For more than two and a half seasons, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli used only two options when penciling in his catcher into the lineup: Ryan Jeffers or Christian Vázquez. It was a remarkable run of health for the duo at the physically taxing position.
But that run came to an end in early August when Vázquez developed a serious infection in his left shoulder. About a month later, Jeffers suffered a concussion when he was struck in the face mask by a pair of foul tips.
The Twins have just under two weeks left in their season, but both are working towards a potential return. And Vázquez, in particular, is close to heading out on a rehab assignment.
Reliever Anthony Misiewicz, who has been dealing with a shoulder impingement since July, will throw live batting practice at Target Field, and both Vázquez and Jeffers have the option to hit off him.
Vázquez has a week of progressive activity, and should everything go well, he appears to be on track to join the Triple-A Saints on Thursday in Memphis and play with them through the weekend. The Saints’ season concludes on Sunday.
As for Jeffers, he is doing baseball activities but is not fully back to where he needs to be yet after suffering the concussion on Sept. 5, meaning if he does return before the season ends, it would likely be after Vázquez.
With both Jeffers and Vázquez out, the Twins have turned to Mickey Gasper and Jhonny Pereda, who have essentially been splitting time behind the plate for the past couple of weeks.
“Both are doing a good job working with all the different guys on the staff,” Baldelli said. “Game planning has been good, so I’ve been happy with what I’ve seen.”
López honored
Monday was Roberto Clemente Day around Major League Baseball, honoring the legacy of the hall of fame player and humanitarian. For the second straight season — and third time in his career — pitcher Pablo López was named the Twins’ Roberto Clemente Award for his work in the Twin Cities community.
Last month, López invited a handful of local students to join him in packing back-to-school supply kits for teachers that he purchased. He also joined teammates Zebby Matthews and Luke Keaschall at the Twins Community Fund’s adaptive softball clinic this summer. And through his “Pablo Day” initiative, which happens when he makes starts at Target Field, he has raised more than $22,000 for nonprofits representing causes close to his heart.
“He gives a lot to this game,” Baldelli said. “He’s an extremely dedicated and disciplined guy. But he also gives that to people outside this clubhouse. I think he finds it his duty to do things for other people consistently. Part of his mission, just as a person.”
Briefly
The Twins are continuing to employ a six-man rotation for now. That means Matthews will start Tuesday’s game against the New York Yankees with Taj Bradley following the series finale on Wednesday night. Matthews will be opposed by Cam Schlittler, who held the Twins to a run on two hits over five innings in August.
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