Liriano, Bowyer in Futures Game

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

Two of the Twins' top pitching prospects will be on display today when lefthander Francisco Liriano and righthander Travis Bowyer appear in the All-Star Futures Game at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Liriano, a starter, was 3-5 with a 3.64 ERA for Class AA New Britain before being promoted to Class AAA Rochester, where he is 2-0, 3.46 in four starts. He has a fastball that reaches the upper 90-mile-per-hour range and has been able to dominate with it. Class AAA hitters have forced him to use his changeup more, and he has adapted.

"Liriano has some of the best stuff in the minors," said Twins righthander Scott Baker, Liriano's teammate at Rochester until being called up last week. "In other organizations he may be pitching in the majors already. That says a lot about the Twins organization."

Liriano, 21, came over with Joe Nathan and Boof Bonser from San Francisco in the A.J. Pierzynski trade. Scouts who have seen Liriano have said he could be the best of the three. Liriano will pitch for the World team in the Futures Game.

Bowyer, 23, also throws in the mid- to upper 90s. He had 11 saves in May and a 0.00 ERA in June. Overall he is 3-1, 1.15 with 18 saves. He has not given up a home run since May 17.

While Bowyer has gotten by with blowing fastballs by opponents, Jim Rantz, Twins director of minor leagues, said he's developing a pretty good slider.

"When he is throwing strikes he can freeze some people," Rantz said.

The Futures Game will be televised at 3 p.m. on ESPN.

Position change is working

Last year, Tim Lahey was a 20th-round pick of the Twins as a catcher. He proceeded to bat .202 in 26 games.

This year, the Twins asked him to try pitching. And Lahey has obliged. Lahey has thrown 5 1/3 scoreless innings for rookie league Elizabethton, hitting 90-92 mph on the gun.

Lahey, 22, is listed at 6-4 and 240 pounds in the media guide. Rantz, however, said Lahey is now 6-5 and 238.

Lahey on Wednesday earned a save in both games of a doubleheader and has four saves so far. And his next walk will be his first.

Etc.

Toby Gardenhire, son of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, drove in the lead run for Elizabethton in two victories. Twins General Manager Terry Ryan called Ron Gardenhire to let him know his son played well.

Ryan, Rantz and scouting director Mike Radcliff are all at Elizabethton, Tenn., watching prospects.

Rochester righthander J.D. Durbin, who has missed a few games because of a sore shoulder, is scheduled to start today. Durbin is 3-4 with a 4.43 ERA in 16 starts. While his changeup is major league-ready, he has struggled with his fastball.