Twins Wednesday: P Kris Johnson likely to receive big-league start

With Ricky Nolasco on the disabled list with an elbow injury, the Twins will turn to Kris Johnson to take Nolasco's place in the rotation.

Minnesota has not yet made a roster move, but manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters in Seattle on Wednesday that Johnson will indeed be recalled from Triple-A Rochester and will start Friday in Colorado. Johnson previously made one spot start with the Twins earlier in the year and has appeared in five major-league games in his career. He pitched in the second game of a doubleheader on May 1 for Minnesota, throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings against the Dodgers.

Johnson, 29, has made 16 starts for the Rochester Red Wings this year. He went 8-4 with a 2.75 ERA, striking out 83 batters while walking 38 in 98 1/3 innings. Johnson is in his first season in the Twins organization after beginning his career in Boston's system and then joining the Pirates. His four previous games in the majors came last season with Pittsburgh, when he made one start and three relief appearances.

Nolasco landed on the DL on Tuesday, two days after pitching just two innings against the Yankees in Minneapolis. It was disclosed that Nolasco had been pitching with discomfort in his right elbow, and an MRI revealed a right elbow strain.

The Twins recalled catcher/outfielder Chris Herrmann to take Nolasco's place on the 25-man roster, meaning another roster move will need to be made before Johnson can be recalled from Rochester.

Santana still sidelined: Minnesota shortstop Danny Santana has been on the disabled list since June 27 with a bone bruise in his knee. There was a hope among the Twins that Santana might be activated while the team is in Colorado this weekend, but Gardenhire told reporters Wednesday that that won't happen.

Santana made his major-league debut earlier this year with the Twins and was one of Minnesota's more exciting players before he injured his knee running the bases in Los Angeles on June 25. The latest news means Santana will have the All-Star break to continue to rest before Minnesota activates him from the DL.

In 37 games before the injury, the 23-year-old Santana batted .328 with 16 RBI and six stolen bases.

Morneau loses lead in Final Vote: Several current Twins players, including Joe Mauer, have done what they can to get former Twins first baseman Justin Morneau to Target Field for the All-Star Game. As it turns out, they have a bit more work to do.

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that Morneau fell from first to second in the Final Vote, which pits five each from the American League and National League against each other in a fan vote that decides the final spot on the All-Star rosters. Morneau, in his first season with the Rockies, was leading the early voting but is now in second place behind Chicago's Anthony Rizzo.

In 86 games with Colorado, Morneau is batting .313 with 13 homers and 59 RBI. Morneau spent nearly 11 seasons with the Twins until Minnesota traded him to Pittsburgh late last year. If Morneau does make it to next Tuesday's All-Star Game, there's also a chance he could participate in the Home Run Derby on Monday night at Target Field. Morneau won the Derby in 2008, besting Josh Hamilton in the finals.

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