The Twins are sending a pair of their players for further examination this weekend, as noted by Betsy Helfand of the Twin Cities Pioneer Press. According to Helfand, second baseman Jorge Polanco went for an MRI yesterday in Toronto after leaving Thursday’s game with hamstring tightness while left-hander Caleb Thielbar is set to return to Minnesota for an MRI of his own this weekend after the club placed him on the injured list with an oblique strain earlier this week.
Both players have been key pieces for the Twins when healthy but have struggled to stay on the field this season. Polanco has been limited to just 30 games, but has slashed .250/.291/.450 with a 105 wRC+ during that time. Thielbar, on the other hand, posted a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings prior to going on the injured list at the beginning of May. The veteran lefty was activated earlier this week but recorded just one out on a major league mound before returning to the injured list with his current oblique issue.
With Thielbar on the shelf, the Twins are relying on Jovani Moran as the sole left-handed reliever in their bullpen, though the 26-year-old has posted a solid 3.86 ERA and 3.67 FIP in 25 2/3 innings of work this season. Meanwhile, Kyle Farmer filled in for Polanco at the keystone yesterday, though if the switch-hitting second baseman requires a stint on the injured list, it seems likely the Twins would turn to Edouard Julien, who has posted a .226/.310/.452 slash line in 72 major league plate appearances while shuttling between the majors and Triple-A this season.
More from around the AL Central…
- White Sox manager Pedro Grifol told reporters, including Rob Schaefer of the Chicago Sun Times, that slugger Eloy Jimenez would be out for the next few days after he sustained a lower left leg injury during Thursday’s doubleheader against the Yankees. While Grifol notes that the injury is more significant than its initial day-to-day designation indicated, the club is still optimistic that Jimenez will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list, which would be his third this season. Jimenez, who has slashed .257/.315/.434 in 35 games with the White Sox this season, figures to be filled in for at DH by Jake Burger.
- Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star notes that Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, who left yesterday’s game against the Orioles with right shoulder discomfort, is still being evaluated by the team’s medical staff. Any time missed by Pasquantino would be a significant blow to the Royals, as the 25-year-old slugger has been one of the club’s few consistent offensive performers, though his .247/.324/.437 slash line (107 wRC+) hasn’t quite lived up to his phenomenal rookie season, when he posted a wRC+ of 137. Nick Pratto figures to take over at first base if Pasquantino were to miss significant time.
Eloy hurt yet again huh? He needs to be put in bubble wrap
I see originality in comments is not your thing. Well, if you’re ok just parroting back the same thing said every time someone who’s injury prone gets hurt…
Why do you care?
Eloy hurt yet again huh??
Eloy is officially changing his name to Elija Price.
Really need to DFA Eloy. Guy’s not getting better or younger.
You do not DFA Eloy. He gets hurt a lot but is a good hitter when healthy. I think if he was with a team playing for something and an org that had a conditioning staff worth a damn he would do just fine.
Not getting any younger… He’s 26…
The worst take
Doesn’t look like Polanco will reach the 550 PA for his $10.5m option to vest, another $12m option for 2025. Do the Twins pick it up anyway? 2B only guys don’t seem to have much value. Or is it a Wong situation where he’s got enough extra value there maybe you can get a trade. 120ops+ since 2021 but his health the last couple years and all their infield options could make him expendable. We all love Polanco but we love Arraez too and that didn’t stop them from trading him
His health has been bad recently for sure, but it feels like they absolutely have to pick up the option unless they’re going to sign someone in the off-season. The depth chart seems to be Polanco, Julien and then Martin.
As we said, with Polanco it’s a health thing. Julien doesn’t look like he can field second base except in emergencies. Martin, I don’t know enough about in regards to second base plus he may end up with TJ surgery.
Out of Polanco, Julien and Martin….Polanco is the best choice by a lot. And if it were up to me, I’d go with Farmer or a FA at 2B if it wasn’t going to be Polanco.
Pratto is one of the few Royals that can actually hit so he should be playing regularly anyway. I’m surprised they gave up on Franmil Reyes so quickly but JBJ is still on the roster
Eloy Buxton
Eckersley said. “I’d love to see some of the service time when you add it all up. It’s not much. We just came from Kansas City, seeing all of those young kids. This is different, though. Doesn’t it seem different?”
“This is a hodgepodge of nothingness,” he added. “It’s ridiculous, it really is. Pathetic.”
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So Dennis, how you doing? How are those young kids in KC doing (29th)? How is that hodgepodge on nothingness doing in Pitt (tied with Milwaukee)?
Eckersley was not only stupid to take needless pot shots at a rebuilding team, he was not smart enough to realize that PT’s rebuild was ahead of KC’s. Anyone know if he ever apologized to PT?
KC has a plan?
Must be why Greinke is still wasting their oxygen.
Eck is one of the stupidest guys in broadcasting I’m surprised he’s had a job for so long.
‘ I mean, it’s just an absolute casserole of nonsense’ – Stewie
White Sox are optimistic he can avoid a stint on the IL…translation, the White Sox are going to play short handed for a week or so because Rick Hahn…
When Jimenez is ready to play they should send him down to Kannapolis for the full 20 days rehab and see if he can play everyday.