By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

CHICAGO — With right-hander Jeff Manship getting called up to Minnesota, the Twins moved 2009 first round pick Kyle Gibson up to Triple-A Rochester to take Manship’s spot in the rotation.

Twins Minor League director Jim Rantz said that the team made the move on Thursday to promote Gibson. And while it’s Gibson’s third stop this season, it will likely be his last.

Rantz said that the team plans to cap Gibson’s innings at around 150-160 this season and Gibson currently has thrown 136 1/3 in stints for Class A Fort Myers and Double-A New Britain this season. Gibson went 4-1 with a 1.87 ERA for Fort Myers and then went 7-5
with a 3.68 ERA for New Britain.

Right-hander Nick Blackburn pitched five scoreless innings in his third start for Triple-A Rochester on Thursday night, but Rantz said Blackburn planned to return home after the outing. Blackburn’s wife, Alicia, is expecting the couple’s first child. Rantz said they expect Blackburn to rejoin the team in time for his next start on Wednesday. In three starts for Rochester, Balckburn has posted a 1.10 ERA.