With his team currently ice cold from the plate and largely unable to handle good-to-great big league pitching, Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire offered a bit of hope by announcing that recent call-up Brian Dozier will be the team's starting shortstop on Monday when they return home to Minnesota.
Dozier is widely viewed as the best middle infield prospect in the Twins' farm system, and was called up, in addition to left-handed pitcher Scott Diamond, on Saturday as frustrations mounted about the team's inability to produce anything viable offensively. A frustrated Gardenhire was blunt about his intentions on his weekly radio show. "We need some offense. We need some life," Gardenhire said.
Utility infielder Jamey Carroll has been forced to play in every single game this season for the Twins due to a severe lack of depth at the middle infield positions, an issue that should be alleviated with Dozier in the mix. A .277 hitter this season at Triple-A Rochester, Minnesota has no choice but to be patient with their young prospect as he acclimates himself to the highest level of pro baseball.
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