Singleton boosts average, works on arm strength

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: May 17, 2008 - 6:39 PM

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The Twins believed Steven Singleton had a chance at a major league career as a shortstop. An automobile accident following the 2006 season changed that.

Singleton, an 11th-round pick out of the University of San Diego, injured his right shoulder in the accident. After struggling with his throws early in the 2007 season, Singleton moved to second base and finished the year at Class A Beloit with a .271 batting average, two homers and 30 RBI.

He opened this season with the Snappers again and entered the weekend batting .343 with two homers and 17 RBI.

"He can hit a little bit," said Jim Rantz, Twins director of minor leagues. "He still has a ways to go with the arm. Still trying to build arm strength."

One impressive thing is that Singleton, a lefthanded hitter, is batting .350 against lefties. He doesn't walk much, but the Twins hope that area improves, along with his arm strength.

System check

• Class AAA Rochester infielder Matt Macri will be out up to 10 more days because of a strained left calf. He's been out since April 29. With Macri injured and Alexi Casilla in the majors, the Twins needed an infielder and claimed infielder Sergio Santos off waivers from Toronto.

• Santos, by the way, was the 27th overall pick in 2002 by Arizona and was dealt to Toronto with infielder Troy Glaus in 2005 for second baseman Orlando Hudson and righthander Miguel Batista. He showed a little power in the minors before batting .250 with 20 homers and 62 RBI at Class AA New Hampshire last season. He was batting .183 with no homers through 26 games this year when the Twins claimed him. "We'll take a shot at him and see what happens," Rantz said.

• Rochester, by the way, is playing Syracuse today in Cooperstown, N.Y., as part of the celebration of the 125th year of the International League.

• Class AA New Britain outfielder Erik Lis entered the weekend batting .426 over his past 10 games, including seven doubles in his past three games. Lis also is an option at first base.

• Word on Class A Fort Myers righthander Deolis Guerra is he's making adjustments to his delivery and release point, which partly explains why he's 4-1 with a 4.93 ERA.

• Beloit outfielder Ben Revere went 2-for-5 Thursday and entered the weekend batting .397 in 16 games since joining the Snappers.

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