Nolasco receives third opinion on ailing ankle. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7  Twinsights: Twins outflank big-market clubs for shortstop Wander Javier. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7  Gibson fires 8 scoreless as Twins blank Royals. MLB.com (Bollinger & Flanagan) p. 8  Sano logs first MLB hit in debut vs. Royals. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 9  Twins rewarded after showing faith in Gibson. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 9  Milone, Twins looking to stay tough on Royals. MLB.com (Wilson) p. 10  Sano enjoys Major taste of winning most of all. MLB.com (Bauman) p. 11  Twins agree with int'l SS Javier on $4M bonus. MLB.com (Sanchez) p. 12  What to expect: Miguel Sano. MLB.com (Mayo) p. 13  Sano’s first hit, although odd, was important for Twins. 1500espn.com (Wetmore) p. 14  Hunter homers twice, Gibson pitches into the 7th as Twins rebound. Associated Press p. 15  Twins calling up power-hitting prospect Miguel Sano. ESPN.com p. 16

Gibson gets Twins off on right foot vs. Royals

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | July 2, 2015 KANSAS CITY, MO. – Paul Molitor thinks Kyle Gibson has got some dog in him. That’s a good thing. “We’ve had a few opportunities where you want to try to get your guys to bulldog through tough outs late in games,” Molitor said. “It was tough. He was getting up there in pitches. But I tried to let him ride it out.”

Gibson came through like a purebred Thursday, working his way out of an eighth-inning jam, stranding the tying and go-ahead runs and pitching the Twins to a 2-0 victory over the first-place Royals. Gibson gave up only four hits and for the second time this season did not surrender a run over eight innings.

The third-year righthander reduced his career ERA against the Royals to 2.20, and he did it despite issuing four walks. But his sinker was working, and Molitor showed faith with the game on the line and Gibson’s pitch count inching above 100. With the Twins up 1-0 and ultrasonic pinch runner Jarrod Dyson having stolen second base and eyeing third, Gibson induced a groundout to third from Alcides Escobar, but then walked Mike Moustakas on a 3-2 sinker.

Lefthander Aaron Thompson and righthander Casey Fien were warmed up. Surely Gibson expected to be pulled then?

“I knew [righthanded-hitting Lorenzo] Cain was coming up, and I figured they would leave me in there and try to get the double play,” Gibson said. Instead, he got Cain reaching for an outside sinker for a . But that brought up lefthanded-hitting cleanup hitter Eric Hosmer, who earlier had beaten a shift with a bunt single and walked. Gibson’s pitch count stood at 109 at that point, already his second-highest total of the season. He looked at the dugout. No Molitor.

“I don’t want to say I was surprised, because I definitely wanted to pitch against him. But I appreciated it,” Gibson said. “It showed a lot of confidence in me, and allowed me to have a lot of fun out there.”

That fun came in the form of a 2-2 sinker that Hosmer bounced harmlessly to Brian Dozier at second base. The shutout was preserved — and the Bulldog was still hungry.

“I told them I wanted to go back out for the [ninth] inning,” Gibson said. “They told me that wasn’t going to happen.” Instead, earned his 26th save with a perfect ninth.

Still, it was a nice way to open July for Gibson, whose ERA in June was a subpar 4.70. “He’s had a couple of really good starts lately. He’s developing a really good mentality,” Molitor said. “They weren’t really able to elevate him pretty much all night. He was just making pitches.”

That’s good, because the Twins weren’t hitting many from Chris Young and the Royals bullpen. A Kurt Suzuki double and a Danny Santana triple produced one run, but the Twins were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position until adding on an insurance run — on an Eduardo Escobar triple, after Miguel Sano’s first major league hit — in the ninth.

Runs were so hard to come by — and they always are against the Royals, who held the Twins to three runs in three games last month in Target Field — that Molitor even had cleanup hitter Trevor Plouffe square around to bunt with on second base in the sixth inning. Plouffe got down the sacrifice, but Mauer was stranded at third.

“These are tough games here,” Plouffe said. “That run felt really important, so I wanted to do whatever the team needed from me.”

First hit not much, but Sano says it's first of many with Twins

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | July 2, 2015 KANSAS CITY, Mo. – You know Miguel Sano’s reputation. Put a pitch in the wrong place and you won’t see that ever again. But Sano revealed something Twins fans might not know about him Thursday night, during his major league debut: “I’m a little bit fast.”

The proof of that was sitting on a shelf in his locker at Kauffman Stadium, the baseball that he, admittedly, dribbled about 50 feet toward third base in the ninth inning, not the most titanic clout of his career. But Sano hustled down the line, beat Mike Moustakas’ throw and ended up with a souvenir that he will present to his mother, Melania, when he sees her in the Twin Cities on Monday.

“I’m really happy about my first hit in the major leagues,” Sano beamed after a 1-for-4 night during the Twins’ 2-0 victory over the Royals. “I feel really good.”

So good, in fact, that Sano intends never to participate in a minor league game again.

“I say, I stay here my whole life,” the 22-year-old Dominican said. “Never send [me] down.”

That would be fine with manager Paul Molitor, who hopes that Sano’s presence turns around the Twins’ slow midseason fade.

“It’s exciting for my staff and myself and the players,” Molitor said after batting Sano sixth as the designated hitter. “We’re looking for a pick-me-up. We’ve tried a couple different things to jump-start us a little bit. You hope he’s that guy. He’s going to add a presence to that lineup. It’s kind of fun to put his name down and see how it works out.”

There were some good signs Thursday, despite his two . Sano stung a Chris Young slider to center field in the first inning, but Lorenzo Cain caught it. And he worked the count to 3-2 in both of his next two at-bats before whiffing on sliders, both times with two out and a runner at third — once against Young, once against lefthander Franklin Morales.

Hitting breaking pitches been a persistent problem — Sano had 68 strikeouts in 66 games with Class AA Chattanooga this season — but one Sano is honest about, and determined to fix.

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“Yeah, they’re trouble,” Sano said of sliders and curves. “But I try to compete with the . They throw me bad breaking ball, I let it go. They groove [a pitch], that’s what I hit.”

Hitting is important, since it’s probably all Sano will be asked to do for a while. Molitor made it clear Sano probably won’t play third base or any other position, though the Twins want him to keep working on his defense. He might get into a game or two at third base between now and the All-Star break, but “I expect him to be a DH.” Molitor also assured Trevor Plouffe that he remains a fixture at third.

