Minnesota Twins Daily Clips Sunday, March 26, 2017mlb.mlb.com/documents/5/6/8/220958568/Clips_3_26_2… ·  · 2017-04-05Minnesota Twins Daily Clips Sunday, March 26, ... p. 1 Souhan:

Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Brian Dozier strikes a blow for the 'little man' at second base. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 1

Souhan: Observations from spring training, a week from Opening Day. Star Tribune (Souhan) p. 3

Hector Santiago gives up two homers in return to Twins. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 4

Jose Berrios on WBC experience: 'If I had to do it again, I would'. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 4

Twins Insider: It's coming to decision time soon for a few spots on roster. Star Tribune (Neal III) p. 6

Twins’ Jose Berrios has no WBC regrets after being optioned to Triple-A. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 7

Twins’ attempt to chart fatigue raises concerns with players’ union. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 8

Twins option Berrios after return from Classic. MLB (Bollinger) p. 10

Foot injury may hurt Vargas' roster chances. MLB (Bollinger) p. 10

Field homers, Santiago solid against Orioles. MLB (Ghiroli) p. 11

Santiago works on offspeed pitches in latest outing. MLB (Bollinger) p. 11

AL Notes: Rays, Twins, Athletics. MLB Trade Rumors (Byrne) p. 11

Brian Dozier strikes a blow for the 'little man' at second base Phil Miller | Star Tribune | March 25, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The pressure was mounting. Each swing mattered. The score was tied, and connecting on a fat pitch would win the game, electrify the tense crowd, crush the losers. “I was a little nervous, to be honest,” Brian Dozier said. It didn’t show. Dozier let a couple pitches go by, then unleashed his high-in-the-zone uppercut and launched a blast that easily cleared the fence in left field and nearly carried over the one beyond it. His teammates cheered and congratulated him. Another Dozier walk-off. You never got to see this one on “SportsCenter,” though, and it won’t show up on any stat sheet. It came Thursday on a back field at Twins camp, when bored players livened up off-day batting practice with an impromptu home run derby. Having already won the hit-the-base-on-the-fly-from-90-feet-away contest — bored players, remember? — Dozier’s squad outslugged a team that included muscular power hitter Miguel Sano. “Little man,” Sano laughed later, shaking his head. “Big bat.” That’s a decent description of Dozier or any of his second-base brethren these days. Last season, 23 second basemen reached double digits in home runs, led by Dozier’s record-setting 42, and 11 hit 20 or more. In the entire decade of the 1980s, only nine second basemen managed to reach 20. “When I came up, second base, with just a few exceptions, was a defense-first position. [They were] glove men. A lot of them batted ninth, and making all the plays was how you earned playing time,” said Twins manager Paul Molitor, whose first three seasons (1978-1980) were spent mostly at second. “With the way offenses are now, you’re at a disadvantage if you don’t have at least occasional power [there]. It seems like a lot of teams have a middle-of-the-order guy there now, far more than I can ever recall.” Just in the Twins’ own AL Central Division, Jason Kipnis of the Indians crushed 23 homers and added 41 doubles in 2016 while batting third, and Tigers leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler belted 28 homers. In the West, Seattle’s Robinson Cano enjoyed perhaps the best season of a great career, hitting 39 homers; Roughned Odor of Texas had 33; and Houston’s Jose Altuve won the batting title and collected 216 hits, 24 of them home runs. And in the East, there’s Jonathan Schoop in Baltimore (25 home runs), Starlin Castro (21) in New York, and the player Dozier considers

