MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have returned first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 10-day Injured List. They have also recalled right-handed pitcher Randy Dobnak from Triple-A St. Paul.
Kirilloff, who missed the Twins’ last 16 games with a right wrist sprain, hit .214 (9-for-42) with three doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI, eight runs scored and a .799 OPS in 12 games for the Twins this season prior to going on the Injured List. Kirilloff has an active seven-game hitting streak, during which he’s hitting .321 (9-for-28). He made two rehab appearances for Triple-A St. Paul prior to his reinstatement, going 3-for-6 (.500) with two home runs and three RBI.
Dobnak, 26, made the Twins’ Opening Day roster and went 0-3 with one save and an 8.16 ERA (14.1 IP, 13 ER) in seven relief appearances before being optioned to St. Paul on May 2. He made three starts for the Saints, going 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA (13.1 IP, 5 ER), six walks and 11 strikeouts. He is scheduled to make the start tonight for the Twins in Cleveland.
To make room for Kirilloff and Dobnak on the 26-man roster, the Twins have optioned right-handed pitcher Bailey Ober and catcher Ben Rortvedt to Triple-A St. Paul. Ober, 25, made his major league debut on Tuesday vs. Chicago-AL, starting and working 4.0 innings with five hits, four runs, one walk and four strikeouts. Rortvedt, 23, made his major league debut on April 30 and hit .160 (4-for-25) with two RBI, one run scored and two walks in 12 games with the Twins.