MINNEAPOLIS -- In his first game back, Ryan Jeffers got the sort of test he didn’t face on a relatively brief Minor League rehabilitation assignment. And although he came just a few feet away from what could have been a game-tying base hit in the ninth, he pronounced his return from injury a success.
Jeffers caught all nine innings in the Twins' 4-3 loss to the Angels, doubled and walked in five plate appearances and generally looked like himself in his first Major League game since he suffered a hamate bone fracture in his left hand May 18.
“I had success on the rehab assignment, but that really wasn’t what I was looking for,” he said. “It was more just, how does it feel? How do my ABs feel? Am I tracking the ball? Am I taking my walks? So, today, early on, getting some ABs in, putting some hard contact on the ball, felt like I was in the right spot.”
The Twins reinstated Jeffers from the injured list on Friday, 7 1/2 weeks after he was injured, and immediately inserted him into the lineup, starting at catcher and batting second. To make room for him on the active roster, Minnesota optioned outfielder Kyler Fedko to Triple-A St. Paul.
That means they kept catcher Alex Jackson and will go with three catchers for at least a little while. Jeffers will likely serve as designated hitter sometimes, and Victor Caratini will play some first base and DH. That in turn may lead to more moving around for Royce Lewis, who has served as the team’s primary first baseman lately.
Caratini has been extremely effective at the plate in recent weeks, slashing .318/.398/.553 since June 1 while serving as the Twins’ starting catcher.
“We’ve got to figure out how to keep Vic going too, because over the last month, Vic’s probably been one of the most productive if not the most productive offensive catcher in baseball,” manager Derek Shelton said. “That’s a good challenge to have. But it’s good to get Ryan back just because he means so much to us.”
Overall, it should make for not only a bolstered lineup but a deeper bench. Either the switch-hitting Caratini will be available to come off the bench, or if he’s starting at DH or first, it means someone like Josh Bell, Kody Clemens or Royce Lewis is available in reserve.
Even with Jeffers sidelined for the past month and a half, the Twins have remained one of baseball’s most productive offenses. Entering Friday night’s game against the Angels, they were tied for sixth in the Major Leagues in runs, tied for seventh in OPS and tied for ninth in homers.
Now they add Jeffers, who before his injury appeared to be on his way to his first All-Star berth with a .295/.408/.541 line in 37 games.