A humbled Casilla back in bigs

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: May 12, 2008 - 12:17 PM

Alexi Casilla returned to the Twins on Sunday after two fairly humbling months at Class AAA Rochester.

Casilla was the Twins Minor League Player of the Year in 2006, making his major league debut that year. The Twins handed him their second base job last July, after trading Luis Castillo to the Mets, and he finished batting .222 with a .256 on-base percentage.

By March 14, it was clear how far Casilla's stock had fallen, when the Twins cut him from their spring training roster.

Casilla, 26, received a stern lecture from manager Ron Gardenhire before joining the Rochester squad. The message?

"Make the routine plays, and I'm going to be back in the big leagues," Casilla said.

Sure enough, the Twins promoted Casilla despite his .219 batting average after placing Nick Punto on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring.

Casilla has five errors in 32 games with Rochester this year, including 27 at shortstop. Gardenhire said he likes Casilla at shortstop more than second base.

"I feel pretty good at shortstop," Casilla said. "My arm is unbelievable."

OK, but what about the offense? Casilla batted .184 in April but was hitting .350 for May before the promotion.

"Because of the cold," Casilla said. "We're not used to having it that cold in the Dominican. I was freezing."

Everett's arm

Shortstop Adam Everett has made some nice plays since returning from his right shoulder injury, but there are lingering questions about his arm strength.

"I don't remember his arm strength before [this season]," Gardenhire said. "He always got us out, but it was never, 'Wow.' I'm hoping that's what he's doing now, just getting the out.

"He knows how to play. He has very good hands out there, and the ball's getting there in the air -- that's all I care about. And he says he's fine."

Everett's homer Sunday night was his first since June 2, 2007.

Etc.

• With three home runs Sunday, the Twins have hit seven homers using pink bats on Mother's Day over the past two years.

• Brendan Harris tested his sore right hamstring with running drills before batting practice, and should be ready to return to the lineup tonight, Gardenhire said.

• Glen Perkins still is waiting for his gear from Rochester, but the shipping company has assured the Twins they will have it soon.

Staff writer La Velle E. Neal III contributed to this report.

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