MINNEAPOLIS – Cole Sands' incredibly frustrating year got worse on Tuesday.
Sands returned to the injured list prior to the Twins’ series opener against the Royals with a right elbow strain. The veteran right-hander has missed most of the season with forearm/elbow troubles.
Right-hander Jack Anderson was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul to take Sands’ roster spot.
Following a massive Trade Deadline selloff last year that was focused on the bullpen, Sands entered this year as one of the most experienced members of the Minnesota relief corps. He was expected to pitch in high-leverage situations and perhaps even close.
However, after an inconsistent start to the season, he was placed on the IL at the end of April. Sands began a rehab assignment in early June but experienced a setback and was recalled from it. He spent more than two weeks on a second try at a rehab and made it back to the Major League roster, but made only one appearance before returning to the IL.
“Take the baseball side out of this, you feel for the human being side of Cole Sands,” said manager Derek Shelton. “Because of the fact that he started the year pitching in high-leverage situations for us, had the injury, grinded his way back through the rehab, grinded back through rehab games, and I think everybody who was there the other day just saw the ball was not coming out of his hand the way that he wanted it to.”
Sands was scheduled to be evaluated by Twins head team physician Dr. Christopher Camp on Wednesday, after which a course of treatment and timetable should be clearer.