None of that matters to Sano, not now. At 22 years old, he has finally achieved a dream he has had since childhood, and he’s thrilled to be here. After a morning flight from Birmingham, Ala., he arrived in Kansas City around 1:30 p.m. with his wife, met up with his sister and a couple of friends, and went to the ballpark to prepare for his first game. He watched video of Royals starter Chris Young with in the clubhouse before the game, getting pointers on the righthander’s offspeed stuff, then took batting practice.

Sano said he had to pretend to be surprised when Chattanooga manager Doug Mientkiewicz announced to the Lookouts that he had been promoted. Sano actually got the news when it spread around Twitter, so when Mientkiewicz made his “Welcome to the Show” speech in the clubhouse, he was mostly relieved that the decision was official.

“It was a good moment,” Sano said. “I was really happy when they told me.”

Getting that first hit on a “swinging bunt” off All-Star closer Greg Holland was a good moment, too, especially because it helped produce an insurance run. Shane Robinson pinch ran for him — OK, Sano is “not a clogger,” Molitor said, but the manager is realistic about his speed — and scored on Eduardo Escobar’s two-out triple.

“I don’t know if [an infield hit] is a good thing or a bad thing, but he won’t forget it,” Molitor said. “He had some really good swings his second and third at-bat. … He looked pretty comfortable. For the most part, I thought he stayed on the ball pretty well.”

Postgame: Molitor hopes Twins learn value of bunting

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | July 2, 2015 A couple of extra items from a rather bizarre game. Seriously, when was the last time you saw both team’s cleanup hitters lay down a bunt?

— The Twins haven’t scored many runs against Kansas City this season, just 28 in 10 games (including eight in one game). So Paul Molitor is determined to do whatever he can to manufacture runs while the Twins are here in Kauffman Stadium. That’s why when Kurt Suzuki led off the fifth inning with a double, and Joe Mauer led off the sixth with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch, Molitor asked the next hitter to move the runner to third. He left it up to the hitters — Eduardo Escobar and Trevor Plouffe — to decide how they wanted to do that.

“They always have the option of using a bunt if they don’t feel comfortable trying to hit to the right side,” Molitor said. Because of the defensive alignment and the situation, both chose to square around and bunt. The sacrifice was effective both times, though only Escobar’s eventually produced a run.

But Molitor wanted to make a bigger point after the game. “They also learned that neither of those bunts were particularly good, but they got the job done. And I hope it makes them realize that they made close plays out of not-really-good bunts,” Molitor said. “If you can get the ball into a good spot, everybody should think about it now and then. “

In Plouffe’s case, the bunt was more than a little unusual; it was the first time since Sept. 13, 1999, that a Twins cleanup hitter (Corey Koskie) had successfully executed a sacrifice bunt. Plouffe credited his speed, albeit with a smile; he timed himself on video after the game and said he reached first base in 4.2 seconds.

Joking or not, though, Plouffe said he had no problem being asked to bunt. “To get a guy on third base with one out, or possibly first and third with no outs, I’ll take that,” said Plouffe, who was out by just a step or two on the play. “That’s me trying to help the team. If I feel great against a pitcher and I see him well, I’m probably not going to do that. But it made sense.”

— Speaking of bunting, the Royals came prepared to combat the Twins’ defensive shifts with a couple bunts of their own. Mike Moustakas broke an 0- for-14 hitless streak in the first inning by laying down a bunt directly at where Plouffe would normally be playing, but it was an easy single because he had been shifted into the shortstop hole.

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Three innings later, Royals cleanup hitter Eric Hosmer attacked a similar Twins shift by bunting down the third-base line, helping to create a bases- loaded threat that Kyle Gibson escaped by striking out Salvador Perez with a slider that he said wasn’t even a good one. “It was effective because he was surprised,” Gibson said.

— Glen Perkins pitched a quick ninth inning and, at 26-for-26, is now just one save away from Joe Nathan’s franchise record of 27 consecutive saves.

— Molitor was happy for Danny Santana, who bunted toward first base for a single in the third inning and tripled in a run with a blast to left-center in the sixth. It was Santana’s first multi-hit game since May 6. “He hasn’t had much success with runners in scoring position,” Molitor said. “He made sure he got a pitch that was elevated. It’s what we like to see, trying to go opposite-gap when you have those situations. It keeps you on the ball a little bit longer, and he turned it into a triple.”

Twins will give 16-year-old shortstop Javier record $4 million

Phil Miller | Star Tribune | July 2, 2015 KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Miguel Sano was promoted to the major leagues Thursday as the Twins’ highest paid international prospect. He lost that distinction before ever taking an at-bat.

The Twins agreed to a $4 million contract with 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Wander Javier, the team confirmed, outstripping the franchise record $3.1 million they paid Sano in 2010.

The deal does not become official until several more steps are complete — a physical, visa clearance, age verification — but Javier represents an investment of three summers of scouting and evaluating.

“He has the tools and talent, we believe, that make him a viable projection as a five-tool talent, someone who profiles at high levels both offensively and defensively, and at a premium position,” said Mike Radcliff, the Twins vice president for player personnel, who scouted Javier more than a half-dozen times since 2013. “At the same time, we’re talking about evaluating a 14-, 15- and now 16-year-old player. You take in as much information as you can and try to make an informed decision, but there is no way to even know what all the variables are, much less how they’ll affect him as he develops into an adult.”

Still, the Twins have been impressed with Javier’s speed and defensive ability, enough to be reasonably confident he will remain a shortstop, and they are intrigued with his ability to hit with gap power.

“This is a guy we liked better than anybody else,” Radcliff said of Javier, ranked as the fourth-best Dominican prospect by the website DPL. “What we see, what we believe, what we project, is that he has a chance to be special. Some of our [comparisons] are very successful players. And the commitment we’re making illustrates that.”

Signing Javier empties the Twins’ bonus pool, set by the commissioner’s office at $3,948,500. Under MLB rules, the Twins will have to pay a 100 percent tax on the extra $51,500 Javier received, but the Twins might still sign another player or two, albeit at much lower cost. They can also acquire the right to pay more bonuses in trades with other teams, though the Twins have never done so.

Plouffe still at third

Before manager Paul Molitor met with Sano on Thursday, he had a chat with Trevor Plouffe, the gist of which was simple: You’re still the third baseman. “I don’t think he felt [worried]. It was just a courtesy to one of my veteran, leader players, to let him know that Miguel is coming up here to DH, primarily,” Molitor said. “I told him there might be a day or two where he might have to go over [to first base], and I told him we were going to get Sano prepared to do other things. [It was] just a respect thing.”

