The Minnesota Twins are set to reinstate first baseman Justin Morneau from the 15-disabled list, as the injury-hampered star will make his return on Wednesday night, one day after his 31st birthday. The team optioned first baseman Chris Parmelee to the Rochester Red Wings of the International League (Triple-A).
Morneau is hitting .230 this season with four home runs and nine RBI in 20 games, while Parmelee has hit .179 with three RBI in 27 games. He was placed on the disabled list on May 6 (retroactive to May 1) with a sore left wrist. It's been a mild setback compared to the concussion issues that have plagued the four-time All-Star in recent years.
Morneau played in just 150 games combined during the 2010 and 2011 seasons, after five consecutive seasons playing 135 games or more. The two-time Silver Slugger winner hit just .227 in 69 games last season, his worst batting average since he hit .226 in 40 games with the Twins in 2003, the year he made his major-league debut. Now in his 10th major league season, Morneau has a lifetime batting average of .280 in more than 1,000 major league games.
If Morneau is healthy and ready to contribute, the Twins can undoubtedly use the help. Minnesota was shut out for the fourth time this season on Tuesday afternoon, dropping a 5-0 decision to the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians. Jason Marquis took the loss to fall to 2-3 on the season, the second time in his last three starts that the Twins couldn't score a run for him. The Twins have the worst offensive output in the American League, having scored just 120 runs in 35 games. Only two AL teams - the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland Athletics - have a worse team batting average than the Twins' .236. The Twins also have the highest ERA in the majors at 5.29, and sit in the basement of the AL Central with a 10-26 record, the worst in the majors.
Certainly, the Twins will need more help than what Morneau alone can provide, but they'll be happy to see him return nonetheless. Morneau will be in the lineup on Wednesday night, when the Indians travel to Detroit to face the Tigers (17-18, second in AL Central). Game time is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Tigers' Comerica Park.
