Hicks, Pinto, Tonkin among 8 called up by Twins

BALTIMORE -- Aaron Hicks will get another chance to prove he's the Twins' future in the outfield, and this time he'll have most of a season in the high minors behind him.

Hicks was one of eight players who will be added to the Twins' roster on Tuesday, when the team opens a six-game homestand at Target Field. Seven of the eight callups have previous major-league experience; only A.J. Achter, a righthanded reliever who saved six games at Class AAA Rochester this season, is new to the major leagues.

Along with Hicks and Achter, the Twins will add:

-- Chris Herrmann, whose ability to play both outfield and catcher give him value, though he's batted only .180 in 82 major league games.

-- Josmil Pinto, who hit .342 in a September tryout with the Twins last year, but was demoted to Rochester, where he hit .279 with six homers, in May. Pinto is the Twins' top catching prospect, but has had issues with his defense.

-- Doug Bernier, a 34-year-old utility infielder whose callup is largely in recognition of his solid season as a leader in Rochester's clubhouse.

-- Michael Tonkin, who spent a month with the Twins this season with a 5.84 ERA, then saved 10 games in the Red Wings' bullpen.

-- Lester Oliveros, a 23-year-old hard throwing righthander who struck out 51 in 34 innings at Rochester.

The contracts of Oliveros, Bernier and Achter were "selected," in order to be added to the 40-man roster.

Notably absent from September callups: Twins veterans Chris Colabello, who collected 39 RBIs in two stints in Minnesota this season, but who, at 30, appears to have lost his DH/first base job to Kennys Vargas; and Pedro Florimon, the Twins' starting shortstop at the beginning of the season.

Hicks' promotion might be the most significant, considering he began each of the past two seasons as the Twins' starter in center field, only to hit less than .200 each time. After his demotion this year, Hicks spent 43 games in Class AA New Britain, and 23 at Rochester, and regained some of the form at the plate that made him the Twins' No. 1 pick in 2008.