CLEVELAND -- Third baseman Brian Buscher was called up by
the Minnesota Twins from Triple-A Rochester before Friday's game
against the Cleveland Indians.
Outfielder Josh Rabe, sidelined since May 11 because of shoulder
inflammation, was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make
room for Buscher on the 40-man roster.
"We brought him up to play," said manager Ron Gardenhire, who
inserted the 26-year-old into the eighth spot in the batting order
for his major league debut. "He's a lefty hitter who has done well
in the minors and we want to see what he can do up here."
Buscher is the 13th player promoted from Triple-A this year by
the injury-plagued Twins, who entered play Friday having lost four
straight to fall nine games back in the AL Central.
Buscher, selected off the San Francisco Giants' roster in the
Rule 5 Draft last December, began this season at Double-A New
Britain, where he hit .308 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs in 63
games. He was promoted to Triple-A Rochester on June 20, where he
batted .313 with six home runs and 20 RBIs in 35 games.