MINNEAPOLIS -- Pablo López threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, likely the last step before he returns to a Major League mound in a game.
L¨®pez suffered a right hamstring strain on April 8 in Kansas City and was placed on the 15-day injured list. He made a rehabilitation start for Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, meaning that while by rule he could be activated as soon as Wednesday, in reality it will not be before Thursday. It is very likely coming on the Twins¡¯ current homestand, one way or another.
The Twins currently have Thursday¡¯s starter versus the White Sox listed as TBD, meaning L¨®pez could take that start. They could also give him one extra day after the rehab game and pitch him Friday against the Angels. It seems the club does have a game in mind; it¡¯s just not saying which one yet.
¡°A loose date, and a date that I can¡¯t announce as we sit here right now,¡± said manager Rocco Baldelli, ¡°but I think he¡¯s in a really good spot to return to the big leagues, not have to make another rehab start and then rejoin the rotation. That¡¯s probably the best I can go with right now. All positive from his rehab.¡±
L¨®pez has reported no setbacks in his recovery.
¡°Happy with how Saturday went,¡± he said. ¡°Very happy with how my bullpen just went. I threw 28 pitches, simulated a couple at-bats, lefties, righties. Still working. ¡ Everything¡¯s moving well. I¡¯m feeling natural, feeling normal. We did the grips and the jump testing and all those numbers are in line with pre-IL.¡±
Lewis takes another step
The news is also good regarding Royce Lewis. The slugging third baseman has been out since Spring Training due to a left hamstring strain, but in recent days he has ramped up his running quite a bit. He did some sprints and a ¡°full-body lift¡± on Monday, and on Tuesday, he ran the bases more aggressively than he previously had in his rehab.
If Lewis¡¯ next day or two of workouts go well, he will begin a Minor League assignment before the week is out.
Given how long he has been out, Lewis will almost certainly require a good bit of Minor League rehabilitation, but he is progressing well as he works to return to baseball games.
Hopeful on Castro but still waiting
The Twins are hopeful regarding infielder/outfielder Willi Castro, but as of Tuesday he remained unavailable to start. Castro suffered a right oblique strain on April 16 in the series finale against the Mets, and he hasn¡¯t played since. However, the Twins have elected not to place him on the injured list, hoping he will be back before the 10 days he¡¯d be required to miss if they made a move.
¡°There¡¯s still monitoring to be done,¡± Baldelli said. ¡°Sometimes those decisions with guys that are dealing with these muscle injuries and tightness and things like that, they¡¯re day to day. And that¡¯s really what he is. He¡¯s been doing a little more each day.¡±