FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With an overhauled delivery that includes a new way to get ready for his starts, Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson is more concerned with getting his mechanics in order than his results this spring.
Gibson said his delivery -- which has been aided by the use of weighted balls and a balloon-shaped ball he places on his shoulder as he warms up -- is still a work in progress, but that he's getting more and more comfortable with it. He allowed two runs on six hits in 1 2/3 innings in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Pirates and said he's still trying to find his sinker location, especially to his glove or left side.
"I think as I get more consistent with the motion, I'll be more comfortable out there," Gibson said. "That sinker will be better. I'm still feeling my way through the windup and the motion a little bit. As I iron that out and get more consistent, it'll get down more in the zone."
Gibson said his release point and arm angle are mostly unchanged, but it's a shorter delivery that takes stress off his back. Twins manager Paul Molitor is aware of Gibson's changes, and isn't worried about the results.
"He's tried to take information a little bit deeper and try to analyze what he has and what to do with it with the weighted-ball stuff," Molitor said. "He's only 35 pitches into camp, so you try to keep perspective on that."
Worth noting
• Left-hander Mason Melotakis, out with an oblique strain, is expected to throw his first bullpen session this weekend, per general manager Thad Levine.
• Molitor was pleased with the pitching on Wednesday, singling out Ryan Vogelsong, Craig Breslow, Fernando Romero and Drew Rucinski for their scoreless appearances. He's keeping a close eye on Breslow, who is throwing from a lower arm angle and pitched around a walk with two strikeouts.
"I'm fairly confident it'll play pretty well against left-handers with that sling action," Molitor said. "The righties you kind of wonder. But he's shown he's not afraid of that front door two-seamer to keep them from diving out there."