MLB: Twins call up Duensing

The Minnesota Twins, apparently, believe the less a prospect knows about potential roster moves, the better.

Or perhaps it's only Brian Duensing who's had such an experience. And twice now.

Regardless, the former Millard South and Nebraska pitching star doesn't care; he's ecstatic to get another shot at the big leagues.

“They can tell me any way they want,” Duensing said.

The 26-year-old left-hander was summoned Thursday from Class AAA Rochester, N.Y., by the Twins after a 10-day stint with the parent club to start the season. He's expected in the bullpen tonight as Minnesota hosts Detroit in a meeting of top teams in the American League Central.

Duensing was caught off-guard by the move, of which he learned Thursday morning while waiting out a rain delay before a scheduled International League game in Buffalo, N.Y.

“I was in the locker room with our coaches when the pitching coach tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Come here now,' ” Duensing said. “I thought I was in trouble. I had no idea.”

He was led into the main area of the clubhouse, where Rochester manager Stan Cliburn told Duensing of his promotion in front of the whole team.

“I'm still kind of in a whirlwind,” he said.

Duensing's wife of 2½ years, Lisa, traveled with him to Buffalo — a 75-minute drive from Rochester — for a quick trip before they expected to head home to Rochester for a series over the Fourth of July weekend.

Plans changed quickly.

The couple returned to Rochester and Brian flew to Minneapolis. Lisa, also a Millard South graduate, was to make the 1,000-mile drive Thursday and today.

Duensing, a third-round pick in 2005, was 4-6 with a 4.66 ERA in 75.1 innings this season in Class AAA.

He pitched just once with the Twins, allowing two runs on a Carlos Quentin homer over three innings in a road win April 10 against the White Sox.

On April 15, Duensing was optioned to Rochester to make room for Scott Baker, returning from the disabled list.

This time around, Duensing replaces reliever Sean Henn.

The ex-Husker is looking for a longer stay.

After pitching for the gold-medal winning Team USA in the Beijing Olympics last summer, Duensing made the Twins' 25-man roster out of spring training. He learned of that decision by text message from teammate Glen Perkins on the last full day of the preseason.

Still, the next day as Minnesota broke camp in Florida, Duensing showed up in casual clothes, so as not to act presumptuous about his fate.

“I didn't want to look like a complete idiot,” he said. “And then once I made it, I wasn't nervous about throwing. It was more about fitting in, finding the right place to sit on the plane and that kind of stuff.

“It's good that now, I don't have to deal with a lot of that. I can just get up there and pitch.”

Contact the writer:
402-473-9587, mitch.sherman@owh.com