Matt

Macri

Macri took a nice step forward in his second year in the Texas League, hitting .298/.349/.502 in 275 at-bats. Unfortunately, he’s now 25 and he’s only an adequate defender at second base. He’s not very likely to have a career as a bench player.

The two players went back-to-back off Kei Igawa in the third. Macri is batting .300/.379/.620 for Rochester. That he’s really more of a third baseman than a second baseman is holding him back, but he could be an option for the Twins if Alexi Casilla loses his job or if Joe Crede lands on the DL at some point.

Macri proved to be useful as a platoon starter at third base, getting into the lineup against left-handers and going 11-for-30 (.367) overall. Unfortunately, with Nick Punto back from the disabled list he now heads back to Triple-A while the Twins’ infield options get worse.

Macri stepped it up in 2007 and turned himself into a potential long-term reservem but he faded to .259/.323/.466 in Triple-A this year. What’s worse, he was completely awful against lefties (.218/.257/.347 in 101 at-bats), and he’s going to have to hit them if he’s going to make it as a righty bat off the bench. He won’t play much this month.

Macri was 3-for-7 before being sent down on Thursday. He’ll return to a utility role.

Matt Macri will start at second base in his place. Casilla is day-to-day.

Punto will challenge Brendan Harris, who is 8-for-19 over the last six games, for playing time at short. He could wind up pushing Harris over to third, where he’d start against lefties. Matt Macri will be sent to Triple-A.

Macri, who was acquired from the Rockies for Ramon Ortiz last August, will be making his major league debut. He hit .263/.324/.434 with one homer in 99 at-bats for Rochester. The Twins will use him as a backup at second and third.

Macri was with the Twins for two weeks, and went 3-for-7 with a double in that time. The demotion makes room for Scott Baker.

Macri was probably going to be sent down when Nick Punto returned on Sunday. Now he could go on the disabled list instead.