MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins closer Glen Perkins suffered a setback in his recovery from a strained left shoulder while playing long toss on Thursday, and he will not throw his scheduled bullpen session on Monday.
Perkins, on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 11, was expected to make a big step in his recovery by throwing off a mound for the first time on Monday, but he now won't throw again until Thursday, and that will be off flat ground. There's no timetable for a bullpen session, as he'll have to throw off flat ground a few times and prove he's healthy before throwing off the mound.
"I played catch on Thursday and tried to stretch it out, put a little more effort, and it just doesn't feel right," Perkins said. "I think I'm in a better spot than I was six weeks ago, but the disappointing thing is that's six weeks ago. I kept telling myself I'd throw and throw until getting to that bullpen, but I don't think it would be a good decision to push it that far. It's not where it needs to be yet."
Perkins will wait to get a second opinion on his shoulder, as he said it's not necessary unless he continues to have an issue throwing again this week.
"I'm not there yet," Perkins said. "I think with a week off throwing, we'll build it back up, and if I get to the point where I was on Thursday throwing 120 feet with some effort, and it feels the same, then we'll get it looked at again."
The stiffness has moved from the back of his shoulder to the front of his shoulder, as he initially felt more of a burning sensation in the back of his shoulder. Perkins said the back of his shoulder now feels strong, and he tried his best to describe what the issue feels like with the front of his shoulder.
"When I go to throw, it feels like -- I don't want to say it's knife-stabbing pain -- but when I go to throw, I can feel it in the front of my shoulder," Perkins said. "To me, it feels like the joint opens u,p and I go to throw and it slams shut. It's not comfortable. It's painful somewhat, but I'm not wincing. It's a discomfort and doesn't feel right, or even close to right, to be honest."
Worth noting
• Center fielder Byron Buxton returned to the lineup at Triple-A Rochester on Saturday after missing a week with back spasms. Buxton went 2-for-5 with a walk, and he is hitting .305/.366/.489 in 21 games at Rochester.
• Shortstop Eduardo Escobar, on the DL with a left groin strain since May 7, played in his second rehab game with Class A Advanced Fort Myers on Saturday, going 3-for-5 with a double. He's 4-for-8 in two games and could return to the Twins as soon as Monday. Right-hander Kyle Gibson, on the DL retroactive to April 23 with a right shoulder strain, is also set to make his first rehab start with Fort Myers on Sunday.