Former University of South Carolina shortstop Steve Tolleson will start the 2009 season with the Minnesota Twins’ Class AAA affiliate in Rochester, N.Y.
Tolleson, 25, spent 2008 with the Twins’ Class AA team in New Britain, Conn., batting .300 with nine homers and 50 RBIs.
The Oakland Athletics released catcher Rob Bowen today, likely opening the door for former University of South Carolina star Landon Powell to back up Kurt Suzuki.
Powell, who will turn 27 on Thursday, was the A’s first-round pick in the 2004 draft. His career has been slowed by knee problems, but he has been healthy this spring. He hit .230 with 15 homers in 88 games at Triple-A Sacramento last year. He is batting .308 with two homers and seven runs batted in this spring.
