MINNEAPOLIS -- Standing amid boxes in a half-packed up clubhouse after a 6-1 season-ending loss to the Royals, Twins manager Paul Molitor called for his team's attention.
In his hand, Molitor held a slightly worn baseball with a shiny silver sticker on it. After a quick speech, the manager handed the ball to rookie outfielder Max Kepler -- who, after picking up his first Major-League hit on Sunday, now trails his manager by just 3,318 hits.
With his team eliminated from postseason contention on the second-to-last day of the season, Molitor didn't have much of a chance to see his September callups or consistently play some of the younger guys on the team.