MINNEAPOLIS -- Right-hander Chase De Jong will make his Twins debut and season debut on Sunday in his scheduled start vs. the Royals at Target Field.
The Twins considered using an opener for the start but decided to go with De Jong, who was acquired in the July 31 trade that sent Zach Duke to Seattle. De Jong pitched in the Majors in 2017 with the Mariners, posting a 6.35 ERA in 28 1/3 innings. He made four starts and three relief appearances and is still looking for his first win.
"He's got big league time," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "He came over and pitched well for us during his time in Rochester. It's just one of those things where we're in a position to take a look at some guys that potentially might impact our future on the pitching staff. Wanted to give him an opportunity to come up here and get acclimated to the environment of this team and the players as well as to get a chance to pitch a little bit."
De Jong, 24, recorded a 3.80 ERA in 21 starts with Double-A Arkansas, but moved up to Triple-A Rochester once acquired by the Twins. He had a 3.20 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 12 walks in 39 1/3 innings with Rochester before being made a September callup on Tuesday.
De Jong could be piggybacked by another starter, but he's stretched out and allowed just one run over five innings in his last Triple-A start on Monday.
"I've told him I want him to prepare like he's got a regular start and prepare to go as long as he can," Molitor said. "But also that I'm going to probably manage his innings a little differently as he gets opportunities down the stretch."
Injury updates
• Third baseman Miguel Sano, who has been out since Tuesday after an awkward slide into second base, underwent an MRI exam on his left knee as a precaution, but it showed no damage. Sano could resume baseball activities as early as Sunday.
"There's no damage in there," Molitor said. "Ligaments, tendons, meniscus -- everything looks good. It's just a matter of him getting to a point where he feels like he can go out there and try to do some things."

• First baseman Christopher Austin will not return from his bout with back stiffness until Monday at the earliest. He slipped and fell trying to get to a popup on Wednesday, which aggravated the injury, but he could be back against his former club, the Yankees, on Monday.
"Maybe the Yankees will be a little bit of motivation for him," Molitor said.

• Right-hander Ervin Santana is undergoing three sets of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy on his surgically repaired right middle finger, Molitor said. Molitor had already announced Santana won't be back this season.
"I'm not really sure if the timing of when he picks up a ball will matter nearly as much as his ability to try to get through the winter and put himself in position to pitch again next spring," Molitor said.
• Right-hander Aaron Slegers, who has been on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation since July 11, isn't likely to return this year, as he's yet to throw off a mound and wouldn't be ready to return until Sept. 25 at the earliest.
"Best-case scenario is he gets close to being ready to pitch by the time we get back from the next road trip, which really might not make a lot of sense to push," Molitor said. "Trying to get him in the best position we can to have a normal offseason would be my take."