The Twins announced that outfielder Trevor Larnach has been placed on the injured list with a core muscle strain. Fellow outfielder Mark Contreras has been recalled to take his place on the active roster.
This is yet another challenge for a Twins team that has seen its outfield and DH mix deal with a number of injuries this season. Alex Kirilloff, Kyle Garlick, Miguel Sano, Luis Arraez and Larnach himself have all missed time on the IL this year. Royce Lewis, blocked at shortstop by Carlos Correa, attempted to quickly convert himself into an outfielder in order to stay in the lineup before he, too, was sidelined by injury.
Larnach has seemed to take a step forward this year. The former first round pick made his MLB debut last year and hit a modest .223/.322/.350 for a wRC+ of 89. He’s added a bit more pop this season, slashing .231/.306/.406 for a 102 wRC+. His 10% walk rate is better than average, but it comes with a 31.7% strikeout rate, which is certainly not ideal.
After seeming to be running away with the AL Central in the season’s early going, the Guardians have caught up and made a race out of it. Cleveland’s .545 winning percentage is just barely ahead of Minnesota’s .542. With Byron Buxton dealing with a knee injury recently, the club may have to use an outfield of Max Kepler, Gilberto Celestino and Nick Gordon for the time being. The club hasn’t provided a timeline on Larnach’s absence.
Garlick will be used as well as Kirilloff in the outfield.. and depending on the L/R pitcher more likely to be used than Gordon as a full timer… with Miranda getting 1st.. as long as Polanco is out..
I’ve been trying to give these guys the benefit of the doubt, but with todays training and medical/rehab options, Oye.
Its simple… all these injuries are really from 1 source.. weight training.. weight training is anaerobic.. meaning the muscles developed don’t have their own blood supply.. which means they can’t get rid of their waste products.. which means they tire and injure easier.. they need to be training aerobically… but that takes longer.. but it builds durable muscles.. durable connective tissues and durable players.. since the start of the weight training craze.. injuries have skyrocketed… and the more they do it… the more they are susceptible to injury.. pitchers should have years of swings a hammer.. or an axe with many hours of swimming overhand strokes… and we wouldn’t be seeing the ULC injuries..
Thanks. Good insight.
Don’t need commas around “too”
It seems larnach, kiriloff and lewis are all always injured. That is a big problem, all 3 have been top50 prospects and they essentially got nothing out of them so far.
There is still time for them left, buxton had similar issues holding him back for several years but it definitely is not what the twins had hoped for
Buxton still has issues.. he is playing on a bone bruise… which will not heal until they stop using it… the twins answer… they plan to play him about 100 games with maybe 1/2 his ABs coming at DH…. I suspect that mircofracturing in his knee ( bone bruise) is getting worse..