The Twins rushed out Darnell McDonald to right field before batting practice Friday so he could get used to tracking fly balls off the Metrodome roof.
He probably doesn't know how much the Twins need him to keep their playoff hopes on track, too.
McDonald was called up Friday to replace starting right fielder Michael Cuddyer, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right thumb. Cuddyer, the major league leader in outfield assists (15), expects to be ready to play after the 15 days.
He was injured Wednesday as he slid into second while trying to break up a double play. Twins outfielder Torii Hunter injured his left hamstring running to first on the same play but returned to the starting lineup Friday.
"Extremely frustrating," said Cuddyer, who is batting .289 with 10 homers and 56 RBI. "I don't want to be out no matter what, whether it's 50 games in first place or 50 games out of first place. This is even more frustrating, on the heels of this last Tigers game. At the same time, it's something that happened and we have to deal with it."
Cuddyer was prepared to start against Detroit on Thursday, but manager Ron Gardenhire walked into the training room, didn't like what he saw and pulled Cuddyer out of the lineup.
"He saw that my thumb was about five shades of purple and a few times bigger than my other thumb," Cuddyer said.
Cuddyer's thumb will be in a splint for five to six days.
It weakens a Twins outfield that already is getting little production from left field. Jason Kubel has been given a chance to play every day. His 3-for-3 game in Friday's 7-5 victory over the Angels raised his average to .257, with eight homers and 40 RBI.
"We've got to try to fill some holes before he gets back," Gardenhire said.
The Twins received McDonald, a 1997 first-round pick by Baltimore, on June 24 from the Nationals, who selected righthander Levale Speigner in the Rule V draft in December. Washington wanted to send Speigner to the minors and, as per rules, had to work out a deal with the Twins to do so.
"They told me if I come out and keep doing the things I was doing before, I'd get a chance to play in the big leagues," said the 28-year-old McDonald, who batted .282 with two homers, 23 RBI and six stolen bases in 22 games at Class AAA Rochester. "They kept their word."
Gardenhire presented McDonald with the lineup card after the game.
White gets closer
McDonald will share time in the outfield with Kubel, Jason Tyner and Lew Ford. But Cuddyer's injury might speed up the return of outfielder Rondell White, who has missed all but three games because of a torn right calf muscle and was slowed recently because of a sore left hamstring.
White has been declared totally healthy and is set to play today for the Twins' rookie team in the Gulf Coast League. Indications are that he won't be there long.
"If everything goes good it may not be too long," Gardenhire said. "If he makes it through stretching ... that's a joke."
Etc.
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