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perhaps the best of them all. “Dustin Pedroia — he’s my kind of guy,” Dozier said of the Red Sox second baseman, the 2008 AL Most Valuable Player. “Not many people thought he would be a great player, and he is. He’s a leader and he does damage in the middle of the lineup. His mentality and mine are kind of the same.” The National League is loaded with star-caliber second basemen, too, such as Washington’s Daniel Murphy and the Cubs’ Ben Zobrist, and up-and-comer DJ LeMahieu of the Rockies. So where are all these great middle infielders coming from? Is this a fluke or a trend? “The game has changed. Power wins, at the plate and on the mound. We’re all looking for power now,” said Mike Radcliff, the Twins’ vice president for player personnel for the past decade. “Where [a scout] used to put a premium on speed or quickness, now you want guys who can profile with at least average power.” Rare company Of course, that doesn’t necessarily explain Dozier, who wasn’t drafted at all as a junior at Southern Miss and lasted until the eighth round after his senior season, signing for the relative pittance of $30,000. One or two of the Twins’ in-house projections saw him developing into a 15-18 home run hitter, but the great majority of scouting reports put a ceiling of perhaps 10 homers — if he could somehow earn regular playing time. “He’s got good hands, you can see that. But bat speed, power, range, arm, speed — he’s an average runner, not a stopwatch guy — there were no must-draft [recommendations],” Radcliff said. “I wish I could say we saw this. Our reports were, he’s got good makeup. He’s someone who might maximize what talent he has. And there’s no doubt, that’s what he’s done.” Sure seems like it. The slightly-under-6-foot Mississippian might not look the part, but he is a bona fide slugger now, becoming the only Twin other than Harmon Killebrew to eclipse 40 homers in a season. And if you think Dozier’s record-setting 2016 season — no AL second baseman had ever reached 40 before — is a one-season bolt of lightning, know this: Dozier has now led the Twins in homers for four consecutive seasons. Only one other player in franchise history has ever done that, too: Yep. Killebrew. “It really is remarkable. I saw Barry Bonds in his prime. I saw [Mark] McGwire and [Sammy] Sosa get hot. And that streak he went through last season, he’s up there with them. I mean, hitting them every night,” Radcliff said of Dozier’s 36-game stretch from July 31 to Sept. 6, when he launched 22 home runs. “And he used to just smack them barely over the fence — now he’s hitting the ball a long, long way.” Reluctant middle man Funny thing is, he’s one of the best at a position that, if he’s being honest, he doesn’t want to play. Dozier was a shortstop in high school, college, and throughout the minor leagues, despite scouts questioning his throwing arm. When he arrived in Minnesota in 2012, he started exactly half the Twins’ games at shortstop, then went to winter ball to work on his technique. When he got back, Terry Ryan and Ron Gardenhire conference-called the infielder, and their message was blunt. “They said, ‘No more shortstop.’ From now on, everything is second base,” Dozier said. “I was driving during the call, and I still remember thinking they might have given up on me a little too quick. It was never like, ‘Well, let’s clean some things up, let’s work on a couple things.’ I don’t think I was given a shot.” It was a blow to his pride, Dozier said, being told to revert to “a fallback position. … Deep down, it’s someone telling you you’re not good enough,” he said. But he’s also grateful, if a little grudgingly, because he’s thrived at the position. Yet the combination of a last-place team, a second-tier media market and a suddenly star-laden position makes Dozier a bit of an obscurity, still. He wasn’t chosen to join Team USA at the World Baseball Classic, despite his desire to go. He’s never appeared among the top five at his position in All-Star voting. “You see top-10 lists come out, I’m not sure Dozier is ever very high on anyone’s list. He’s always getting overlooked,” Radcliff said. “Then he tomahawks one ball after another over the fence. Nobody else’s second baseman hits 42 home runs.” Souhan: Observations from spring training, a week from Opening Day

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Jim Souhan | Star Tribune | March 25, 2017

Fort Myers, Fla. – Observations on the Twins from Florida, where the weather was beautiful and the baseball was not: You hear two things around Twins camp when you ask about Glen Perkins: that he’s behind on his rehabilitation schedule, and that nobody expects him to regain his closer’s role. He’s in the last year of his contract and is having trouble recovering from shoulder surgery. He may not be ready to pitch in the majors until May or June, meaning he could be one major setback away from calling it a season … and a career. • • • Spring training stinks if you care about baseball. If you love the sun and the ballparks, the beaches and the atmosphere, spring training is a wonderful experience. If you want to see major league players playing extended innings against other major league players, it is a disappointment. The games are awful. This year’s excuse was the lack of big-leaguers in camp because of the World Baseball Classic, but poor lineups were a problem long before the WBC was invented. And this is a problem without a solution, because teams are obligated to prepare for the season, not entertain fans in March. • • • The Twins have had one decent season since 2010 — when they won 83 games in 2015 with Torii Hunter altering their clubhouse chemistry. The clubhouse is back to being a quiet zone. Brian Dozier tries to lead quietly, but his future with the organization is uncertain. Miguel Sano was once projected as a leader, but he spends most of his time on his phone. The next true leader of this team will have to be Byron Buxton, and that will happen only if he plays well and continues to come out of his shell. • • • The best aspect of the WBC is the passion with which Latin American teams play. American baseball has traditionally favored stoics. Should big-league teams dance in the dugouts? “Why would you not want that?’’ said Twins pitcher Ervin Santana, who played for the Dominican Republic. “It’s passion. It’s fun.’’ • • • Twins senior director of communications Dustin Morse worked with the Netherlands during the WBC. Here were his flights from that point until he returned to Twins camp last week: Fort Myers-Atlanta-Phoenix-Seattle-Seoul-Tokyo-Phoenix-Los Angeles-Atlanta-Fort Myers. His flight from Tokyo to Phoenix left at 2 a.m. on a Friday and landed at 10 p.m. on a Thursday. The Netherlands advanced to the semifinals before Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario beat the Dutch with a sacrifice fly for Puerto Rico. Morse was on the field and gave Rosario a hug. The Dutch played in the Tokyo Dome, which is a bigger version of the Metrodome. Morse saw other countries warm up much more intensely than Americans do, erecting nets in the outfield during batting practice for stretching and calisthenics, and doing soft-toss behind the batting cage. He saw Chinese Taipei fans try to pass a massive banner around the stadium. He heard constant songs, saw fans leaning forward on every pitch, watched Japanese players stop to acknowledge standing ovations when returning to the field after a big hit. “In Korea, it felt like a carnival,’’ he said. “In international play, everyone is so far out of their comfort zone that it brings the team together,’’ Morse said. “There are many more team dinners, much more sticking together as a group.’’

