Luis Arraez 'better,' could be last-minute decision for Twins

The Twins had hoped to hold a full workout at Target Field on Tuesday, but a daylong drizzle kept them mostly indoors. But it didn't change Luis Arraez's schedule at all: Ice, hydrotherapy and ankle exercises.

And three days after suffering a Grade 1 sprained right ankle that threatens his availability for the AL Division Series, the work is having an effect.

"He's already doing significantly better than he was. He was not weight-bearing [on Sunday]. I haven't seen him today, but I've heard he's moving around, he's walking around, he's been in the pool a lot," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "We're putting him through the wringer right now to give ourselves every opportunity to get him back."

Still, just being able to walk isn't the same as being able to play baseball, and Baldelli said it's far too early to know whether the rookie infielder will be able to do that by Friday's first game in Yankee Stadium. The Twins must turn in their ALDS roster by 9 a.m. Friday, and it's likely that a final decision on Arraez's status won't be made until then.

The same is true, technically, of outfielder Max Kepler and utility player Marwin Gonzalez, but both said Tuesday that they feel ready to play.

Ehire Adrianza's status, after aggravating an oblique injury two weeks ago, is less certain. The infielder said he's feeling better, and "I'll play whenever they tell me."

The Twins sent four players home for the winter after Sunday's season finale in Kansas City. Not present on Tuesday were outfielder Ryan LaMarre, who was acquired from Atlanta a week into September, and pitchers Trevor Hildenberger, Jorge Alcala and Kohl Stewart, all of them September call-ups.

"I'll be here for every home game, hopefully right up through the World Series," said Dyson, whose right arm was immobilized by an elaborate and bulky sling. "I can't travel. I can barely put my clothes on with this thing. Obviously I want to be part of the whole thing, but I'm going to be rooting for them. These guys have been working so hard all year for this."

Dyson said his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, found a significant tear in a ligament in his shoulder, a problem the righthander now realizes began at least two years ago.

"When they went in there, they realized [the ligament] was torn off the bone," said Dyson, who will need 10-12 months of treatment before he can pitch again. "I really didn't know what was going on in there, so I pitched through some pain for a couple of years, and eventually it just gave way."

Randy Dobnak flew to Minneapolis on Tuesday morning to rejoin the team after getting married Saturday in Maryland.

The rookie righthander, a strong candidate to start a playoff game against the Yankees, said he believes his whirlwind couple of months, which included his big-league debut, starting the Twins' division clincher, and "missing a couple of games for this, I guess, poorly planned wedding" would help him stay in control on the mound during the postseason.

His wedding wasn't exactly baseball themed, he said, but there were hints of his sudden status during and after the ceremony.

"The champagne goggles [the Twins passed out before] our celebration, I wore those into the reception. [Wife Aerial Munson] had her Dobnak jersey on," the new husband said. "Our boutonnieres were made out of baseball leather instead of a flower. And her maid of honor's speech ended with 'Go Twins!' "

Reliever Sergio Romo made the rounds of the clubhouse with gifts Tuesday: He and his wife, Chelsea, had jackets made for each player's wife or girlfriend, letterman-style coats with the TC logo on the front and the player's name and number on the back.