Robinson placed on family emergency list

KANSAS CITY -- The Twins placed outfielder Shane Robinson on the family emergency list on Friday, and activated fellow outfielder Aaron Hicks from the 15-day disabled list.

It marks the second time that Robinson has been placed on the family emergency list this season, as he also missed three games in mid-May. Robinson's seven-month old daughter, Harper, was born with a stomach/esophagus condition that requires multiple surgeries. She suffered a complication on Thursday, which caused Robinson to leave the team and join his wife in Boston where Harper is being treated.

"It's got to be very heavy to carry and to come around here and try to do your work," manager Paul Molitor said. "The right thing is to go support her and his wife, and be there with his family."

Molitor added that he's not sure how long Robinson will be away from the team, as players can spend between three to seven days as part of the rules of the family emergency list. Molitor said he doesn't expect Robinson back until Sunday night at the earliest.

"I'm not sure how long that's going to be," Molitor said. "Obviously, a lot of concern from people in this clubhouse about his young daughter. He needed to go. It was the right thing. My message was, 'I know that you feel committed to this team. Don't ever think anybody's questioning your desire to be a part of this. You're doing the right thing. And take as much time as you need.'"

Hicks, meanwhile, rejoins the Twins after missing 19 games with a right forearm strain. He hit .304/.360/.348 in six games with Triple-A Rochester as part of his rehab assignment. Hicks started out slow, going 1-for-14, but he went 6-for-9 in his last three games. He also tested out his forearm on Sunday, as he threw out a runner at home plate from center field.

Hicks is expected to be the club's regular center fielder in Robinson's absence and he batted ninth for the Twins on Friday.

"I got hot down there and was just trying to get back into the swing of it," Hicks said. "The first couple games I didn't use a two-strike approach much. Just trying to get back the timing of the leg kick. But the last three days were pretty good and the whole time I felt good. It just feels good to be back up here."

Worth noting
• Right-hander Ervin Santana will be activated from his 80-game suspension for PED use on Saturday, even though he won't start until Sunday. He's already in Kansas City, but he can't join the team until his suspension is officially over on Saturday. Molitor said the club isn't ready to announce how the rest of the rotation will shake out upon Santana's return.

• The Twins are still weighing their options with right-hander Ricky Nolasco, who has been out since June 1 with a right ankle impingement. Surgery remains an option, but Nolasco is likely to get a bone scan before the team doctors decide the next step.