Parents concerned over storm

Normally when Twins director of minor league operations Jim Rantz is working the phone lines, it's to receive reports on how players are faring throughout the system. This weekend Rantz's incoming calls consisted of conversations with worried parents whose sons' professional careers are based in Fort Myers, Fla., which was in the path of Hurricane Charley.

Rantz spent his time telling the parents about the plan the Twins had in place to keep everyone safe.

The Twins' minor league complex and two of their minor league clubs, the Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League and the Gulf Coast League Twins, are based in the city.

"We have them in a bottom room of a hotel that's safe," Rantz said. "It has the necessities of water, pillows, and blankets and flashlights. We have them cordoned off to keep them out of the way of the storm."

Many of the Twins minor leaguers stay in the Radisson Hotel in Fort Myers. Games scheduled for Friday and Saturday in both the Florida State League and Gulf Coast League were postponed on Thursday, as the hurricane came closer to land.

"Since we house all the kids in the same area and they are young kids," Rantz said, "that's probably why the parents are naturally concerned."

There were about 35 players who rode out the storm in the hotel. Rantz said he heard reports that the hockey arena in Fort Myers was being used as a shelter. There were about 900 people inside the arena by Friday morning.

Rantz said there isn't much the club can do to protect the Lee County Complex against Mother Nature.

"We'll ride his baby out and see what happens," he said. "A couple of different times we've had to prepare about what to do if a hurricane hit near Fort Myers. But the storms have always turned or changed direction."

Climbing the ladder: Kyle Waldrop, one of the Twins' three first-round picks in June, has been promoted from the Gulf Coast League affiliate to Elizabethton of the Appalachian League.

Waldrop joins shortstop Trevor Plouffe, the first of the trio of players taken in the first round in June, in the Appalachian League.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound pitcher, who was drafted out of high school in Chattanooga, Tenn., made his first start at the new level Aug. 6.

He allowed one run in six innings while picking up the victory. Waldrop struck out six and walked one.

"This kid is not only in tremendous shape, but he makes the most of his pitches," Rantz said. "Since he gets ahead of most batters, there is no one on base most of the time he's on the mound. He's very polished for a high school kid."

Injury updates: Pitcher Pete Fisher, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, was placed back on the disabled list by Fort Myers.

Infielder Justin Arneson, who is from Fergus Falls, Minn., will miss the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery this week.

The hits just keep on coming: Class AAA outfielder Jason Kubel is close to leading his second league in hitting this season. Kubel, the Twins' top position prospect in Rochester, needs only a few more at-bats to become eligible for his name to appear among the International League leaders.

Kubel entered the weekend batting .356. This includes 11 home runs and 25 doubles. Before he was promoted to Rochester, Kubel hit .377 for Class AA New Britain of the Eastern League.