Twins acquire utility player Mickey Gasper from Red Sox
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN ¨C The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have acquired utility player Mickey Gasper from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for left-handed pitcher Jovani Mor¨¢n.
Gasper split the 2024 minor league season between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, combining to hit .328 (102-for-311) with 27 doubles, 12 home runs, 58 RBI, 56 walks, 66 runs scored, a .439 on-base percentage and a .970 OPS in 92 games. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound switch hitter played five different positions in the minors, including 38 games (36 starts) at first base, four games (all starts) at second base, one game (no starts) at third base, 36 games (all starts) at catcher and 14 games (13 starts) as the designated hitter. He was named the International League Player of the Week on August 12, after hitting .524 (11-for-21) with one double two home runs, three RBI, three walks, one stolen base, 10 runs scored, a .583 on-base percentage and a 1.440 OPS in six games for Worcester.
The 29-year-old had his contract selected by the Red Sox on August 12 and made his major league debut that night vs. Texas, walking as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 10th inning. He went 0-for-18 with four walks and one run scored in 13 games across two stints with Boston last season, while playing first base (2 games/0 starts) and second base (6 games/3 starts) with two starts as the designated hitter. The Merrimack, New Hampshire native was originally selected by the New York Yankees in the 27th round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Bryant University (RI). He has hit .275 (363-for-1321) with 80 doubles, three triples, 48 home runs, 207 RBI, 222 walks, 22 stolen bases, 224 runs scored and an .841 OPS in 407 minor league games in the New York-AL and Boston systems.
Mor¨¢n, 27, missed the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He has gone 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA (91.0 IP, 42 ER), 52 walks, 112 strikeouts, a 1.33 WHIP and averaging 11.1 strikeouts-per-9.0 innings in 79 career games across parts of three major league seasons, all with the Twins.
The Twins now have 39 players on their 40-man roster: 22 pitchers, three catchers, five infielders, five outfielders and four utility players.