Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have recalled catcher/infielder Willians Astudillo, recalled outfielder LaMonte Wade, Jr., placed catcher Alex Avila on the 10-day Injured List with low back tightness and optioned right-handed pitcher Sean Poppen,
Astudillo was with the club yesterday as the 29th man for the doubleheader and made his 2020 debut in Game 2, pinch hitting in the seventh inning and scoring the winning run in the top of the eighth. He played in 58 games for the Twins last season, hitting .268 (51-for-190) with nine doubles, four home runs, 21 RBI, 28 runs scored and a .678 OPS. A member of the 2020 Opening Day roster, Wade, Jr. has gone 3-for-15 (.200) with one double and one RBI so far in two stints with the major league club (July 23-August 3, August 20-Sept. 1).
To make room for Astudillo and Wade, Jr. on the active roster, catcher Alex Avila has been placed on the 10-day Injured List with low back tightness and right-handed pitcher Sean Poppen has been optioned to the alternate training site. Avila started the second game of yesterday’s doubleheader against Detroit and was removed in the top of the third inning; he was also a late scratch from Wednesday night’s contest against the White Sox. Signed to a one-year contract in the offseason, Avila has batted .167 (7-for-42), with one home run, two RBI, 10 walks, six runs scored and a .352 on-base percentage in 20 games this season. Poppen pitched in Game 2 yesterday and appeared five times out of the bullpen this season across three stints with the Twins, posting a 4.91 ERA (7.1 IP, 4 ER) with four walks, nine strikeouts and one hold.
Additionally, infielder Ildemaro Vargas, who was designated for release/assignment on Wednesday, has been claimed off waivers by Chicago-NL.