CLEVELAND – Eddie Rosario entered the All-Star break confident that he would be ready to return to the lineup this weekend against the Indians. But the Twins have determined that he's not quite all the way back from a sprained left ankle and could remain on the injured list until early next week.
Rosario did some running during Thursday's optional workout at Progressive Field. There was no sign of him running the bases on Friday, which would be a clue that he's close to returning.
"Just waiting for the team," Rosario said. "Whenever they believe I'm ready to play, then I'll go."
While Rosario sounded like he was ready to activate himself, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Rosario still has a couple of tests he needs to pass before he returns to the active roster.
"I'd love to say he looks perfect and ready to go," Baldelli said. "I think that is what we are looking for, something close to that. I like the fact that he's wants to be out there and that he is ready and he is getting a little antsy and any time he's off the field for an extended period of time, he's not happy about it.
"We want to make sure he's ready to play in the second half when he comes back. And I think he's getting very close. I wouldn't think it is going to be very much longer but we are going to test him over the next couple of days here with some live game speed-type activity. "
If the Twins have concerns, they could hold Rosario out through the week and use the scheduled off day on Monday to ensure his fitness before they play host to the Mets on Tuesday in the first game of a two-game series.
Rosario, batting .282 with 20 home runs and 60 RBI, injured himself while rounding first base on June 26 during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. It came during a run of injuries that nagged the Twins in the weeks leading up to the break.