Target Field where the Twins train.
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Center fielder Byron Buxton, MLB.com's No. 1-rated prospect, was one of nine players the Twins sent to Minor League camp before Sunday's game against the Cardinals at Hammond Stadium. Right-hander Jose Berrios (No. 33) also was among those cut, but third basemanMiguel Sano (No. 12) remains in Major League camp for now.
After Sunday's game, they optioned left-handed pitcher Logan Darnell to Triple-A Rochester and sent right-handed pitcher Adrian Salcedo and infielder Argenis Diaz to minor league camp.
Minnesota officially reassigned Berrios and Buxton, along with left-handers Ryan O'Rourke and Taylor Rogers, righty Tyler Duffy, catchers Mitch Garverand Stuart Turner, and infielder Heiker Meneses.
Outfielder Max Kepler was optioned to Double-A Chattanooga, leaving the club with 52 players in camp, including 13 non-roster invitees.
Ryan lauded the play of Kepler, even though he went 1-for-9 at the plate, saying he put together good at-bats and played well both in right field and at first base. Kepler, 22, was signed out of Germany and is entering his sixth season in the Twins' system after spending 2014 at Class-A Fort Myers.
"He's made a lot of strides this year," Ryan said. "Mentally and physically he's turned into a man. I thought he had one of the better camps. … He's kind of what we were envisioning when we signed him when he was 16. He's growing into that body. He certainly has skills."
Buxton received only eight at-bats over four Grapefruit League games, picking up one hit and two walks while striking out three times. The 21-year-old missed much of the 2014 season with injuries and needs more development.
"He needs to go down and get some playing time," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "We need to get him going -- regular playing time, four at-bats a day, center field every day. But he's healthy and he's taking instruction well."
Berrios, the fifth-ranked Twins prospect according to MLB.com, turned some heads during his time with the big league club. The 20-year-old from Puerto Rico started two games, giving up only one unearned run over six innings and striking out four without issuing a walk.
He now will head down and get stretched out so he's ready to go at the beginning of the Minor League season. Berrios spent most of 2014 at Class-A Fort Myers and Double-A New Britain, posting a 2.77 ERA overall.
Miguel Sano, who missed all of 2014 after having Tommy John surgery, has displayed his huge power potential by blasting a pair of home runs in 10 Grapefruit League at-bats. But Ryan made it clear the 21-year-old is ticketed for Minor League camp sooner rather than later.
The cuts were the first for new Twins manager Paul Molitor and pitching coach Neil Allen, and Ryan was impressed with how they handled the situation. Of Molitor, Ryan said, "He was really good at this."
-- Source: MLB.com
Max Kepler