Minnesota Twins Transactions (August 2nd): Arcia Returns

Plenty of big names were moved around on Friday as the big leaglue team welcomed back one of it’s top prospect outfielders and sent another one down to Rochester. A reserve outfielder was moved along in his rehab assignment, another catcher was promoted as the Butera shuffle continues and one rather ineffective left-handed starter was bumped from the major league rotation to Triple-A. To top it all off, the team’s #1 pick from this June’s draft officially hit the disabled list.

Back in the majors, Arcia got to participate in the celebration as the Twins beat the Astros in extra innings on Friday. (Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports)

August 2nd

Recalled to Minnesota (from Rochester): OF Oswaldo Arcia (22) – was sent down after he went 0-18 with 12 strikeouts in four games from July 9th-12th. He responded, rediscovered his swing and his confidence in Rochester. After 13 games with the Red Wings he was 15-40 with 8 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 6 BB and just 7 SO. While he was rolling again in Triple-A, the Twins called him up just as he was cooling off. He was 0-7 in his final two games before returning to the Twins. Placed right back in the major league starting lineup on both Friday and Saturday, Arcia has responded with back to back multi-hit games (4-9) and hit his second triple of the season.

Optioned to Rochester (from Minnesota): CF Aaron Hicks (23) – has scuffled at the plate for much of the season and certainly the hope is that his stint in Rochester will bring about similar results to those of Arcia. It’s hard to argue with the move in a big picture sense but Hicks hit 0.230/.292/.379 during July which represented his second best month at the plate this season. Hicks went 0-4 with a BB on Saturday night in his first appearance with the Red Wings since June 30th.

Optioned to Rochester (from Minnesota): LHP Scott Diamond (27) – had a 5.52 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 107.2 IP this season. Compared to last season all his base rate stats (BB, SO, HR and H/9) have gone in the wrong direction. Some, like Edward Thoma, still believe in and have hope for Diamond. Unfortunately I’m not optimistic that he will ever finish another major league season with an ERA below 5.00. Jesse, on Twinkie Town, drew a comparison between Diamond’s numbers and those of Nick Blackburn the other day that is very telling.

Rehab assignment to Fort Myers (from Minnesota): OF Darin Mastroianni (27) – went 1-7 with 2 BB and 1 SO in three tune up games with the GCL Twins. Things started off on a much better note with Fort Myers. On Friday he went 1-2 with a run before busting out Saturday with a pair of doubles and a single in five trips to the plate. He also scored three runs and stole a base.

Assigned to Cedar Rapids (from Elizabethton): C Bo Altobelli’s (22) – promotion continues the ripples in system’s catching ranks after the Butera trade earlier in the week. Due to a stint on the 7-day DL and relatively infrequent playing time, Altobelli has seen action in just seven games with the E-Twins this season. He has however hit 0.300/.364/.350 when he has taken the field in 2013. He’s still waiting to make his Kernels and, by extension, full-season debut.

Placed on the 7-day DL by the GCL Twins: RHP Kohl Stewart (18) – has a 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 9-1 SO-to-BB in his first 10.0 professional innings. Now he’s on the disabled list, a move that was made retroactive to July 31st, due to a run-in with something sharp on the beach that cut his foot. The organization needs some things to break right on the pitching side of things and instead it would appear that shells and other items are conspiring against us.