Twins manager Rocco Baldelli raised some eyebrows when he penciled in Alex Kirilloff as the team’s leadoff hitter the first two games of the series.
Wednesday it was 6-foot-4, 235-pound catcher Ryan Jeffers getting the nod and serving as the Twins’ designated hitter. It was the first time in Jeffers’ five-year career, which spans 294 games, that he hit at the top of the order
“He’s finally realizing how fast I am around the bases,” Jeffers said with a smile.
In reality, Baldelli said the idea was to get his best two right-handed hitters, Jeffers and Byron Buxton, as many at-bats as possible against Chicago White Sox left-handed starter Garrett Crochet.
“I have no concern with changing our lineup every day based on who is playing,” Baldelli said. “The way that we are functioning now, the way our roster works, we don’t have anywhere near the ability to put a set lineup out there.
“We’re mixing and matching every day based on who is available and based on how we match up against the opposing pitcher.”
Jeffers said he wasn’t shocked when he saw the lineup card.
“Facing a lefty, I wasn’t too surprised I would be up towards the top,” he said. “Rocco prefaced earlier in the year that there would be chances I would be leading off someday.
“I’ve been hitting second for a couple weeks now, and for me it’s wherever my name is in there I’m going to go out there and treat it the same if I was hitting sixth, seventh or wherever. I’ve had success with my approach, so I’m going to try not to change anything.”
Injuries have forced Baldelli’s hand when it comes to being creative with his lineup.
“When your everyday players are not out there and you’re deciding who is actually going to be playing, it takes time,” he said. “And then you piece together an order that goes with it. It’s a lot easier when I can sit in here by myself and sketch the lineup out on a piece of paper.
“That’s the way it feels like it should be for most of the year, but it hasn’t been like that for us from opening day until now.”
Needed production
Buxton, who hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s win, is heating up after a slow start to the season. He entered Wednesday’s game 7 for 16 on the homestand, including three doubles and a home run, and three runs batted in.
“I think he’s just gaining his timing over the course of the early season,” Baldelli said, “and I think that can be the case for almost any hitter. I think he’s just seeing the ball better.
“And I think he’s getting into his lower half a little better, which is letting him get some of these pitches. And he’s hitting the ball hard.”
Duran back on mound
Twins reliever Jhoan Duran, who made his first rehab appearance with the Saints on Tuesday, met briefly with reporters in the Twins’ clubhouse before Wednesday’s game. Duran has yet to pitch for the Twins this season as he recovers from a right oblique strain.
Duran pitched one inning for the Saints, allowing two runs on four hits, and acknowledged that his velocity was down. Duran said he was mostly focused on throwing all of his pitches, and not necessarily the results.
He expects to pitch for the Saints again on Friday, with a decision to be made after that on whether he should be activated.
“He doesn’t have a hard timeline,” Baldelli said. “At this point we want to get him feeling good. When he threw his live (batting practice) here his stuff was basically normal. I don’t think anything has changed between then and now.
“He’s probably just getting settled back in on the mound. He also threw a lot of pitches (27), more than you would think most rehab (appearances) would be. But it’s good for him to get out there and put a little stress on his body, because when he comes back we want him to be ready.”
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