FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Miguel Sanó's road back to the Major League has finally reached its next milestone, as the Twins announced that the third baseman will begin his rehab process on Saturday after the boot protecting the laceration to his right lower Achilles area was removed on Friday.

Sano's original recovery timeline called for both the boot and sutures in the wound to be removed by March 29 after he was more aggressively treated during a six-night stay at the Mayo Clinic earlier this month. The five sutures are still in place to close the wound.

The 25-year-old Sano had worked with head athletic trainer Tony Leo to continue his upper-body and cardio work while his foot was encased in the boot. But he has been unable to participate in baseball activity during his recovery and will require an abbreviated version of Spring Training to get back in playing condition.

The third baseman had worked hard on his conditioning this offseason and arrived at Spring Training in noticeably better shape before he was sidelined due to the injury.

The Twins have spoken of being cautious with Sano's recovery, as to avoid the risk of a soft tissue injury that could arise from rushing him back to the field. The multi-positional Marwin Gonzalez should serve as the Twins' primary third baseman in Sano's absence, which could last into May, with Willians Astudillo, Ehire Adrianza and Ronald Torreyes also viable options at the hot corner.

Sano's injury was originally sustained in January, when he scraped his heel area on metal stairs after he was pushed by a teammate during a celebratory parade for his Dominican Winter League championship.

Buxton exits game with facial contusion

Byron Buxton was removed from Friday’s 10-6 loss to the Red Sox with a contusion to the right side of his face after colliding with Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Though Buxton told manager Rocco Baldelli that he was fine to stay in, Baldelli pulled his center fielder out of the game out of an abundance of caution and expects Buxton to be fine.

“Byron having any sort of collision on the field, and being shaken up even a little bit, is enough for him to go inside and get checked out,” Baldelli said. “Everything came back good, came back fine. But I still think it was probably the right thing to do.”

Buxton took a wide turn around third base on a single by Max Kepler and was caught off the bag in a rundown after Red Sox left fielder Aneury Tavarez threw behind Buxton to third base. Buxton’s head area appeared to collide with Bogaerts’ chest as he ran back towards third base.

Buxton remained standing and had lengthy conversations with Leo and Baldelli before he was removed from the game and replaced in center field by Jake Cave.

Buxton had singled earlier in his first at-bat of the game to raise his spring average to a team-leading .455 (15-for-33) and was tied for the team lead with four homers.

Twins release Rosales, Collins

Veteran infielder Adam Rosales and left-handed pitcher Tim Collins were both granted their release following Friday night's game, leaving 33 players in Major League camp.

The 35-year-old Rosales, in camp on a Minor League contract, finished the spring tied for the team lead in homers with Buxton and Eddie Rosario, hitting .278 (10-for-36) with four long balls and three doubles. Collins, 29, allowed five runs (four earned) with 12 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.

"These guys have earned the right to be able to go and explore opportunities," Baldelli said. "It’s a situation where I couldn’t be happier about being able spend time around these guys. Again, these are two professionals. These are guys that handle themselves very, very well. These are big-league players and guys that have experience."

Twins tidbits

• Kyle Gibson was hit hard for five runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings on Friday against the Red Sox during his final start of Grapefruit League play, but he was largely happy with the quality of his pitches. He told the media he was "strength-wise, really close" in his continued recovery from his January bout of E. coli. Gibson still hopes to add five more pounds to reach his desired playing weight of 215.

Gibson said that he is next scheduled to throw a bullpen or a game on Wednesday, the day before Opening Day against the Indians at Target Field, but he is unsure of whether that will take place in Fort Myers or in Minneapolis. He also did not have any clarity regarding when his first regular-season start will be, especially considering possible weather considerations early in the season and Minnesota's five scheduled off-days within the first 15 days of the season.

• Baldelli said that relievers Matt Magill and Addison Reed could begin the season on the injured list, but the Twins' staff will wait until the end of camp approaches before they make final determinations.

According to Baldelli, Reed is working his way back from a left thumb injury, while Magill is dealing with an unspecified arm issue and was not yet throwing as of Baldelli's last conversation with Leo. Magill last pitched on March 13, while Reed last appeared on March 14.

"I think we’ll have some clarity on both of these guys before we break camp," Baldelli said.

Left-hander Gabriel Moya could also begin the season on the injured list with shoulder tightness.

Up next

The Twins will be on the road for the final time this spring on Saturday, when Opening Day starter Jose Berrios will take the mound for a 5:05 p.m. CT matchup against the Orioles in Sarasota, Fla. Taylor Rogers, Blake Parker and Mike Morin are expected to follow Berrios into the game.