Lefthander Glen Perkins returned from his minor league rehabilitation stint at Class AA Chattanooga on Tuesday, but the Twins aren't quite ready to add the three-time All-Star to the active roster.

While Perkins is healthy after being out since April 2016 because of a torn labrum, he has only thrown 7â…“ innings in minor league games, and the Twins would like to see Perkins get some more work in.

"It's not what you would get in a normal spring training," manager Paul Molitor said. "He's had enough time up here to trust some of that. You don't always have to go through a full spring training to get back to being ready to play.

"The fact that he has missed the majority of last year, it just makes you tread a little slowly."

Technically, Perkins has until Sunday before his 30-day rehabilitation stint expires. So the Twins will decide if he can make an appearance or two at Class AAA Rochester or have him throw live batting practice at Target Field. The Twins would need to add Perkins to both the 25- and 40-man rosters to activate him.

What can Perkins offer? He pitched in back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday for the first time this year. On Sunday, he pitched a scoreless inning with a walk and two strikeouts. Molitor said Perkins' fastball was from 88-91 miles per hour.

Perkins

"I did have a chance to talk with [manager] Jake Mauer down there, and he said last night was his best night in terms of his command, that his breaking ball was sharp enough to get swings and misses," Molitor said. "I think that over the next couple of days we're contemplating what the best move forward is, not only for him but for our team."

With the Twins fighting to remain in the postseason race, they can't afford to just hand appearances to Perkins, who has missed a whopping 272 games because of his shoulder problems. There could be an occasional blowout game he could pitch in, but Molitor is in all-hands-on-deck mode with his bullpen.

It's hard to ease your way into a playoff race. "I talked to him today about when it does happen," Molitor said. "We are going to have to be smart about when we get him in and how his stuff plays."

Etc.

• Rod Carew and his wife, Rhonda, will be at Target Field on Friday as the Twins honor organ donors and donor families. Carew in December underwent heart transplant surgery, a heart that was donated by the family of former NFL player Konrad Reuland. The first 10,000 fans Friday will receive a Carew bobblehead honoring his 1977 AL MVP season.

• Lefthander Dietrich Enns pitched 1⅔ innings out of the bullpen Tuesday to get some work in before his start Saturday vs. Arizona. Enns made his major league debut Thursday at Milwaukee, lasting 2⅓ innings.

• The Twins observed a moment of silence for Danny Walton, who died last week in Morgan, Utah, at age 70. Primarily an outfielder, he played for the Twins in 1973 and 1975, part of a nine-year major league career.