Etc.

• Righthanded reliever A.J. Achter is the first Rochester player ever selected to back-to-back Class AAA All-Star Games, the International League announced. Achter, who has held hitters to a .125 average this season, will be joined by Red Wings righthander Taylor Rogers and second baseman James Beresford and also hitting coach Tim Doherty in the July 15 game in Omaha. It’s only the second time that four Red Wings were invited to the All-Star Game.

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• Ricky Nolasco’s injured right ankle was examined by Dr. Robert Andersonin Charlotte, N.C., and the doctor “was a little more concerned about the bone fragment that’s in there,” Molitor said. But nothing has been settled about a course of treatment. The Twins are hoping Nolasco can avoid surgery, but he hasn’t pitched since May 31 and has experienced pain each time he has tried to throw since.

Twins: Trevor Plouffe numb, but arm survives tag collision

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | July 2, 2015 CINCINNATI -- Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe had temporary numbness in his left index finger after an attempted tag on Cincinnati Reds speedster Billy Hamilton on Monday night.

Plouffe's surgically repaired left ulna, fractured in a similar play last September against Arizona's A.J. Pollock, was not compromised.

"Kurt (Suzuki) threw him out," Plouffe said of Monday's steal of third. "I put a tag down. He slid right into my glove. Typically you just tag them and pull the glove out, but I guess it was his spike that got caught (in the webbing). I tried to pull it and I couldn't. I wish I would have had him."

The momentum of Hamilton's slide knocked Plouffe's glove into the base and caused the ball to be dislodged. Plouffe's finger struck the bag as well, causing him to remove his glove and shake his hand a few times before the next pitch.

Plouffe, who had his forearm repaired at the Mayo Clinic on Sept. 29, said there have been no setbacks but there are still times the old injury barks at him.

"I haven't felt it on a tag," he said. "I feel it from time to time, just aches here and there. A lot of times when I take a big swing and miss, for whatever reason, I'll feel it. I guess it's because I'm not slowing the bat down very well. Sometimes when it gets colder I'll feel it, but that's really it. They did a good job."

Pollock, a Diamondbacks outfielder, called Plouffe after the season-ending injury.

"He called me and just said, 'I can't believe that happened and I'm sorry,' " Plouffe said. "It obviously wasn't his fault, but we both heard it. That was the thing. I didn't really feel anything. I just heard it and I knew something was wrong. I didn't think it was broken at first because I didn't feel any pain. Then we went and had an X-ray, and it was broken as could be."

BRIEFLY

-- Twins right-hander Ervin Santana tossed eight scoreless innings for Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday in the final tune-up of his three-start rehab assignment. Santana, slated to make his Twins debut on Sunday in Kansas City, gave up five hits (all singles), walked none and struck out five. Santana, serving an 80-game steroid suspension, threw 99 pitches (70 strikes). His Rochester earned-run average was 1.74.

-- Twins left fielder Shane Robinson was scratched from Tuesday's original starting lineup because of illness. Danny Santana took his place in the No. 8 spot in the batting order. Santana played center field, with Eddie Rosario shifting over to left.

Minnesota Twins: Kyle Gibson stars in shutout of Royals

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | July 2, 2015 KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The late-game dangers kept materializing in front of Kyle Gibson, reminiscent of a video game.

The Twins right-hander shoved each of them aside with stunning ease Thursday night en route to a 2-0 win over the first-place .

Making his fourth start of the season against the reigning American League champions, Gibson worked eight shutout innings and allowed just four hits and four walks. With his pitch count climbing and the tying run in scoring position, Twins manager Paul Molitor trusted Gibson enough to face the heart of the Royals' order in the eighth.

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"It was touch and go about making moves there," Molitor said. "He was getting a little extended, but I tried to let him ride it out and see if he could get me that last out.

He was just making pitches." Gibson (6-6) walked Mike Moustakas but came back to strike out Lorenzo Cain on a 93-mph fastball and then sawed off cleanup hitter Eric Hosmer for a grounder to second on his 114th and final pitch of the night.

Right-hander Casey Fien and lefty Aaron Thompson were ready in the bullpen, but Molitor stuck with his starter, who improved to 5-2 with a 2.20 earned-run average in seven career starts against the Royals. For the season, Gibson dropped his ERA back to 3.04.

"When they left me in for Hosmer, I don't want to say I was surprised because I definitely wanted to pitch against him," Gibson said, "but I appreciated it. They showed a lot of confidence in me and allowed me to have a little bit of fun out there.

The loss was the fourth straight for the Royals, who saw their division lead shaved to 3-1/2 games as they opened a four-game series. The Twins had been swept at home by the Royals nearly a month ago and had dropped five of the previous six meetings between the teams.

Twins designated hitter Miguel Sano, making his major league debut, went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts. His first big-league hit, however, was an infield chopper to third in the eighth off Royals closer Greg Holland.

"I don't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing, but he'll never forget it," Molitor said. "As it turned out, it was a big hit."

After Kurt Suzuki bunted pinch-runner Shane Robinson over to second, Eduardo Escobar knocked in a key insurance run with a triple.

The 262-pound Sano, whose goal for the day was simply to win the game, was asked if he's actually faster than advertised.

"I'm not too fast," he said, smiling. "I'm a little bit fast."

The ball from his first hit, he said, would go to his mother, Melania. He hopes she will be able to join him in the Twin Cities on Monday when he makes his Target Field debut, but if not, he will send the ball back home to the Dominican Republic with his sister Patricia.

"Once he gets going, he moves fairly well," Molitor said. "Probably not the quickest of starters, but he did get a little out front on that pitch, which helps you get out of the box. He just hit it in the right spot."

Twins closer Glen Perkins worked a scoreless ninth for his 26th save in as many chances. He is one shy of Joe Nathan's franchise record for consecutive save conversions, set in 2004.

Danny Santana's two-out triple in the fifth inning scored Suzuki, who doubled and moved up on one of three sacrifice bunts by the Twins. It was Santana's first extra-base hit in the majors since May 20 and gave him his first multi-hit game in the majors since May 6.

Over his previous 30 games, Santana had hit .135 with a .188 slugging percentage.

The Twins went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position but survived those missed opportunities by holding the Royals hitless in five such at- bats.

