Terry Ryan says suspended Twins coach Neil Allen 'making progress'

NEW YORK – Sunday is exactly one month since Twins pitching coach Neil Allen was pulled over by police in Minneapolis shortly after midnight May 26 and arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. The Twins have said little about his status during that time, other than placing him on indefinite suspension later that day.

That policy hasn't changed, but General Manager Terry Ryan did confirm one decision Saturday: When Allen completes his treatment and his suspension is lifted, the Twins intend for Allen to return to his post.

"When the time comes," Ryan said, "Neil will be our major league pitching coach again."

Ryan offered no timelines for that, and few details about Allen's current program, other than to say, "Everything is going fine. … He's making progress." Bullpen coach Eddie Guardado, who speaks with Allen regularly, said recently that the 58-year-old coach, whose teenage son Bobby is spending the summer with him in Minneapolis, attends daily meetings as part of a rehabilitation program.

Eric Rasmussen, who moved over from his role as minor league pitching coordinator, is serving as Allen's temporary replacement.

"As much as I'd like to be open about it, it's a little sensitive. In time, you will be informed of when he's coming back," Ryan said. "I'd like to respect his situation."

The Twins' optimism about Trevor Plouffe has apparently paid off. The third baseman fielded ground balls during batting practice and ran the bases before Saturday's game, showing no ill effects of the groin strain he suffered Thursday. He's now virtually certain to avoid a second stint on the disabled list — and could even play Sunday.

"Trevor was pretty excited this morning about how he was feeling," manager Paul Molitor said.

Miguel Sano played his scheduled seven innings at third base Saturday night at Class AAA Rochester, the second game of his rehab stint as he recovers from a strained left hamstring. Batting third in what became a 3-2 loss to Louisville, Sano went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk. He went 0-for-1 with a walk in his first game Friday.

Sano will serve as the Red Wings' designated hitter Sunday, and he probably will take Monday off. At that point, the Twins might have a decision to make about his readiness for returning to the majors.

With Plouffe healthy, they will have a decision to make about how to make room, too. Molitor has said he's not ready to reduce the bullpen to seven pitchers, so his choice might come down to reserve outfielder Danny Santana — who is out of options and would have to be put on waivers, an unlikely prospect — or slumping designated hitter Byung Ho Park, who is eligible to be optioned to Class AAA.

Park went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts Saturday, continuing a deep midseason slump that has bottomed out with a 2-for-34 stretch (.059) with 18 strikeouts.