Twins first baseman/designated hitter Logan Morrison expects to be back playing following the July 16-19 all-star break after being placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with a left hip impingement.
“Pretty minor,” Morrison said before Minnesota opened a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Target Field. “Just aggravation … kind of a chronic thing that’s been going on. A little rest, some medicine, it should be fine.”
Signed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal that includes a team option for 2019, Morrison has appeared in 80 games, hitting just .193 with 34 runs, 13 doubles, 11 home runs, 31 RBIs, 30 walks and 65 strikeouts. He homered late in the Twins’ 8-5 victory over Kansas City on Wednesday.
Morrison demurred when asked whether the injury affected his hitting.
“I’m not going to answer that question,” he said.
Morrison received an injection to help reduce inflammation. The team’s medical staff determined additional rest and treatment through the all-star break would benefit him most. Morrison also acknowledged a cumulative effect.
“I think the hip itself has been manageable, it’s just I’ve had to miss some games because my back’s gone out,” he said. “It’s been influencing that. Just being able to give it some rest, get some of the inflammation out there, hopefully that takes care of the aching and whatever little other stuff I’ve got going on in the hip. If that moves correctly, my back will be fine.”
This could be an additional hurdle if the Twins are hoping to trade Morrison before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. His option is for $8 million with a $250,000 buyout.
“He’s been managing it pretty well,” said manager Paul Molitor. “I don’t think it’s in the excuse category at all for him, but we’ve been talking about this a while for him.”
The Twins have been hit hard by injuries this season.
Among other starters to lose time on the DL: first baseman Joe Mauer, center fielder Byron Buxton and third baseman Miguel Sano. Starter Ervin Santana has yet to pitch in the majors this season because of a finger injury, and Buxton and Sano remain in the minors after stints on the DL.
To replace Morrison on the 25-man roster, the Twins reinstated shortstop Ehire Adrianza from the 10-day disabled list.
Adrianza has appeared in 64 games for Minnesota, hitting .261 with 24 runs, 14 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 19 RBI, 14 walks and 50 strikeouts.
BUXTON/SANO UPDATE
Do not expect Buxton or Sano to rejoin Minnesota before the all-star break.
Buxton remains at Triple-A Rochester during an extended rehab assignment from a broken toe he suffered in May. Sano has been at Single-A Fort Myers for a month trying to work his physique and swing back into major-league shape.
I don’t think we have dates for either of them picked out,” Molitor said. “We’re going status quo here until we decide to make a change.”
Molitor said Sano has responded well to his on- and off-field regimen. The plan eventually is to get him up to Rochester to face better pitching before the Twins consider reactivating him.
“I don’t know how long the Fort Myers chapter will play out,” Molitor said.
Despite the lack of a timeline for either player, Molitor reiterated Minnesota’s commitment to its homegrown stars-turned-reclamation projects.
“I still have confidence these guys are going to be really good major-league players,” he said. “I’m trying to stay away from guessing or speculating on when that might occur. I just know that long-term faith is very strong.”
BRIEFLY
Molitor still has not settled on a starter for Sunday’s series finale against the Rays, Minnesota’s final game before the all-star break.
Aaron Slegers moved into the bullpen, and his availability for another spot start will be determined by whether he is used in any relief role.