Fedko makes Twins 'more athletic'; Abel, Jenkins progress in rehab
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ARLINGTON – Kyler Fedko just wanted to sleep another half-hour. The Twins had other plans.
Late on Sunday morning, Fedko’s manager at Triple-A St. Paul, Brian Dinkelman, came knocking on the outfielder’s hotel room door in Toledo. Fedko wanted to ignore the noise. It’s best that he didn’t.
Dinkelman was coming to tell Fedko that he had to catch a plane. The former 12th-round Draft pick needed to get to Texas for his Major League debut. Fedko had his contract purchased from St. Paul on Sunday, and he found himself in the lineup for the Twins in Monday night's 4-2 win over the Rangers.
He packed and called his family, then got a rideshare to Detroit to catch his plane. It was quite a moment for a 26-year-old in his sixth season of professional baseball.
“Unbelievable. It’s something you dream about since you were a kid. So it was just a euphoric moment," Fedko, who went 0-for-4 in his Major League debut, said.
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Fedko brings a right-handed power bat and speed to a Twins lineup that could use both. He enjoyed a breakout last year with 28 homers and 38 steals in a season split between Double-A Wichita and St. Paul, and he’s followed it up with big numbers this year in Triple-A. He sports a .286/.372/.578 line for the Saints with 15 homers and nine steals in 58 games.
He can play all three outfield spots and has hammered left-handed pitching this year.
“The more athletic we can get, the better off we are,” said manager Derek Shelton.
The Twins designated veteran infielder Orlando Arcia for assignment to make room for Fedko. Arcia was deemed somewhat redundant with Ryan Kreidler considered the better defensive shortstop and Royce Lewis able to play three infield positions.
Abel to take another step
Right-hander Mick Abel, recovering from right elbow inflammation, will make his next Triple-A rehab start on Tuesday at home for St. Paul. That could put him on track to start Sunday in Arizona or Monday for the Twins if it goes well, though the club has not committed yet to anything beyond his next start.
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Jenkins, Roden advance
With Fedko getting the call, St. Paul added one outfielder and could soon be getting another one back. Alan Roden, who had been out since late April with a right shoulder injury, completed his rehabilitation assignment and will return to the Saints for the beginning of their series Tuesday.
Meanwhile Walker Jenkins, the organization’s No. 1 prospect, advanced a level in his rehab. After tallying four hits and a homer for Single-A Fort Myers on Saturday, he has been bumped up to High-A Cedar Rapids to continue his rehab from a shoulder injury.