6/11: Gibson Returns; Hughes Sidelined with Fracture; Perkins Setback

Photo credit: Cumulus Media

A couple days ago, when Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor was asked about Phil Hughes and Trevor May going on the disabled list, forcing the call-up of J.T. Chargois, he said that when it rains, it pours.

The news today was a bit like that.

To begin with a positive, Kyle Gibson is making his first start since April 22. He was supposed to go on June 2, but felt back pain and instead made a rehab start in Triple-A. Hughes, ironically, replaced him that game, going only four innings in a 6-4 win over Tampa Bay.

As Molitor said, when it rains, it pours.

It is bright and sunny, however, today and the Twins are looking to bounce back after an 8-1 shellacking yesterday against lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (1-1, 5.40 ERA).

The lineup was posted late, but was virtually unchanged. Joe Mauer and Robbie Grossman have been flip-flopped, with Mauer batting second and Grossman batting third.

IMG_1576

Gibson is 0-3 with a 6.10 ERA to start the season. He understands that he’s been struggling and is taking ownership of it.

“You would hope that that would be the feeling that permeates the clubhouse out there. A lot of people understand how we’ve played,” said Molitor. “Collectively it hasn’t gone well, and individually, in a lot of cases, it’s not what we had hoped. I’m not sure about expected, but you would like to see the progress in players and pitchers the longer they’re here.”

Referring specifically to Gibson, Molitor said that “the start to the season wasn’t particularly good.”

“I think he understands, probably with his time being down with injuries and then rehabbing, it kinda gives you an opportunity to look back and see what your mindset is about going about your job,” he said.

“I’m hoping to see a more aggressive Kyle Gibson, just trusting his pitches in the zone, not as much to have him making the perfect pitch all the time.”

Basically, Gibson is overthinking things.

“I know you have to be present, mentally, when you’re pitching,” he said, “but sometimes you just gotta let it fly too and trust that you can go in there and get the job done. It’s good to have him back.”

Hughes is worse than originally thought

The X-rays came back negative yesterday, but Hughes entered the clubhouse with crutches and was visibly limping.

The MRI that was taken during the game came back showing a compaction fracture that will not require surgery. It’s a pretty unusual term, Molitor joked that he had to write it down — and, keep in mind, he’s a Hall of Fame baseball player, not a doctor — but basically it means that there was a break above the knee near the femur in the shape of a baseball.

“In the short term he’s gonna have to have minimal weight-bearing with crutches and things of the like,” said Molitor, “so best guess 6-8 weeks, possibly, in terms of healing, and then of course you gotta work your way back into shape to pitch in a big league game.”

Hughes took a line drive directly above the kneecap that registered at 106 miles per hour off the bat of Miami Marlins player J.T. Realmuto. Any lower and it might have broken his kneecap, although Hughes is likely out until August or September considering it will take 6-8 months to heal plus time to stretch out.

“It’s not a bruise where he’s gonna have discomfort to deal with in terms of getting back out there. Now we have to let this thing heal,” said Molitor.

“It’s been a rough year for Phil, I think he’d be the first to tell you that, and now he has to deal with a lengthy absence from pitching. It’s gonna be a time for him to … obviously he’s gonna have to do the work to get his leg back, and they set up a program.”

Perkins has a setback

Erstwhile closer Glen Perkins, who is on the 60-day disabled list and has only pitched twice this season, his last outing coming on April 10, is able to throw pain-free on flat ground but is having issues throwing from a mound.

“I can’t offer a ton other than the fact that he feels fine on flat ground. There’s something about getting out there on the incline that chances what it feels like to throw a baseball,” said Molitor.

“We’ll try to figure out why that occurs, and why he’s fine playing catch.”

He can throw from 60, 90 and 120 feet, which are typical distances for pitchers to throw from, but as soon as he gets on the mound, he cannot complete his bullpen.

“It hasn’t been finalized yet, as far as potentially getting a second opinion,” he said. “I think that’s the route that we’re going to go here. But details have not been finalized.”

Be sure to follow Brandon (@Brandon_Warne) and me (@tschreier3) for Twins coverage all season long.

Twins
3 Under-the-Radar Twins Prospects to Keep An Eye On in 2024
By Cody Schoenmann - Mar 28, 2024
Twins
Minnesota’s Biggest Concern Will Be Stress-Tested Immediately
By Tom Schreier - Mar 26, 2024
Twins

Why Do the Twins and Guardians Approach Offense In Polar Opposite Ways?

Photo credit: Cumulus Media

Last season, the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Guardians were opposites offensively. The Twins front office constructed a lineup that prioritizes patience. They laid off pitches outside the […]

Continue Reading