Twins: Red Wings' Tolbert shifts to third

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: June 12, 2007 - 11:32 PM

The Twins are determining which direction to go with their lineup. Should they wait for outfielder Rondell White to get healthy, look into acquiring someone such as Tampa Bay infielder Ty Wigginton, or both?

Meanwhile, they are developing another option at Class AAA Rochester, where hot-hitting infielder Matt Tolbert will move from second base to play third base.

Tolbert, a 16th-round pick in 2004, is hitting .379 for the Red Wings. Tolbert entered Tuesday without enough plate appearances to qualify for the International League leaders because an oblique muscle strain shelved him for a stretch of games earlier in the year. But with a few more plate appearances, his average would be more than 30 points higher than the next leading hitter.

Twins officials have said there are rough edges to other parts of Tolbert's game that need to be smoothed out. With the Twins trying to stay in the playoff race, they could gamble and have Tolbert smooth out those rough edges at the major league level.

White, who missed his 59th game Tuesday, has made somewhat of a breakthrough while rehabbing his torn right calf muscle at Fort Myers, Fla. He will begin to play in extended spring training games later this week and could be ready in two to three weeks, barring any setbacks.

Reyes back today?

The Twins were pleased with lefthander Dennys Reyes, who threw batting practice Tuesday and showed no signs of shoulder soreness.

"It's the strongest he's been all year," pitching coach Rick Anderson said.

Reyes, out since May 21 because of shoulder inflammation, could be activated as early as today, but a lot depends on how he feels when he reports to the ballpark.

"He threw the ball good," Gardenhire said. "If he comes in [today] and says he feels good, then we'll make a decision."

Patience with Kubel

Gardenhire wanted to see how outfielder Jason Kubel went through pregame drills Tuesday to make sure his right knee is fine after injuring it Saturday while chasing a fly ball.

After the game, Gardenhire said Kubel still had some soreness in his knee and was kept out of the lineup one more day and replaced by Lew Ford. Kubel said he feels much better and plans on going through all pregame drills today to prove his fitness.

Revere signs

The Twins signed first-round pick Ben Revere to a signing bonus of around $800,000. Revere, selected with the 28th overall pick, is the first first-rounder from last week's draft to sign.

Mike Radcliff, the Twins director of scouting, said the sides made a lot of progress on draft day and were able to close the deal.

Revere is one of 11 picks signed by the Twins. Other signees include sixth-round pick Michael McCardell, a righthander from Kutztown (Pa.) University; seventh-round pick Danny Berlind, a righthander from Los Angeles Pierce College; and 11th-round pick Andrew Schmiesing, an outfielder from St. Olaf.

Etc.

• Before Tuesday's game, Twins slugger Justin Morneau met Michael Wilson, the Canadian ambassador to the United States. Morneau gave Wilson a Twins jersey with his name on the back, and Wilson gave Morneau a Canadian flag that has been flown over the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

• Juan Rincon and Carlos Silva are proud fathers of newborn sons. Santiago Rafael Rincon was born at 4:03 a.m. Tuesday. Justin Silva was born at 5:07 a.m. Rincon was unavailable Tuesday. Silva is still scheduled to start tonight.

• The Twins' game at Detroit on July 1 has been shifted to a 7:05 p.m. start and will be aired on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball." Ch. 29 will now air the Twins-Toronto matchup at 12:05 p.m. on Thursday, June 28.

• Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, out since May 24 because of a bruised right hand, took batting practice before the game and could be activated before the end of the series.

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com

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