Dinkelman among latest Twins roster cuts

Dinkelman among latest Twins roster cuts

Published Apr. 1, 2012 3:14 p.m. ET

The Minnesota Twins made four more roster cuts Sunday and now have just two more roster decisions to make before Opening Day.

Right-hander Casey Fien, catcher J.R. Towles, shortstop Brian Dozier and outfielder Brian Dinkelman were all reassigned to the Twins' minor league camp. With those moves, the Twins have 27 active players in camp.

Dozier was an early possibility to make the Twins' Opening Day roster as a shortstop, but the 24-year-old has yet to play at the major league level. He played at High-A Fort Myers and Double-A New Britain last season. In 78 games at Double-A last year, Dozier batted .318 and slugged .502. Earlier this spring, however, Dozier told FOX Sports North that he didn't expect to make the Twins' big league roster out of camp.

"Obviously, in all (reality), I'm not going to make the team out of spring training. But at the same time, just continue to work hard," Dozier said earlier this month. "If it's Double A or Triple A, which I haven't been told yet -- I'm assuming Triple A -- either one in our organization is pretty good. So I'm just looking forward to it and continuing to get better."

Dinkelman made his big league debut last season with the Twins, playing in 23 games. He batted .301 with four RBIs in 73 at-bats.

Fien also has major league experience as well, pitching in 11 total games with the Detroit Tigers in 2009 and 2010. He was signed by the Twins as a free agent this January.

Towles was the last catcher to be cut, as Minnesota optioned Drew Butera to Triple A on Saturday. He played in 155 total games with the Houston Astros from 2007-11, including 54 games in both 2008 and 2011. The Twins signed him as a free agent in December.


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