Jorge Polanco has been on a rehab assignment since the start of the Twins season, but the veteran second baseman will finally make his debut tonight and hit fifth.
Jorge Polanco is back with Twins as Eddie Julien returns to Saints
Polanco missed the first 19 games of the season because of knee inflammation, and will be back in the lineup at second base against the Nationals.
April 21, 2023 at 8:51PM
After recovering from left knee inflammation, Polanco was activated to the major league roster from the injured list before the game against the Washington Nationals at Target Field (7:10 p.m., Ch. 9+).
Pitcher Simeon Woods-Richardson is also up from St. Paul. Sent to the Saints were rookie second baseman Eddie Julien and reliever Jorge Alcala.
In eight rehab games with Fort Myers and St. Paul, Polanco hit .231 with one extra-base hit, a double, in 30 plate appearances. He has been sidelined since late August, but has not had surgery on the troublesome knee.
The 22-year-old Woods Richardson is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts for St. Paul. He made his major league debut last season, pitching five innings in a no-decisions against Detroit.
Alcala pitched six games (10 innings) for the Twins this season. Julien had an impressive major league debut, hitting home runs at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, and hitting .222 in eight games.
Tyler Mahle (1-2, 4.11 ERA) pitches for the Twins tonight against Washington righthander Trevor Williams (1-1, 3.52).
NATIONALS LINEUP
Lane Thomas, RF
Keibert Ruiz, C
Jeimar Candelario, 3B
Joey Meneses, DH
Luis García, 2B
Dominic Smith, 1B
StoneGarrett, LF
Victor Robles, CF
CJ Abrams, SS
TWINS LINEUP
Max Kepler, RF
Carlos Correa, SS
Byron Buxton, DH
Trevor Larnach, LF
Jorge Polanco, 2B
Jose Miranda, 3B
Joey Gallo, 1B
Ryan Jeffers, C
Michael A. Taylor, CF
Gerrit Cole gave up his opt-out right on Monday and will remain with the New York Yankees under a contract that runs through 2028 rather than become a free agent.
