Twins suspend Kernels pitcher Boyd

CEDAR RAPIDS - Relief pitcher Hudson Boyd of the Cedar Rapids Kernels has been suspended indefinitely by the parent Minnesota Twins, it was learned Tuesday.

'He broke team rules,” said Manager Jake Mauer. 'Made bad decisions. I don't know how long he is going to be suspended for, but he's going to be out for a little bit here.”

Boyd, 21, is 4-2 with a 4.53 earned run average in 34 games for the Kernels, who hosted Burlington on Tuesday night. He also has seven saves.

The right-hander is in his second season in Cedar Rapids, a first-round supplemental pick (55th overall) of the Twins in the 2011 draft who signed for a bonus of a million dollars. This is a club suspension, which means Boyd has not tested positive for a performance-enhancing or recreational drug.

Minor league players are subjected to random testing for those throughout the season by Major League Baseball.

'I'd probably better not say anything,” Boyd said, when asked about his suspension.

'He's got to take care of some things, get some things in order,” Mauer said. 'Really, unfortunately, it's just about a guy being young. Not thinking things through. Hopefully he'll come out of this and look at this as just a bump in the road to where he wants to get to.”

The length of Boyd's suspension will be determined by Twins farm director Brad Steil. Mauer said he did not know if the Kernels will receive a pitcher to replace him on the roster.

They have 12 as of Tuesday.

The manager said starting pitcher Kohl Stewart, the fourth-overall pick of last year's draft, was in the Twin Cities on Tuesday for an MRI on his right throwing shoulder. Stewart was scratched for his start at Bowling Green last week and placed on the disabled list after experiencing tightness.

Mauer said the issue first came up during the team's lengthy bus ride to Kentucky. Stewart has had a fine first full season, with a 2.42 ERA in 17 starts, allowing just 69 hits in 81.2 innings.

He has been on a stritch pitch count all season, not allowed to throw more than 75 per game.

'He was just tight, didn't feel right,” Mauer said. 'We're hoping it's just a little soreness, but we'll see what the picture says. The physical test, or whatever you call it, looked fine. We're just kind of making sure.”

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