Twins Send Down Blackburn, Nishioka Will Stay In Rochester
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) – The Minnesota Twins have outrighted right-handed pitcher Nick Blackburn to Triple-A Rochester, where infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka will remain.
According to the Twins' director of communication Dustin Morse, the team will make a corresponding roster move to replace Blackburn on Tuesday.
Nishioka will remain on the Rochester roster. The 28-year-old is scheduled to make $3 million next season. The Twins have a $4 million option for 2014 with a $250,000 buyout. But at this point, they're just trying to see if he can play in the majors.
So far the 2010 Nippon Professional Baseball batting champion, who hit .346 that year for the Chiba Lotte Marines, hasn't shown that he can.
The Twins now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.
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