Oswaldo Arcia has provided some glimpses of what a baseball season without 90 losses could look like in a few years. There's thunder in his bat, and he doesn't appear to fear anyone. All you want to do is watch him swing.
But the rookie might not be able to do that over the final days of this long, losing season. Arcia on Wednesday went for an MRI exam on his bruised right knee two days after banging it off Target Field's unforgiving wall. The MRI came back showing no structural damage, and he's listed as day-to-day.
"He's actually feeling better today and wanted to go out there and horse around in the outfield," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "But they wanted to go do this and make sure everything is sound."
Arcia, 22, is batting .254 with 14 homers and 43 RBI. On Sunday, he tied the Twins' rookie record for RBI in a game when he drove in six of the Twins' seven runs in a loss to Oakland. He could develop into a middle-of-the-order force, but it will take time. He also has to work on his defense, and he committed a baserunning gaffe Sunday.
The Twins would like to see him in the lineup before Sunday's finale, but his knee must be sound.
Rotation news
Gardenhire announced that righthander Mike Pelfrey will not pitch again this season. Pelfrey, who had Tommy John surgery in April of 2012, pitched 152⅔ innings in his first season back and the Twins felt that was enough. He went 5-13 with a 5.19 ERA.
He pitched well at times, but wasn't efficient at others. He has made it clear that he would like to return next season, but probably would ask for more than the $4 million he made in 2013.
'Hammer' out
Outfielder Josh Willingham was held out of the starting lineup after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
