Nunez slated to take batting practice today

MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins utility man Eduardo Nunez, outfielder Oswaldo Arcia and right-hander Casey Fien are continuing to make progress with their injuries and could all return before the end of the month.

Nunez, on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 30 with a left oblique strain, swung in the cages for the second time this week on Friday, and he is scheduled to take batting practice on the field on Saturday.

Arcia, on the DL with a right hip flexor strain since May 4, swung in the cages for the first time on Friday, but he still isn't ready to take live batting practice.

"I'm sure he's anxious to get into some baseball activities," manager Paul Molitor said. "Nunez is probably a little more advanced. He's been off the tee and flips a couple times, and so he'll hit on the field tomorrow."

Video: DET@MIN: Fien exits the game mid at-bat with injury

Fien, on the DL with a right shoulder strain since April 30, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session this weekend, but he will need a rehab assignment before being activated.

"We've got a schedule on Casey," Molitor said. "It's rather elaborate in terms of how it's strung out with bullpens of 30 pitches a couple times before he goes to pitch out in a couple games before he comes back here. So hopefully some time before the end of the month."

Video: CWS@MIN: Arcia singles in Plouffe, exits with injury

Arcia said his hip still feels a little sore, but it only bothers him when he throws and not when he swings the bat. He said he's hopeful he won't need to go on a rehab assignment and could return as a designated hitter in the short term.

"I'll DH, whatever," Arcia said. "I don't think I need to go to Rochester."

Nunez, meanwhile, is dealing with a strained left oblique for the third straight year in the month of May. It was more serious in 2013, when it forced him to miss 61 games while with the Yankees, as he said this time they caught it early and he shut it down before it got worse.

"It feels 100 percent right now," Nunez said. "I feel really good. But we'll see tomorrow how I feel during live [batting practice]. But right now, I'm 100 percent."

• Molitor said he's still not sure when outfielder Shane Robinson will return after being placed on the family emergency list on Tuesday. He's eligible to return now, but it seems more likely he won't be back until the Twins start their road trip at Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

• The Twins signed infielder Ryan Wheeler to a Minor League deal and assigned him to Triple-A Rochester. Wheeler, the older brother of Minor League pitcher Jason Wheeler, has played in 109 games in the Majors over the last three years with the D-backs and Rockies. The utility man is a career .233/.280/.335 hitter in the Majors.

"We're a little short out there and we were looking for a guy who can play a couple spots," general manager Terry Ryan said. "He can play third and the outfield. We know a little bit more about him because of his brother."