Twins minor league report: Former All-Star works way back up

Former Reds closer Danny Graves earned the save for Class AAA Rochester on Saturday.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: May 11, 2008 - 12:09 AM

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Righthander Danny Graves hasn't thrown a pitch in the majors since May 9, 2006. After pitching in the independent Atlantic League in 2007, he's attempting a comeback.

The two-time National League All-Star got one step away from returning to the majors when he was promoted to Class AAA Rochester on Friday, and on Saturday night he pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in a 3-2 victory over Buffalo.

Graves, 34, worked out for the Twins late in spring training and was signed just before the minor league season began. He gave up four earned runs over six innings at Class A Fort Myers as he worked to get his arm strength back. He moved on to Class AA New Britain, where he gave up four earned runs over 10 innings.

With the clock ticking on his career, the Twins have moved him to Rochester to be tested by better hitters so they can get an idea whether Graves -- the Reds' all-time saves leader, with 182 from 1997 to 2005 -- merits a call-up.

"He's been great with the younger players everywhere he's been,'' said Jim Rantz, Twins director of minor leagues.

Rantz said Graves' fastball has been clocked at 87-88 miles per hour, with pretty good movement.

With the Twins dealing with the loss of Pat Neshek to a potentially season-ending injury, Graves could be an option -- but he's still a longshot.

System check

• Class A Fort Myers catcher Wilson Ramos hit a long homer Thursday during a victory over St. Lucie, then homered again Saturday night, giving him three for the season. But he is batting .224 and struggling to hit breaking pitches. "The best way to hit the breaking ball is ... to swing at the fastball,'' Rantz joked.

• Class AA New Britain infielder Luke Hughes' hot start to the season has been slowed somewhat by a strained left hamstring that has caused him to miss the Rock Cats' past three games, including Saturday's game. Hughes is batting .388 with nine homers and 20 RBI for the Rock Cats.

• Class A Beloit outfielder Ben Revere, the Twins' first-round draft pick last year, extended his hitting streak to 10 games Saturday and is hitting .392. One problem: He has stolen six bases in 12 games ... but has been thrown out six times, including Saturday. "He's been very aggressive," Rantz said.

• Righthander Zach Day, who signed a minor league deal with the Twins before spring training, has called it quits, ending his comeback at Fort Myers. He couldn't get his shoulder strength back after undergoing rotator cuff surgery in 2006 and missing a chunk of 2007 because of more shoulder problems. The 29-year-old, who pitched parts of five seasons in the majors, has moved back to the Cincinnati area.

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