Twins reinstate Littell, place Stashak on injured list

The Minnesota Twins have activated right-handed reliever Zack Littell off the 10-day injured list and have placed rightie Cody Stashak on the 10-day injured list with lower back inflammation (retroactive to Aug. 12).

Minnesota also designated rightie reliever Cory Gearrin for release or assignment and activated infielder Ildemaro Vargas, who the Twins acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday. Vargas will fill Gearrin’s roster spot.

Before Littell went on the injured list on Aug. 1 (retroactive to July 31) and subsequently missed 13 games with a hamstring strain, he played in two games for Minnesota and gave up four runs and six hits in 3.0 innings pitched.

Stashak appeared in six games for the Twins this year and recorded a 3.86 ERA (7.0 IP, 3 ER) with two walks, 10 strikeouts, a 1.00 WHIP, and a .192 opponent batting average. Gearrin’s only appearance this season came in Minnesota’s 4-2 loss to Kansas City on Sunday when he pitched 2.0 innings with two walks, one strikeout, and no earned runs.