The Twins’ potentially crowded rotation suddenly looks a lot less packed.
While the Twins are still expecting ace Pablo López, out since early June with a shoulder injury, to return this weekend, which will give them six starters, they optioned Mick Abel to Triple-A on Monday and on Tuesday announced that David Festa — out with shoulder inflammation — is not expected to return this season.
Festa, who made a rehab start for Triple-A St. Paul on Aug. 28, had symptoms recur during his last bullpen day, Rocco Baldelli said Tuesday. The Twins manager said the team expects Festa to visit Dr. Keith Meister, an orthopedic surgeon based in Texas — likely next week.
It’s a tough setback for the 25-year-old right-hander, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury of some form for most of this season.
Festa began the season in Triple-A but was called up April to join the rotation for when López suffered a hamstring strain. He made three starts before being optioned back to St. Paul. Shortly after, his shoulder started bothering him, keeping him out of action from May 6-23. Festa returned to the majors in early June but by late July, the Twins shut him down.
A magnetic resonance imaging revealed no structural damage but an impingement in the right shoulder, for which he received a pair of injections. That injury, it now turns out, was the end of his major league season. Festa pitched in just one game in the second half.
Vázquez hoping to return
One player for whom the Twins haven’t ruled out a return is catcher Christian Vázquez.
Vázquez has been on the injured list for almost a month as he deals with an infection in his left shoulder that required a procedure. The catcher has been getting antibiotics administered through a PICC line and has been recovering at his home in Florida. But he is due to return to the Twin Cities this week.
“I think he’s doing well,” Baldelli said. “I think Vazky would love to play again this year. I think he has every intention of trying to get back and play again and prove that he’s healthy going into the offseason. And he just likes to play baseball. So, if he can come back and play baseball, I think he would absolutely love to be here.”
Briefly
The Twins will send Zebby Matthews to the mound for the third game of the series against the Chicago White Sox. He is scheduled to face Yoendrys Gómez, who limited the Twins to no runs on two hits in 4⅔ innings pitched in late August.
Leave a Reply