MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins first baseman Trevor Plouffe left Tuesday night's 10-3 loss to the Royals in the eighth inning after straining his left oblique on a swing. Manager Paul Molitor said Plouffe will undergo an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury.
Plouffe exited after he fouled off a 1-1 fastball from Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera with one out. Plouffe grabbed his side after the swing and was removed for Kennys Vargas, who promptly flied out to center on the next pitch.
It's another injury for Plouffe, who missed 13 games in April with a right intercostal strain before missing 32 games with a fractured left rib from early July.
"I think it's a similar area, but not sure if it's the same exact spot," Molitor said. "We're looking at the oblique. I had heard he had felt a little something [in his previous at-bat]. He went into the cage and took some swings, and thought he was good to go. But the cut he took finished his night."
Plouffe went 2-for-3 with a solo homer. He's hitting .260/.303/.420 with 12 homers and 47 RBIs in 84 games.