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Morse was shocked when the Korean manager pulled his right fielder in the middle of an inning after a misplay. And he said he has a better understanding of why former Twin Tsuyoshi Nishioka would give up a year of big-league salary to return to Japan, where he is treated like a god. “I was struck that there are all of these countries that are so passionate about baseball, and yet they all want to play in the American major leagues,’’ Morse said. “It reminded me that we’re spoiled. We get to watch the best of the best for seven months a year.’’ Hector Santiago gives up two homers in return to Twins Phil Miller | Star Tribune | March 25, 2017

FORT MYERS, FLA. – It's about that time. Over the next few days, managers will craft their preferred lineups to start the season with. Relievers will work back-to-back games for the first time all spring. Equipment will begin to be loaded onto the truck — yes, it arrived here Friday — for the trip back to Minnesota. And the Twins will decide which players will be on the Opening Day roster. The first roster assembled by Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey and General Manager Thad Levine. The first roster since a franchise-record 103 losses in 2016. "I think that there has been good competition," manager Paul Molitor said. "A lot of guys in the mix have had outings where you kind of nod in approval, whereas at other times it has been a little more sketchy. We have some people who have some surrounding circumstances over their personal situation that might have to be included in how we proceed." Now that the Puerto Rican players on the team have returned from the World Baseball Classic, the Twins can proceed with their final roster decisions. They still have a whopping 43 players left in camp with just over a week left. So who makes the charter to the Twin Cities? Who makes the 500-yard walk to the minor league facility? Position players basically set: The daily lineup might be most attractive aspect of Twins baseball this season. It's full of players with upside who took their lumps last season. Catcher Jason Castro will be only newcomer to the lineup. The only competition is for designated hitter. Kennys Vargas played for Puerto Rico at the WBC and appeared in just three games, getting nine at bats. Meanwhile, ByungHo Park is batting .359 with four homers and nine RBI. Vargas hurt his chances by leaving camp, but Park is not on the 40-man roster, which could come into play when it's time for final roster decisions. Molitor has repeatedly said that Park has not locked up anything. However, it's clear that the South Korean has the edge. "Park has had a good camp," Molitor said. "You watch him, and he looks comfortable." Bench roles might not change much: Robbie Grossman's spot in the bench appeared to be in danger, but the Twins like his ability to get on base and Molitor has said his defense has been better this spring. Will his right hamstring strain be healed by Opening Day? J.B. Shuck and Drew Stubbs are glove-first guys the Twins could look to if Grossman's injury lingers. Eduardo Escobar has batted .289 this spring and should return as the utility player, although Ehire Adrianza can pick it and is batting .313. Chris Gimenez looks to be the choice as the backup catcher. Danny Santana can play the infield and outfield and can pinch run. Mejia makes his move: Adalberto Mejia looked to be a long shot to make the rotation at the start of camp. But the lefthander has opened eyes with a 1.88 ERA and a fastball that reaches 95 miles per hour. Tyler Duffey is trying to rally after a shaky beginning. Trevor May is out for the year because of Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. An opening appeared, and Mejia is taking advantage. "There's a lot to like," pitching coach Neil Allen said after Mejia's outing on Monday. Assembling a seven-man bullpen tricky: The Twins sent the struggling J.T. Chargois to the minors Friday, a blow for a bullpen that can use a live arm. Brandon Kintzler will close. Ryan Pressly and Matt Belisle will help with set up duties. The lefthanders look to be Craig Breslow and Taylor Rodgers. They wanted Ryan Vogelsong to be the long reliever, but he prefers to start and asked for his release. Michael Tonkin was clearly on the bubble early, but recent developments might have opened a spot for him. That leaves one spot for a handful of arms left in camp. Nick Tepesch or Duffey could stick as a long reliever.

