BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Hrbek, One of Two ’87 Twins, to Retire

Kent Hrbek, who at 34 has spent his entire career in the Minnesota Twins organization, announced Thursday that he will retire at the end of the season.

“Hitting the ball off the (outfield) wall and not being able to make it to second base, I don’t like that,” said Hrbek. “And I can’t play first base like I used to. It’s not that I really wanted to, but I think I had to. I wasn’t doing the job.”

Hrbek and outfielder Kirby Puckett were the only Twins remaining from the 1987 World Series championship team.

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In anticipation of a baseball strike, the Boston Red Sox sent a pair of young pitchers to the minors Thursday and called up two more expensive players.

The Red Sox sent Tim VanEgmond and Nate Minchey--both won starts this week--to Pawtucket of the International League and called up relievers Todd Frohwirth and Ricky Trlicek.

If there is a players’ strike starting Aug. 12, players in the minor leagues will continue to play and be paid. Major leaguers will not be paid during the strike.