Bartlett might be ready for Twins call

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

Jason Bartlett admitted that he was a mess when he was first sent down to Class AAA Rochester on May 20.

"The first couple of weeks I was trying everything," Bartlett said. "I even tried the [Justin] Morneau stance and rested the bat on my shoulder."

Bartlett sounded like a man with renewed confidence after getting over his demotion to the minors after being the Twins' Opening Day shortstop. He did make some fielding flubs early, but Twins coaches maintain that it was his deteriorating offensive game that was the final straw. Bartlett was sent down, while Luis Rodriguez was called up and has proved that he belongs on a major league roster.

After scuffling early, Bartlett has proved that he may be ready for a second helping of major league pitching. He entered Friday batting .324 for the Red Wings with a .410 on-base percentage. He had a seven-game hit streak end on Wednesday.

"I feel really good, and my swing feels good," he said.

The Twins would like to see Bartlett incorporate a little more bunting into his game and just keep working on his offense. Of his 70 hits, only 17 have been for extra bases. But Jim Rantz, the Twins' director of minor leagues, liked what he saw last week when he visited Rochester.

"He had good range and good arm and made all the plays," Rantz said. "And he's starting to work the count a little more, which is good."

Baker baby boy

Rochester righthander Scott Baker took the mound Thursday with his wife, Leann, in the ninth inning of her pregnancy. Baker retired the first 12 Charlotte batters he faced and 19 of 21 when he was summoned to a hospital because Leann went into labor.

While the bullpen finished up a 1-0 victory, Leann gave birth to Eli, their first child.

"He had a lot on his mind," Rantz said.

Baker is 3-6 but with a 2.82 ERA in 17 starts at Rochester. He is undoubtedly having a great year; he has made his major league debut and now is celebrating the birth of his son. And he could be back in the majors soon as the No. 5 starter if the Twins trade Joe Mays or Kyle Lohse.

Etc.

Lefthander Dave Gassner will miss a couple of starts with elbow inflammation, one reason the club is trying to sign free-agent lefty Dennys Reyes to a minor league deal.

Class AA New Britain infielder Felix Molina will miss two to three weeks because of a sore hamstring, leading to a chain reaction of moves. J.R. Taylor was promoted to New Britain from Class A Fort Myers, Luke Hughes was moved from Class A Beloit to Fort Myers and Stephen Tolleson, their fifth-round pick in the June draft, has been promoted from rookie league Eilzabethton to Beloit. Tolleson was batting .321 in 16 games.