Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Twins not concerned over Fien's shoulder stiffness

Right-hander throws bullpen session; Ryan hoping pitcher avoids DL

CHICAGO -- Twins setup man Casey Fien has been unavailable to pitch since Friday due to right shoulder stiffness that he first felt Thursday in Detroit.

He said he felt, "a little bite back there" when he slipped on the wet ground while making his first warmup pitch before facing the Tigers. He went on to throw 12 pitches in a scoreless inning against Detroit. He said the shoulder has been bothering him ever since.

"We'll see how it feels today," Fien said before he threw prior to the Twins' game against the White Sox on Saturday. "Maybe it's nothing. Maybe it's something. You never know."

Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Fien's brief throwing session went "OK," and the Twins hope to avoid putting him on the disabled list.

"They still want to be guarded," Ryan said. "Today, it went OK. If it didn't, I think then it would be a little more to the point where they want to get to me and start making other plans. I think he threw well enough just on that catch and so forth to give it another day [of rest]."

Twins manager Paul Molitor said Fien could have pitched on Friday, but he wanted to avoid using the right-hander if possible.

"We don't really think it's an injury [or] anything to be overly concerned about," Molitor said.

Worth noting:

• OF Torii Hunter was fined by Major League Baseball for his comments about umpire Joe West on Opening Day. Ryan did not disclose the amount of the fine. Hunter was upset with West's game-ending strike call. After the game, Hunter said, "Joe West needs to do his job. And he didn't do it well."

• Left-hander Lewis Thorpe, a top Twins prospect, underwent Tommy John surgery on Friday. He tweeted that the surgery went well.

• Molitor said he celebrated his first managerial victory by catching up on emails and text messages from family and friends and talking to his wife. He also ate two desserts -- apple pie a la mode and snacks he took from the ballpark. The Twins beat the White Sox 6-0 on Friday for their first win.

• Hunter got his first game off on Saturday. Shane Robinson replaced him in right field and batted eighth. Molitor said he'll let Hunter rest every now and then, but he didn't have a specific number in mind for a total number of games he'll play. Hunter is 2-for-16 at the plate.

• Molitor said he'll also rest first baseman Joe Mauer occasionally, possibly by having him serve as the designated hitter.

Sarah Trotto is a contributor to MLB.com.
Read More: Minnesota Twins, Casey Fien