Matt Kinney would much rather be suiting up for the American League Central Division champion Minnesota Twins and preparing for the playoffs right now rather than hitting golf balls.

But tendinitis in the Bangor native’s right shoulder cut short his major league stint with the Twins after 14 appearances, 12 of which were starts.

The season was far from a total loss, though, because Kinney earned a Pacific Coast League championship ring with the Class AAA Edmonton Trappers.

And Kinney picked up the decisions in the two series-clinching triumphs: 5-2 over Las Vegas and 10-7 over Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake City clincher was Saturday.

He allowed six runs over 11 innings in the two victories and struck out 12 while walking just one.

“Hopefully, I’ll also get a World Series ring from the Twins,” said Kinney, who was 2-7 with a 4.64 earned run average for the Twins with 45 strikeouts and 33 walks in 66 innings.

Kinney, who is still only 25, said he was disappointed that the Twins didn’t call him up this month when major league teams were allowed to expand their rosters.

“The frustrating thing is [Twins general manager] Terry Ryan never gave me or my agent an explanation why I wasn’t called up. I was part of the team for four months. They told me to throw strikes in the minors and I did that,” said Kinney.

The Twins didn’t have any early September call-ups because, according to a Mark Sheldon story on the team’s Web page, they were trying to clinch the AL Central, they wanted to keep their players sharp for the playoffs, and they didn’t want to hurt Edmonton’s chances in the playoffs.

Kinney, who was put on the disabled list on July 1, said his shoulder is fine now.

“In my last start in Minnesota, my shoulder hurt a lot and my velocity was way down. It was around 84-85 [mph],” said Kinney, who usually throws his fastball in the 93-94 range.

“My velocity was back to normal in Edmonton and I was able to throw all four of my pitches [for strikes] at any time in the count. I’ve learned how to pitch. You’re a lot harder to hit when the hitters don’t know what pitch is coming,” said Kinney, who also features a slider, curve, and changeup.

Kinney isn’t concerned with his Twins record this season “because I had the lowest run support in the league.”

He will stay in the Minneapolis area in the offseason and has hired a personal trainer.

“Next year is a big year for me and I want to get in the best shape possible. I want to get stronger,” said the 6-foot-5, 220-pounder, who will be in the final year of his contract.

He explained that he will be able to work out with other Twins players and have access to the facilities he needs to develop.

“Maine is great, but there’s nothing to remind you about baseball. Here, when I drive by the Metrodome, it will remind me what I’m getting ready for,” said Kinney, who added that Twins pitching coach Rick Anderson, who had been his pitching coach in Edmonton earlier in his career, lives in the area.

“He knows me. He has seen me at my worst and at my best. I’ll be able to pick his brain and see what I should be concentrating on,” said Kinney.

He will go to training camp with confidence.

“I know I can pitch in the big leagues. I proved it to myself in 2000 and again this year. I’ve gotten a lot better,” said Kinney.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or e-mail at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.