Honors:

• 1998 - Named to the AA and the Eastern League Post-Season All-star Teams

• 1998 - Named to the AA Eastern League All-star team in New Haven

• 1998 - Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Month of May

• 1998 - Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April

• 1997 - Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Week August 1-7

• 1997 - Florida State League Pitcher of the Week for April 3-13

Background: Lincoln pitched two years at American River Junior College in Sacramento before transferring to the University of Tennessee for a year. He has spent his whole career at Fort Myers and is 18-6, 2.83 overall.

Strengths: Lincoln has that subtle understanding of how to pitch. He works both sides of the plate with a cut fastball on the low side of average, and he complements it with a big league curve and changeup. Lincoln gets to a lot of ground balls and has walked just 50 in 194 career innings.

Weaknesses: Lincoln isn't going to overpower hitters, so he has to remain aggressive and not fall behind in the count. He missed some time in 1997 with a back problem, but it is not expected to linger.

Following up a standout season at Class-A Fort Myers in '97 where he went 13-4, 2.28 ERA and won his last five decisions, Lincoln made the jump to Double-A without any problems and is now considered one of the top hurlers in the organization.

Lincoln won his first five decisions, went on to lead the Eastern League in wins (15) and earned a post-season All-Star berth. The 1996 13th- round pick allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his first 12 starts but allowed five runs or more in half of his remaining 14 starts.

Playing in a pitcher-friendly home park, Lincoln went 8-2, 2.05 ERA in New Britain but 7-5, 4.20 ERA on the road for an overall 3.22 ERA. Additionally, lefthanders gave him fits, batting .315 against him, and he seemed to tire late in games, allowing a .321 average from the sixth inning on, compared to .249 prior to the sixth. Lincoln was 1-2, 2.93 ERA in nine starts in the Arizona Fall League.

A groundball pitcher with a top notch breaking ball, Lincoln has pinpoint control which allows him to work both sides of the plate. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Lincoln has a classic build for a pitcher, but while his fastball will reach the 90's, it is not an overpowering pitch.