Cuddyer won't be worry wart

FORT MYERS, FLA. - The Twins medical staff has dealt with ailments such as plantar fasciitis, hand, foot and mouth disease and sore sacroiliac joints in recent years.Now there's a wart problem.

Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer won't play in Sunday night's exhibition opener against Boston while he attempts to treat a wart that has nagged him since just before Thanksgiving.

Manager Ron Gardenhire said the right fielder tried to treat the wart himself with medication he purchased, and that caused the wart to become infected. Cuddyer clarified his situation Saturday morning.

"First of all it is not worrisome," Cuddyer said. "On February 26 it is not worrisome. March 26 it would be worrisome.

"I did not do any home remedies. It was never infected. Cutting it out is not an option because that's two to three months, or something like that."

The Twins will treat the wart with cream that should speed up the healing process. Cuddyer went through every drill Saturday, except running, and will be evaluated daily.

Nishioka is ready Can't go too many days without a Tsuyoshi Nishioka update.

"I got it."

"You got it."

"I love you."

"You love me."

And ... .

Nishioka has been getting used to the workouts, learning how to work with Alexi Casilla and getting to know his teammates.

Now he gets to play in a game. He is scheduled to bat second and play second base Sunday when the Twins take on the Red Sox.

"It's a spring training game, but it will be my first game wearing a major league uniform," he said through interpreter Ryo Shinkawa, "so I'm looking forward to it."

Gardenhire said the communication during practices has gone as well as it could have.

"Nishi understands exactly what we're talking about," Gardenhire said. "He knows. All you have to do is show him a little bit and he knows exactly what we're telling him."

• Sunday's game will be the first of 25 spring training contests to be broadcast on the Twins Radio Network. John Gordon, who is retiring after the season, is scheduled to work 15 spring training games.

• Righthander David Bromberg, during batting practice, hit Danny Rams in the back with a pitch -- but also shattered Nishioka's bat with another.