Matt Wallner Set to Begin Rehab Assignment, and Other Minnesota Twins Injury Updates

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Katie Stratman--Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins are poised to receive a significant boost to their lineup soon, as outfielder Matt Wallner edges closer to returning from a left hamstring strain. On the pitching side, Minnesota’s bullpen was expected to be among the league’s best. After some early season snafus, the relief core has rounded into form, but some injury issues have impacted the group. 

OF Matt Wallner
Injury: Left hamstring strain
Wallner landed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to April 15 due to a strained left hamstring suffered against the Mets, sidelining him since that mid-April contest at Target Field. Since that time, Wallner has gradually ramped up his activity, running the bases and taking batting practice. The team hoped a clean workout on Tuesday would clear him to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday. Obviously, the rainy weather in the Twin Cities will impact when he can begin playing. 

Manager Rocco Baldelli called the progress “encouraging,” noting that Wallner is about as far along in his recovery as the staff could have hoped for at this stage. Before the injury, the left-handed slugger was Minnesota’s top hitter, posting a .263/.373/.474 line through the first 18 games of the season.

“I would much rather have them winning games when I’m not out there as opposed to the other way around,” Wallner said. “Like it was kind of early. Makes you a bit more excited to get back out there, but 10 times out of 10, you’d rather have the team go on a streak like that as opposed to having them struggle like we were in the beginning.”

Assuming there are no setbacks, Wallner would slot into the Saints’ lineup later this week, where he’ll need a handful of games to regain timing before the Twins feel comfortable activating him.
Expected return: Late May

LHP Danny Coulombe
Injury: Left forearm extensor strain
Coulombe was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 18 with forearm extensor soreness, stemming from lingering muscle tightness in his forearm that has bothered him for much of the year. The Twins view Coulombe’s condition as relatively minor, believing that rest and recovery will allow him to return quickly rather than a long-term concern. 

“It’s been something I’ve been kind of just dealing with all year,” Coulombe said. “When you’re 35, you’re not going to feel good all the time. But it’s just something that’s gotten progressively a little worse. … I feel pretty optimistic it’s going to be a short absence.”

Through 19 scoreless appearances before hitting the IL, Coulombe established himself as one of Minnesota’s most reliable bullpen options, yielding only one unearned run and striking out 19 while walking two. In Win Probability Added (WPA), Coulombe trails only closer Jhoan Duran among Twins relievers, underlining his value this season.
Expected Return: Early June

RHP Michael Tonkin
Injury: Right shoulder strain
Tonkin has yet to make his 2025 debut for the parent club, after beginning the season on the IL with a right shoulder strain. He was cleared to begin minor-league rehab outings in mid-April. However, during his sixth rehab appearance, Tonkin developed biceps tendinitis, which the team’s medical team treated with an anti-inflammatory injection. His throwing program has been paused as a result. Baldelli confirmed that Tonkin will be shut down temporarily to address the new soreness and will need to rebuild arm strength before resuming a rehab assignment. Given the timing of this setback, after he had nearly completed a 30-day rehab window, Tonkin won’t return to game action until he completes another ramp-up cycle. 
Expected Return: Early July

With Wallner’s rehab assignment looming, the Twins could soon regain one of their most potent bats. He can offer a timely lift to an offense missing multiple big bats, including Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa. Meanwhile, bullpen depth remains in flux, as Coulombe and Tonkin navigate their respective injuries. Fans will watch closely over the next week to see if Wallner’s return sparks another Twins winning stretch and how the bullpen pieces slot back into place once healthy.

---

What does Wallner’s return mean for the lineup? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

View full article

[FlyingFinn]

Don't rush Wallner back. Give him time to be ready. A couple of players seemed to have rushed back, like Austin Martin who got reinjured in his first game back. 

[Fatbat]

The guy we need back the most is the guy that started this whole winning thingy. Luke Keaschall. Can’t wait to see him in the lineup next month!!

[DocBauer]

Baseball gods willing, we have Buck, CC, and Wallner All back in a couple of weeks. That trio is going to be missed, but they, along with Larnach, Lee, Jeffers, and Lewis heating up we can have a really solid lineup the rest of the way.

And Keaschall back in July? 

Knock on wood!

[Doctor Wu]

11 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Don't rush Wallner back. Give him time to be ready. A couple of players seemed to have rushed back, like Austin Martin who got reinjured in his first game back. 

Heck, don't rush any of these guys. The B-squad seems to be doing alright lately, so let's make sure our regular players are fully healthy. 

[Otaknam]

Let’s hope the pitching holds up. A lineup of Clements, Fitzgerald, and Kiersey doesn’t inspire confidence long term, though I tip my hat to Clements for getting some big hits. I just don’t think it’s sustainable. 

[jmlease1]

Good news on Wallner. Would very much like to get his power production back in the lineup, add some real danger behind guys scratching out singles.

I hope Coulombe is right about his injury, but I'm so used to players being overly optimistic/wrong about their health that part of me is simply uninterested in what a player has to say about their own status, unless they're repeating what the training medical staff has told them (since those people will almost never say anything on or off the record any longer, which while frustrating for fans is correct from a medical privacy standpoint).

Tonkin's status would be more concerning if guys like Stewart and Topa were still fighting to get healthy. Right now, there isn't an obvious guy to drop for him even if he was ready.

Would love to know where Buxton, Correa, and Keaschall are on their rehab timelines.

[bean5302]

Tonkin shoulder strain? Add that to the list of ever growing arm injuries. I'm skeptical he'll pitch again at this point.

[LambchoP]

Tonkin just might be done for this year. With Coloumbe on the IL and Alcala pitching way too inconsistent, I think the Twins are gonna need some pen reinforcement. I also don't trust Funderburk to be our number one lefty. Mccaghan has looked good in AAA, maybe he factors in. I also wonder if Morris or Adams might get to make their debut in the pen. I'm hoping for at least one trade deadline relief pickup. Maybe a set up type lefty as Coloumbe insurance.

[JD-TWINS]

Sands will have some bad outings at some point - Jax had 3-4 brutal appearances and will probably have a couple more over the next 4 months - Alcala lacks command (!) - Varland gives up too many HR’s - Stewart & Topa staying healthy isn’t a guarantee………..the bullpen will always have question marks & with some ups & downs. So far, they are #1 in the game on May 21st……I’m good with them!

Funderburk works for 3-4 weeks until Coulombe can go again. There’s no “perfect” on the roster, particularly when dealing with injuries.

Can’t imagine anyone is fretting over Michael Tonkin’s return date.

Keaschall is out until after the All-Star Break, at a minimum, is the impression I had when he got his cast on originally……..right?

Hoping for some good news on Buxton/Correa on broadcast today!

Wallner back by June 1-5 worst case.

Rain & rest has to be helping Castro & Bader feel a bit better!! Pen is getting a nice break as well!

[saviking]

I didn't know Danny C could throw hard enough to hurt his arm ..

[Schmoeman5]

15 hours ago, Fatbat said:

The guy we need back the most is the guy that started this whole winning thingy. Luke Keaschall. Can’t wait to see him in the lineup next month!!

Love Luke. He made things happen. And I hope it continues when he returns. But I'm pretty sure he went down before the winning thingy.

[Fatbat]

2 hours ago, Schmoeman5 said:

Love Luke. He made things happen. And I hope it continues when he returns. But I'm pretty sure he went down before the winning thingy.

Yeah, he was injured on the 25th just as the team was starting to win games regularly. Im still giving him credit for turning the clubhouse mentality around by playing like he did for just 7 games.