Thome and Repko Placed on DL, Revere and Plouffe Called Up

Continuing with the Twins 2011 theme of the walking wounded, Jim Thome (left oblique strain) and Jason Repko (right quad strain) were placed on the 15-Day disabled list yesterday. Both moves were backdated a few days. Thome to May 1st and Repko to May 2nd.

To fill their spots on the active roster, the Twins have called up OF Ben Revere and 2B/SS Trevor Plouffe from Triple-A. The path between Rochester and Minnesota was already well traveled during the month of April as 7 players were called up to help the major league team. Revere and Plouffe make it 9 who have made the trek in 34 days.

Plouffe and Revere were expected to join the team in plenty of time for the afternoon game but were delayed. Gardy provided some the details yesterday before the game:

"“They got delayed. All that weather out that way, the flights were delayed. Plouffe and Revere, I think they’re landing at O’Hare around 11, a little after that. We know they gotta pick up their luggage which puts them about 11:15 or 11:20, then it’s an hour or so. Probably 12:15 – that’s guessing with traffic and everything. That’s stretching it a bit too close.”"

When asked if had planned on starting either player in yesterday’s game, Gardenhire responded:

"“Yes, until the plane got delayed. I actually had one of them in there for sure. But it’s not fair. It’s not right for us or them.”"

As things worked out, neither Plouffe or Revere saw any action in the Twins 3-2 win over the White Sox yesterday. Based on the quotes above however it seems likely that one or both of the team’s newest additions will be in the starting lineup tomorrow evening in Boston.

At the time of the promotion, Revere was hitting 0.293/.330/.315 with 7 SB, 5 BB and 8 SO in 99 PA with the Red Wings. Given Repko’s struggles at the plate this year – 0.208/.296/.208 in 29 PA – it won’t take much for Revere to provide an upgrade and could stick with the team the rest of the season.

Plouffe gives the team another option at both 2B and SS. He struggled in his 22 game audition with the Twins last season and he had a disastrous spring training, but he was hitting 0.282/.344/.590 with 11 XBH (including 6 HR) in 21 games with Rochester. The middle infield picture is extremely muddled right now, but it’s not hard to imagine a tandem of Nishioka at SS and Plouffe at 2B holding things down as the season progresses.