Rays to Unveil Newest Wonder Jeff Niemann

Though he still cannot be regarded as a finished product, 25-year-old former first-round pick Jeff Niemann will be rushed into action as the Tampa Bay Rays newest pitching wonder, when Niemann will be named temporarily to the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

An announcement is pending.

The 6-foot-9, 260-pound Niemann -- fourth overall pick in the 2004 draft -- will take the place of No. 2 starter Matt Garza, who has been sidelined by what is described as a "radial nerve irritation" in his throwing arm. Garza will miss at least two weeks.

Niemann will be called up from the Triple A Durham Bulls, where he is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in the young minor league season, after going 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in limited action with the parent club this spring. He was 12-6 with a 3.98 ERA in 25 starts with the Bulls last year.

Niemann's lively slider was the talk of camp this spring. He signed a $5.2 million contract in 2005, but until now has been unable to reach the 40-man roster after a setback due to shoulder and clavicle distress nearly three years ago.

Twins Kevin Slowey Pressing for Return to 'Show'

Having been demoted from Minneapolis to Triple A Rochester, Twins prospect Kevin Slowey refuses to be forgotten. He's still knocking at the door.

Though he has lost his big-league rotation spot to rival prospect Matt Garza, Slowey showed he still has what it takes to finesse minor league hitters, throwing a complete-game, three-hitter in a 1-0 win over Syracuse in his most recent outing. As a control specialist, Slowey is a marked contrast to Garza, who relies primarily on a more than 95-mph heater.

Both look to pitch side by side in the Twins rotation eventually, perhaps before the end of the year.

Slowey, 23, who has been compared to former Twins ace Brad Radke, was hammered during his brief call-up to Minneapolis, but he bettered his minor league record to 8-2 while striking out eight with his typical array of off-speed offerings.

Slowey's Triple A ERA stands at 1.59. Slowey leads the International League with four complete games in just 11 starts, though he has been kept at a 100-pitch limit.