Twins set fall league roster

BY KELSIE SMITH
Pioneer Press

The Twins announced the seven players who will play in the Arizona Fall League in October. Class AAA pitchers Ryan Mullins, Nick Blackburn and Brian Duensing, Class AA pitchers Anthony Swarzak and Class AA position players Trevor Plouffe and David Winfree all will play for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.

Each major league team must send seven players - the minimum and maximum, director of minor leagues Jim Rantz said - and four of them must be pitchers.

"We look at our players, obviously pitching-wise and sometimes it's determined whether a pitcher has too many innings or not enough innings, or if they're close to making the step to the major leagues or the Triple-A level, then you try to use that as a stepping stone to improve on their skills."

Mullins moved from Class A Fort Myers all the way to Rochester this season, compiling a 3.91 earned-run average in 149 2/3 innings.

Blackburn and Duensing moved into the Red Wings' rotation from Class AA New Britain this season, and both performed well. Blackburn threw two back-to-back complete-game shutouts and was 7-3 with a 2.11 earned-run average for the Red Wings, and Duensing went 11-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 18 starts for Rochester.

After missing 50 games because of a suspension for violating Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy, Swarzak went 5-4 with a 3.23 ERA in 14 starts for New Britain.

Plouffe, an infielder, batted .247 in nearly 500 at-bats for the Rock Cats with 37 doubles, nine home runs and 50 runs batted in. Winfree, an infielder/designated hitter, hit .262 with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs for New Britain.

ROOKIE WINNERS

Rookie League Elizabethton claimed the Appalachian League title Friday, beating Danville two games to none. The Elizabethton Twins went 50-18 this season, a .735 winning percentage. They finished the regular season 15 games ahead of second-place Kingston in the Appalachian League West. It was Elizabethton's second title in three years.

"A lot of those players were in extended spring training, and they moved up as a team, and then we added some players from the draft, and they jelled pretty good," Rantz said. "I think being together for the two months prior to the short season's start they were in good shape. They were playing as a unit, and they continued to do that all season long."

ALL-STAR SNAPPERS

Twins pitching prospects Rob Delaney and Jeff Manship were named to the 2007 Midwest League postseason all-star team for their performances when pitching for the Beloit Snappers. Both Delaney and Manship were promoted to Class A Advanced Fort Myers earlier in the season.

With the Snappers, Delaney went 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA in 36 appearances. He converted 28 of 29 save opportunities, struck out 56 batters and walked only six.

Manship went 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA in 13 starts for Beloit. He struck out 77 batters and walked just nine while holding opposing hitters to a .185 average.

BRIEFLY

Through Friday, outfielder Darnell McDonald was in a three-way tie for first place in the International League in stolen bases with 33. McDonald could be the first Red Wing since 1981 to lead the IL in steals.

About 40 Twins prospects will report to instructional league on Sept. 18, Rantz said.