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With just over a week left in camp, the bullpen is where the Twins have their toughest decisions. Jose Berrios on WBC experience: 'If I had to do it again, I would' Phil Miller | Star Tribune | March 25, 2017 FORT MYERS, Fla. – Jose Berrios knew this might happen, knew he might be sacrificing his shot at the Twins rotation in order to represent Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. “If I had to do it again, I would,” he said Saturday, shortly after learning that his reduced workload in the WBC — he faced hitters only twice in 18 days — had indeed convinced the Twins not to rush him into major league games. Berrios was sent to Class AAA Rochester on Saturday, mostly out of a sense of caution. “To try to rush a buildup here in the last seven to 10 days, to try to get him ready to be in that spot, didn’t make a lot of sense to me,” manager Paul Molitor said of the Twins’ top pitching prospect. “He needs to not feel pressure to try to get ready for major league games too quickly.” Berrios said he understood when he committed to play for Puerto Rico that it might complicate his chances of making the team, but he said he has no regrets. “Playing for Puerto Rico is an honor and makes me proud,” he said. “[The Twins] are my team, this is who drafted me and this is who I’m going to make it with. But you don’t get to play for Puerto Rico every year, and I understood that it might hurt my chances to make this team. But I wouldn’t change that.” Down to two With Berrios out of the competition, the Twins will decide whether their fifth starter will be righthander Tyler Duffey or lefty Adalberto Mejia in the next day or two, Molitor said. Both tried to make a closing argument by pitching to Red Sox minor leaguers Saturday, but Duffey likely fared better. Duffey gave up only an unearned run in six innings against Class AA Portland, giving up five hits while striking out 10. “I felt really good. I got some good popups on changeups,” Duffey said. “I got a lot of [bad] swings on the changeup, out in front.” While Duffey was cruising, Mejia, was having more difficulty on an adjacent field, giving up six runs in six innings, but also striking out six, against Class AAA Pawtucket. But the decision isn’t as obvious as it seemed, Molitor said. Mejia was victimized by some poor defense behind him, and “I don’t want to put too much stock in what happened today,” he said. “We’re going to talk about their body of work. … There wasn’t a separator today for me.” Mejia has been the more consistent pitcher this spring, posting a 1.88 ERA in six games against major leaguers this spring, while Duffey has a 3.86 in five appearances. Vargas hobbled Kennys Vargas was on crutches Saturday after fouling a ball off his foot the night before. They’re just a precaution, and X-rays found no break, but Molitor said the big first baseman will be off his feet for at least a few days. The timing isn’t good for Vargas, with cuts looming. “It might have a bearing,” Molitor said. Vargas needs at-bats, and “obviously if he doesn’t play for a week, it’s going to have an impact.” On deck The Twins face old foe Chris Sale and the Red Sox at Hammond Stadium, going against Kyle Gibson.

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Twins Insider: It's coming to decision time soon for a few spots on roster La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | March 25, 2017 FORT MYERS, FLA. – It's about that time. Over the next few days, managers will craft their preferred lineups to start the season with. Relievers will work back-to-back games for the first time all spring. Equipment will begin to be loaded onto the truck — yes, it arrived here Friday — for the trip back to Minnesota. And the Twins will decide which players will be on the Opening Day roster. The first roster assembled by Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey and General Manager Thad Levine. The first roster since a franchise-record 103 losses in 2016. "I think that there has been good competition," manager Paul Molitor said. "A lot of guys in the mix have had outings where you kind of nod in approval, whereas at other times it has been a little more sketchy. We have some people who have some surrounding circumstances over their personal situation that might have to be included in how we proceed." Now that the Puerto Rican players on the team have returned from the World Baseball Classic, the Twins can proceed with their final roster decisions. They still have a whopping 43 players left in camp with just over a week left. So who makes the charter to the Twin Cities? Who makes the 500-yard walk to the minor league facility? Position players basically set: The daily lineup might be most attractive aspect of Twins baseball this season. It's full of players with upside who took their lumps last season. Catcher Jason Castro will be only newcomer to the lineup. The only competition is for designated hitter. Kennys Vargas played for Puerto Rico at the WBC and appeared in just three games, getting nine at bats. Meanwhile, ByungHo Park is batting .359 with four homers and nine RBI. Vargas hurt his chances by leaving camp, but Park is not on the 40-man roster, which could come into play when it's time for final roster decisions. Molitor has repeatedly said that Park has not locked up anything. However, it's clear that the South Korean has the edge. "Park has had a good camp," Molitor said. "You watch him, and he looks comfortable." Bench roles might not change much: Robbie Grossman's spot in the bench appeared to be in danger, but the Twins like his ability to get on base and Molitor has said his defense has been better this spring. Will his right hamstring strain be healed by Opening Day? J.B. Shuck and Drew Stubbs are glove-first guys the Twins could look to if Grossman's injury lingers. Eduardo Escobar has batted .289 this spring and should return as the utility player, although Ehire Adrianza can pick it and is batting .313. Chris Gimenez looks to be the choice as the backup catcher. Danny Santana can play the infield and outfield and can pinch run. Mejia makes his move: Adalberto Mejia looked to be a long shot to make the rotation at the start of camp. But the lefthander has opened eyes with a 1.88 ERA and a fastball that reaches 95 miles per hour. Tyler Duffey is trying to rally after a shaky beginning. Trevor May is out for the year because of Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. An opening appeared, and Mejia is taking advantage. "There's a lot to like," pitching coach Neil Allen said after Mejia's outing on Monday. Assembling a seven-man bullpen tricky: The Twins sent the struggling J.T. Chargois to the minors Friday, a blow for a bullpen that can use a live arm. Brandon Kintzler will close. Ryan Pressly and Matt Belisle will help with set up duties. The lefthanders look to be Craig Breslow and Taylor Rodgers. They wanted Ryan Vogelsong to be the long reliever, but he prefers to start and asked for his release. Michael Tonkin was clearly on the bubble early, but recent developments might have opened a spot for him. That leaves one spot for a handful of arms left in camp. Nick Tepesch or Duffey could stick as a long reliever. With just over a week left in camp, the bullpen is where the Twins have their toughest decisions.

