Minnesota Twins Invite Three Former Beloit Snappers As Spring Training Non-Roster Invitees

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – Three Former Snappers Heading to Twins Spring Training As Non- Roster Invitees The Minnesota Twins have announced their 2008 non-roster Spring Training invitees with three spots going to former Snappers. Brian Duensing, Armando Gabino, and Allan de San Miguel were among 17 non-roster players invited to Spring Training that begins on Sunday, February 17th at the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida.

While with the Snappers in 2006, Brian Duensing went 2-3 with a 2.94 ERA in 11 starts. The left-hander from Omaha, Nebraska was the Twins’ 3rd round pick in the 2005 June draft. Brian was drafted out of the University of Nebraska where he was a Collegiate Baseball Honorable-Mention Freshman All-American, Big 12 All-Freshman Team member, and part of the NCAA Lincoln All-Regional Team in 2002. Duensing was also the starting pitcher for the victorious Team USA in this year’s IBAF World Cup gold medal game against Cuba. Brian and Team USA defeated Cuba by a final score of 6-3, ending Cuba’s 25-year gold medal run and ending a 33-year gold medal absence of their own.

Armando Gabino spent parts of 2006 and ‘07 with the Snappers going a combined 3-3 in 52.1 innings pitched. Armando also had 36 strikeouts during that time period for Beloit. Gabino was selected in the Rule V minor league draft by the Twins on December 13, 2004. The right-hander was originally drafted as a third baseman by the Cleveland Indians in 2001 before being converted to a pitcher in ’03.

Catcher Allan de San Miguel was a member of the Snappers during the entire 2006 season and part of the ’07 season. Allan played in a combined 105 games for Beloit totally four home runs and 41 RBIs. The Australian native had a total of 56 assists with a minuscule nine errors and 15 passed balls in his time as a Midwest League – Class A.

Allan signed with the Twins as a non-drafted free agent on August 18, 2004. The Beloit Professional Baseball Association, Inc. will be hosting their fourth annual Winter Hot Stove Banquet on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at the Country Club of Beloit. The banquet will feature the new President of Minor League Baseball Pat O’Conner, former Twins General Manager Terry Ryan, and Snappers 2008 Pitching Coach Gary Lucas. Appearances are subject to change.