Rosario sidelined with right triceps tendinitis
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FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario is sidelined with mild right triceps tendinitis, while right-hander Ervin Santana returned to Hammond Stadium after having his cast removed from his right hand in New York on Monday.
Rosario hasn't played since Sunday and isn't throwing in the short-term as he lets the injury heal. The Twins don't believe it's serious and it shouldn't affect his status leading up to Opening Day. Rosario was the lone Twins regular out of the lineup in their 8-1 win over the Red Sox on Wednesday, but the hope is he could return by Sunday or Monday.
"I'm not concerned long-term," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "I think he's dealing with a little bit of inflammation and we can afford to give it some time. He's feeling a little bit better today, but he won't be ready to play Friday. But we'll get a better feel for when he can play."
Rosario, 26, will be re-evaluated on Friday after Thursday's off-day and said he's able to swing without any issues.
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"My arm is just a little tired," Rosario said through a translator. "It's just rest for a few days and trying to be healthy for the start of the season."
Twins general manager Thad Levine said he believes the injury could've come from throwing too much early in camp, but he is hopeful Rosario will return soon.
"Sometimes the volume of throwing catches up to some of these guys," Levine said. "We're hopeful it's nothing more than that."
With Rosario out, it gives more playing time to both Robbie Grossman and Zack Granite, who are competing for the fourth outfield position. Grossman started in left against the Red Sox on Wednesday, while Granite replaced Byron Buxton in center in the sixth.
"It can be harder to find at-bats for guys now that the regulars are playing a little more, so we get to see people we want to see, like potential bench guys," Molitor said.
Santana, meanwhile, had his cast and stitches removed from his right hand after undergoing surgery on his right middle finger on Feb. 6 to remove calcium deposits. Santana said his finger remains a bit sore and swollen, but he is doing strengthening exercises before progressing to throwing off flat ground. Santana, though, had no timetable for when he'll be able to start throwing.
"Right now, it's mostly just mobility exercises," Santana said. "I take it one day at a time. I'm just happy to have the cast off."
Levine, though, noted that nothing has changed with Santana's status, as he's expected to be out until late April or early May. Santana was in line to start on Opening Day for the third straight season, but he now must build up arm strength before he returns.
"The initial plan has him throwing flat-ground fastballs only, because when he started throwing sliders is when he felt the discomfort initially," Levine said. "We're probably at least a step or two away from throwing. He's working more on flexibility, mobility and strengthening. We're still targeting late April or early May. We'll know a lot more when he starts throwing and we see how his hand reacts."
Injury update
• Logan Morrison left Wednesday's game with tightness in his right glute after scoring from second on a single in the second inning. The injury is considered minor and Morrison was 2-for-2 before departing.
• Michael Kohn visited the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and he was diagnosed with a nerve issue in his right arm that will require four-to-six months of rest and rehab. But it won't require surgery.
Camp battles
• Grossman broke out of his 0-for-17 slump by going 2-for-3, while Granite went 0-for-2. Kennys Vargas went 1-for-3 and is hitting .300.
• Right-hander Ryan Pressly, who is considered highly likely to make the bullpen, continued to help his cause with a third straight strong showing with a scoreless seventh.
Odorizzi solid
• Twins right-hander Jake Odorizzi made his second start of the spring and looked sharp against the Red Sox, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings to lower his ERA to 1.42.
"It was an offspeed heavy day by design," Odorizzi said. "Getting a feel for that is always the toughest after a long winter. My fastballs were easy effort-wise and I wanted to see how many outs I could get by throwing in the zone with offspeed pitches. It was kind of eye-opening."
Pelfrey retires
• Mike Pelfrey, who pitched with the Twins from 2013-15, announced his retirement from baseball and is coaching at Newman University, a Division II school in his hometown of Wichita, Kan., according to report from NCAA.com. Pelfrey, 34, posted a 4.94 ERA in 64 starts with the Twins.
Up next
• Right-hander José Berríos will start against the Rays on Friday in Port Charlotte at 12:05 p.m. CT. Fellow right-hander Tyler Duffey will piggyback Berrios and is expected to throw multiple innings.