Carlos Correa scratched because of heel injury, leaving Twins shorthanded in infield

SAN FRANCISCO – The Twins have enjoyed unprecedented depth among and versatility among their infielders this season, so much so that Willi Castro earned a spot on the AL All-Star team.

But losing an infielder a day for three consecutive days has stretched that depth about as thin as it can get.

Carlos Correa was scratched from the Twins lineup about 90 minutes before game time Saturday, after reporting his mobility limited somewhat by a bruised left heel. That decision came one day after José Miranda’s lower back tightened up, leaving him unable to play. And one day earlier, Kyle Farmer was placed on the injured list because of a sore right shoulder.

Royce Lewis and Austin Martin are also on the IL, meaning the Twins had only three infielders available for Saturday’s game. The temporary solution settled on by manager Rocco Baldelli: Play Carlos Santana at first base as usual; move rookie Brooks Lee to second base, the first time he’s played there in the majors; and shift Castro to shortstop in Correa’s place.

And at third base? Catcher Christian Vázquez made his first career start at the position.

“A little bit scary. His first time. But he’s tough. I’m excited for him,” Santana said. “He tried all he can. During the game, when [Jorge] Soler hit the double [over Santana’s head], I said, ‘Hey, did you see the ball?’ He said no. It’s great!”

Added starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson: “He looked pretty damn good over there. He’s pretty stylish.”

Vázquez enjoys taking ground balls at third base during batting practice, and joked more than once about forcing Baldelli to give him a chance there. That chance came Saturday, and the Giants noticed. No. 2 hitter Brett Wisely laid a bunt single down the third-base line in the first inning.

“We’d probably do the same thing if a catcher was playing third base,” Baldelli said.

After the game, the Twins placed Miranda on the IL, and Baldelli said infielder Diego Castillo, who has spent the season with Class AAA St. Paul, would be called up Sunday. A move to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Castillo will be made then as well.

Correa is unlikely to play Sunday, Baldelli said, but Castillo almost certainly will.

“I think it’s best for the team to play infielders in the infield,” Baldelli deadpanned. “So we’re going to get him right out there.”

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Not that working the games hasn’t been thrilling enough, but Sean Aronson sounded a little dazed as he described his preparation for Saturday’s game.

“I just spent an hour talking to [longtime Giants and ESPN broadcaster] Jon Miller!” Aronson said. “This has been absolutely incredible.”

In fact, the whole week has been for Aronson, 47, who has called more than 2,600 minor-league games, including the past 18 seasons for the St. Paul Saints. While regular radio voice Kris Atteberry — Aronson’s predecessor with the Saints — takes a midseason break, Aronson has been promoted to the major leagues for the Twins’ trip to Chicago and San Francisco.

“This has been one of the most incredible experiences of my professional career,” Aronson said. “The Minnesota Twins have treated me just like a big-leaguer and have made this as easy as possible.”

Though it’s meant plenty of extra work, too. Aronson said he began preparing for this week’s games the day he learned of the assignment three weeks ago.

“I grew up in Los Angeles, listening to Vin Scully. And by no means do I equate myself with him, but I know from his example the power of storytelling,” Aronson said. “So I spent the last three weeks researching these Twins. Finding every story I could find about these guys. I do that with the Saints, too, but I had to learn more, find more, find things that Danny [Gladden, his partner on the broadcasts] and I can have fun chatting about.”

One challenge he’s found is that “you have so many data points that we don’t have at Triple-A. That’s the hardest thing, trying to sort through what’s relevant, what we want to talk about,” he said. “How much should we incorporate all these stats and analytics? We have some of these in Triple-A, but there are a lot more at this level. So I’ve enjoyed trying to find that balance.”

• Center fielder Byron Buxton also sat out Saturday’s game, after injuring his elbow during a collision with the center field wall on Friday. But it’s possible he will play Sunday, Baldelli said.

• Catcher Ryan Jeffers was hit on his right hand by a foul tip, and “he couldn’t feel his hand when I got out there,” Baldelli said. But he remained in the game, and X-rays found no broken bones.

• Former Twins righthander Sergio Romo was added to the Giants Wall of Fame, along with three other former members of the team’s bullpen during their three World Series championships of the 2010s, in a ceremony Saturday. Romo posted a 3.59 ERA in 51 games with the Twins during the 2019 and ’20 seasons, striking out 50 batters in 42⅔ innings and earning eight saves. Romo, along with Santiago Casilla and lefthanders Jeremy Affeldt and Javier López, were inducted as the so-called “Core Four” bullpen.

• Erik González scored on a 10th-inning wild pitch by the Saints’ Diego Castillo — the pitcher, not the infielder — as host Louisville handed St. Paul its fifth loss in a row, 5-4. Alex Isola had two hits and two RBI for the Saints.