Twins reinstate Zack Littell and place Cody Stashak on 10-day injured list

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have reinstated right-handed pitcher Zack Littell from the 10-day Injured List, placed right-handed pitcher Cody Stashak on the 10-day Injured List with lower back inflammation (retro to August 12), designated right-handed pitcher Cory Gearrin for release or assignment and activated infielder Ildemaro Vargas.

Littell, who missed 13 games with a left hamstring strain, appeared in two games for the Twins and allowed four runs on six hits in 3.0 innings pitched, including three home runs, prior to landing on the Injured List on August 1 (retro to July 31). In 29 games for the Twins last season, he went 6-0 with a 2.68 ERA (37.0 IP, 11 ER), nine walks and 32 strikeouts.

Stashak appeared in six games for the Twins this season, posting a 3.86 ERA (7.0 IP, 3 ER) with two walks, 10 strikeouts, a 1.00 WHIP and a .192 opponent batting average (5-for-26). In 24 career games with Minnesota, he has gone 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA (32.0 IP, 12 ER), three walks and 35 strikeouts.

Gearrin, who was signed as a minor league free agent this offseason, appeared in just one game, pitching 2.0 scoreless innings with two walks and one strikeout on Sunday in Kansas City.

The vacated roster spot by Gearrin will allow the Twins to activate Vargas, who was acquired via trade with Arizona on Tuesday.