Twins thoughts from LEN3: Hicks, Pelfrey, Rosario, Eddie The Stick

Wow, this was an interesting day.

Aaron Hicks, Eddie Rosario, Trevor May all optioned to Class AAA Rochester. Mark Hamburger and Dan Rohlfing both reassigned to minor league camp.

Tommy Milone the fifth starter.

And the most emotional person of the day - Mike Pelfrey.

Pelfrey is great guy, a funny guy, and loved in the clubhouse. But he's strong in his beliefs and feels like it was somewhat preordained that he would be sent to the bullpen despite him posting a strong 1.32 ERA during spring training.

And he may be absolutely right.

But baseball, like life, is not fair sometimes, Tommy Milone is going to be the fifth starter, and Pelfrey has to be ready. No one gets through the season with five starters, so Pelfrey could be the first guy they look toward when they'll need another starter.

Hicks was professional when he met with the media. Said he doesn't want to be a AAA and will work get back as soon as he can. This forces the Twins to open the season with Jordan Schafer and Shane Robinson as center fielders. Expect the Twins to look around the league to see if another center fielder is available. If they do so then Hicks' future with the team.....would not exist. If they bring in someone to play center, that player become the seatholder for Byron Buxton.

The Twins will have a big decision to make if Buxton, who's expected to open the season at Class AA Chattanooga, gets off to a fast start. Will they call him up?

Eddie Rosario can play some center, and will be at Class AAA Rochester. Rosario wasn't too disappointed. He batted .233 with 2 homers and 7 RBI, looking very sharp during stretches of camp Threw out two baserunners trying to stretch a single into a double.

Rosario called this camp, ``my second chance," and is back in the good graces of the organization.

Look for Eduardo Escobar to be more of a "Super" utility player, someone who plays 3-4 times a week because his bat needs to stay in the lineup. A scout from an AL Central team said to me today, ``y'all got the most dangerous utility player in the league with those 35 doubles." Twins manager Paul Molitor has told Escobar he plans to play him as much as he can off the bench, so get ready.