Twins put outfielder Gilberto Celestino on COVID injury list

Reliever Danny Coulombe rejoined the team after missing 15 games because of a hip impingement.

May 27, 2022 at 10:15PM
Gilberto Celestino took an inside pitch earlier this season in a game at Tampa Bay. (Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Gilberto Celestino, who is hitting .324 in 31 games for the Twins, went on the COVID Injured List before Friday's game against the Kansas City Royals (7:10 p.m., BSN).

His spot on the roster was taken by lefthanded reliever Danny Coulombe, who missed 15 games because of a hip impingement. He had two rehab games at Class AAA St. Paul, pitching one inning in each.

In nine games for the Twins this season, Coulombe has a 0.75 ERA in 12 innings. The Twins will keep 14 pitchers on the roster.

The Twins already have starting pitcher Joe Ryan on the COVID list. He missed his start Thursday night against Kansas City, but fill-in Devin Smeltzer pitched seven shutout innings in a 3-2 loss that ended the Royals' six-game losing streak.

Byron Buxton did end his 0-for-30 slump with an infield single, and is sitting out tonight.

The Twins will start righthander Bailey Ober (1-1, 2.55 ERA) tonight against Kansas City righty Brad Keller (1-4, 3.20).

Ober is making his sixth start this season and fourth in his career against the Royals. He gave up one run in five innings at Kauffman Stadium in a Twins victory on Saturday, although he didn't factor in the decision.

Jorge Polanco (ankle) returns to the Twins' batting order after sitting out the past three games.

ROYALS LINEUP

Whit Merrifield, CF

Andrew Benintendi, LF

Bobby Witt Jr., SS

Hunter Dozier, RF

MJ Melendez, C

Carlos Santana, 1B

Ryan O'Hearn, DH

Emmanuel Rivera, 3B

Nicky Lopez, 2B

TWINS LINEUP

Luis Arraez, 1B

Carlos Correa, SS

Jorge Polanco, 2B

Max Kepler, RF

Gary Sanchez, DH

Trevor Larnach, LF

Gio Urshela, 3B

Nick Gordon, CF

Ryan Jeffers, C

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about the writer

Phil Miller

Reporter

Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.

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