Twins' Hughes out 6-8 weeks with knee injury

MINNEAPOLIS -- Injury updates for two Twins pitchers were not positive, as Phil Hughes and Glen Perkins won't be returning to the mound any time soon.
Hughes, who took a line drive off the left knee from Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto on Thursday, will miss six to eight weeks with a femural fracture above the kneecap. He was seen in the locker walking with the assistance of crutches before Saturday's game at Target Field. There had been speculation the injury may just be a bruise, but an MRI on Friday evening revealed a compression fracture.
"It's not going to require surgery," Twins manager Paul Molitor said before Saturday's 15-4 loss to the Red Sox. "In the short term, he's going to have minimum weight bearing with crutches and the like, then you've got work yourself back into shape for big league games. This is going to set him back for a while."
It's another setback in a frustrating season for Hughes, who has dealt with shoulder fatigue and a demotion to the bullpen at the start of June due to ineffectiveness.

"It's just kind of the reality," Molitor said. "It's not a bruise where he's going to have discomfort to deal with. Now we have to let this thing heal. It's been a rough year for Phil. I think he'd be the first to tell you that. And now he has to deal with a lengthy absence for pitching."
Molitor said best-case scenario is mid-August before Hughes is able to start getting his arm back into shape.
Perkins had his latest bullpen session cut short due to an issue with his strained left shoulder when trying throwing off a mound. Molitor believes Perkins will seek a second opinion, but couldn't offer details.
"He feels fine on flat ground," Molitor said. "Something about getting on the incline that changes what it feels like to throw a baseball. We're trying to find out why that occurs."
Perkins hasn't pitched since April 10.