Minnesota Scene: DH Byung Ho Park clears waivers, will be at Twins' spring training camp

Twins designated hitter Byung Ho Park cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Rochester on Thursday.

Park was designated for assignment last week as the Twins made room to add free agent righthander Matt Belisle.

It was a gamble that no team would claim Park and the $9.25 million remaining on his contract, considering he hit 12 homers in 62 games for the Twins last season.

Park will report to camp as a nonroster invitee and battle for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

• Reliever Pat Light, designated for assignment Monday, was traded to Pittsburgh for cash considerations. Light, who gave up 14 earned runs in 14 innings with the Twins last season., was traded to the Twins from Boston for Fernando Abad.

Light will be remembered for throwing a wild pitch while trying to intentionally walk Detroit's Erick Aybar.

• Reliever Glen Perkins postponed his planned Friday throwing session so he can continue to work on arm strength.

"I don't think I've progressed enough to the point, arm-strength wise, to throw off the mound," Perkins said.

Perkins, who pitched in just two games last season, wasn't expected to be ready to pitch in games until the second half of spring training. Even then, his availability heading into the regular season wasn't a sure thing. It's unclear how this development will affect his schedule, but it is safe to assume that he and the Twins will be careful about how he progresses during camp.

When Perkins had surgery last June, his labrum had to be reattached to the bone, guaranteeing a lengthy recovery period.

Brandon Kintzler is expected to open the season as the closer instead of Perkins, a three-time All-Star with 120 career saves.

LA VELLE E. NEAL III

She and the No. 16-ranked Gophers will open their season at the Texas Classic in Austin with two games Friday. They will play Maryland at 11 a.m. and the host Longhorns at 7 p.m.

Groenewegen was 31-7 last season with a 2.03 ERA and 336 strikeouts. She also hit .296 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI.

• Ted Zingman, the winningest women's soccer in Hamline history, has resigned to accept a similar position at Dickinson University in Carlisle, Penn.

In 10 seasons at Hamline, he had an 80-88-12 record. His 2016 team went 11-7-1 overall and qualified for the MIAC playoffs for the first time in school history.

• Let's Play Hockey announced its five semifinalists for the Senior Goalie of the Year Award: Breanna Blesi and Coco Francis of Maple Grove; Anna Goldstein of Edina; Elizabeth Kubicek of Minnetonka and Emma Polusny of Mound Westonka.

• Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen will play for the East team in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game next Friday at the Superdome in New Orleans.