The Minnesota Twins announced their moves, Thursday, to clear a roster spot for Yohan Pino to make his Major League debut against the Chicago White Sox.
To clear room for the 30-year-old rookie pitcher, the Twins moved pitcher Mike Pelfrey from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL.
To call Pino up to the Major Leagues, though, it required another move. So the Twins put ailing utility player Eduardo Nunez on the 15-day disabled list.
Nunez has been out since Saturday with a sprained right hamstring. He suffered the injury while beating out a ground ball at first base. The Pioneer Press reports Nunez had hoped to get back into the lineup without a stint on the disabled list.
He had declared himself ready to play, prior to Wednesday’s game in Boston.
According to the Star Tribune, Nunez thought he could play, he’s just not 100 percent. After conversations with Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, though, they decided he shouldn’t push it.
Pelfrey has been out since early May. He recently underwent elbow surgery and will be out, maybe for the rest of the season.
Pino will be the oldest starting pitcher to make his MLB debut in franchise history. Pino is 30-years and 175-days-old, the previous record goes all the way back to Sept. 1, 1944 when Jug Thesenga made his first start with the Washington Senators at the age of 30-years and 127 days.
Pino has bounced around the minors in recent years, but he is back with the club he started with.
https://twitter.com/tteberry/status/479753121883631616
Pino has pitched nearly 1,200 career innings in the minors. This year he is 9-1 and ranks second in the International League with a 1.92 ERA.
He returned to the Twins on a minor-league free agent contract after pitching well in the Venezuelan Winter League.
