Twins injury updates: Thielbar returns, Correa has mild intercostal strain

Minnesota lost a shortstop but got a reliever back over the weekend.

Pitcher Caleb Thielbar throws in the bullpen during the Minnesota Twins spring training workouts at Hammond Stadium on Fort Myers on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. / Jonah Hinebaugh / Naples Daily News / USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK

There’s been good news and bad news on the injury front for the Twins over the weekend. 

The bad news is that shortstop Carlos Correa will officially see some time on the injured list. The Twins placed Correa on the 10-day injured list on Saturday after the shortstop exited during the third inning of Friday's game at the Detroit Tigers after appearing to grab at his side after an at-bat. Correa was later ruled out of that game with a right oblique strain.

But the good news is that Correa's injury isn't quite as severe as initially thought. It's been reclassified as a mild right intercostal strain and his timeline to return to the lineup could be known by the end of the week, according to MLB.com's Do-Young Park. And in more good news, left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar is back with the team after beginning the season on the 15-day injured list.

Thielbar opened the season on the injured list due to a left hamstring strain but recently completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul, where he made two appearances and pitched three innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out five for the Saints.

The Twins optioned reliever Jorge Alcala, who had been pitching well with a 1-0 record, allowing only three hits and a run while recording nine strikeouts across 8 1/3 innings in six appearances, to make room for Thielbar on the active roster.