FORT MYERS, FLA. – Byron Buxton, Adam Rosales and Brian Navarreto all launched long home runs over JetBlue Park's giant left field wall Wednesday. But the scariest impact in the Twins' 9-5 Grapefruit League victory over Boston was the one that knocked Mitch Garver to the ground.
A 95-mph fastball got away from Red Sox rookie Colten Brewer and slammed into the bill of Garver's helmet, knocking it off his head and driving him to the dirt. After being examined by athletic trainer Matt Biancuzzo, Garver was removed from the game.
The impact looked far worse than it was, the Twins catcher said. "It was coming at my face. Luckily, I had enough time to turn," Garver said. "But I'm fine."
The impact was "not even close" to the foul tips that gave him a concussion last September, Garver said.
Meanwhile, Rosales — an 11-year major league veteran trying to make the Twins on a minor league contract — stayed hot in the Red Sox' home park, where he is now 6-for-8 this spring, with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI. His blast was a mirror image of Buxton's, the team-leading fourth home run for each this spring.
"I've been very pleased with his [at-bats], and we saw more of that [Wednesday]," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said of Buxton, who also doubled to raise his spring average to .400. "When he's hitting the ball on the barrel, it's coming off pretty hot. It's been impressive."
PHIL MILLER
