SEATTLE -- The injury to third baseman Trevor Plouffe's right knee was not as serious as previously thought when he came out of Friday night's game against the Mariners at Safeco Field.
An MRI on Saturday showed that Plouffe has a bone bruise, instead of a sprained medial collateral ligament as was originally announced after he came out of the game.
"I think we got good news today, actually," Twins manager Paul Molitor said before Saturday night's game at Seattle. "There was some concern about maybe a sprain, ligament damage, but that was all for naught, because it appears to be more of a bone bruise situation. He's getting a lot of bone on bone contact, which is limiting him a little bit in his ability to kind of drive off that back leg when he swings, as well as his mobility in the field.
"We're going to try to treat it and, if we can, back him off for a couple days here and see how he is. I think he would be available in an emergency if I need him, which is nice to know when you only have a couple people on the bench."
Plouffe is batting .248 with three homers and 11 RBIs.
Eduardo Nunez got the start at third base Saturday.