Postgame Twinsights: Miguel Sano and his movie crew

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | July 2, 2015 KANSAS CITY, Mo. –Everywhere Miguel Sano went Thursday at Kauffman Stadium, his three shadows were sure to follow. One held a boom mike. Another balanced an expensive video camera atop a monopod. The third handled logistics. “My babies,” Sano jokingly called them. “I love you guys.” The independent filmmakers were gathering footage for “The Miguel Sano Story,” the tentative title for their long-planned sequel to “Pelotero,” the 2012 film that detailed Sano’s controversial signing with the Twins three years earlier at age 16. Trevor Martin, Jonathan Paley and Ross Finkel have more than 1,000 hours of footage for their sequel. They plan to keep filming throughout the weekend series against the Royals, then follow Sano back to the Twin Cities for his Target Field debut on Monday. After that, they may have enough to start the editing process. Martin said they also would like to return to the Dominican Republic to film Sano’s wedding party with his wife Daniela; the longtime couple married in early April so they could be together in the United States.

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While the sight of a movie crew in the Twins clubhouse and dugout was somewhat distracting, Sano has assured the Twins it’s only temporary. Despite critical acclaim for “Pelotero,” the three directors are still in the process of trying to find a studio willing to fund their follow-up documentary. “I love it when they’re with me here,” Sano said. “They’re like my family. They’re here with me for a couple of weeks.” He flashed his $3 million smile and flashed a peace sign for the camera. “Pelotero 2,” Sano said. “Coming pretty soon, guys.” –Twins manager Paul Molitor isn’t too worried about whether his scenes will end up on the cutting-room floor or not. As it turns out, he’s already been in a made-for-TV movie called “Falling for You.” The 1995 Jennie Garth vehicle came about because director Eric Till was a Toronto Blue Jays fan, and Molitor had recently helped the team repeat as World Series champions. Molitor played a character listed as Jogging Cop at IMDb.com. He had one line, but pleaded ignorance about what exactly it might have been. “I think it was something about (Garth’s) shoes,” Molitor said. “It was a really small part. Billy Dee Williams was in the movie, too. He played a detective (Lieutenant Frank Lazaro). It was a typical TV movie. Amnesia was part of the plot.” Molitor thinks he received a copy of the movie on DVD but hasn’t watched it for many years. Nor, he said, did it lead to any other movie offers. “I was one and done,” he said. –The Twins were credited with three sacrifice bunts in Thursday’s 2-0 win, but none of them were directly demanded. With runners on second in the fifth and again in the sixth, Eduardo Escobar and Trevor Plouffe were respectively given the productive-out sign. That could mean hitting the ball to the right side or it could mean bunting, whatever suits the player. In each case, a bunt was the choice. Neither bunt was particularly good but both were effective, although Joe Mauer was stranded at third in the sixth when Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano followed with strikeouts. Kurt Suzuki bunted on his own in the ninth but popped a slider back toward the mound. Escobar followed with a key triple. –Shane Robinson’s bruised left elbow didn’t respond well to a pregame test off a batting tee, but his legs were fine. That proved helpful to the Twins as Robinson pinch ran for Miguel Sano in the eighth, moved up on Kurt Suzuki’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Escobar’s triple. Molitor said the hope is that Robinson will be fully recovered by Friday.

Twinsights: Ricky Nolasco receives third opinion on ailing ankle

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | July 2, 2015 KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Twins right-hander Ricky Nolasco saw orthopedist Dr. Robert Anderson on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., for a third opinion on his slow-healing right ankle. Twins manager Paul Molitor said Anderson expressed more concern over the bone fragment in Nolasco’s ankle than previous physicians had, but no decisions been made on the next phase of treatment. Anderson is the co-chair of the NFL’s foot and ankle committee. Nolasco has been out since May 31. Briefly –Twins outfielder Shane Robinson, hit on the left elbow by a Johnny Cueto fastball on Wednesday, was expected to be available off the bench as a pinch runner or defensive replacement. Robinson’s ability to hit was still in question, Molitor said. That was the first time Robinson had been hit by pitch in his six big-league seasons (575 plate appearances). –Right-hander Ervin Santana will come off suspension and start Sunday, pushing back a day to Monday’s home game against the Baltimore Orioles, Molitor said. No rotation decisions had been made beyond that.

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–Center fielder , on the disabled list with a sprained left thumb, was “improving in terms of his comfort,” Molitor said, but there was still obvious swelling in the area. Buxton, expected to miss 4-6 weeks, had yet to resume baseball activity.

Twinsights: Twins outflank big-market clubs for shortstop Wander Javier

Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | July 2, 2015 KANSAS CITY –As was widely projected for the past four months, the Twins agreed to a $4 million contract Thursday with 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Wander Javier. That’s the highest bonus the Twins have ever given an international player at that stage of his career, besting the $3.15 million they spent on Miguel Sano in 2009. “We feel he’s a shortstop,” said Mike Radcliff, Twins vice president of player personnel. “He has all the skills, all the tools to be projected to be able to play in the middle infield, particularly at shortstop. Our projection is for him to have bat potential as well. There’s enough upside that we believe he’ll hit for average and power.” Thursday opened the new international signing period, and teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers will reportedly spend upwards of $50 million (including tax penalties for exceeding their bonus allotment) on teenagers with projectable skills. The Javier signing technically won’t be official for up to 90 days as and the Office of Homeland Security completes their extensive background checks. Javier still must pass a physical and be approved for a visa, but from all indications the Twins outmaneuvered several big-market suitors for a talented young player. “We beat out several of the big-money teams,” Radcliff said. “I know that for a fact.” Close to 10 different Twins scouts have seen the 6-foot, 165-pound Javier at various points over the past two years. The Twins have clocked him as fast as 6.7 seconds in the 60-yard dash, although there is some disparity in the assessment of Javier’s running ability. “That’s one of those skills where it seems like it’s black and white and automatic when you’re watching minor-league players or major league players,” Radcliff said. “When you’re dealing with 15- and 16-year-olds, it’s a somewhat subjective grade. They’re going to change their bodies, change their strength, change their stride. Right now he seems to have all the fluidity and athleticism to run the 60 above average.” Javier’s bonus is double what the Dodgers are reportedly paying fellow Dominican shortstop Ronny Brito, who is said to be comparable at least defensively. Javier’s superior offensive potential likely accounts for the Twins’ more aggressive valuation. “With as much money as we’re planning to try to give him, obviously we like the guy a lot,” said Radcliff, who would not confirm the bonus amount. “We have a lot of conviction on his skills and tools. He’s very projectable. As far as comparables, we have them and they’re with some pretty impressive players, but I hesitate to throw them out.” The Twins drafted high school shortstop with the fifth overall pick in last year’s draft, signing him for $3.85 million, but they liked Javier enough to spend even more on him. “We think this guy has a high ceiling,” Radcliff said. “There’s a lot of positive names attached to how we think about his different tools and skills, but I’d prefer to wait until he’s played in a night game somewhere before we start talking about him being the next whoever.” Besides Javier’s tools, the Twins liked the way he competed and the instincts he showed while playing in elite-level prospect leagues in the Dominican Republic. “That is something that has been integrated into the process, and it’s been an outstanding addition,” Radcliff said. “We all have different opinions on their ability to compete, to process information, to make decisions and in-game adjustments. Our opinion of this player in that regard is all good.” The Twins, who have an international bonus pool of $3,948,500, could still sign a few more teenage prospects, but it’s unlikely any of them will receive seven-figure bonuses. Teams can trade international bonus slots until the current period closes a year from now. The Twins have yet to make such a deal in either direction since the current system was put in place.

