HOUSTON >> Mickey Gasper has been among the best hitters in the minor leagues this year, hitting .344 with a 1.106 OPS as he torments Triple-A pitchers. But when the Twins needed a player to replace Royce Lewis on the roster, they instead opted for an outfielder, recalling DaShawn Keirsey Jr. on Sunday morning.

Why?

The Twins have a few players who can fill in for Lewis, who was placed on the injured list on Sunday morning with a left hamstring strain, at third — Brooks Lee, Willi Castro, Jonah Bride — and when looking at the roster, manager Rocco Baldelli said the easiest player to find a role for was Keirsey.

“He knows what he’s going to be asked to do. We really know how we can use him,” Baldelli said. “We didn’t necessarily have that type of player on the roster over the last couple weeks and when that decision comes up, yes, you’re balancing and weighing a lot of things in making that decision but he’s explosive, he can defend, he can pinch run for you in spots. … Finding a way to bring a guy back like that, it’s never too hard of a decision. You’re always kind of looking for a guy like that on your roster.”

That’s how the Twins used Keirsey earlier in the season — he began the season on the major league roster and remained until May 31 — and how they used him on Sunday, when he came in late for defense. Keirsey has gotten a few at-bats, but he has primarily appeared late in games, affecting outcomes with his glove and legs.

Gasper, meanwhile, does not play third base and it would have been hard to find playing time for him had he been the player recalled. In two stints with the Twins this season, Gasper has slashed .176/.282/.206 across 39 plate appearances in 17 games.

Buxton gets special Father’s Day surprise

Brixton, Blaze and Baire Buxton, with help from their mom, Lindsey, had a special surprise for their dad on Sunday, delivered to him at his locker before Sunday’s game against the Houston Astros.

Twins center fielder Byron Buxton opened up an orange Nike box to find light blue cleats with navy laces. The boys had written him notes on the shoes, which were also adorned with pictures representing some of their favorite hobbies to partake in together — like fishing, playing cards and playing video games.

“They got me right,” Buxton remarked as he examined the pair of cleats.

The center fielder wore the cleats during the game, but was scratched from the lineup on Sunday because of soreness in his left elbow. Buxton was hit by a pitch in Saturday’s game, eventually leaving early with what the Twins described as a left elbow contusion that they do not believe to be serious.

Briefly

Reliever Louie Varland said the pregame anthem standoff that he won on Saturday against five Astros players was “spontaneous,” and he credited his teammates for keeping him “well prepared” during it. Simeon Woods Richardson, for example, delivered a banana to him. “Rocco had my back so I would’ve been out there until we won or I got ejected,” he said with a laugh. … The Twins have Monday off before finishing off their road trip with three games in Cincinnati. David Festa will take the mound on Tuesday, followed by Bailey Ober and Chris Paddack.