Another long-awaited top prospect is ready for the major leagues, the Twins have decided.
Alex Meyer, considered Minnesota's best pitching prospect since he was acquired in a trade nearly three years ago, will join the Twins in Milwaukee on Friday and become the newest member of the bullpen, the team announced Thursday.
The 25-year-old righthander, acquired from Washington in a November 2012 trade for outfielder Denard Span, failed to make the team as a starter in spring training and was off to a bad start in the Class AAA Rochester rotation. But Meyer's effectiveness was restored by a decision to move him to the Red Wings' bullpen, where he posted a 0.53 ERA in nine relief appearances, striking out 20 in 17 innings pitched.
Meyer joins Byron Buxton as highly touted players from the Twins organization — Meyer, a first-round pick by the Nationals in 2011, was ranked 29th in the minor leagues by Baseball America — to be called up this month.
Meyer fills the roster spot of Michael Tonkin, who was returned to Rochester Wednesday with a 5.73 ERA in 16 major-league games this season.
