ICYMI: Twins Worry That Slugger Won't Be Ready For Season

It was a frustrating year in 2022 for the Minnesota Twins' one-time All-Star infielder. Now it appears that a knee injury suffered last season by second baseman Jorge Polanco still won't be healed in time for the start of the season.

Jorge Polanco has felt some soreness in his knee, Falvey said. But the Twins do not believe he is dealing with a new injury — it's the same issue from the end of last season.

Polanco has not yet played in a game this spring. https://t.co/nyIPgq7QNh

— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) March 19, 2023

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey admitted this week that Polanco probably won't be set to go for Opening Day. He has yet to play in a game at spring training, so that certainly seems to be the case.

Falvey also indicated that the knee injury he's dealing with now is the same issue he suffered that ended his 2022 season prematurely at the end of August. So what happened to his rehab during the offseason is the burning question. 

"He hasn’t been able to do all the leg activities and all the legwork and all the running and all the strength and conditioning stuff that everybody would at this stage, so some of it’s just responding to where he is from a timing standpoint," Falvey said. "Obviously, the calendar plays a role now as we get closer and closer to Opening Day.

"He’s a little behind; there’s no other way to put that."

Polanco slugged 33 HR with 98 RBIs in 2021 with an .826 OPS. Those numbers fell in '22 with only 104 games played, to 16 HR, 56 RBIs and a .751 OPS.

Nick Gordon, Kyle Farmer and Donovan Solano are the Twins' main options to backfill for Polanco until he's ready.

Photo: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports