TORONTO -- Twins manager Paul Molitor doesn't sound optimistic that third baseman Miguel Sano's return is imminent.
Sano suffered a stress reaction in his left tibia when he fouled a ball off his shin in Minnesota's win over Arizona on Aug. 18, in which he homered twice. His recovery hasn't been as quick as the Twins had hoped.
"Progress still slow," Molitor said of Sano's status before Sunday's game against the Blue Jays. "We'll be home Tuesday and so I would think we're hopeful that some of the baseball things start to come back beginning on Tuesday. But I can't guarantee that either."
With the Twins battling in the tight race for the second American League Wild Card spot, Sano leads the team in home runs (28), RBIs (77) and OPS (.870). Sano, whose name is "Boqueton" for Players Weekend, also gave the Twins their most potent option against left-handed pitching, with his 1.011 OPS against southpaws standing first on the team.
When Sano does return to the lineup, Molitor suggested that the 24-year-old third baseman might see more time at DH.
"We talked briefly about that when he first went on the DL," Molitor said.
"That's something we have to be open-minded about. Whether that's because he's only capable to do that, or we just want to find better ways to keep him out there on the field for however many games are remaining once he does return."