MINNEAPOLIS -- After receiving further testing on Monday, Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario was diagnosed with a fractured left thumb and will miss the rest of the season, manager Paul Molitor said on Tuesday.
Rosario, who injured his thumb sliding head first into first base on Saturday, was hopeful it wasn't a break after X-rays were inconclusive after the game. But the further testing on Monday revealed the hairline fracture, and Rosario became the latest Twins player to miss the rest of the year, joining outfielder Danny Santana, third baseman Trevor Plouffe and reliever Trevor May.
Rosario, who turns 25 on Sept. 28, finishes the year hitting .269/.295/.421 with 10 homers, 17 doubles, two triples and 32 RBIs in 92 games.
"He's going to be out and it's probably going to require six weeks, so it's disappointing for him," Molitor said. "But at least it provides clarity for what's up for him the next couple weeks."
While Rosario received bad news on the injury front, third baseman Miguel Sanó was cleared to resume baseball activities on Tuesday after missing six games with right lower back stiffness. Sano threw from third base, took swings in the cages and took batting practice on the field with no issues.
Sano was held out of the lineup again on Tuesday, but could return as early as Wednesday, most likely as a designated hitter. Eduardo Escobar started at third on Tuesday in Sano's place.
"He's had a pretty good day," Molitor said. "We don't want to overly push it the first day being back around the team. I'm sure he's excited to prove he can get back in there."
Worth noting
• The Twins are continuing to monitor first baseman Joe Mauer's workload, as he's been dealing with quad soreness for more than a month. Mauer was held out of the starting lineup against the Tigers on Tuesday after being relegated to pinch-hit duty on Sunday before Monday's off-day.
• The Twins celebrated Ryder Cup night at Target Field on Tuesday with Minnesota native Tom Lehman throwing out the first pitch to Molitor. Lehman, who won the 1996 British Open, is the vice-captain for the U.S. Team in the Ryder Cup, which will be held at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., from Sept. 27-Oct. 2.