Twins recall Griffin Jax, plan to pitch him out of the bullpen for now

KANSAS CITY, MO. – After Friday's game in which starter Matt Shoemaker couldn't even last one inning before exiting with nine runs scored off him, the Twins brought some new energy into their pitching staff.

Righthander Griffin Jax joined the team Saturday from Class AAA St. Paul. The 26-year-old had been strong for the Saints, going 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA and no home runs allowed.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Jax would start in the bullpen.

"He's a strike-thrower, too. He's a guy that if we need to bring in to any kind of situation, really, he can go out there and compete," Baldelli said. "And he has plenty of pitches to work with. … He adapts very well and will figure out whatever it is we're asking him to do."

When he debuts, Jax will become the first drafted Air Force Academy graduate to play in the majors.

"The path I took to this point has really been unique, and it sort of helped formulate and mold me into a different type of person," Jax said. "… They helped push me into a platform to really help pursue my baseball career as well as represent the Air Force as a whole. Couldn't be more thankful for them for supporting me to get to this point."

In the corresponding move, the Twins designated reliever Juan Minaya for assignment after he made four appearances and posted a 4.26 ERA.

Baldelli was a bit evasive about announcing who would take Pineda's place or who might start Tuesday, given the injury variables. The team announced after Saturday's 5-4 victory that Bailey Ober would take the mound Sunday, with a corresponding roster move coming as well.

Ober made one start for the Twins on May 18 against the White Sox, giving up four runs on five hits, including two homers, in four innings.

Baldelli did say Saturday that Shoemaker was still in the rotation. "Obviously, it was a very tough start and not throwing the ball the way we need him to throw the ball," Baldelli said. "... But he's a worker, and he's determined and isn't going to let things carry over."

As long as it's not so hot and humid. Shoemaker attributed his loss of control Friday to perspiration. "I'm a heavy sweater. I was sweating a ton. And I couldn't get my hand dry," he said. "… Not making excuses, just being honest, man. That's frustrating. Kept trying to dry my hand off on my jersey and my pants, but everything was soaked."

Injuries to Twins pitchers aren't an isolated incident. Notable names are on the injured list throughout the organization.

"His stuff has been a hair down from where he was earlier in the year. But he's kind of grinded through some starts," Baldelli said. "But we need to make sure he's strong and ready to keep pitching at a high level."

Class A Cedar Rapids put pitcher Matt Canterino on the seven-day injured list because of a right elbow strain. He was 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA through his first four starts this season and has struck out 51.5% of the batters he's faced.