MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -Michael Cuddyer was supposed to be back in right field Monday for the Minnesota Twins, just in time for a key series against the New York Yankees.
Instead, Cuddyer needed crutches to navigate the concrete tunnels of the Metrodome, his broken left foot expected to keep him out of the lineup for another month in the latest of what has been an injury-filled season for one of the team’s leaders.
Cuddyer was on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester on Saturday and figured to make his return to the Twins on Monday night after six weeks on the disabled list with his second hand injury of the year.
But he was leading off first base in the first inning when a line drive from teammate Garret Jones smacked him in the left foot.
When the X-rays showed it was broken, Cuddyer just threw his hands up.
“That’s basically the only thing you can do,” he said Monday. “It’s unfortunate and frustrating. Just try and get better.”
Cuddyer has already missed almost half the season after two stints on the disabled list with hand injuries. It’s certainly not how he pictured 2008 going after signing a three-year, $24 million extension in the offseason and taking over Torii Hunter’s locker in the clubhouse.
“Finally starting to sort of feel good from (the first hand injury), then having the hand hurt again and being able to rehab through that and finally get to the point after six long weeks to be able to come through that,” Cuddyer said, shaking his head, “snake-bitten’s probably the best phrase you could use.”
His teammates are just as disappointed. Cuddyer is one of the pillars in the clubhouse, one of the top defensive right fielders in the game and a dependable run producer in the lineup.
“I was looking forward to him coming back as much as he was,” cleanup hitter Justin Morneau said. “It’s disappointing for me, too. I thought he was going to be our deadline deal, getting him back healthy in the middle of the order.”
Cuddyer fully expects to return this season. He said doctors have told him it will take about a month to heal, and he quickly did the math.
“That leaves us three weeks for the season to be able to help in some type of capacity,” he said.
The Twins signed free-agent outfielder Bobby Kielty to a minor league contract Monday and assigned him to Rochester to give them some flexibility as September call-ups approach.
Denard Span has flourished in Cuddyer’s place, hitting .316 with two homers and 18 RBIs while playing highlight-reel defense in 42 games since he was called up.
But Span is a leadoff hitter, and the Twins would love to have the right-handed Cuddyer back in the No. 5 hole to break up a string of three lefties in a row: Joe Mauer, Morneau and DH Jason Kubel.
“It’s been real tough for him,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “I don’t think anyone wants to play more than Michael Cuddyer. It’s been a tough year and this is just another one of those things.”
Add A Comment