The Twins announced that they have selected outfielder Andrew Stevenson to take one of the two spots on the expanded active roster, with left-hander Brent Headrick recalled to take the other. To open a spot on the 40-man for Stevenson, infielder José Miranda was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reported on Stevenson’s promotion prior to the official announcement.
Stevenson, 29, spent his entire career with the Nationals before reaching free agency after last year, after which he signed a minor league deal with the Twins. He’s played 106 games for Triple-A St. Paul this year, hitting 16 home runs and stealing 44 bases. His .317/.394/.522 batting line translates to a wRC+ of 129, indicating he’s been 29% better than league average, even in the heightened offensive environment of this year’s International League.
That strong performance will get Stevenson back to the majors. He already has 248 games of big league experience from his time with the Nats, hitting .248/.322/.365 in that time. He has played all three outfield positions in the majors and with the Saints this year, giving the Twins some extra depth all around the grass.
The club already has a fairly crowded outfield mix, with Michael A. Taylor the regular in center, with Max Kepler, Matt Wallner, Joey Gallo and Jordan Luplow all in the mix for playing time. Byron Buxton recently began a rehab assignment and has started playing center field again, after only serving as the designated hitter so far this year. Taylor is hitting just .228/.280/.417 against righties this year for a wRC+ of 89. That’s led to Gallo playing center on some days of late, but perhaps the lefty-swinging Stevenson could factor in there and push Gallo to a corner or first base.
Even if Stevenson can’t carve out regular playing time, he figures to be a useful bench piece. His 44 steals in Triple-A this year suggest he could be a pinch runner in key situations, at the very least. He won’t be able to reach the three-year service time mark this year, so the Twins could retain him for three more seasons via arbitration if they so choose. He is out of options, however, and can’t be sent back to the minors without first being exposed to waivers.
As for Miranda, he’s already been out of action close to 60 days, having landed on the IL on July 12 due to a right shoulder impingement. He’ll be eligible to be activated in a little over a week but has yet to begin a rehab assignment.
Good for him. He’s earned the call-up with his overall play this season.
Oh look another lefty OF bat.
Looks like more of a focus on being a pinch runner rather than outfield bat.
Makes sense.
ummm.. what about Larnach? what a waste of a roster spot.
Any schlub fan knows the twins are choking on left handed bats and need relievers and rh bats. It was true last off-season, it was true at trade deadline, and its true now.
How in God’s name they let Varland and Garlick sit in AAA in favor of another lefty bat is beyond me. That they kept Gallo and dropped a reliever to do so is pathological.
Self correction: they didn’t drop a reliever.
not gonna matter. Cleveland will win the division. and, the STUPID Pohlads bring the entire front office and dugout staff back
those 3 clowns didn’t help the angel and the Guardians only picked them up to try to block the Twins. The guys coming back will more than make up for them
Cleveland needs offense, so Naylor coming back isn’t gonna make up 5 games. And doesn’t really matter, neither team will get anywhere in playoffs unless Twins starters pitch over their heads.
Wrong, those 3 guys can’t help Guardian offense.
The Twins starters are some of the best in the league. I don’t know why they’d have to pitch over their heads.