Joe Benson (hamate bone surgery) has been cleared to move his rehab assignment to High-A Fort Myers. Benson is working his way back from late-May wrist surgery and could be activated from the disabled list shortly after the All-Star break. The 24-year-old outfielder is doubtful to reach the majors this season.

Twins outfield prospect Joe Benson is scheduled to undergo hamate bone surgery on Friday. It's been a nightmare of a season for Benson, who was recently demoted from Triple-A Rochester to Double-A New Britain because of poor performance. The 24-year-old outfielder is doubtful to reach the majors this year. He made his big league debut last September.

Twins outfield prospect Joe Benson has been demoted from Triple-A Rochester to Double-A New Britain. Benson was batting just .179/.269/.316 with two home runs and 27 strikeouts through his first 28 games this season at the Triple-A level. He climbed all the way to the majors last year but seems doubtful to do it in 2012.

Twins optioned OF Joe Benson to Triple-A Rochester. Benson homered twice and drove in 10 runs this spring in the Grapefruit League. But the Twins want him to get regular playing time, and he wouldn't have found it in the major leagues. The 24-year-old should be up in the bigs later this summer.

Twins' prospect outfielder Joe Benson was robbed at gunpoint while in Venezuela playing winter ball. Benson's incident actually happened prior to Wilson Ramos' kidnapping in Venezuela. The robbery occurred after the cab he was riding in crashed. While the Spanish-speaking driver was on the phone, four men approached Benson and took all of his belongings aside from a bag with his baseball spikes and some t-shirts. "When you don't speak the language, there's not much you can do," said Benson. "You can't really beg for your life. You can't ask them not to pull the trigger. You can't beg for mercy. I kind of sat there in silence, let everything happen." Benson went back to the United States a few days later to regroup, but returned to Venezuela and batted .216 (11-for-51) with four RBI during his time with Tigres de Aragua. The 22-year-old was recently ranked as the Twins' No. 2 prospect by Baseball America and figures to open the 2012 season with Triple-A Rochester.

Joe Benson busted out with the best game of his young career Friday, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and a triple while scoring three runs in a loss to the Indians. The September call-up was just 5-for-25 at the dish before tonight. Benson, a former second-round pick, batted 287/.389/.499 batting line with 16 home runs and 67 RBI for Double-A New Britain this season before his call-up. Depending on how the rest of the roster shakes out, the 23-year-old could be the team's long-term answer in left field.

Twins recalled OF Joe Benson from Double-A New Britain. Benson posted a cool .287/.389/.499 batting line with 16 home runs and 67 RBI in 468 plate appearances this season at the Double-A level. He probably won't see many starts this month, but the 23-year-old is worth monitoring for future fantasy interests.

The Twins plan to recall OF Joe Benson and 1B Chris Parmelee from Double-A New Britain prior to Tuesday's game. Benson, 23, batted .287/.389/.499 with 16 homers, 67 RBI and an .888 OPS over 468 plate appearances at the Double-A level this season. He was ranked as the organization's No. 3 prospect coming into the season. Parmelee, 23, batted .287/.366/.435 with 13 homers, 82 RBI and an .802 OPS over 606 plate appearances with the Rock Cats this season. He could see some playing time at first base with Justin Morneau (concussion) expected to serve as the DH upon his return.