 He batted over .300 for his first three professional baseball seasons and was an All-Star in the Class A California League (1976), when he led the league in runs scored and batted .345.He was in the Twins' lineup as the starting right fielder and lead-off man on Opening Day 1978, and went one for four in his debut game, with an infield hit off Glenn Abbott of the Seattle Mariners.Powell started in 99 games in right field that season, but hit only .247 with little power.