Twins catcher Joe Mauer said tonight that he lost 15 pounds and couldn't do much for about a week because of his recent viral infection.
"It feels like I'm finally turning a corner," he said.
Still, Mauer has a ways to go before he'll be ready to come off the disabled list. On the DL since April 12 with bilateral leg weakness, he was eligible to return today but said he's not ready to resume baseball activities.
The Twins have no timetable for his return.
"He's still in the strength phase of his program," head trainer Rick McWane said. "He's getting stronger, he's feeling a lot better, he's improved his flexibility, improved his strength in his legs, his upper body, his shoulder, his elbow, everything's getting stronger."
Mauer hasn't been throwing or hitting, so eventually he'll need to do that and then go on a minor-league rehab assignment, McWane said.
Mauer had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in mid-December and played in just eight spring training games, going 6-for-20 with four walks.
"He wasn't strong enough to handle everyday catching," McWane said. "At the end of spring training, he said that's the best he had felt and he's doing fine. He didn't have any issues with his knee at end of spring training. And still his knee feels good.
