Twins injuries and roster moves

April 30: RHP Jhoan Duran reinstated from 15-day injured list; RHP Matt Bowman designated for assignment
Duran had missed the Twins’ first 28 games with a right oblique strain. He successfully completed a two-game rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on April 27, when his fastball averaged 101.8 mph.

Bowman appeared in five games for the Twins, posting a 2.35 ERA with four walks and six strikeouts.

April 29: SS Carlos Correa reinstated off 10-day IL; UTIL Austin Martin optioned
Correa, who went on the injured list with a mild right intercostal strain, was reinstated. To make room for Correa on the 26-man roster, the Twins optioned Martin to Triple-A St. Paul. Martin played in 22 games for the Twins this season, hitting .226 with one home run and six RBIs.

Correa went on the IL for what was originally described as an oblique strain that he sustained in a loss to the Tigers on April 12, but the Twins later announced that imaging instead revealed a mild right intercostal strain. He had been dealing with sickness that had caused some congestion, coughing and tightness in his sides that flared up as he made a diving stop and took a check swing during that game in Detroit.

RHP Justin Topa (left patellar tendinitis)
Expected return: Early May
Topa, who threw roughly 20 pitches in a live session at Target Field on April 23, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul two days later, throwing 15 pitches (12 strikes) and fanning the side. A rainout pushed his next appearance back a day, so he was slated to throw again on April 28 — but that, too, was pushed back by rain, presumably to the Saints’ next game on April 30.

Topa began the season on the IL due to soreness and inflammation related to left knee tendinitis that had lingered throughout last season. It flared up during Spring Training, leading to him opting for rest to get out ahead of the issue this year. (Last updated: April 29)

3B Royce Lewis (severe right quad strain)
Expected return: No sooner than June
Lewis swung off a tee on April 19 and stood in on some bullpens on April 20. Head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta said Lewis “still [has] some boxes to check for us,” but that Lewis could start a running progression as early as April 22, which will help provide a better estimate of his return date.

Lewis was expected to need at least a month of pure recovery following what was described as a “severe” right quad strain sustained while running the bases in the Twins’ Opening Day victory over the Royals on March 28. He will not require surgery but did receive a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. (Last updated: April 20)

RHP Daniel Duarte (right elbow strain)
Expected return: Not this season
Duarte will undergo right elbow surgery on May 8, performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas. He had Tommy John surgery on his right arm 10 years ago. This surgery will either be a total replacement of the graft in his elbow or the installation of a brace to support the current structure.

According to head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta, Meister said he wouldn’t know which until he began the procedure. Either way, Duarte is facing a long recovery. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 22. (Last updated: April 22)

RHP Zack Weiss (right teres major strain)
Expected return: No sooner than June
Weiss is still in a long-toss program and hasn’t thrown off a mound after he suffered recurring symptoms that have slowed his expected progression.

Weiss was moved to the 60-day IL on April 9. He suffered a strain to the teres major in the right rotator cuff in late February and did not appear in any Spring Training games. (Last updated: April 20)

RHP Josh Winder (right scapula stress fracture)
Expected return: June
Winder has thrown two bullpen sessions in Florida, putting him on track to pitch in extended Spring Training games before he starts an official rehab assignment. Because Winder missed all of Spring Training, the Twins are taking it slow with him, treating his recovery as a more Spring Training-like buildup.

He is tracking behind in his buildup due to a stress fracture he sustained in his right shoulder area last fall, which he said was due to his workload throughout his 2023 season. After undergoing imaging in October, Winder was prescribed rest to allow the fracture to heal, after which he started to throw in January. (Last updated: April 20)

RHP Anthony DeSclafani (right elbow strain)
Expected return: 2025 at the earliest
DeSclafani underwent season-ending flexor tendon repair surgery with Dr. Keith Meister on March 29. He attempted two ramp-ups in Spring Training but had both halted by elbow soreness, at which point he and the Twins sought a consultation with Meister.

There was no UCL involvement, meaning DeSclafani did not need Tommy John surgery, but the flexor tendon surgery also involves a 13-month recovery timeline. (Last updated: March 30)