Long wait is over for Morneau

TORONTO - Twins first baseman Justin Morneau might get a few breaks early in the season, but he's slated to start Friday night's opener against the Blue Jays, manager Ron Gardenhire said Thursday.

Morneau hasn't played a regular-season game since July 7, when he was kneed in the head by Blue Jays shortstop John McDonald while trying to break up a double play at second base.

"I sat [Morneau] down in my office, and I said, 'Are you ready to do this?' And he said he's ready to do it," Gardenhire said.

Morneau will move right back into his cleanup spot, even though he batted only .152 in exhibition play, going 5-for-33 with three doubles, one RBI, two walks and six strikeouts.

Gardenhire said Morneau feels like he's getting closer to finding a consistent everyday swing, but the 2006 American League MVP is showing some expected rust.

"It was kind of out of my control in spring training," Gardenhire said in reference to doctors dictating Morneau's playing schedule. "With the at-bats, we did the best we could, and we'll take off from there. I'm sure there's going to be some struggles here and there, but hopefully he'll get going because we all know what kind of hitter he is."

Nathan/Capps plan Joe Nathan, who missed last year recovering from elbow surgery, will open the season as the closer, but the Twins will be quick to spell him with Matt Capps.

Slowey watch Starters moving to the bullpen typically move into long-relief duty, but Gardenhire hinted that Kevin Slowey could have a key setup role, along with lefthander Jose Mijares, trying to get the ball to Capps and Nathan.

"Slowey's actually been throwing the ball harder out of the bullpen," Gardenhire said. "His innings have been really quick. He goes and pumps it in there. He's ahead in the count, and those are the kind of guys you want coming out of the bullpen."

Prospect watch Angel Morales, one of the Twins' top outfield prospects, has a right elbow injury that could require Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery, minor league director Jim Rantz said. Morales, who batted .280 with a .362 on-base percentage and .405 slugging percentage last year between Class A Beloit and Class A Fort Myers, is rehabbing the injury for now, hoping to avoid surgery.

Other notable minor league injuries for the Twins include shortstop Estarlin De Los Santos (elbow), catcher Jair Fernandez (hamate bone surgery) and pitchers Ryan Mullins (sports hernia), Dan Osterbrook (shoulder) and Pat Dean (shoulder).

The Twins recently released several minor leaguers, including Juan Portes and Justin Huber, who have been to big-league camp; first base prospect Erik Lis; and Chris Province, the pitcher they received from Boston for Boof Bonser.