Twins first baseman Justin Morneau will avoid the disabled list for now after an MRI exam of his sore left wrist revealed no serious damage.
Morneau gets good news on wrist; other health updates
June 14, 2011 at 11:46AM
"The doctor looked at the MRI of Morneau's wrist and concurred with our treatment plan," Twins General Manager Bill Smith wrote in an e-mail. "He is day to day."
Morneau missed the final three games of the four-game series with Texas over the weekend because of the injury. It's not clear if he will be in the lineup on Tuesday when the Twins open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field.
Morneau has been bothered by the wrist for more than two weeks. He also has had a pinched nerve in his neck that has affected his left shoulder, but the wrist is the bigger issue.
If Morneau stays off the disabled list, the Twins will have to make a roster move when infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka rejoins the team, which could be as soon as Tuesday. Nishioka has recovered from a broken left fibula suffered April 7 and has been playing for Class AAA Rochester during a minor-league rehab assignment. He was 2-for-3 with a walk in a 2-1 loss to Toledo on Monday.
Other rehab newsReliever Joe Nathan (elbow) and designated hitter Jim Thome (left quadriceps/back) have arrived at Fort Myers, Fla., to continue their recoveries. They join catcher Joe Mauer (bilateral leg weakness/right shoulder) and Kevin Slowey (abdominal strain) on rehab assignments.
Thome was scheduled to take batting practice with Class A Fort Myers on Monday then get some at-bats this week during a minicamp for recently drafted players. Nathan will pitch live batting practice, including matchups with Mauer.
Mauer continues to play for the Miracle and could return by the end of the week "He has had no problems catching," Smith wrote.
Lefthander Glen Perkins (right oblique) is scheduled to pitch for Rochester on Tuesday and could be activated after that.
Outfielders Denard Span (concussion) and Jason Kubel (sprained left foot) had Monday off. Span, however, posted a third-person update on his Twitter account around midday.
"I think d Span is feeling alright today," Span wrote. "By far my best day in a while!"
After an incredible 25-year career that saw him become MLB's all-time stolen bases leader and the greatest leadoff hitter ever, Rickey Henderson died Friday at age 65.
