Rookie pitcher Nick Blackburn promoted

23-year-old righty Nick Blackburn has been promoted to Triple-A Rochester of the International League.

Blackburn replaces Dave Gassner on the Red Wings roster who is out with a elbow inflamation.

The 6'4", 230 lbs. Oklahoma native is continuing his rapid professional ascent as it was less than a month ago, on July 14, when he was promoted from Single-A Ft. Myers to Double-A New Britain.

He has been impressive in Connecticut, having thrown two complete games in his 4 EL starts, surrendering only 20 Hits and 9 earned runs over 30.1 innings of work. His record stands at 1-3 and his ERA is a very solid 2.64.

Justin Olsen has taken over Blackburn's place on the Rock Cats' starting rotation.

Meanwhile, the Cats have received righty reliever Jannio Gutierrez, a 23-year-old native of Maracaibo, VZ, from Fort Myers of the Florida State League.

Gutierrez will be making his second career trip to the Eastern League as he began the 2004 season in New Britain.

The stocky right-hander has appeared in 15 games for Single-A Ft. Myers in 2005, compiling a 1-1 record and 1.78 ERA out of the Miracle's bullpen. In 25.1 total innings of work, Gutierrez has yielded only 5 earned runs with a K/BB ratio of 39/10.

More pitching changes affect Cats

New Britain left-handed reliever Jason Miller was called up to Rochester after Wednesday's All-star game. Miller, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning in the Double-A All-Star Game, was 1-2 with a 2.72 ERA in 26 games for the Rock Cats.

Leval Speigner returned to the Rock Cats from Rochester. Speigner, 24, was 2-7 with a 3.86 ERA for the Rock Cats when he was promoted to Rochester July 4. Speigner was 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA in two games (one start) for the Red Wings.

With Speigner's return, Matt Yeatman was moved to the Cats' bullpen.

Angelo Fermin joined High A Fort Myers from Low A Beloit. Fermin had 23 runs off 32 hits with the Snappers and was batting .224 before joining the Miracle. Fermin is a switch hitting infielder who was part of the 2003 Appy League Championship Team. He was signed as a free agent in 2000 and is a native of Santo Domingo, DR.

Moses, Blackburn join the Rock Cats

The final two 2005 Fort Myers Miracle All-Star players were promoted to Double-A as Matt Moses and Nick Blackburn were called up to the New Britain Rock Cats on Monday night following the Miracle game against the Palm Beach Cardinals.

The 20-year-old Moses made his first All-Star team in 2005 while hitting .306-7-42 in 74 games with the Miracle. He entered play on Monday night tied for sixth in the league in batting. Moses was a first round pick by the Twins in 2003 and played just 48 professional games in his first two seasons. While with the Miracle he set career highs in every single category in just a little over one half of baseball. He also participated in the home run hitting contest at the 2005 Florida State League All-Star Game.

The 23-year-old Blackburn, ended his time with the Miracle by hurling seven shut out innings on Monday night allowing just five hits while walking two and striking out seven. He participated in his first All-Star Game in 2005 and recorded the victory for the FSL's Western Division. He finished with a 7-5 record and a 3.36 ERA in 15 games, all starts. In a team high 95.2 innings pitched he struck out 55 while walking just 16 and opponents hit .265 against him. Blackburn was a 29th round pick by the Twins in 2001 and spent the final month and a half with the Miracle in 2004.

Additionally, Catcher Jose Morales has been placed on the Disabled List through the end of the season.

A CAT scan revealed a stress fracture of the fifth lumbar in his back. He has been sent home to heal and rest. He is expected to make a complete recovery and will return to the Rock Cats in 2006. The switch hitting Morales hit .250 in seven games with New Britian this season, including one run on five hits.

Romero Get Monthly Award

New Britain outfielder Alex Romero was named Twins' Minor League Player of the Month for June, 2005.

The Cats everyday left-fielder, who was left off the Eastern League All-Star roster, made a complete turnaround from May.

In May, the Maracaibo, Vz., native, only batted .198 in his 27 games. He hit only two home runs while driving in 11. In all, Romero saw his batting average dip from .266 to .225.

"There were some issues about his mental toughness," Rock Cats' coach Stan Cliburn said of Romero in May. "It's not a good feeling and I think it hit home."

June has been a different story all together for the 21-year old slugger. He played in all 30 games this month, compiling a .342 batting average in 114 at-bats. He hit six home runs, which was two more than he had all season.

The 6', 175 pound lefty, finally began to utilize his ability to hit the ball into gaps by slugging 15 extra-base hits. Batting mostly from the six hole, Romero swung at a .596 clip with an on base percentage of .375.

Reinforcements Arrive

The Rock Cats have received two first round draft picks, and a top notch pitcher from the Fort Myers Miracle as left-handed pitchers Errol Simonitsch and Glen Perkins as well as All-Star centerfielder Denard Span were send to Double-A New Britain.

Simonitsch, who pitched Tuesday night for the Miracle giving up just one run in seven innings, was spectacular all season long. The 22-year-old was a sixth round pick of the Twins in 2003. He was tied for second in the league in wins, going 8-3 with a 2.69 ERA (5th). He tossed two complete games and was tied for first in the league in shutouts with one. In 80.1 innings pitched he walked just 12 and struck out 72.

The 22-year-old Perkins was a first round pick and 22nd overall player chosen in the 2004 draft by the Twins. He began the season on the DL, but mowed down FSL hitters during his 10 appearances (nine starts). He was 3-2 with a 2.13 (3rd) in 55.0 innings. He struck out 66 while walking just 13 and the opposition hit a measly .205 against him.

The 21-year-old Span was a first round pick (20th overall) by the Twins in 2002. He was selected as one of the three Miracle All-Stars this season while leading the league in hitting, .335, with one home run and 19 RBI. He led the league in on-base percentage at .410. Span led the club in runs (38) and was tied for the team lead in triples (three) and stolen bases (13).

In exchange, the Rock Cats have sent struggling reliever Jan Grando to Fort Myers.

The 22-year-old Granado was a rule V pick up by the Twins in 2004 from the Cincinnati Reds organization. He pitched seven games for the Miracle earlier in the season going 4-0, 0.68. In 13.1 innings pitched he walked two and struck out 10 while the opposition hit just .213 against him. He was called up to Double-A New Britain on May 3. While with the Rock Cats he was 2-2, 5.61 in 12 games. In 25.2 innings he walked nine and struck out 19 while opponents hit .286 against him.

Two Former Cats Honored

Former Rock Cats' reliever Travis Bowyer was named to the International League All-Star game on Wednesday, June 22nd.

Bowyer, who is six saves shy of the AAA Red Wings club record (22), is 2-1 with 16 saves and a 1.36 ERA in 30 games for the Wings. Bowyer currently leads the International League with 16 saves and has emerged as the top closer in the Twins farm system.

Bowyer (U.S squad) and ex-Rock Cats' Southpaw Francisco Liriano (World team) will also play in the MLB Futures Game Sunday, July 10, in Detroit (ESPN2, 4 pm EDT).