FORT MYERS, FLA. — The Twins made their first cuts of spring training Friday when they optioned righthander Kohl Stewart and lefthanders Andrew Vasquez and Lewis Thorpe to Class AAA Rochester, then reassigned outfielders Luke Raley, Alex Kirilloff and Brent Rooker and catcher Ben Rortvedt to the minor league camp.
Stewart, 24, might be the biggest surprise of the group, as the 2013 first-round draft pick was called up during the second half of the season and posted a 3.68 ERA over eight appearances. He gave up four earned runs over 6⅔ innings in spring training games.
The other players had little chance of making the team.
"For a lot of the guys, it's really about preparing for their seasons as major league camp gets going," manager Rocco Baldelli said.
There could be more cuts over the next few days as starters get stretched out and pitch deeper into games.
Berrios mixes pitches
Jose Berrios will be 24 years old when he takes the mound Opening Day against the Indians. He'll be the youngest Twin to start the opener since 23-year-old Brad Radke in 1996.
On Friday, it was understandable why Berrios has received the assignment. He held the Rays to one run over three innings before weakening in the fourth and getting charged with a second run.
"Early on I thought it was exceptionally hot and humid out there, so [it was important] to get out there and pitch, pitch well and get a little deeper into racking up some pitches and getting his pitch count to where we want it," Baldelli said.
