Twins’ Spring Training 2019: Minnesota makes their first cuts

After the finish of today’s Spring Training game against the Tampa Bay Rays (which ended in a 5-5 tie), the Minnesota Twins announced their first round of cuts from Spring Training, according to Betsy Hefland of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter). Pitchers Kohl Stewart, Andrew Vasquez, and Lewis Thorpe were sent to AAA Rochester while OF Alex Kirilloff, OF Brent Rooker, OF Luke Raley, and C Ben Rortvedt were all assigned to minor-league camp.

There were no surprises with these cuts as the position players that were cut are prospects that were non-roster invitees and the pitchers are prospects on the 40-man roster. First cuts are generally the organizational prospects that will see more time in minor-league camps once they open up during Spring Training.

Some of the highlights of Spring Training for these players includes Vasquez, who appeared in 5 games, going 5 IP, 0.00 ERA, allowing 4 H, 4 BB, and 7 K; Raley went 5-for-18, which was good for a .278 BA along with 2 2B, a 3B, and 5 RBI against 9 K; and Kirilloff, who went 2-for-2 in today’s game.

Additionally, Gabriel Moya has been sidelined with some tightness in the back of his shoulder per LaValle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (via Twitter). The Twins do not consider this serious, but they are holding him back as a precautionary measure, so Moya will most likely end up on the 60-day injured list in about six weeks.