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Gibson fires 8 scoreless as Twins blank Royals

Rhett Bollinger & Jeffrey Flanagan | MLB.com | July 3, 2015 KANSAS CITY -- Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson continued his mastery of the Royals by humming through eight scoreless innings and allowing just four singles in a 2-0 win on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals lost their fourth straight as the Twins moved 3 1/2 games out of first in the American League Central.

"They all sting," Royals manager Ned Yost said, "but sometimes you just got to tip your cap to the other team."

Gibson entered the game with a 4-2 career mark against the Royals and a 2.68 ERA. He walked four and struck out seven.

"I wouldn't say that we needed to come out and make a statement because it's just July, but any time you're facing a team above in your division, it's an important game," Gibson said. "You have to win games like that so it was a good win for us."

The Twins scored the game's first run in the fifth. Kurt Suzuki led off with a double against Royals starter Chris Young. After a sacrifice, Danny Santana stroked a triple into the left-center field gap.

Twins rookie Miguel Sano, MLB.com's No. 9 overall prospect made his Major League debut and got his first hit, an infield dribbler in the ninth. It led to an insurance run with Eduardo Escobar coming through with an RBI triple into the right-center-field gap.

Young gave up six hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Gibson great over eight: Gibson cruised through seven scoreless innings, outside of loading the bases in the fourth, but he found himself in trouble in the eighth. Omar Infante led with a single and pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson stole second to give the Royals a runner in scoring position with none out. Gibson walked Mike Moustakaswith one out, to put two runners on, but he struck out Lorenzo Cain and got Eric Hosmer to ground out to second to get out of the jam. It was an impressive showing for Gibson, who threw 114 pitches, which was the second most in his career.

Yost wasn't blaming his offense.

"My thoughts were more on the way Gibson threw the ball more than our offensive output," Yost said. "He did a really nice job tonight executing pitches. He has tremendous run on his fastball. He started in on lefties and run it back to the corner, or start even in farther trying to get us to bite on balls off the plate.

"Same way to righties, he'd start on the corner and run off, or he'd start it outside and run it back over. Mixed in nice sliders. I think we had, really, two run-scoring opportunities: one with the bases loaded and two outs, and then one there in the eighth inning. He just made quality pitches in those spots."

Santana's triple provides lead: Suzuki led off the fifth with a double and set the stage for an RBI triple from Santana after a sacrifice bunt from Escobar. It was the team-leading fourth triple for Santana, but his first since May 15. But Santana was stranded at third, as Brian Dozier popped out and Torii Hunter grounded out to end the inning.

"He hasn't had a lot of success with runners at third with less than two outs, in general, but he made sure he got a pitch elevated," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "It's what you like to see, going to the opposite gap." Morales keeps it close: Royals left-hander Franklin Morales did a fantastic job in relief. After Young gave up a single, a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt in the sixth, Morales came in with a runner on third and one out. With the infield in, Morales struck out Eddie Rosario. Then, Morales

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QUOTABLE "I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but he'll never forget it. It's just the way it worked out." -- Molitor, on Sano's first hit being an infield single

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Sano became the first Twins player to make a Major League debut as a designated hitter since Randy Ruiz in 2008. It was also just the eighth time in franchise history a player debuted as a DH. At 22 years and 52 days old, he also became the 10th youngest DH in club history.

WHAT'S NEXT Twins: Left-hander Tommy Milone will start the second of a four-game set against the Royals on Friday at 7:10 p.m. CT. Milone has been impressive since rejoining the rotation in June, posting a 2.03 ERA in five starts. Royals: Right-hander Jeremy Guthrie gets the ball for the rematch on Friday at Kauffman Stadium. Guthrie is coming off a 5-3 win at Oakland in which he struck out a season-high seven batters in six innings. He has a 1.88 ERA over his last four home starts.

Sano logs first MLB hit in debut vs. Royals

Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | July 3, 2015 KANSAS CITY -- Top prospect Miguel Sano made his long-awaited debut with the Twins on Thursday, serving as the designated hitter and hitting sixth against the Royals.

Sano went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in his debut, reaching on an infield single in the ninth inning off closer Greg Holland for his first Major League hit. Shane Robinsonreplaced him as a pinch-runner, but Sano's hit led to a run with Eduardo Escobarcoming through with an RBI triple to give the Twins some breathing room in a 2-0 win at Kauffman Stadium.

"I feel really happy, not for the single, but for my team winning tonight," Sano said. "It's my goal to try to win a lot of games this year." Sano, ranked as the No. 9 overall prospect by MLBPipeline.com, was officially recalled from Double-A Chattanooga on Thursday. Sano said he found out on Wednesday, and was told about his callup by manager Doug Mientkiewicz in front of his teammates.

"It was a good moment," Sano said before Thursday's series opener. "I was really happy when they told me. This was the opportunity I wanted my whole life. I want to stay up here my whole career and never get sent down."

Sano, 22, has been on Minnesota's radar ever since he was signed to a record $3.15 million bonus as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2009. The third baseman is known for his plus power, which is something the Twins have been lacking, as they're tied for 23rd in homers this season.

