Randy Rosario Heats Up

MINNEAPOLIS—Lefthander Randy Rosario took advantage of a break during Twins fan fest in January to sneak onto the Target Field diamond with a couple of teammates. They took in the surroundings, admired the Minneapolis skyline—and then began throwing fastballs made of snow.

“That’s my first time seeing snow,” the 22-year-old Dominican said. “It looks good on the baseball field. I like it.”

See how quickly he adapts?

The Twins hope that’s a trait Rosario, who signed in 2010 at age 16 for $85,000, brings to his pitching, too. After five seasons as a starter, Minnesota determined midway through last summer that Rosario, coming off Tommy John surgery two years earlier, might be better suited to the bullpen.

Despite topping out at 97 mph, Rosario struck out just 6.5 per nine innings at high Class A Fort Myers last season. But in a month of pitching as a reliever, that rate ballooned to 15.3 per nine over nine appearances.

All that despite having to learn a new routine.

“Some of the guys who transition to the bullpen . . . it takes a little bit of getting used to,” chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said. “Learning how to get hot in the middle of an inning, when you’re used to a long preparation, we know it’s not easy.”

Rosario agreed to the switch and insists he’s still excited about it, though it’s possible to detect some hesitation in his words. “I like to pitch. I want to pitch a lot. Put me in,” he said. “I’d pitch every day.”

That’s what worried the Twins. When Rosario returned from surgery, the organization had to limit his innings and prevent him from pitching winter ball. But he comes to camp this spring with a fresh arm—and, with just four games above Class A, a lofty goal for 2017.

“I’m getting so close (to the majors),” Rosario said. “That’s my goal this year, to play here.”

TWIN KILLINGS

• The Twins signed speedy outfielder Quintin Berry to a minor league deal. They project him to be outfield depth at Triple-A Rochester.

• The Twins sold righthander Pat Light, whom they acquired from the Red Sox last August, to the Pirates to clear a roster spot after Minnesota claimed shortstop Ehire Adrianza on waivers from the Brewers.

— Phil Miller covers the Twins for the Minneapolis Star Tribune