Twins

7/7 PREGAME NOTES: Jorge vs. Gausman, Kintzler an All-Star and the Kennys Vargas Shuttle

Video by Mike Berardino, St. Paul Pioneer Press

Greetings from Target Field, where it is 80 and sunny — a perfect night for baseball!

It’s Felix Jorge (R, 1-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Kevin Gasuman (R, 5-7, 5.61). Jorge, 23, is making his second-ever start in the big leagues; Gausman was the fourth overall selection in 2012 and Baltimore’s Opening Day starter this year, but has struggled this season.

“I’m looking forward to watching him pitch again,” said Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor. “Overall, the way he handled himself in his debut was very positive, left a lot of good impressions.

“He throws a little harder [than in the spring], his change-ups a little better, his poise is good, we know he’s a really good athlete, so he understands the importance of fielding his position, and holding runners and all those things. So he’s just a guy who doesn’t seem overwhelmed by coming up here and pitching another game for us.”

Joe Mauer was placed on the 10-day DL this afternoon and Kennys Vargas has been called up in his place, hitting behind cleanup man Max Kepler and Miguel Sano.

“The bad with the good is it’s one of those things where the timing of Joe coming down with a lower lumbar strain is that we can take advantage of the break and use the disabled list to get him ready and strong and recharged for the second half,” said Molitor. “Is there any really logic to forcing him tomorrow or Sunday? It just didn’t make a lot of sense.”

The Orioles counter with Manny Machado setting the table for Adam Jones:

Vargas is back

“Kenny’s still a young man,” said Molitor. “He’s had times up here, and down below, where he’s a huge force to reckon with. If you look at his numbers, especially left-handed, I think compositely they’re okay.”

Vargas, a switch-hitter, is hitting .261/.292/.470 with six homers against right-handed pitchers this year, but is only hitting .146/.217/.244 with one homer against lefties.

“We’re just trying to get him to understand, don’t just be satisfied with being that guy who might hit one over the fence on a given day,” Molitor added. “That you take good at-bats throughout, you have a plan, you understand your strengths, and you understand how people try to get you out, and what you should maybe do when you have situations early in counts, hitter’s count, when you need a hit, you need a homer, whatever it might be.”

Kintzler an All-Star

Twins closer Brandon Kintzler, who is tied with Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel and Tampa Bay’s Alex Colome for the league lead with 23 saves, was named to the All-Star Game as a replacement today. He got the call from Molitor while tending to his 20-month old, Knox.

“I was having breakfast this morning and Moli called me, and I thought something bad might be happening,” said Kintzler. “When the manager’s calling, it’s usually not a good thing. I thought I was getting traded for something. He asked me what I was doing and I said, ‘Trying to keep my kid from crying.’ So, he just told me and it was really cool.”

“It makes for a really good day,” said Molitor. “I was contacted about being the guy to call him, which was really fun for me. It’s a privilege for a manager to let a guy know something as positive as that, and to be honest with you, you could feel the emotion on the other end of the phone and it was almost like he couldn’t believe that he was getting the call after everything he’s endured.”

Kintzler was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 40th round of the 2004 draft. He never got out of Single-A, sat out the 2006 season and played for the Northern League’s Winnipeg Goldeyes (2007-08) and the St. Paul Saints (2009) before joining the Milwaukee Brewers organization to finish up the ’09 season.

He pitched for the Brewers from 2010-15, but only pitched in seven games in 2015 due to a shoulder injury. He signed a minor league deal with the Twins in December of ’15 and recorded 17 saves last season, replacing Kevin Jepsen as the team’s closer.

“To be standing on that line and tip your cap just means that hard work pays off, like I’ve always said,” said Kintzler. “Hard work pays off, and a lot of people that had to be around you for that hard work to pay off, too. So, there’s a lot of people that will be going with me that I really appreciate. That’s the main part.”

Twins
It’s Starting To Feel Like 2022 Again
By Tom Schreier - Mar 28, 2024
Twins
3 Under-the-Radar Twins Prospects to Keep An Eye On in 2024
By Cody Schoenmann - Mar 28, 2024
Twins

Can Pablo Lopez Cement His Twins Legacy In 2024?

Video by Mike Berardino, St. Paul Pioneer Press

The Minnesota Twins begin their 2024 season on Thursday in Kansas City. It’s been a long off-season for a fanbase coming off their first postseason success in […]

Continue Reading