Minnesota Twins Transactions (August 8th)

Three moves were made in the Minnesota Twins system on Thursday, August 8th. In those moves a pair of 2012 draftees moved up from the Gulf Coast League to Elizabethton while a recently signed 2013 pick was assigned to the GCL and made his professional debut.

(Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)

Assigned to Elizabethton (from GCL Twins): RHP Luke Bard (22) – gave up five hits, three walks and five runs in four GCL appearances but given that he was back on the mound and actually pitching we can chalk that up as a win. He saw his first Appy League action of the season on Friday and gave up a hit and a run in 1.0 inning of relief work. Bard also plunked a batter the game but it’s all good because he’s pitching in games that count. Limited to just 11.0 innings since being drafted 42nd overall in 2012 all I care about right now is that he logs mound time. We’ll worry about the results later.

Assigned to Elizabethton (from GCL Twins): OF Zach Larson (19) – another 2012 draft pick (20th round) – also got bumped up to the E-Twins, though in his case it was much more of a results-based promotion. He hit 0.317/.382/.467 with 6 2B, 4 HR and 9 SB in 137 GCL PA this season and showed significant improvement over his 2012 GCL stint after signing. In his Appalachian League debut on Friday night, Larson went 0-2 but was on base twice thanks to a walk and a HBP. He followed that performance up with a 3-4, 3-RBI effort on Saturday that included his first triple of the season and struck again Sunday with a 2-5 game. All told he’s hitting 0.455/.571/.636 in 11 at bats for Elizabethton and that is how you make a statement after being promoted.

Assigned to the GCL Twins: RF Ivory Thomas (21) – played for Cal State University, Dominquez Hills this spring and was selected by the Twins in the 34th round of the June draft. As a drafted senior he was not subject to the deadline and didn’t sign until July 30th. Already a little behind his peers from the 2013 draft class, Thomas kicked off his professional career with an 0-3 game on Thursday but went 2-5 with a 2B and a pair of walks in his next two games combined.