Alex Kirilloff 1B/LF/DH FA Tue 4/11/23 4:10 PM
Alex Kirilloff
1B/LF/DH FA
Kirilloff (wrist) will begin his rehab assignment with Single-A Fort Myers on Tuesday, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.
EDGE Analysis
After undergoing surgery on his wrist in August, Kirilloff's recovery takes another step forward as he is set to start taking minor-league at-bats. The Twins haven't yet announced a target date for Kirilloff to make his return to the majors, but assuming all goes well in the minors, he has a chance to make his season debut before May.
Alex Kirilloff 1B/LF/DH FA Fri 4/7/23 3:23 PM
Alex Kirilloff
1B/LF/DH FA
Kirilloff (wrist) is continuing to play in extended spring training games but the Twins aren't ready to set a start date for his rehab assignment, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
EDGE Analysis
The team continues to bring Kirilloff along slowly following surgery last August to shorten the ulnar bone in his right wrist and clean up scar tissue. He could still conceivably make it back before the end of the month, but we'll need to see him in official rehab games before long for that to happen.
Alex Kirilloff 1B/LF/DH FA Thu 3/30/23 10:42 AM
Alex Kirilloff
1B/LF/DH FA
Kirilloff (wrist) was placed on the 10-day injured list. The Twins are hopefully to get him in some rehab games "probably in the next few weeks," head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta told the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
EDGE Analysis
Kirilloff is working his way back from surgery last August to shorten the ulnar bone in his right wrist and clean up scar tissue. It appeared he would be ready for Opening Day as he had played in minor league games late in the spring. The Twins later declared he wouldn't be ready for Opening Day though it appeared he could return in early April. However, Paparesta's comments make it sound like Kirilloff may need to play rehab games in the minors first. He may not be activated from the injured list until late April or May as a result.
Alex Kirilloff 1B/LF/DH FA Wed 3/22/23 6:23 PM
Alex Kirilloff
1B/LF/DH FA
Kirilloff (wrist) will begin the season on the injured list, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
We're barely more than a week away from Opening Day and Kirilloff still hasn't played in a Grapefruit League game, so this news doesn't come as a surprise. The good news is that he has been participating in some minor-league contests lately and has been taking live batting practice for a while. Kirilloff's stint on the injured list seems like it has the potential to be a relatively short one, but we'll have to wait and see how he progresses in the coming days and weeks. The Twins are expected to utilize multiple players at first base while Kirilloff is sidelined, with Jose Miranda, Joey Gallo and Donovan Solano among those in the mix.
Alex Kirilloff 1B/LF/DH FA Mon 3/20/23 2:28 PM
Alex Kirilloff
1B/LF/DH FA
Kirilloff (wrist) might not be ready in time for Opening Day, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Kirilloff was able to play in a minor-league game Saturday but has yet to see any Grapefruit League action as the Twins ease him into things following another right wrist surgery. While president of baseball operations Derek Falvey has said the team hasn't made a decision yet on whether Kirilloff will be part of the Opening Day roster, it seems likely at this point that he'll just run out of time. Kirilloff does have options remaining, so the club could stash him at Triple-A St. Paul for a bit if he needs to knock some rust off. If that happens, Joey Gallo, Jose Miranda and Donovan Solano are among the candidates to handle first base in Kirilloff's absence.
Alex Kirilloff 1B/LF/DH FA Sat 3/18/23 5:06 PM
Alex Kirilloff
1B/LF/DH FA
Kirilloff (wrist) played four innings at first base Saturday and went 0-for-2 in a minor-league game, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
EDGE Analysis
Kirilloff continues to make progress as he ramps up following surgery last August to shorten the ulnar bone in his right wrist and clean up scar tissue. His return to game action is a significant step and gives hope he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. Kirilloff has a minor-league option remaining, so the Twins could have him report to Triple-A St. Paul to begin the season in order to continue his ramp-up process rather than stashing him on the injured list if he needs more time.
Alex Kirilloff 1B/LF/DH FA Mon 3/13/23 12:36 PM
Alex Kirilloff
1B/LF/DH FA
Kirilloff (wrist) was spotted taking part in live batting practice Monday on the back fields at Twins camp, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
EDGE Analysis
The activity is a sign that Kirilloff is making progress as he ramps up following surgery last August to shorten the ulnar bone in his right wrist and clean up scar tissue, but the Twins haven't yet pinpointed a date for the 25-year-old to make his spring debut. With Opening Day just over two weeks ago, Kirilloff would likely need to get in a game no later than next week for the Twins to feel confident about his chances of breaking camp with the big club. Kirilloff has a minor-league option remaining, so the Twins could have him report to Triple-A St. Paul to begin the season in order to continue his ramp-up process rather than stashing him on the injured list.
Alex Kirilloff 1B/LF/DH FA Sat 3/11/23 2:56 PM
Alex Kirilloff
1B/LF/DH FA
Kirilloff (wrist) is a bit behind schedule, and the Twins aren't committing to him being ready by Opening Day, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Kirilloff is still not all the way back from August wrist surgery, with his progression against live pitching not advancing as quickly as the Twins would have liked. Even if he avoids a trip to the injured list, he might only be ready for part-time duty to begin the year.
Alex Kirilloff 1B/LF/DH FA Sun 3/5/23 12:05 AM
Alex Kirilloff
1B/LF/DH FA
Kirilloff (wrist) continues to make progress and could be ready to play in a spring training game later in March, Phil Miller of The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "He's on track. The plan is, if he's healthy at the end of camp, he's competing for a spot," said Derek Falvey, the Twins' president of baseball operations.
EDGE Analysis
It's a little bit of a surprise that Kirilloff may not play in a major-league spring game until mid-March, but it doesn't sound like the lack of plate appearances will hurt his chances to make the roster. Kirilloff had a second surgery on his right wrist last August to shorten the ulnar bone and clean up scar tissue. He's been taking live batting practice and says there's no pain in his wrist. If fully healthy by the end of training camp, he's likely to earn a spot in the starting lineup at first base and designated hitter.
Alex Kirilloff 1B/LF/DH FA Fri 2/24/23 4:54 PM
Alex Kirilloff
1B/LF/DH FA
Kirilloff (wrist) is one of many players Twins manager Rocco Baldelli plans to use at first base this season, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
"We don't have a first baseman," Baldelli said. "We have several guys that are going to play first base. We don't need one guy that's going to play first base." Kirilloff was expected to see the lion's share of starts at the position as long as he's healthy though, and the 25-year-old is optimistic about his recovery from right wrist surgery last August. However, Donovan Solano, Nick Gordon, Jose Miranda and Joey Gallo could also see playing time there. The Twins are also expected to have a turnstile in the designated hitter spot, with all of the aforementioned players and others in the mix, and that approach could impact the playing-time picture at first base.