An MSU alum gets a spring training appearance

Former MSU outfielder Mark Dolenc (left) was a one-day spring-training call up for the Twins on Wednesday and got a plate appearance subbing for Jason Kubel (he drew a walk).

The way this works: The Twins had about 60 players in major league camp when it opened — the 40 on the major league roster and a host of non-roster invitees. Minor league camp opened a couple weeks later, and the Twins have been shipping some of their excess players to minor league camp of late.

And now they're bringing guys over from the minor league camp for a day at a time; the guys who were in big-league came are ineligible for this. They get a uniform in the 90s with no name on the back, and they sub in late in the game.

The Twins took Dolenc in the 15th round in 2006 and he's worked his way up a level at a time. He spent last season in High A ball, and Seth Stohs this week included him on his projected Double A roster.

Dolenc has put up good stolen base numbers, displayed little power and has really poor walk/strikeout ratios. He looks like organizational filler at this point.