"Justin Morneau still has numbness in his left forefinger, but the strength in his left arm has improved since he had surgery to repair a ruptured disk in his neck on June 24, and he hopes to start light baseball activity on Monday.

"I'm just trying to get it back as quick as it will go, but I've been pleased so far," the first baseman said.

A fragment from the ruptured disk was pinching a nerve, causing numbness, pain and weakness up and down his left arm and hand, which he battled for 55 games, batting .225 with 21 RBIs. He also had a wrist injury that required a cast.

During a trip to Milwaukee, the Twins shut Morneau down and ordered surgery, which he hopes will have him healthy for his first playoff appearance since 2006. He missed last year's playoffs because of a concussion and the 2009 postseason because of a microfracture in his lower back."