Struggling Plouffe will stay in lineup

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

Shortstop Trevor Plouffe is learning what perseverance is all about in his second professional season.

Plouffe, the 20th overall pick in last year's draft, continues to start for Class A Beloit, Wis., but is batting .175 through Thursday with two homers and 19 RBI in 48 games. Only five of his 31 hits have been for extra bases.

Many prospects would have been benched or at least platooned by now, but the Twins continue to give Plouffe, who will turn 19 on June 15, a chance to find a groove. Or a new one, at least.

"Everyone has a different approach," said Jim Rantz, the Twins' director of minor leagues. "We don't have a blanket statement or philosophy. You want to stay with them and hope their confidence stays up. You would be concerned if he wasn't giving a good effort. Sometimes that affects the other parts of the game. He is playing hard and working hard."

After last year's draft, Plouffe hit .283 with four homers and 28 RBI for the Twins' rookie league team in Elizabethton, Tenn. Plouffe, taken out a high school in Encino, Calif., was sent to the rookie outpost normally reserved for college draftees.

Here's why the Twins are optimistic: Plouffe is ninth on the team with 26 strikeouts, although he's third with 177 at-bats. He's putting the bat on the ball, but just not past the gloves.

"He is not getting frustrated," Rantz said. "He is a good competitor."

Regardless if Plouffe is struggling or not, the Twins are expected to draft a shortstop with one of their early picks in Tuesday's annual draft. It's an area in which most teams need organizational depth.

A second pitch?

Class AAA Rochester, N.Y., closer Travis Bowyer picked up his 13th save Thursday and has a great chance to set the Red Wings' single-season record, which is 22 set in 1972.

Yes, the number is low, but that's because most closer prospects are called up during the season. If the Twins bullpen remains healthy, Bowyer might not get called up until September when rosters are expanded.

That's not a bad thing, as Bowyer needs time to come up with a good second pitch to go with his fastball, which has hit 99 miles per hour several times this season.

Rantz said Bowyer is working on a hard slider.

Speaking of closers, righthander Bobby Korecky is back from elbow surgery for Class AA New Britain, Conn. He gave up the winning hit on Thursday in New Britain's 5-4 loss to Norwich. Korecky had elbow surgery in April.

Etc.

Infielder Luis Maza was promoted from New Britain to Rochester and infielder Ben Pattee was promoted from Class A Fort Myers, Fla., to New Britain to make up for the roster moves made on the major league level last week.

Pitcher Matt Fox's shoulder problems persist, and he will be shut down until they improve.

Fort Myers outfielder Denard Span entered the weekend leading the Florida State League with a .353 average. Third baseman Matt Moses is fifth with a .333 average.

Paul Molitor recently returned from watching Twins prospects at Rochester, and Tom Kelly will head for New Britain this week.