Santana is hitting .292 (7-for-24) and has focused on playing shortstop this spring. The Twins have said they want Santana to win the starting shortstop job and haven't wavered from that mindset this spring. However, Eduardo Escobar is having a strong spring (hitting .345) and no candidate has emerged as a clear starter in center field, so there's still a small chance Santana could move to the outfield. Santana looks set to leadoff no matter where he plays in the field.

Eduardo Escobar and Santana will compete for Minnesota's starting shortstop job this spring, manager Paul Molitor told MLB.com reports. The Twins sound committed to moving Santana back to shortstop, where he played in the minors, after mostly playing center field in the majors last season. However, it's not clear that the Twins have a set plan for a replacement in center field. If Aaron Hicks or Jordan Schafer are not seen worthy of everyday playing time this spring, it's easy to see the Twins leaving Santana in the outfield. Escobar would likely move to a utility role if Santana moves to shortstop.

Twins manager Paul Molitor said Santana will report to spring training as an infielder, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. The Twins have continued to talk about Santana as a shortstop, but Eduardo Escobar was the starter at the position last season. This could indicate Escobar may be traded or moved to third base. Either way Santana will qualify at shortstop in most fantasy formats since he played 34 games there last season despite playing mostly center field.

Santana is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. With Santana sitting, Eduardo Escobar will return to short as left fielder Jordan Schafer takes over atop the batting order. Santana is batting a healthy .319/.347/.449 this month, but he's 1-for-13 with six strikeouts in his last three games and it seems manager Ron Gardenhire thinks he could use a breather. There has been no word of an injury to this point.

Santana went 3-for-5 with a triple, three runs, two RBI and a stolen base against the Tigers on Wednesday. Santana can really fill up a stat sheet when he's on and he has been of late. The rookie has four multi-hit games in a row for the second time this month. Santana is slashing .392/.415/.549 with six stolen bases in 51 September at-bats.

Santana is out of the lineup for Game 2 of a doubleheader Saturday, Lavelle E. Neal of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Santana started the first game of the doubleheader, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, but will get a rest for the second game. Jordan Schafer will man center field while Chris Parmelee enters the lineup in left to face Scott Carroll.

Santana is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Indians, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. Making his return from a two-game absence, Santana went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Thursday's matinee. Manager Ron Gardenhire doesn't want to play Santana in both games of the doubleheader, which is certainly understandable given the tricky nature of back issues. Aaron Hicks gets the nod in center.

Santana (back) has returned to the lineup for Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader with the Indians, MLB.com reports. Though it was thought Santana would return to the lineup Wednesday, the team determined the 23-year-old could use one more day of rest to aid his strained back. With Santana enduring no setbacks over night, he'll slot back into center field and bat leadoff for the twins in the first half of a twin bill. There's still a good chance that he could get the nightcap off as a precaution, but Santana otherwise looks to be in good shape for regular duty heading into the weekend.

Santana (back) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Indians, Tribeinsider reports. Santana hasn't played since leaving Saturday's game with a back strain, but he was expected to be back in the lineup Wednesday. He was available off the bench Tuesday, so he likely will be Wednesday as well. Santana had been progressing well, so he could be able to return Thursday unless he suffered a setback, though it's not immediately clear.

General manager Terry Ryan expects Santana (back) to be in Wednesday's lineup, the Star Tribune's LaVelle E. Neal III reports. Santana is available off the bench Tuesday after taking part in pre-game activities, and is nearing full health. Santana has been one of the few legitimate bright spots among the Twins' hitters this season, sporting a .320 average with seven home runs and 15 steals in just 84 games. There are plenty of reasons to be skeptical heading into 2015, as his production with the bat in his big-league debut dwarfs anything he accomplished in the minor leagues, but for now, his owners should enjoy the ride as long as it lasts.