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Twins’ Jose Berrios has no WBC regrets after being optioned to Triple-A Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | March 25, 2017 ORT MYERS, Fla. — In the end, even after the disappointment of being shipped back to Triple-A Rochester, Jose Berrios wouldn’t change a thing. That’s how much pitching for the wildly popular Team Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic meant to the Twins right-hander. “Playing for Puerto Rico is an honor; it makes me proud,” Berrios said through a translator Saturday afternoon. “I know this is my team, it’s my job. This is who drafted me. This is who I’m going to make it with, but you don’t get to play for Puerto Rico every day or every year. That’s not how it is.” Pitching just twice for a total of 6 2/3 innings during his 18 days away from Twins camp, Berrios lost out in his bid to win the final spot in the season-opening rotation. Tyler Duffey and Adalberto Mejia, who faced off on different fields at the Boston Red Sox minor league complex on Saturday morning, passed him by while Berrios was shining under the international spotlight. “I understand it might have hurt my chances to make this team,” Berrios said, “but at the end of the day I wouldn’t change that. If I had to do it again, I would.” Berrios, 22, is slated to make his next start on March 29 for the Red Wings, for whom he has been dominant over the past two seasons. Getting sent out this year feels more temporary after Berrios was able to make 14 starts in the majors last season, even if they came with a ghastly 8.02 earned-run average. “I feel more comfortable, I have more confidence,” Berrios said. “I think that has to do with last year. Those innings I had in the big leagues helped me a lot. I think I have to just keep working on it and build on it and go from there.” In 30 Triple-A starts over the past three seasons, Berrios has gone 16-8 with a 2.79 ERA. He has posted nine-inning rates of 10.0 strikeouts and 2.5 walks; in the majors last year, the gap between those rates narrowed to 7.6 and 5.4, respectively. DUFFEY ROLLS Facing Double-A hitters from the Boston Red Sox system, Duffey was dominant throughout his six-inning closing argument in the battle for the final rotation spot. As lefty Mejia (six earned runs on 10 hits in six innings) struggled on an adjoining field at the Red Sox complex, Duffey struck out 10 and allowed an unearned run on five hits and a walk. Flashing a much-improved changeup that he used to both righties and lefties, Duffey produced a whopping 21 swing-and-miss strikes while going to just a pair of three-ball counts. He credited veteran catcher Chris Gimenez for his game-calling in their first pairing since live batting practice more than five weeks ago. “Gimmy and I got on the same page early and just went after it,” Duffey said. “Obviously everybody knows what’s at stake. I wasn’t going to go out and not show my best.” After barking at himself for a misplaced changeup on his second pitch of the morning, Duffey settled in. “I got my head on straight and threw some really good ones in all counts,” he said. “All I can do is go out and pitch. There’s nothing I can really say to change anything. Just go out and throw the ball.” Including prior starts at the Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins, Duffey hasn’t allowed an earned run over his past 13 innings. In 3 2/3 innings out of the bullpen before that, he was touched for four earned runs. Twins manager Paul Molitor will huddle with his coaching staff before announcing a decision in the coming days. With Hector Santiago already in the rotation, there’s no pressing need for a second lefty. VARGAS OUT First baseman Kennys Vargas was using crutches and likely to undergo further testing after fouling a ball off his left foot Friday in his second at-bat since returning from the WBC.

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Initial X-rays were negative, but the Twins want to make sure after losing Josh Willingham and Darin Mastroianni in recent years because of misleading scans. Now 1 for 15 (.067) with three walks this spring, Vargas was going to have a hard time anyway running down Byung Ho Park for Opening Day designated hitter duties. “If he doesn’t play for a week, it’s going to have an impact,” Molitor said. “He just hasn’t had many at-bats.” BRIEFLY Gimenez, bidding to make the club on a non-roster deal, went 4 for 7 with all singles his second back-field assignment of the spring. He also threw out an attempted base stealer after the first three stole successfully, including a double steal in the fourth. Infielder Ehire Adrianza left Saturday’s game after suffering a strained right oblique during his first at-bat. Out of options, Adrianza is bidding to win a utility job. Molitor said the injury appeared to be “fairly acute,” adding it was tough to see it happen so late in camp. Adrianza was hitting .303 after a late surge. Starting catcher Jason Castro is tentatively scheduled to be paired with right-hander Phil Hughes for the first time all spring on Monday night at Bradenton against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Right-hander Kohl Stewart, the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft, needed 53 pitches to get through two innings that included three walks, two wild pitches and a two-run homer by Chris Davis. His outing was “a little adventurous,” Molitor said. Twins’ attempt to chart fatigue raises concerns with players’ union Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | March 25, 2017 FORT MYERS, Fla. — After five weeks of a relatively injury-free spring camp, the Twins had players removed from three straight exhibition games due to unforeseen circumstances this week. First, Max Kepler left with a slashed pinkie after being stepped on by mammoth Pablo Sandoval. The following day, Robbie Grossman tweaked his groin as he attempted a diving catch in left field. Lastly, reserve first baseman Ben Paulsen hobbled off after getting kicked in the calf by an exuberant base-runner. So much for the Twins’ efforts to use sports science as a hedge against lost worker productivity. “Things are going to happen that you’ve got to make adjustments to,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “There’s only been a few times where I’ve really sought out that information, when I’ve noticed a backup player or other players that seemed to have more playing time for wherever we were at in the spring.” Besides tracking every plate appearance and inning pitched for those in big-league camp — including games on back fields against minor-leaguers — the Twins’ training and conditioning staff has expanded on a fatigue-charting system it instituted early last season. Whenever a pitcher steps on a bullpen mound or a hitter ducks into the indoor batting cage for more than few swings; whenever infield coach Gene Glynn spends another 20 minutes banging grounders at some infielder on the Tom Kelly half field; assistant athletic trainer Tony Leo makes another check mark in his notebook. Exertion levels and weather conditions aren’t factored in. Rather, it’s a rudimentary points system that Leo maintains, with a player getting a daily workload grade between 0 and 10. “Just trying to be a little smarter,” Molitor said. “We’re trying to put a number on their workload and see how that accumulates over time, and where we can be careful and try to prevent injuries.” CHARTING ACTIVITY After losing Miguel Sano for a month to a serious hamstring injury last June, the Twins reviewed their work logs and theorized all that extra time learning to play right field may have contributed to the setback. A similar theory was hatched for switch-hitting utility man Danny Santana, whose multiple gloves and swings may have contributed to a

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hamstring injury that landed him on the disabled list several times in 2016. “When they showed me some of the charts and graphs of people that had some injuries last year, they can kind of show you that, ‘Hey, what they were doing might have been partially attributed to their risk factor,’ ” Molitor said. “We’re monitoring that stuff a lot more analytically because we have data that we can measure. We’re trying to find a way to get a little bit more specific and accurate.” Leo, head trainer Dave Pruemer and strength-and-conditioning coach Perry Castellano have huddled with Molitor to review the way sports such as the NBA, NFL, international soccer and Australian Rules Football have been able to chart steps taken and blows absorbed by their on-court or on-field assets. With technology and athletic apparel companies increasingly finding ways to embed tracking sensors in watches, workout shoes and clothing, could we be nearing a day when baseball teams will track total steps taken for their players on a traditionally informal spring workout day in Florida or Arizona? “You have an average number that you’ve established that you feel is a safe, green area for them to minimize injury risk,” Molitor said. “And if you get to yellow and red, then you adjust.” Statcast, which is operated by Major League Baseball, has the ability to measure route efficiency for outfielders or top running speed on a Byron Buxton triple. Teams should soon have detailed data on, say, the number of times Jason Castro has to drop to his knees to block a pitch in the dirt or the cumulative impact for a day’s worth of diving stops by Joe Mauer at first base. ‘DANGEROUS’ DATA Natural limits exist, however, in the amount of workplace data teams may collect. That’s largely due to the power of the players’ union, which is admittedly wary about where this increased information pool could lead. “I think it’s a very dangerous proposition to start taking data that’s generated internally by an individual player,” Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, said this spring. “The value of that data, how that data can be used, is a very dangerous, very delicate conversation to have.” Adjusting travel schedules was a key component of the latest collective bargaining agreement, forged over the winter. The way meals are catered for visiting teams at big-league stadiums was changed, as well, with an eye toward improved performance and health. “The foundation to performance is going to be rest, recovery, sleep, food,” Clark said. “So, you look to address as much of that as you possibly can while being very careful about what it is that you put on players out on the field and here’s why: “The medical data is one thing. That’s dangerous in and of itself. And I think in the world we live in now, with how information is being offered, and confidential medical information being pumped out, yeah, we’ve got to be very careful there.” Is there a concern such data might be used, say, in a salary arbitration hearing? “It won’t (be) right now because our rules won’t allow it,” Clark said. “Can it be used to evaluate on some level that even right now we’re not 100 percent certain it’s going to be? Sure. Could it be used to the benefit? Perhaps. Could it be used to the detriment? Perhaps. So, yes, there’s no doubt about it, that’s part of the conversation, too.” Clark, a former all-star first baseman who played 15 years in the majors, also notes the union’s concern that fatigue data shared with players could introduce another element of doubt in a game that already tests one’s physical and mental resolve to a unique extent. “Our game is played physically, but largely above the shoulders,” he said. “If I’ve got some device that tells me, ‘Today’s not going to be a good day for you because you’ve only got this amount of sleep, so I would advise full rest,’ that’s not going to bode very well when I get to the ballpark and I’m trying to perform. “That’s just one little glimpse into some of the things that we’ve heard are out there. I know there’s value on some level. I can appreciate it as a guideline, but I have yet to find a device that’s going to tell me how well I’m going to do on this field at any time I’m out there. It may give me a reference point to work from, but we have to be careful.”

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Twins option Berrios after return from Classic Rhett Bollinger | MLB | March 25, 2017 FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Twins optioned right-hander Jose Berrios to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, as they didn't believe he had enough time to get stretched out to start after being used sparingly in the World Baseball Classic. The move leaves right-hander Tyler Duffey and left-hander Adalberto Mejia as the two remaining candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation. Both threw in Minor League games on Saturday morning, with Duffey outpitching Mejia. Berrios, who played for Team Puerto Rico in the Classic, threw 40 pitches in relief against Team USA in Wednesday's championship game. His other appearance came on March 12, when he threw 62 pitches against Team Italy. Jose Berrios strikes out six batters over five solid innings, giving up three runs on only two hits in Puerto Rico's 9-3 win over Italy Berrios was clearly disappointed by the decision to start the year at Triple-A, but he took it in stride and understood why the decision was made. "It's tough me on me because I'm a competitive guy," Berrios said. "But I feel great. I know it wasn't an easy decision to make. I know they made it because there's a short time before the start of the season. But I know I'm going to go down there and keep working on things, and be ready for a callup." Jose Berrios strikes out Michael Saunders swinging to end the bottom of the 5th inning Berrios was considered a slight favorite in the fifth-starter competition after Trevor May was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, but Berrios didn't pitch enough in the Classic. Mejia has been impressive all spring in Grapefruit League play, sporting a 1.88 ERA over 14 1/3 innings, while Duffey has come on strong and owns a 3.86 ERA in 11 2/3 innings. Duffey helped his case against Double-A Portland on Saturday, allowing one unearned run over six innings with 10 strikeouts. Mejia struggled against Triple-A Pawtucket, allowing six runs on 10 hits over six innings. Twins manager Paul Molitor said a decision will have to be made before the duo's next turn in the rotation, and that the outings against Minor Leaguers won't be the deciding factors. He met with chief baseball officer Derek Falvey, pitching coach Neil Allen and bullpen coach Eddie Guardado to discuss their options on Saturday. Tyler Duffey strikes out Derek Dietrich swinging in the 2nd inning, part of his three innings of one-run ball vs. the Marlins There remains a chance Duffey could be a bullpen option if he doesn't make the rotation, but if Mejia doesn't win the job, he'll head to Triple-A Rochester as a starter. "I don't want to put too much stock into what happened today," Molitor said. "It's more about their body of work and the comfort in who we feel is our best choice. We're going to decide before both of their next starts. Foot injury may hurt Vargas' roster chances Rhett Bollinger | MLB | March 25, 2017 SARASOTA, Fla. -- Kennys Vargas will get a second opinion on his left foot after taking a foul ball off it on Saturday, and his roster chances appear hurt as a result, leaving ByungHo Park as the favorite to be the Twins' Opening Day designated hitter. Vargas had X-rays taken on his foot Saturday night -- which came back negative -- but Twins manager Paul Molitor said they want to be cautious and give it a second look. Vargas is currently on crutches, and he is having trouble putting weight on his foot. "I think they're talking about getting another look at that thing," Molitor said. "He's a big man. But we're hoping it's just a contusion, or just a bruise. But I can't imagine him being ready here too quickly." Molitor added that he'd only be guessing how long Vargas will be out, but that he doesn't expect Vargas to be ready to play for at least a few days, if not longer. Complicating things is the fact that Vargas only received nine at-bats in the World Baseball Classic, where he played for Team Puerto Rico. Vargas is also only 1-for-15 in Grapefruit League play, including going 0-for-2 on Saturday before departing with the injury. Molitor wouldn't

