Luke Hughes received a cortisone shot in his right shoulder on Wednesday.
A second opinion on Hughes’ MRI showed only inflammation and he hopes to resume baseball activities as soon as next week. The 27-year-old batted just .223/.289/.338 over 317 plate appearances in 2011 and will compete for a bench job this spring.
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A second opinion of the MRI on Luke Hughes’ right shoulder showed inflammation and no structural damage.
Hughes was diagnosed with shoulder strain two weeks ago following a home-plate collision while playing for the Perth Heat of the Australian winter league. He’s a little behind in the early days of camp, but should have plenty of time to get ready for the season. The 27-year-old batted just .223/.289/.338 with seven homers, 30 RBI and a .627 over 317 plate appearances in 2011.
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Denard Span (concussion) went through a normal workout Tuesday morning in Twins camp.
Span took batting practice, shagged fly balls and ran with the team. He’s been feeling strong mentally since the winter and appears to be on track for Opening Day.
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Joel Zumaya threw a 40 pitch bullpen session on Sunday.
The session went well, according to Zumaya, who signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Twins this winter after missing the entire 2011 season due to major elbow surgery. He hasn’t appeared in more than 31 games since his rookie year in 2006, but Zumaya has been throwing in the mid-90s and, on the off-chance he avoids the disabled list this season, could easily work his way up the pecking order in the Twins’ terrible bullpen. Owners in deep AL-only leagues will want to take a low-cost gamble on him.
Source: mlb.com
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Francisco Liriano said he’s healthy after pitching in the Dominican Winter League this offseason.
Liriano made his debut at Minnesota’s spring complex on Sunday, throwing off the mound. He said his left shoulder isn’t a concern. “Nothing is bothering me right now,” Liriano said. “Everything feels fine. So I feel a lot better than last year.” Liriano won a DWL title for Leones del Escogido over the winter. He posted an ugly 5.09 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 134 1/3 innings last season, but Liriano will be plenty motivated for a big bounce-back season as he’s set to hit free agency next winter.
Source: mlb.com
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Luke Hughes (shoulder) won’t resume swinging a bat until next week, at the earliest.
Hughes is recovering from a sprained right shoulder and isn’t expected to be up to speed for another few weeks. Assuming he doesn’t have any setbacks, he should be fine by the time the season rolls around. Hughes batted just .223/.289/.338 over 317 plate appearances in 2011.
Source: 1500espn.com
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Joe Mauer (leg, pneumonia) is expected to have no limitations when pitchers and catchers start workouts on Sunday.
“I’ll be doing everything,” Mauer said. “I’ll be another catcher out there running around, and that’s exciting for me. I was pretty limited all spring last year, and to get out there and run around with the guys is definitely something that I missed.” Mauer took swings in the batting cage Saturday, but said he will keep his catching workload light during the early stages of camp.
Source: 1500espn.com
Scott Baker confirmed that his elbow injury is a ”non-issue” at this point in the offseason.
Baker threw a bullpen session on Friday and expects to participate in group workouts without limitations. ”It was a good and productive offseason. It was the reason why I chose to rehab for six weeks and to throw two or three innings (at the end of last season) so it would allow me to have a normal offseason as far as the progression to get ready for spring training,” Baker said. “Everything went great. As far as I know, I’m starting just like anyone else would.”
Source: 1500espn.com
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La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune thinks the only way that Tsuyoshi Nishioka will make the Opening Day roster “is if there’s an injury or he’s 10 times the player he was last year.”
Twins GM Terry Ryan acknowledged Thursday that the Japanese import could start the year at Triple-A, and it sounds like that might be his most likely destination. Though he’s set to make $3 million, Neal notes that Nishioka can’t be counted on as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement, so he doesn’t really make sense as a bench player and will be better off playing regularly at Triple-A. The 27-year-old is coming off a rookie season where he batted just .226/.278/.249.
Source: startribune.com
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Twins GM Terry Ryan acknowledged Thursday that Tsuyoshi Nishioka could land at Triple-A this year.
Nishioka is due a salary of $3 million in each of the next two seasons, but he batted just .226/.278/.249 in his first taste of the majors last year while showing very little potential on defense. The Twins are far from loaded in the middle infield so he should crack the Opening Day roster. But Nishioka might ultimately prove to be nothing more than a minor league-level player.
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