The Twins put third baseman Trevor Plouffe on the 15-day disabled list with rib and costal cartilage inflammation on his left side, they announced before Sunday’s loss in Detroit.
Shortstop Pedro Florimon was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to replace Plouffe on the 25-man roster, but Eduardo Escobar will likely fill his spot as Minnesota’s regular third baseman.
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Plouffe was injured diving for an infield single on Saturday. He stayed in the game after a delay but then dropped to his knees in pain after throwing across the diamond one batter later. The injury was initially reported as an oblique strain.
“It’s kind of in the same family, but it’s not as severe as an oblique strain,” assistant general manager Rob Antony said. “We’re hoping it won’t take quite as long.”
Plouffe, who turned 28 on Sunday, is hitting .241 with five homers and 38 RBIs this season, his fifth with the Twins. Florimon was sent down after hitting .108 in his first 25 games this season. He hit .230 at Rochester and made 11 errors in 33 games.
Plouffe has 53 home runs in 415 career games with a .713 OPS.
The Twins (32-35) are in fourth place in the AL Central, five games behind the first-place Tigers.
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