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fully rule out Vargas' roster chances, but they seem slim, especially with Park's breakout spring. Park would have to be added to the 40-man roster. "It might have a bearing," Molitor said of the injury. "We wanted to get a good look at him. I had him playing today. We wanted to get him as many at-bats in the short-term. But if he doesn't play for a week, it's going to have an impact. He hasn't had many at-bats." Field homers, Santiago solid against Orioles Brittany Ghiroli | MLB | March 25, 2017 SARASOTA, Fla. -- A trio of homers led the Orioles to a 6-3 win over the Twins before a sellout crowd of 8,171 at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday night. After early solo home runs from J.J. Hardy and Jonathan Schoop, Chris Davis connected for a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning. Outfielder Tommy Field led the Twins' offense with a solo homer off Orioles reliever Brad Brach to open the top of the sixth, while Niko Goodrum added a two-run homer in the ninth. Orioles starter Gabriel Ynoa, who is in contention for the fifth rotation spot, held Minnesota to one hit over five scoreless innings, striking out three. Facing a lineup with catcher Jason Castro as the only Twins regular, Ynoa threw 69 pitches, 39 for strikes. "I was trying to use my fastball in and out of the plate. Also, I was using my sinker," Ynoa said through an interpreter. "It was really important to me to go as deep as I went." Orioles pitcher Gabriel Ynoa talks about trying to earn the fifth spot in the starting pitcher rotation Twins starter Hector Santiago, making his first start since returning from the World Baseball Classic, went four innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Both runs came on homers by Hardy and Schoop, who was also playing his first game since returning from the Classic. "It was definitely nice to get out there with my normal routine," Santiago said. "Today was about getting back out there and getting the feel of things, and working in the zone. I think I had one walk today, and it was a good pitch. I didn't want to give in." Hector Santiago discusses his first Spring Training start since the World Baseball Classic, his offspeed pitches and fastball command Craig Breslow, who was recently added to Minnesota's 40-man roster, pitched a scoreless fifth. The O's scored a run in the sixth on a passed ball and took advantage of some Minnesota miscues to tack on another run in the seventh. Twins shortstop Ehire Adrianza fouled a ball off his foot and exited with a right oblique strain in the fourth inning. Twins up next: Right-hander Kyle Gibson is set to start for the Twins against the Red Sox at Hammond Stadium at 12:05 p.m. CT on Sunday,live on MLB.TV. Gibson has worked on a refined delivery this spring, and he's been impressive so far, posting a 2.01 ERA over six starts totaling 22 1/3 innings. Orioles up next: Jayson Aquino will get his first spring start on Sunday in Dunedin, Fla., at 1:07 p.m. ET, live on MLB.TV. The O's lefty, who could make the team as a starter or long-relief option, will match up against Jays southpaw Francisco Liriano. Santiago works on offspeed pitches in latest outing Rhett Bollinger | MLB | March 25, 2017 SARASOTA, Fla. -- Hector Santiago made his first start since March 5 -- after having two relief appearances for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic -- and the Twins left-hander made a concerted effort to mix in his offspeed pitches in a 6-3 loss to the Orioles on Saturday night. Santiago estimated he threw only four offspeed pitches out of his 63 total in his last outing on Monday against the Netherlands during the Classic. Santiago threw 80 pitches during his four-inning start against Baltimore -- giving up two runs on a pair of solo homers from J.J. Hardy and Jonathan Schoop -- and estimated about 25 of those were off-speed pitches. "I definitely wanted to work on my offspeed," Santiago said. "That was my main goal. I threw seven sliders, seven or eight curveballs and maybe nine or 10 screwballs. So it was good all around to mix those in."

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Santiago relies heavily on his fastball -- throwing it 63 percent of the time last year -- but he said he needs to mix in other pitches to keep hitters off-balance. "It's a big thing," Santiago said. "I throw a lot of fastballs in, so I have to get them off that to be able to execute that fastball in and get some ugly swings. Offspeed is a big part of the game, to use both sides of the plate." Worth noting • Second baseman Ehire Adrianza, who is competing for a spot as a backup infielder, left the game with a right oblique strain. He's day to day, but the injury could hurt his chances of making the roster over his competition, which includes Eduardo Escobar and Danny Santana. • The Twins could make extensive roster cuts as soon as Sunday, as they want to have their roster set a few days before they depart camp Friday night. Their Opening Day lineup is expected to be on display on Tuesday against the Rays. AL Notes: Rays, Twins, Athletics Connor Byrne | MLB Trade Rumors | March 25, 2017 The following is an excerpt of the full article: The Twins optioned right-hander Jose Berrios to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, thus eliminating him from the competition for the final spot in their rotation. The job will go to either Adalberto Mejia or Tyler Duffey, whom Berrios fell behind while he was with Team Puerto Rico for 18 days at the World Baseball Classic. Berrios only threw 6 2/3 innings during that nearly three-week span, which hurt his chances of beginning the season in Minnesota, but he doesn’t regret participating in the tournament. “Playing for Puerto Rico is an honor; it makes me proud,” Berrios told Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press through an interpreter. “I know this is my team, it’s my job. This is who drafted me. This is who I’m going to make it with, but you don’t get to play for Puerto Rico every day or every year. That’s not how it is.” The 22-year-old Berrios, who has dominated in the minors, still seems likely to end up in the Twins’ rotation sometime in 2017. If that happens, the former premier prospect will try to bounce back from a rough rookie year in which he posted an 8.02 ERA, 7.56 K/9 and 5.4 BB/9 over 58 innings. It came as a surprise when the Twins designated DH Byung Ho Park for assignment in February, but he ultimately remained with the organization after clearing waivers. Nearly two months later, he has the inside track on a big league roster spot on account of Kennys Vargas’ less-than-ideal spring, per Berardino. Vargas, who was also with Puerto Rico at the WBC, has gone just 1 for 15 with three walks during the Twins’ exhibition season. His situation worsened when he fouled a ball off his left foot Friday, and is now on crutches. Although initial X-rays were negative, the Twins will send Vargas for further testing, writes Berardino. “If he doesn’t play for a week, it’s going to have an impact,” manager Paul Molitor said of Vargas’ chances of earning a place with the Twins. “He just hasn’t had many at-bats.”