MINNEAPOLIS -- Amid a steady drip of new injuries, the Twins are getting closer to getting one of their key players back.
Right-handed reliever Cole Sands will begin a Minor League rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday. Sands has been out since late April due to a right forearm strain.
“I’d say the progression has been pretty smooth -- good and bad days, like any rehab process,” Sands said. “That’s how it’s going to be. For the most part, everything’s been progressing really well. Threw a live [batting practice] the past week in Fort Myers. It went really well, bounced back great. So I’ll go throw tomorrow and kind of see where we’re at.”
Sands is one of few pitchers in the Twins’ bullpen mix with significant late-inning experience, and he had been expected to be a key part of their high-leverage mix. He got off to an inconsistent start, posting a 4.63 ERA in 12 appearances, but his return would be a major boost for a Minnesota relief corps that is in virtually constant flux.
Sands said that in addition to rehabbing his arm, he’s been looking to iron out some of the issues that may have led to his not pitching consistently at the level he expects.
“A lot of it kind of goes hand in hand,” Sands said. “I think mechanics can be a little out of whack and [they] can put pressure on the arm. I don’t know if that’s what was happening, but could be a byproduct, for sure.”
Jeffers progressing
Catcher Ryan Jeffers, who is out due to a hamate bone fracture in his left wrist, is now more than a week out from his surgery and is pleased with his progress in the early going. He had his stitches removed on Saturday.
Jeffers has been throwing regularly, but he has not yet begun swinging a bat, which is the main question in recovering from a hamate injury.
“The good thing is I’ve been able to keep my arm [going] this whole time,” Jeffers said. “I haven’t stopped throwing, so that’s kind of the normal routine there. But I’m really just trying to get back to strengthening the wrist, doing grip stuff. Just to get ready for when it is time to start swinging a little bit, I’ll be ready for that.”