Sports stats



Minnesota Sending Twins Star to New Britain on Rehab Assignment

June 30, 2011 - Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT - The Minnesota Twins announced today that they are sending their top 2011 hitter - OF/DH Jason Kubel - to the New Britain Rock Cats tomorrow on a Major League Rehabilitation Assignment that is scheduled to run from Friday night thru Sunday afternoon. This means that the left-handed slugger from Belle Fourche, South Dakota will be in the Hardware City for four of the `Cats' five Independence Day Weekend games against Harrisburg, the Eastern League club that currently occupies 1st Place in the Western Division.

It is expected that while the sturdy 29-year-old is in New Britain rehabbing a sprained left foot, he will split playing time between the Outfield and DH, two roles he filled extremely well when he played for New Britain back in 2004. Kubel played so well in that campaign that he received the fastest promotion (after 37 games) to the Triple-A level in New Britain franchise history. When he departed the Eastern League in May of that year, his .377 BA led the circuit; he moved on to the International League without missing a beat (or a pitch!) and won the batting crown there with a .347 BA. He would make his MLB debut with the Twins in September of that year.

Kubel is recovering from a sprained left foot that he incurred in June and initially attempted to play through. When that proved impossible, he was placed on Minnesota's Disabled List retroactive to May 31st. His injury is one of many - C Joe Mauer and 1B Justin Morneau, among others, have spent considerable time on the shelf this year - that have caused the Twins to have difficulty gaining any traction in the American League Central Division in 2011.

At the time of his injury, the former 12th Round pick by Minnesota in the 2000 Draft had played 52 games and was leading the team in batting with a .310 BA. His best year came in 2009 when he belted 28 Home Runs, had 35 Doubles and collected 103 RBI to complement his .300 BA.

• Discuss this story on the Eastern League message board...

Eastern League Stories from June 30, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central