Twins’ Kinney content with trade

He knew he was a source of trade rumors.

But last Friday night was winding down – midnight was the trading deadline – and Bangor’s Matt Kinney hadn’t heard anything. So he figured he was going to remain with the Boston Red Sox’s Class A Florida State League team in Sarasota.

Wrong.

“It was 12:30 at night and I had just got done pitching a game when they told me I was traded [to Minnesota]. I couldn’t believe it at first,” said Kinney, who was traded to the Twins in a multi-player deal. “It was like a big slap in the face. It wakes you up.”

Righthander Kinney was assigned to the Fort Myers Miracle of the Florida State League and made a successful debut on Wednesday night as he hurled eight innings of six-hit, three-run (two earned) ball in a 7-3 win over the Lakeland Tigers. He fanned nine and walked one.

The former sixth-round draft choice of the Red Sox said the toughest part of being traded is leaving close friends behind, some of whom have been with him in the organization since day one.

“In my second start from right now, I’ll be pitching against Sarasota. That’ll be difficult. After that, I’ll be fine,” said the 21-year-old Kinney on Thursday.

He has had time to assess his situation and he figures it could work out nicely for him.

“The Twins told me they didn’t trade for me to have me sit around in A ball. They’re going to try to move me along quickly,” said Kinney, who is in his fourth pro season. “They said they don’t trade for people who won’t have a chance to be up with the Twins in a year or two.

“This should help my career,” added Kinney, who is now 10-6 with a 3.90 earned run average betweeen Sarasota and Fort Myers.

Kinney’s biggest problem this season has been his control.

He had walked 75 in 121 1/3 innings in Sarasota to go with 96 strikeouts.

“I’ve had pretty good command of my pitches but the Red Sox kept messing around with my mechanics. I was tinkering with way too many things. I was thinking too much. It’s tough to pitch when, every two seconds, you’re worrying about your mechanics,” said Kinney. “Last night, I just went out and pitched. I didn’t worry about my mechanics. I just tried to get people out.

“That’s the best I’ve thrown in a while,” added Kinney, who said his fastball was clocked as high as 94 mph and averaged 92.

Kinney also features two types of curves and a change-up.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound former Bangor High School and Bangor American Legion standout was 8-5 with a 3.53 earned-run average for Michigan in the Midwest League last season and struck out 123 in 117 1/3 innings.

His next start will be against Charlotte on Monday night.