"I think it's exciting for myself, our staff and our players," manager Paul Molitor said pregame. "His name has been out there for a quite a while, really all the way back to when we signed him. It's been a five-year journey for him. But we're looking for a pick-me-up and we tried a few things to try to jumpstart us a little bit. You hope he's that guy. He's going to add a presence to the lineup."

Sano was swinging a hot bat at Double-A, as he hit .274/.374/.544 with 15 homers, 18 doubles and 48 RBIs in 66 games. He started off slow, as he missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow, but since May 1, Sano batted .315/.400/.601 with 11 homers in 48 games.

"I feel really good at the plate," Sano said. "The first month I didn't do very good, but I tried to work hard and make adjustments every day with the manager and hitting coach." Sano will be the club's regular designated hitter in the short-term, as Trevor Plouffewill remain the third baseman. But Molitor said he plans to have Sano do extra work at first base and in the outfield to help with his versatility. Sano will also see spot duty at third base, when Plouffe needs a rest or if the Twins give Joe Mauer a day off and move Plouffe to first.

"I do expect him to be the DH," Molitor said. "I talked to Trevor today and he's my third baseman." 10

Sano has made just three career starts as a DH, so Molitor said he talked to him pregame about different routines he can utilize in between his at-bats.

"I didn't tell him how to be a DH but just a few options on what people do," Molitor said. "I cautioned him somewhat about how to use that time in between at-bats. You can't be thinking about your at-bat or your next at-bat the whole game."

Twins rewarded after showing faith in Gibson

Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | July 3, 2015 KANSAS CITY -- It's evident that Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson has taken a major step forward in his development as a starting pitcher in his second full season in the Majors, and with that has come trust from manager Paul Molitor.

It was clear on Thursday night against the first-place Royals, as Molitor kept Gibson in the game despite running into a jam in the eighth inning. Gibson allowed two runners to reach with one out, but he remained in the game despite being over 100 pitches, and Gibson was able to retire the heart of Kansas City's order to help lift Minnesota to a 2-0 win.

Gibson walked Mike Moustakas with one out to put the potential go-ahead run on base, but Molitor stuck with Gibson, who was able to strike out Lorenzo Cain and get Eric Hosmer to ground out to second to get through eight scoreless frames in one of his best outings of the year.

"You want to try to get your guys to bulldog through outs late in games," Molitor said. "It was touch-and-go about making moves there. He's got some numbers against those guys. And I thought he was still pitching really well and being aggressive. He just missed on a few pitches to Moustakas, but they were close. So it was tough. He was getting up there in pitches but I wanted to let him ride it out."

Gibson had already thrown 105 pitches when Cain came to the plate, but Molitor liked his chances of Gibson potentially getting a double-play ball. Instead, Gibson got his seventh strikeout, and remained in the game to face the left-handed hitting Hosmer, who rolled over a 2-2 slider on Gibson's 114th pitch to help preserve a one-run lead at the time. The eight innings tied a career-high while the 114 pitches were the second- most he's thrown in a game.

"When they left me in for Hosmer, I don't want to say I was surprised because I wanted to be in there, but I definitely appreciated it," Gibson said. "They showed a lot of confidence in me and allowed me to have some fun out there, so it was pretty good."

Gibson lowered his ERA to 3.04 in 16 starts in the process, and has a 2.45 ERA over his last four starts after hitting a rough patch in early June. His evolution has impressed Molitor, as Gibson has become one of the club's most dependable starters.

"You can speculate how he'll take it, but he's had a couple really good starts after a couple that were less in terms of command and things like that," Molitor said. "But he's developed a really good mentality about how he goes out there and the way he wants to perform to give our team a chance."

Milone, Twins looking to stay tough on Royals

Jordan Wilson | MLB.com | July 3, 2015 Royals right-hander Jeremy Guthrie will square off against Twins lefty Tommy Milone when the American League Central rivals meet in the second of a four-game series on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City, which owns a 3 1/2-game lead over Minnesota atop the division after Thursday night's 2-0 loss, is in the midst of an 11-game home stretch leading into the All-Star break with upcoming series against AL East contenders Tampa Bay (four games) and Toronto (three).

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Minnesota continues to look to improve on its recent rough history on the road, having lost eight of its last 12 away from Target Field. Things to know about this game

• Guthrie allowed two runs or fewer in four of his six starts in June while allowing more than three just twice in his previous 10 outings.

• Milone is coming off six scoreless innings in his second game this year without allowing a run and the 14th of his career. He is 4-1, winning two of his last three starts. He hasn't lost since April 27.

• In more than 50 at-bats against Guthrie, Torii Hunter is batting .346 (18-for-52) with four doubles, a home run and a team-high 8 RBIs.

Sano enjoys Major taste of winning most of all

Mike Bauman | MLB.com | July 3, 2015 KANSAS CITY -- Before Thursday night's game, Miguel Sano was asked repeatedly what his goal was for his Major League debut.

His answer never really varied by more than a few words. "Try to get a win tonight," Sano said. Mission accomplished. Sano went 1-for-4, getting his first Major League hit that factored in one of two runs as the second-place Twins earned a 2-0 win over the first-place Royals behind a very strong start from Kyle Gibson.

"I'm so happy, not for my single, but for the team win tonight," Sano said. "That's my goal; try to win a lot of games this year."

Sano just turned 22 in May, but clearly, he has his priorities in place. Like many of his young countrymen from the Dominican Republic, he is more mature in the game than his age would indicate.

The Twins brought Sano up from Double-A to provide additional power. There is no doubt he has power potential. Coming into 2015, MLB.com ranked him as the 11th best prospect overall and he's since moved up two spots on the list. And that was after he had missed the '14 season with Tommy John surgery. In '13, Sano hit 35 home runs between two levels of the Minor Leagues. So there was considerable excitement about Sano's arrival. The Twins had brought up No. 1 prospect Byron Buxton last month. He had played in just 11 games before going to the disabled list with a sprained thumb. Now it was Sano's turn. The Twins were excited.

"We're looking for a little pick-me-up, we've tried some different things to get us started and you hope he's that guy," manager Paul Molitor said. "He's going to add a presence to that lineup. It's kind of fun to put his name down and see how it works out."

Sano was excited, too.

"This is a good moment," he said before the game. "This is the one opportunity I wanted my whole life. I'm going to try to be here my whole career, never be sent down." In his first Major League at-bat, leading off in the second inning against Royals starter Chris Young, Sano hit a line-drive shot to center, but it was caught.

