The Twins activated rookie outfielder Alex Kirilloff, who has never played above the Class AA level, for their playoff series against the Houston Astros because third baseman Josh Donaldson (calf) will be relegated to the taxi squad because of injury.
Kirilloff, 22, was the Twins' first-round choice (15th overall) in 2016.
"Alex Kirilloff is ready to play in the big leagues," manager Rocco Baldelli. "He's a guy who worries about the things that he can control, and that's it."
If Kirilloff plays, he'd be the third man in MLB history to make his debut in the postseason (Mark Kiger, A's, 2006; Adalberto Mondesi, Royals, 2015). He got a call in St. Paul from Baldelli on Monday night informing him of the promotion, and Baldelli said he was calm.
"Sometimes emotions don't match up with reactions," Kirilloff said. "I was excited for the opportunity. I stayed ready all summer. I stayed over at the Hyatt in St. Paul and walked to the ballpark every day."
Baldelli said Donaldson could only be used as a pinch hitter.
"We weren't going to be able to put him at third," Baldelli said. "So the question is, do we use him once a game as a pinch hitter? And if he comes out of the box at 75 percent and aggravates it? We're not willing to take a chance."
Should the Twins win the best-of-three series at Target Field, they would play in an American League Division Series at Dodgers Stadium starting on Monday.
