Catcher Morales added to Q-C roster

The Minnesota Twins Sunday transferred catcher Jose Morales to the Quad City River Bandits. To make roster space, catcher Josh Johnson has been removed from the Bandits roster and will be sent to extended spring training in Fort Myers.

Morales, a 5-11, 180-pounder, was originally drafted in the third round of the 2001 draft, out of Academy La Providencia High School in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In two seasons as an infielder in the Gulf Coast League, the switch-hitting Morales batted .284 and had 46 RBI in 88 games. His .309 batting average ranked tenth in the GCL last season, when he was named to the league’s Postseason All-Star team. The Twins converted the 20-year-old to catcher during Fall Instructional League.

In limited action, Johnson batted .176 (6-for-34) with the River Bandits. He had his first multi-hit game of the season on Saturday, May 24, when he collected two singles in Quad City’s 5-0 win. Johnson was a 25th-round selection in the 2001 draft, out of Ridgway High School in Ridgway, Pennsylvania.