"The ball I hit to center was a slider," he said. "They threw me a first-pitch fastball away and the next pitch was a slider." In the fourth, with two out and a runner on second, Sano struck out on a nasty changeup from Young. In the sixth, with a runner on third and two out, Sano struck out on a good slider from lefty reliever Franklin Morales. In the ninth, facing Royals closer Greg Holland with one out and none on, Sano beat out a dribbler toward third for his first Major League hit.

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The Twins then sent in the speedier Shane Robinson to pinch-run. He scored ahead of Eduardo Escobar's triple. But the thing about this sequence was that on the dribbler, Sano moved down the line reasonably well, particularly considering that he is listed at 6-foot-4, 262 pounds.

"He's more athletic than you might think by looking at the immenseness of the man," Molitor said.

"I'm not that fast, though," Sano said. "I'm a little fast."

Sano has been playing third base in the Minors, but he will primarily be the designated hitter for the Twins. Molitor said they may give Sano pregame work at first base and even in the outfield to see where he can acclimate himself. Sano will not be short on sage advice. There is Torii Hunter, right fielder and role model, always available for direction. And Molitor has already checked in with some counsel on how a player can conduct himself when he comes to the Major Leagues, with plenty of hype coming with him.

"I think you try to be as transparent with the player as you can be about those things," Molitor said. "In talking to him today, I tried to give him an idea of what his role might be and what we wanted him to do in his pregame work. But more than anything, same thing with Byron [Buxton], you know you work hard to get here, but in a lot of ways, your work just begins.

"You can't get comfortable until the last day you play this game, that's the day you can kind of enjoy the ride that you were able to go through. So, he's where he wants to be, but now is when you put your foot on the pedal and go even harder. I think he gets it. He's seen guys make it here, then bounce back and forth. Maybe he'll be one of those guys, maybe not. We'll just have to see how he responds."

The first response by Miguel Sano was encouraging.

Twins agree with int'l SS Javier on $4M bonus

Jesse Sanchez | MLB.com | July 3, 2015 The Twins have made a splash on the international market, agreeing to a $4 million deal with Dominican Republic teenage shortstop Wander Javier, according to industry sources.

There are some scouts who believe that Javier, ranked No. 8 on MLB.com's Top 30 International Prospects list, has the potential to be the best all-around player in the class. There are others who would like to see him display his talents more consistently.

The Twins have not confirmed the agreement.

In accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team is allotted a $700,000 base and a bonus pool with four slot values based on the team's record in 2014 for the international signing period, which started Thursday. Minnesota's overall pool total for this year's signing period is $ $3,948,500.

Teams that exceed the pools by zero to five percent have to pay a 100 percent tax. Teams that exceed the pools by five to 10 percent are not allowed to sign a player for more than $500,000 during the next signing period, and they also have to pay a 100 percent tax on the pool overage. Teams that exceed the pools by 10 to 15 percent are not allowed to sign a player for more than $300,000 during the next signing period, and they have to pay a 100 percent tax on the pool overage.

In the most severe penalty, teams that exceed the pool by 15 percent or more are not allowed to sign a player for more than $300,000 during the next two signing periods, in addition to paying a 100 percent tax on the pool overage.

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Javier is a strong teenager with plus raw power and plus arm strength. He's also shown the ability to hit in games in addition to scouting showcases, and his ability with the bat has some scouts thinking that he will be a middle-of-the-order player in the future.

The teenager has a good build for a shortstop, and he has the defensive actions that will allow him to stay at the position. He could move to third base as his body grows, but he'll start his career in the middle of the diamond.

What to expect: Miguel Sano

Jonathan Mayo | MLB.com | July 3, 2015

In the last few weeks, the Minnesota Twins called up their No. 1 prospect in Byron Buxton and their No. 3 guy in Alex Meyer. So no one was caught off-guard -- especially not in this year of "Promotionpalooza" -- when it was time for No. 2 Twins prospect Miguel Sano to get the call. When Kennys Vargas was optioned on Tuesday, it became clear that Sano's time had arrived. The Twins are hoping they've timed the 22-year- old Dominican third baseman's first call to the big leagues at exactly the right time. The Double-A Southern League All-Star was really locked in with Chattanooga and the organization clearly doesn't have a problem calling guys up straight from Double-A, as they did the same thing with Buxton a few weeks back.

The No. 9 overall prospect on MLB.com's Top 100 list began the season slowly, to the surprise of no one. The slugger had missed the entire 2014 season following Tommy John surgery and there was a considerable amount of rust to shake off. That resulted in an April with a .159/.303/.381 line in 18 games. Absolutely no one in the organization was concerned, even with Sano's 22 strikeouts in 63 at-bats.

When the calendar turned to May, Sano started finding his groove. He hit .303/.374/.556 in 26 contests in May, slugging five homers and driving in 22 runs. Not surprisingly, his strikeout rate dropped, with 26 K's in 99 at-bats. June turned out to be even better, with a .329/.432/.658 performance as Sano hit six homers and knocked in 17 runs.

Even after that sluggish April, Sano stood second in the Southern League with 15 home runs at the time of his callup. He was tied for third in RBIs (48) and was fifth in slugging percentage (.544).

The fact that Sano is already on the Twins' 40-man roster made this an even easier decision to make and his skill set is exactly what the Twins could use right now. While Minnesota stands in second place in the AL Central, it's done it without a ton of thump in its lineup. The Twins are 11th in the American League in SLG and OPS, something Sano should be able to help with upon his arrival.

While there is some swing-and-miss to his game -- expecting a good amount of strikeouts especially at the outset is fair -- he's a better overall hitter than perhaps people thought he'd be or give him credit for. He draws more than his fair share of walks (80 in 2012, 65 in 2013). But the Twins are really banking on his 80 raw power on the 20-80 scouting scale. Sano has as much raw pop as anyone in the Minor Leagues, including Kris Bryant and . His above-average hitting ability allows him to tap into that power effectively.

Sano's defense at third is still a work in progress. Even before the surgery, some thought he might belong at first simply because he'd outgrow the hot corner. He does have a very strong arm, but his defensive tools are almost beside the point, at least for now. Sano is largely going to DH, something he has not done much of in his Minor League career. How he adjusts to hitting only could be a big key to how successful he'll be at the highest level, but look for him to make some adjustments and make an impact with the bat quickly.

