BY GORDON WITTENMYER
Pioneer Press

Outfielder Jason Kubel, the touted hitting prospect who opened the season
on the big-league roster before an April 18 demotion to Class AAA
Rochester, has looked good enough playing every day in Rochester that
Twins officials say it's impossible to tell by watching him that he is
coming off a severe knee injury that cost him the 2005 season.

Farm director Jim Rantz and general manager Terry Ryan were scheduled to
get a first-hand look this weekend on Ryan's annual trip to observe the
Twins' top-level affiliate.

Kubel, who played sparingly in his two weeks with the Twins in April, was
hitting .271 through Friday with one home run and six RBIs in 59 at-bats.

'Kubel's thing is we want him to play and get his at-bats after being out
all last year,'' said Rantz, suggesting Kubel is bound to the AAA roster
until or unless a starting job opens up on the big club. 'His knee has
responded.''

And so has Kubel's drive after the demotion. 'I knew he'd go down with the
right attitude and go about his business and contribute,'' Rantz said.
'Shucks, he's a good player. … He'll be back.''

FIRST WATCH

Right-hander Matt Garza, the 25th overall pick in last June's draft, is
dominating high-Class A competition so quickly that the Twins are starting
to look at him like fast-track current Twin Scott Baker — who in 2004 was
promoted from high-A Fort Myers early enough in the season to make
midseason all-star teams in two leagues.

'He's on a fast pace, there's no doubt about it,'' Rantz said of Garza,
who is 4-0 with a 0.86 earned-run average in 31 1/3 innings this season
(40 strikeouts, six walks) at Fort Myers.

'I'd like to see him get to the all-star break, but it might not happen —
depending if he keeps going like this.''

MINOR MATTER

* Left-hander Jose Mijares, the Class A pitcher who got a brief look in
big-league spring training because of World Baseball Classic defections,
seems to be finding his command three appearances after returning from the
DL (shoulder tendinitis). After giving up four hits and four walks in his
first three innings back, he got through two scoreless innings Tuesday in
his third appearance, allowing three hits without a walk (ERA 1.80).