Twins first baseman Justin Morneau will not return during the postseason, the team announced Monday morning.
Morneau's return will wait 'til next year
The Twins first baseman, out since July 7 with a concussion, hasn't had a medical setback, but the team doesn't want to rush him into the playoffs.
October 4, 2010 at 7:23PM
Morneau has been out since July 7 with a concussion suffered on a slide into second base.
General Manager Bill Smith stressed that Morneau has not had a major setback, but the team doesn't want him to try to rush him back for the American League Championship Series or the World Series. Morneau had said late last week that he hoped to be ready for the ALCS if the Twins get past the Yankees in the opening round, which starts Wednesday.
"It's not a setback; I think Justin's made great progress," Smith said.
"We are going to shut him down for the postseason and just take away that question mark. There's a lot of anticipation of what's going to happen, and in talks with Justin and our doctors and everybody, we have made the decision that to try and get him ready to play in the League Championship Series or the World Series, in a matter of two weeks, is accelerating the process too quickly."
Morneau had a strenuous workout last Thursday at Target Field and did not feel as good as he had hoped afterward.
Morneau, 29, said he has full confidence that he will be ready for spring training by next season.
"If we just kind of eliminate all the question marks, hopefully when we get into November, I can get on my regular workout program, have a couple weeks off after the season's over, and get back into my program … so we're completely ready for spring training," Morneau said.