Wetmore’s 5 thoughts: Gibson’s dandy, Miguel Sano debut, first hit

Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | July 3, 2015

1. Kyle Gibson pitched a dandy of a ballgame and kept the Twins in control with 8 shutout innings. Gibson had to work out of a couple tough situations, and he did walk four batters. Still, it was an impressive start Gibson, who induced mostly weak contact and was able to work his way out of those dicey situations.

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In the fourth inning, Gibson had given up a pair of singles and walked Alex Gordon to load the bases with two outs. Then he struck out All-Star Salvador Perez looking at a 2-2 slider. That ended the inning and was a big moment for Gibson. Gibson finished with 8 shutout innings in which he allowed four hits, walked four batters and struck out seven. Two of the four hits were bunts. -- 2. He had another big moment in the 8th inning, when Paul Molitor trusted Gibson in a big spot. With the score still 1-0, Omar Infante led off the 8th inning with a single and pinch runner Jarrod Dyson stole second base. Gibson got a ground ball out and then was left in to face lefty Mike Moustakas. Ordinarily in a one-run game that late a manager might look to play matchups with the bullpen. But Molitor stuck with the righty in that situation. Gibson walked Moustakas when he missed inside with two consecutive two-seam fastballs. Neil Allen went to the mound to check on Gibson, who got to stay in to face right-handed hitting Lorenzo Cain. Gibson struck him out on a 2-2 fastball and then the real test of his manager's confidence arose. Lefty Eric Hosmer came to the plate with the potential tying run on second base. Molitor stuck with Gibson, who got Hosmer to ground out to second base for the third out. That Molitor kept Gibson in to pitch in that situation when he already had thrown 108 pitches says something about the trust they have in Gibson. It also says something about the non-closer lefty relievers in the Twins' bullpen. -- 3. Miguel Sano made his much-anticipated Major League debut Thursday and got his first MLB hit in his final plate appearance of the night. Sano, known in the minors for his great power, legged out an infield single on a tapper he hit to third baseman Mike Moustakas in the ninth inning. Shane Robinson pinch ran for Sano and scored on Eduardo Escobar's triple to give the Twins a 2-0 lead. This is a subjective observation, but I thought Sano handled his plate appearances well Thursday. Whereas Byron Buxton probably has a ways to go before his bat is MLB-ready, Sano looked like he belonged in the middle of a lineup. I wrote earlier about his power potential and the kind of hitter he could become. He batted sixth and was the DH in his debut. That's mainly where I'd expect to see him as long as Trevor Plouffe is healthy, present and continues to produce like he has. -- 4. Danny Santana hit an RBI triple in the 5th inning to score Kurt Suzuki from third base and give the Twins the 1-0 lead to which they would cling most of the night. He ripped a 2-0 fastball to the left-center field gap, and even with Alex Gordon chasing it down, Santana's speed was enough to get him in safely to third base ahead of the throw. In his previous plate appearance, Santana had used that speed to reach base on a beautifully placed bunt single toward first base and past the pitcher. A wild pitch moved him up to second base, but then he was victimized by Chris Young's inside pickoff move to second, was caught in a rundown between second and third base and eventually tagged out. It was some good, some bad for Santana on Thursday. It continues to surprise me that a team under Molitor's tutelage makes so many careless outs on the bases. -- 5. Glen Perkins nailed down his 26th save in 26 chances. He's been darn near perfect this year and appears primed to make his third consecutive All-Star appearances. Heck, with the way he's been pitching he might even be the one asked to close the game for the American League if the situation is right. Perkins has permitted just five earned runs all season in 33 1/3 innings of work. He's struck out 30 batters this year and walked just 5 and just continues to lock down games for the Twins when he's asked. On Thursday he made quick work of Kendrys Morales (strikeout on a slider), Alex Gordon (groundout to second base) and Salvador Perez (groundout to the mound) to seal the 2-0 win for the Twins against the division leaders.

Sano’s first hit, although odd, was important for Twins

Derek Wetmore | 1500espn.com | July 3, 2015

Miguel Sano: the prospect with top-of-the charts power. Sano made his Major League debut Thursday for the Twins and the big slugger didn't need any of that power for his first MLB hit.

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Sano beat out this ground ball tapped to third baseman Mike Moustakas in the 9th inning of what was then a 1-0 game in favor of the Twins. -- Shane Robinson entered to pinch run for Sano in the close ballgame, and he scored on Eduardo Escobar's triple to the outfield. The Twins won the game, 2-0. Sano batted sixth and was the designated hitter Thursday, a position he'll likely fill for the Twins in the near term. He went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts but for the most part looked like he was ready at the plate. He lined out to center field in his first plate appearance, got to two full counts and rarely looked off-balance with a bat in his hands. Even as he adjusts to MLB pitching, he should add power to the Twins lineup and figures to be an upgrade at DH.

Twins calling up power-hitting prospect Miguel Sano

ESPN.com | July 3, 2015

The Minnesota Twins, in need of offense and facing a big series against the first-place Kansas City Royals that began Thursday, called up touted hitting prospect Miguel Sano. Sano went 1-for-4, with his first big-league hit being an infield single in the Twins' 2-0 victory over the Royals. The 22-year-old third baseman from the Dominican Republic took the roster spot of first baseman/designated hitter Kennys Vargas, who was optioned to Double-A Chattanooga on Wednesday following the Twins' 2-1 loss to the Reds. The Twins made Sano's call-up official Thursday and said he would wear No. 22. Sano celebrated his promotion on his Twitter account.

Sano served as the designated hitter with Trevor Plouffe already manning third base for the Twins and batted sixth. Sano hit two home runs in 10 at-bats in spring training, with three walks in six games, but was sent to the minors before the season. He was bound to start in the minors, after missing last season while recovering from ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow.

In 66 games at Chattanooga this season, Sano was hitting .274 with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs. In 2013, Sano combined to hit 35 homers in 123 games in Class A and Double-A.

Sano is the second top offensive prospect recalled by the Twins this season. Outfielder Byron Buxton was recalled last month but is now on the disabled list with a sprained left thumb. Buxton hit .189 in 11 games with five runs, a double, a triple and a steal plus two outfield assists before he went on the DL.

Sano was the No. 15 prospect in ESPN Insider Keith Law's Top 100 prospectsfor the 2015 season. Buxton was ranked No. 2. The Twins have struggled to find consistent power in the middle of their lineup, particularly at designated hitter. They got off to a surprising start and were in first place in May. But they have gone 12-18 in their past 30 games, mostly because of poor offense.

The Twins trail the first-place Royals by 3½ games in the AL Central standings.

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