Minnesota Twins Daily Clips Saturday, February 25, 2017 Mauer, Dozier will ease into spring games. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 1 Park steps up in first spring action. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 2 Gibson's new routine pays early dividends. MLB.com (Bollinger) p. 2 Gibson, Park stand out in Twins' opener. MLB.com (Bollinger/Chastain) p. 3 Don't count Ben Paulsen out of Twins' DH/first base mix. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 4 Kyle Gibson pleased with scoreless outing in Twins spring training opener. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 5 With two hits, Byung Ho Park gets off to a good start this spring with Twins. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 5 The spin’s the thing: Twins pitcher Craig Breslow uses tech to reboot career. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 6 Kyle Gibson tries out new delivery in Twins spring opener. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 8 Funeral arrangements set for sportscaster Rod Simons. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 9 Michael Cuddyer making an impact in first camp as Twins instructor. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 9 Report: Twins made a ‘brief play’ for Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias this winter. ESPN 1500 (Wetmore) p. 11 Mauer, Dozier will ease into spring games Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | February 24, 2017 First baseman Joe Mauer and second baseman Brian Dozier were both held out of the starting lineup for the Twins' Grapefruit League opener against the Rays on Friday. Mauer isn't expected to play until Wednesday against the Pirates, while Dozier is slated to make his debut on Sunday against the Nationals. Neither is injured, but Twins manager Paul Molitor said he's easing them into games early this spring because Spring Training is longer this year with the World Baseball Classic. "Trying to do the right thing," Molitor said. "Starting early, that was part of my approach to Joe, in that I'm not in a hurry to get him out there given the fact April 1 will be [36] days from now or whatever it is." Molitor added that Mauer, a 13-year veteran, knows what he needs to do to get ready for the season and that he'll play more toward the end of Spring Training to get ready for Opening Day, April 3 against the Royals at Target Field. "Joe's a lot about ramping up, as opposed to needing 60 or 70 at-bats, at least that's my impression," Molitor said. "I think he kind of thinks that's true, too. There's not a lot of guys here that I somewhat at least temporarily have an idea of what games they're going to play throughout the spring." Molitor said the only three players he met with about their playing time this spring were Mauer, Dozier and catcher Jason Castro. Castro was behind the plate on Friday night, but the Twins also want to get a look at John Ryan Murphy, Chris Gimenez and Mitch Garver, who are competing to be the backup catcher. Castro, who signed a three-year, $24.5 million deal with the Twins in the offseason, told Molitor he likes to get 40 to 50 at-bats during Spring Training, but Molitor said the tricky part is that Castro is also trying to learn the pitchers. "Obviously, a difference this year is that familiarity," Molitor said. "We're trying to get him exposed to as many pitchers as we can and focus more on starters than relievers along the way. It's going to be part of how and when to play him." Worth noting • Left-handed reliever Mason Melotakis, who has been sidelined by an oblique strain, has shown improvement, but still isn't ready to resuming throwing, according to general manager Thad Levine. He's day to day. • Closer Glen Perkins continues to report feeling good and is progressing, Levine said. Perkins, coming off labrum surgery, has thrown three bullpen sessions of 15 pitches each. He'll continue to throw every fourth day. Park steps up in first spring action Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | February 24, 2017 After being designated for assignment on Feb. 3 and subsequently not getting selected on waivers, Byungho Park knows how much this spring could mean for his future. Although Park isn't on the Twins' 40-man roster, he's getting a long look this spring to be the club's everyday designated hitter, competing with Kennys Vargas and fellow non-roster invitee Ben Paulsen. Park made a strong opening statement in Minnesota's Grapefruit League opener, a 3- 1 loss to the Rays on Friday night, going 2-for-2 with a double off the wall in right field. "I know that these Spring Training games are very important for me," Park said through a translator. "I put a lot of work in. I'm putting a lot of effort in every time I'm in the lineup." The results were also encouraging for another reason, as both hits came on 93- mph fastballs. Park's hard-hit single up the middle came on an inside two-seam fastball from Rays right-hander Austin Pruitt, and his double off the right-field wall came on an outside four-seamer from right- hander Jacob Faria. "I've prepared for the fastball and focused on specific things," Park said. "It looks like it's working well. I'm very confident. I really hope my change works in this highest level of baseball." Twins manager Paul Molitor came away impressed by Park's plate discipline, laying off inside fastballs, to get pitches to hit. "He's a guy who is more confident and has adapted more the second time around," Molitor said. "One game isn't too much to get overly excited about, but we're going to build him up." Gibson's new routine pays early dividends Rhett Bollinger | MLB.com | February 24, 2017 Right-hander Kyle Gibson, who drastically changed his workout routine this offseason to improve his delivery, came away pleased with how everything felt in his Grapefruit League debut in the Twins' opener on Friday night at Hammond Stadium, a 3-1 loss to the Rays. Gibson looked sharp, hitting 94 mph with his fastball multiple times as he tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, throwing 22 of his 29 pitches for strikes. But more than the results, Gibson was happy that his new routine, which includes throwing with weighted balls and a balloon-shaped ball called a connection ball, led to him feeling better on the mound. "My arm feels good and I was able to take some stress off my back," Gibson said. "When you get into game speed and the hitter is up there trying to get a hit, you tend to forget things you have been working on. I feel like I stayed with that delivery as much as I could and had very few pitches where I felt like I came out of it. It gave me confidence and will help me going forward." Gibson ran into trouble in the first, giving up a leadoff double to Tim Beckham, but he pitched his way out of the jam with strikeouts of Daniel Robertson on a 94-mph sinker and Corey Dickerson on a 91-mph sinker. Gibson was hurt by his defense in the second, when he induced a routine grounder to short for what should have been the final out of the inning, but Jorge Polanco's throw in the dirt to first wasn't handled by Kennys Vargas for an error charged to Polanco. Gibson gave up a single to Shane Peterson and was removed for Drew Rucinski, who struck out Johnny Field to end the inning. 2 It was also Gibson's first time working with catcher Jason Castro in a game setting, and he came away impressed by Castro's pitch-calling and receiving skills. "I think the only time I shook him is when he called changeup when I wanted a heater -- and it was actually the last guy who got the hit," Gibson said with a laugh. "I'm learning quickly not to shake him off. He was good. Good target back there. Obviously has a good awareness of the game." Gibson, Park stand out in Twins' opener Rhett Bollinger, Bill Chastain | MLB.com | February 24, 2017 Shortstop Tim Beckham, competing for a utility role, doubled and tripled to help lead the Rays to a 3-1 win over the Twins in the Grapefruit League opener for both teams Friday night at Hammond Stadium. Byungho Park paced the offense for Minnesota, going 2-for-2 with a double off the right-field wall. Park, who was designated for assignment shortly before Spring Training, is competing with Kennys Vargas and Ben Paulsen to be the Twins' designated hitter. Beckham led off the game with a double and tripled to lead off the third inning. He came around to score in the third on an RBI single from Daniel Robertson off Twins reliever Brandon Kintzler. "Beck looked awesome," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Happy for [Rays starter Austin] Pruitt, the way his outing went. ... Good to get it going." Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, while Pruitt got the start for the Rays and threw two scoreless frames with three strikeouts. "I threw a lot of four-seamers tonight, and worked on the sinker a little bit with the new delivery, especially to the glove side," Gibson said. "Other than that, it was pretty good. Was able to attack with the fastball and was able to get ahead, for the most part.