Bowen is set for fall play

Twins catcher Rob Bowen is experiencing the thrill of being a major league player, but the promotion has its downside.

Because of health issues with prized rookie Joe Mauer, Bowen has been called up to play a reserve role, and the at-bats are few and far between. Living the luxurious life of a big leaguer is one thing, but he could be playing every day and developing his skills.

When the season concludes, the Twins will send Bowen to the Arizona Fall League, where he will compete against some of the best minor league prospects in baseball for a fourth consecutive year.

"It will give me the chance to get some more at-bats. I haven't had too many up here," Bowen said. "I will go out there to see how many more I will get through the year."

Bowen has appeared in 21 games for the Twins this season and has three hits in 24 at-bats. His normal slot in the organization was catching for Class AA New Britain.

At that level he was batting only .198 with nine home runs and 22 runs batted in.

The Twins are satisfied with Bowen's defensive progress but are waiting for the second-round pick in the 1999 draft to show more at the plate.

"He's still young enough at the age of 23 to develop," said Jim Rantz, the Twins' director of minor league operations. "The only way to improve at the plate is through steady playing. He has to continue to play as much as he can."

Bowen has seen Mauer's meteoric rise through the organization, so any opportunity is a positive for him.

"Being in the major leagues is where I want to be," he said. "I'm just trying to contribute here any way I can. I know you can benefit from playing every day, but I like being here and having a chance to contribute to this team."

The Twins also will send pitchers J.D. Durbin and Scott Baker to play in Arizona, as well as right fielder Jason Kubel and shortstop Jason Bartlett. The Twins are debating the final player to send to play for the Grand Canyon Rafters, likely a pitcher.

Leading the pack: Kubel has officially taken over the lead in hitting for the Class AAA International League. The Twins' top prospect has enough at-bats to qualify for the honor and was batting .356 heading into the weekend.

He has a 21-point lead with 17 games remaining on the Rochester Red Wings' schedule. The last Rochester player to win a batting title was Steve Finley, center fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Finley batted .314 in 1988.

If Kubel can finish with an average over .350, he will become only the sixth International League batting champion to accomplish that in the past 48 years.

Back in action: The Twins' Gulf Coast League rookie club played at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers on Friday. It's the team's first home game since Hurricane Charley struck the Florida Gulf Coast on Aug. 13.

The Miracle, the Twins' high Class A affiliate, also play at the complex, but a decision will have to be made as to when they will return to playing games there. The lights were damaged by high winds and need to be adjusted for night games.

The Miracle might be forced to play day games the rest of the way, or play the rest of the season on the road.