CLEVELAND – Victor Caratini is expected to be fine after fouling a ball off his right knee on Wednesday night, but was held out of the Twins’ lineup for their series finale against the Guardians on Thursday.
X-rays were negative, and the club is classifying Caratini’s injury as a “contusion.”
Caratini is likely available to come off the bench as needed, though he may be held out of catching for a couple of days. He also serves as a first baseman and designated hitter for the Twins, and it seems likely he could appear at one of those spots before he returns behind the plate.
“It's a right knee bruise,” manager Derek Shelton said Wednesday night. “He got it pretty firm. Initially he wanted to stay and then when he tried to stand up, he was not in a good spot. Saw him postgame briefly, looked like he was in good spirits.”
Facing right-hander Slade Cecconi, Caratini got a bat on a fastball and fouled it off, and the ball appeared to hit his right kneecap. He went down instantly and stayed on the ground for a few minutes as Shelton and head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta tended to him.
Shelton and Paparesta helped Caratini up, and he managed to limp off but was removed from the game for pinch-hitter Ryan Kreidler.
Caratini was serving as the Twins’ first baseman on Wednesday but is also one of three catchers on their roster along with Ryan Jeffers and Alex Jackson.