Morneau to skip All-Star Game; specialist recommends rest

First baseman has been out since Wednesday with a concussion.

July 10, 2010 at 10:22PM

DETROIT -- Twins first baseman Justin Morneau will skip Tuesday's All-Star Game, the team announced today, after Morneau was examined by Dr. Kenneth Podell, a head and concussion specialist who works with the Tigers, Red Wings and Lions.

Podell recommended that Morneau return home for rest. Morneau will be re-evaluated in Minnesota during the All-Star break.

Morneau, 29, who has a history of head injuries, suffered the concussion when he took a knee to the head on a take-out slide on Wednesday in Toronto. He said before Saturday's game against the Tigers that he wouldn't go to the All-Star Game if he couldn't return to play in this weekend's series.

A four-time All-Star selection, Morneau was voted in as a starter this year for the first time.

"Obviously, if I can't play for my team, I'm not going to fly out there and run around for two days," he said.

about the writer

about the writer

Joe Christensen

Sports team leader

Joe Christensen, a Minnesota Star Tribune sports team leader, graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 15 years covering Major League Baseball, including stops at the Riverside Press-Enterprise and Baltimore Sun. He joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2005 and spent four years covering Gophers football.

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