Nishioka appears set to make return

Nearly 10 weeks after breaking his left leg, Twins infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka could be ready to make his Target Field debut.

Nishioka, who fractured his left fibula on April 7 at Yankee Stadium, went 0-for-4 with a walk in his final rehab game for Class AAA Rochester on Tuesday and will return to Minnesota on Wednesday to be re-evaluated by team doctors.

Glen Perkins, who pitched two innings for Rochester on Tuesday, rehabbing his strained oblique muscle, is also heading to Minnesota to be re-evaluated.

"Let the doctors and trainers see them before we do anything roster-wise," General Manager Bill Smith said.

The Twins plan to activate at least one player after adding Justin Morneau to the DL on Tuesday because of a strained left wrist.

Nishioka batted .208 (5-for-24) with two walks and eight strikeouts in six road games before getting injured.

He opened the year at second base but will return at shortstop, with Alexi Casilla moving to second. Hall of Famer Paul Molitor went to Fort Myers, Fla., to work with Nishioka on his footwork.

Mauer update Joe Mauer had five at-bats in a simulated game in Fort Myers on Tuesday and is scheduled to get some at-bats Wednesday vs. Joe Nathan, who is recovering from a strained right flexor muscle.

After hitting against Nathan, Mauer will be re-evaluated. Smith and manager Ron Gardenhire both ruled out the possibility of Mauer playing against the White Sox on Thursday, but it seems likely the catcher will be ready for Friday's game against the Padres.

Other injury news • Denard Span (concussion) rode the exercise bike and did some work on the treadmill but is still having concussion symptoms. Trainer Rick McWane said Span won't be ready to return from the DL on Thursday, the first day he's eligible, saying the team wants to see Span have "a bunch of good days in a row."

• Jason Kubel took batting practice but continues to feel pain in his sprained left foot. He had a cortisone shot Sunday.

• Jim Thome took batting practice in Fort Myers on Tuesday, and his back and quad felt good. He is eligible to come off the DL on Friday, but it's worth noting the Twins won't need a designated hitter when they play in National League parks in San Francisco and Milwaukee next week.