Josh Donaldson 3B FA Thu 4/1/21 8:30 PM
Josh Donaldson
3B FA
Donaldson (hamstring) is likely to be reevaluated Friday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
EDGE Analysis
Donaldson exited the team's game after suffering hamstring tightness while running the bases. Manager Rocco Baldelli said there's some concern regarding Donaldson's status, but there'll be no clarity on a timeline until the team learns more about the extent of the injury.
Josh Donaldson 3B FA Thu 4/1/21 2:59 PM
Josh Donaldson
3B FA
Donaldson left Thursday's game against the Brewers with a tight right hamstring, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Injuries are unfortunately part of the package at this point in Donaldson's career, though the Twins were likely hoping he'd last longer than one inning before suffering his first ailment of the year. It's at least not a calf issue -- something that has plagued the veteran several times in recent seasons -- but his health history doesn't offer much cause for optimism. It's not yet clear when the Twins expect him to return to the lineup.
Josh Donaldson 3B FA Thu 4/1/21 2:36 PM
Josh Donaldson
3B FA
Donaldson left Thursday's game in the first inning after suffering an apparent leg injury, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Donaldson hit a double in his first at-bat, but limped while running to second base. He stayed in at second base to finish the half inning but did not come back out to the field at the bottom of the frame. Luis Arraez moved to third base to replace him with Jake Cave entering the game in left field. The precise nature of the issue is unclear, but it's concerning given his history of calf injuries.
Josh Donaldson 3B FA Tue 3/30/21 11:40 AM
Josh Donaldson
3B FA
Donaldson enters Tuesday's spring finale against the Pirates with a .281/.303/.500 slash line across 32 at-bats in Grapefruit League play.
EDGE Analysis
In what looks to be a preview of the Twins' lineup for Thursday's regular-season opener in Milwaukee, Donaldson is starting at third base and batting second Tuesday. The 35-year-old regularly batted out of the two hole during an injury-shortened 2020 campaign, making 24 of his 25 starts out of that spot in the lineup. Donaldson has shown no ill effects from the calf injury that troubled him in 2020, so he should be poised to deliver better results as he prepares for his second season in Minnesota.
Josh Donaldson 3B FA Sun 3/7/21 9:13 PM
Josh Donaldson
3B FA
Donaldson went 1-for-2 with a home run in his spring debut in Sunday's win over Tampa Bay. "Right now, I feel really good. Moving around well. I've been doing a lot of running, so hopefully, that bodes well for us going into the season," Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
The Twins eased Donaldson into action this spring to try and prevent the calf injuries that limited him to 28 games last season and caused him to miss the playoffs. He may play every other day this spring to keep him fresh for the regular season. Manager Rocco Baldelli has said Donaldson will be given extra time off early in the regular season to keep him fresh for the second half.
Josh Donaldson 3B FA Wed 2/24/21 1:20 AM
Josh Donaldson
3B FA
The Twins plan to give Donaldson more frequent rest this season, especially early in the year, to try avoid the calf injuries that limited him to 28 games last season and caused him to miss the playoffs. "I'm not going to be playing in every single game early on, but to kind of build into getting game-ready," Donaldson told MLB.com.
EDGE Analysis
Donaldson said he worked on his running form in the offseason to reduce stress on his calf muscles. Donaldson is healthy as spring training begins, but he may be used sparingly in exhibition games to ease him into the regular season. Luis Arraez could start at third base a game or two each week early on to give him rest. Donaldson has had chronic calf injuries (missing 38 games with right calf strain in 2017) and played just 52 games in 2018 with a left calf and shoulder injury. Donaldson remains a top power option at third base, but with considerable injury risk.
Josh Donaldson 3B FA Tue 9/29/20 11:25 AM
Josh Donaldson
3B FA
Donaldson (calf) is not on the Twins' AL Wild Card Round roster, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.
EDGE Analysis
Calf issues, which are hardly something new for the veteran third baseman, limited Donaldson to just 28 games this season. The issue returned during the final series of the campaign and evidently hasn't subsided to the point that the Twins feel comfortable with him playing at any point in the next three days. Marwin Gonzalez will be the third baseman in Game 1 against the Astros.
Josh Donaldson 3B FA Mon 9/28/20 4:51 PM
Josh Donaldson
3B FA
Donaldson (calf) participated in live batting practice Monday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Donaldson missed the final two games of the regular season with a right calf cramp, but he took batting practice with the Twins on Monday, just one day before Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series. The team hasn't announced whether he'll be available to begin the series, but his participation in batting practice is an encouraging step.
Josh Donaldson 3B FA Sun 9/27/20 12:26 PM
Josh Donaldson
3B FA
Donaldson (calf) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Reds, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
The veteran third baseman exited Friday's contest with a right calf cramp and won't start the final two games of the season. It's not a great sign given Donaldson has battled calf issues in recent years, but the Twins may just be expressing caution on the eve of the playoffs. Marwin Gonzalez receives the start at third base Sunday for the Twins.
Josh Donaldson 3B FA Sat 9/26/20 4:50 PM
Josh Donaldson
3B FA
Donaldson (calf) will not start Saturday's game against Cincinnati.
EDGE Analysis
Donaldson left Friday's game with a right calf cramp, a worrying sign for a player who has missed quite a bit of time with calf issues in recent years. He's reportedly feeling good and receiving treatment Saturday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports, but the Twins are likely far more concerned about having him healthy for the playoffs than having him available for the final two games of the regular season. Ehire Adrianza will be the third baseman Saturday.