MINNEAPOLIS -- When the 2003 season began, Michael Cuddyer hoped to be a fixture on the Twins roster and have a breakout season. Instead, it's been the most trying year of his pro career.

Cuddyer had good reason to begin the year with high hopes. He was one of his organization's most coveted future stars; he had a successful 2002 postseason, batting .385 in the ALDS, and his manager declared him the front-runner for the starting right field job before Spring Training.

Even the Twins marketing department figured Cuddyer would be around to stay. Among the streetlight banners near the Metrodome featuring a variety of players were ones that had Cuddyer's name and number.

But something unexpected happened along the way. Cuddyer never found his groove during Spring Training. That carried over into the regular season when he batted .190 in April. Then came May 9, when he was optioned to Triple-A Rochester.

"At the point in the season, they needed a change," Cuddyer said. "I was the change."

Cuddyer, a second-round draft pick in 1997, didn't pout over his demotion. He batted .400 over his first three weeks back in the minors.

"You have to look at it as you have to continue to improve," he said. "I went down there, continued to work, put together good at-bats, got my swing back. … Unfortunately, I pulled my hamstring and had a lot of problems."

Did he ever. Two hamstring pulls wiped out a combined 2 1/2 months of the season. It required an extended trip to the organization's complex in Fort Myers, Fla., and workouts with a rehabilitation specialist.

"It was frustrating," Cuddyer said. "But you have to deal with it, come back and try to get ready and get back out there."

The Triple-A season ended with Cuddyer batting .306 with three homers and 34 RBIs. When the time came for September callups, the Twins summoned Cuddyer a day early on Aug. 31 so he could be eligible for postseason play again. It provided something of a silver lining.

"Especially with the way this year has gone," said Cuddyer, who is 1-for-8 in limited chances since the promotion. "There was a lot of frustration this year with being hurt. To know that Gardy has confidence to put me on that roster means a lot. Whenever I get the opportunity, I'll look to help the team."