Off-speed suits Garza just fine
BY KELSIE SMITH
Pioneer Press
Top pitching prospect Matt Garza had perhaps his best outing of the season on Thursday, throwing a seven-inning shutout for Class AAA Rochester.
Twins director of minor leagues Jim Rantz said Garza threw all of his pitches - fastball, changeup, slider and curve - early in the game and stayed ahead of hitters as he struck out eight, gave up just four hits and lowered his earned-run average to 3.41. He improved to 4-6.
In an interview with the Pioneer Press last month, Garza expressed frustration with the Twins' desire for him to throw more off-speed pitches, namely his changeup, rather than rely heavily on his powerful fastball. Rantz said now Garza seems to be adjusting well to using his off-speed pitches.
"Obviously, this outing being the best that he's shown this year, it's building the confidence up that everybody needs," Rantz said. "This certainly will help his situation. He always had good stuff. He just had to change his approach and how he goes after hitters, and it sounds like he's comfortable doing this now, and he's getting good results."
Garza was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game on July 8 at ATT Park in San Francisco.
MOSES DEMOTED
The Twins sent former first-round draft pick Matt Moses to Class AA New Britain from Class AAA Rochester last week. Moses, a third baseman, had been struggling since returning from a neck injury that took him out of the lineup for three weeks.
The 22-year-old Moses was batting .224 in 48 games with the Red Wings.
"In Moses' defense, he was hurt for about three weeks there and couldn't do anything with his neck problem," Rantz said. "We just feel that he's got to get back to regroup and get his confidence going because it's tough to play at that higher level when you've been out for so long.
"I think he was starting to prove himself at Triple-A, and then he went down with the neck thing. He's still got a ways to go. He's just 22 years old, and this is his first time at the Triple-A level. I think this is good for his development as well as his confidence to get going again."
To replace Moses, Brian Buscher was called up from New Britain. The Twins selected Buscher in the Rule 5 minor league draft in December. The 26-year-old was hitting .308 in 63 games for the Rock Cats. Buscher and infielder Matt Tolbert will split time at third base.
MAKING THE CUT
The Twins held the team's annual tryout camp at the Metrodome last week and chose one of the 110 players who auditioned. Minnesota signed 20-year-old right-handed pitcher Mark Hamburger. Hamburger is a graduate of Mounds View High School and had been attending Mesabi Community and Technical College in Virginia, Minn.
He reported to the Gulf Coast League Twins on Friday.
"He was throwing at I'd say 89 to 92 up here," Rantz said, "so we took a shot at him."
The Twins also held a tryout camp in Fort Myers, Fla., recently. The team did not sign any of the 160 players who auditioned.
Webposted June 23, 2007
| 
GCL Twins