"The journey to hitting 34 home runs since leaving the White Sox in September 2009 has been "challenging" for Twins slugger Jim Thome, but not discouraging.

"It's been enjoyable," said Thome, who is two home runs away from becoming the eighth player to reach the 600 mark. "That speaks for itself. But when you get older, you appreciate things a little more. And you appreciate the chance to play. I don't play every day anymore, so I don't take anything for granted."

Thome, 40, appreciated Sox manager Ozzie Guillen saying recently he wouldn't mind if Thome hit his 600th homer against the Sox as long as it came in a loss."