First baseman gets attention with hits

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

First baseman Garrett Jones is continuing his late-blooming run up the Twins' organizational ladder.

He entered the weekend batting .298 with 10 homers and 26 RBI for Class AAA Rochester and had a 14-game hitting streak for the Red Wings. He showed some of his promise to the major league coaching staff during spring training and looms as a possible fall-back if something happens to Justin Morneau.

Jones, 23, offered a rather honest opinion of his hot start at Class AAA Rochester.

"I've felt good at the plate," Jones said. "I just have to work on being patient. My strikeouts are really high [seven walks to 45 strikeouts]."

Jones is trying to adjust, which is something he didn't do early in his minor league career with the Braves organization.

"It seemed like I had a new swing every day," he said. "I was trying to do what everyone was telling me to do."

Jones was released by Atlanta in 2002 and signed by the Twins three days later. He hit .202 that year with Class A Quad City with 10 homers and 32 RBI in 63 games. He went .220-18-67 the next year at Class A Fort Myers. He began the 2004 season at Fort Myers but was promoted -- with fingers crossed -- to Class AA New Britain to replace an injured player.

"We moved him up and said, 'Gee, we hope he doesn't get overmatched,' " said Rob Antony, the Twins director of baseball operations. "All of sudden, he just took off."

Jones hit .311 with 30 homers and 92 RBI at New Britain and has been a threat since.

Roof to coach

Rochester manager Phil Roof is on an indefinite leave of absence while he takes care of his wife, Marie Roof, as she battles cancer. But he hopes to accept an invitation to coach in the Class AAA All-Star Game this year.

"He's hoping that his wife is strong enough so that they can go as a team." said Jim Rantz, Twins director of minor leagues.

Rich Miller is managing the Red Wings in Roof's absence.

Swarzak rolling

It might be time to pay attention to Anthony Swarzak, the Twins' second-round pick from last year's draft. He has found a groove at Class A Beloit.

Swarzak, 19, has thrown 32 consecutive scoreless innings for the Snappers, including a command performance on Wednesday during which he gave up an unearned run on two hits with 13 strikeouts and no walks. During the streak, he has walked only seven batters while striking out 38.

For the season, he's 5-2 with s 2.17 ERA.

Righthanders Swarzak, Kyle Waldrop and Jay Rainville are pitching prospects who, so far, have shown very good control. And Swarzak hits 90-92 miles an hour on the radar gun.

Etc.

Both Class AA New Britain righthander Colby Miller and Class A Fort Myers lefthander Glen Perkins lost 1-0 games last week.

Class AAA righthander Dylan Childress was dropped to Class AA New Britain, where he can start.

Fort Myers third baseman Matt Moses missed three games because of a sore ankle but was back in the lineup on Thursday.

Outfielder Selwyn Langaigne was released by the club after his average dropped to .255 at New Britain. He signed with an independent league team in Jackson, Miss.

Rochester righthander Scott Baker might miss his next start because of a slight groin muscle pull.

Lefthander Justin Jones, acquired from the Cubs in the four-team Doug Mientkiewicz trade, is rehabbing a sore elbow in Fort Myers.