Jose Berrios could get nod to replace Kyle Gibson in Twins rotation

Jose Berrios might be pitching for a promotion Saturday night.

The Twins' top pitching prospect, frequently flawless at Class AAA Rochester but mostly disappointing in 14 career major league starts, is one of two candidates to replace Kyle Gibson in the Twins rotation next week, manager Paul Molitor said Friday.

"I don't know what other options we really have right now," Molitor said about promoting Berrios or lefthander Adalberto Mejia, who posted a 6.75 ERA in three April starts for the Twins. "We're just going to see if we can gather more information before we have to make that decision."

Mejia, however, gave up six runs on eight hits and three walks in four innings Friday for Rochester against Pawtucket. Berrios, who owns a 1.09 ERA and 35 strikeouts in five starts for the Red Wings, faces the PawSox on Saturday.

With an off day Monday, the Twins don't have to select a replacement for another week; they could put off that starter's slot until Saturday, though Molitor suggested he might move up the date. In the meantime, they added righthanded reliever Drew Rucinski, who has seven games of MLB experience with the Angels, to their bullpen.

Rucinski, 28, signed as a minor league free agent in December, and has a 3.48 ERA at Rochester. "He's not overpowering," Molitor said. "He's got a nice cut fastball, and can throw that curveball for a strike early in the count. You hope he pitches from ahead and gets a chance to use it."

Danny Santana was elated Thursday, enjoying the afterglow of belting a 465-foot home run, longest of his career, and also beating out a bunt single.

The Twins probably won't have another one, though, after designating Santana for assignment Friday. They must trade, release or place the utility player on waivers during the next week.

"I'm sure it's a little bit tough news to take," Molitor said.

Santana, 26, played parts of four seasons with the Twins, and opened 2015 as the starting shortstop. But he never repeated the strong offensive showing of his 2014 rookie season, when he batted .319 with seven home runs and a .353 on-base percentage in 101 games. He became a bench player able to play both infield and outfield but was batting only .200 this season.

But the Twins needed Santana's spot on the 40-man roster to add Rucinski, and they had a ready replacement for his all-around role. Ehire Adrianza, an infielder with four seasons of big-league experience with San Francisco, was activated off the disabled list. Adrianza, 27, suffered a strained right oblique during the final week of spring training and had been rehabbing with Rochester for two weeks.

The Venezuelan is a .220 hitter in 154 career games but is better known for his superior defense. He even played left field in a handful of games with the Red Wings, in case the Twins need an outfielder.

• Miguel Sano will learn Monday or Tuesday whether he must serve MLB's one-game suspension for shoving Tigers catcher James McCann April 22, but he can play this weekend. Sano took part via a video call in his 90-minute appeal of the suspension Friday. General Manager Thad Levine outlined the Twins' position, and Sano, represented by an MLB Players Association attorney, and Molitor also told their sides of the incident.