Twins minor league report: Slama deserves promotion, but Fort Myers needs him

Anthony Slama has put up some outstanding numbers in relief at Class A Fort Myers.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: July 6, 2008 - 12:50 AM

The Twins have one bad mama Slama in their farm system. He's Class A Fort Myers righthander Anthony Slama, a 39th-round pick from the University of San Diego who is ripping up the Florida State League.

Slama entered Saturday 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA and 17 saves. In 44 2/3 innings, he has struck out a whopping 75 batters while walking only 13. His fastball hits the low 90s in miles per hour, but his money pitch is a hard slider that overpowers hitters.

At 6-3, Slama is imposing on the mound and is an intense competitor.

He's also 24 years old, so why isn't he at Class AA New Britain?

"It still might happen," said Jim Rantz, Twins director of minor leagues. "It would kill that Fort Myers club because they don't have another closer. We're trying to get guys some innings and spread it out a bit. But he is good enough to go to Double-A."

Slama formed a one-two punch early in the season with righthander Robert Delaney, who saved 13 games at Fort Myers before being promoted to New Britain, where he had a 2.08 ERA through five games as a setup man. Lefthander Ben Julianel had 16 saves at New Britain, but he's 28.

Move Julianel to Class AAA Rochester? There are already three lefthanded relievers there, and the Twins aren't going to release a lefty. This is why a farm director's job isn't easy.

System check

• First baseman Henry Sanchez, who had surgery in early May to repair a torn meniscus, was supposed to be back playing by now but ... "he's too fat,'' Rantz said. Sanchez, a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds in 2005, has had more problems with the knee, has been unable to work out properly and ballooned to 298 pounds before dropping to 287 recently.

• Class A Beloit catcher Jair Fernandez will miss four to five weeks because of a broken wrist.

• Beloit third baseman Deibinson Romero has hit well of late but gets a day off every two to three games to protect his surgically repaired knee.

• The Twins wouldn't mind moving Danny Graves back to Rochester's bullpen, but no starter at Class AA New Britain has earned a promotion to the Rochester rotation.

• Mike Radcliff, Twins VP of player personnel, spent last week in Fort Myers checking out some of the new players. He likes the second-round pick, shortstop Tyler Ladendorf.

"He's going to be one of our better low-level infield prospects when it's all said and done,'' Radcliff said. "He's calm, good hands. Good touch on his throws. He's got a feel for all that stuff.''

• As for the first-round pick, outfielder Aaron Hicks, Radcliff said: "He's got good instincts in the field. He's got to get a feel for his swing.''