Although the Twins have asked potential staff ace Francisco Liriano to start the season in the minor leagues, pitching coach Rick Anderson is enthusiastic about the recovery process of the 24-year-old left hander who had elbow surgery and missed all of last season.
Anderson was asked by Sports Headliners yesterday how close Liriano is to physically being where he was prior to the elbow surgery in 2006. “Oh, shoot, that’s tough (to answer),” Anderson said. “He’s close. …”
Liriano, who was 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 2006, will pitch for Class A Fort Myers later this week. He’s also targeted for a start next week pitching for another Twins’ farm team, Class AAA Rochester.
Before spring training started Anderson and others in Twins management couldn’t be sure what kind of a product they had in Liriano. “You know what?” Anderson asked. “From his first outing to his last one, it was night and day (the improvement). He got better every single outing. Is he there? Not yet. Close, a lot closer than he was his outing before. …If he continues to improve like he has it won’t be long (before he joins the Twins).”
Liriano could be pitching for the Twins this month. Anderson said Liriano’s change up is “better” than two years ago. In Liriano’s final spring training outing late last week his fastball was the “same” as 2006, clocking in at 91 to 93 miles per hour, according to Anderson.
“His slider is still not there yet,” Anderson said. “You see it once in awhile. That’s the last pitch to come. …”
In five starts for the Twins this spring, Liriano was 2-2, with a 4.02 ERA (15.2 innings pitched, seven earned runs). He allowed 14 hits with nine walks and 15 strikeouts.