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Justin Morneau News & Rumors

Batting practice could be in Morneau's near future
January 27
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Justin Morneau hopes to take another step in his recovery from wrist surgery this weekend while he's in the Twin Cities for TwinsFest. The first baseman will see Dr. Thomas Varecka to determine if he's ready to begin taking batting practice. Morneau had surgery Sept. 30 to stabilize a tendon in his left wrist. He spent six weeks in a cast and six more in a splint and wasn't cleared to take swings off a batting tee until last week. Morneau's wrist began bothering him last May. An Internet rumor has circulated that Morneau injured the wrist in a clubhouse tirade after a strikeout, but Morneau refuted that this week in an e-mail to the Star Tribune. "My wrist injury was done swinging,""
Justin Morneau: On balance, he's better
January 22
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The sun had just appeared on the desert horizon last week when Justin Morneau climbed into his white Chevy Suburban for a 30-minute drive from his home in Paradise Valley. Using side streets to avoid Phoenix's plodding freeway traffic, the Twins first baseman zipped past the airport and pulled into an obscure industrial park filled with faceless gray buildings. Here, a concrete contractor and an electrical engineering firm share the same driveway with another repair establishment. Morneau parked at Fischer Sports, a physical therapy and conditioning center to which ballplayers such as Joe Nathan, Carl Pavano and Kerry Wood have turned to rebuild their careers. Morneau knew this was where"
Ryan says Morneau is making progress
January 13
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist Sid Hartman
"An interview recently posted on Major League Baseball's official website with Justin Morneau was, at best, pessimistic about how the Twins first baseman was recovering from his concussion and wrist problems. Twins General Manager Terry Ryan saw the interview and said that "it didn't surprise me, the facts that came out." However, Ryan is optimistic Morneau will be healthy and ready to go in spring training. "He's doing OK in my book," Ryan said. "He's been in the ballpark here this past week every morning, and he's working hard. He's on about the right schedule. He'll start to swing a bat here in probably another 10 days to two weeks. I wouldn't get too concerned about exactly what came"
Twins' Justin Morneau is focused on playing first base, not DH
January 11
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Justin Morneau is willing to be the Twins' full-time designated hitter, but it's not his preference. "I will play wherever the team wants me to play that will give us the best chance of winning," he said via email Tuesday. "I believe that would be at first base." That's what general manager Terry Ryan is hoping to hear, now and when spring training begins the third week in February. If the Twins are to recover from a 99-loss season and compete for an American League Central title, they'll need Morneau to play his first full season since 2008. And if Morneau is able to play a full season, it might as well be at first base, where he earned the 2006 AL Most Valuable Player Award. "We have not"
Concussions 'have not been an issue' for Justin Morneau
December 19
ESPN.com
 
"With the additions of veteran free agents Josh Willingham, Ryan Doumit, Jamey Carroll and a pitcher-to-be-named sometime in the near future, Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan is not hiding the fact that he wants to build a contending team for 2012. Whether the Twins are actually capable of contending for a division title is highly debatable, but what's not debatable is this: If Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau aren't healthy and productive, nothing else really matters. Mauer spoke at length earlier this month about his offseason changes, and on Sunday, in an interview with 1500 ESPN, Ryan said Morneau's concussions "have not been an issue right now. ... "I think everything's pointing"
Nathan says Cuddyer 'probably' more valuable Twin than Mauer, Morneau
December 9
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 columnist Charley Walters
"It's still not clear whether Michael Cuddyer will be back with the Twins. But the free-agent outfielder might be more valuable to the Twins than Joe Mauer or Justin Morneau, Joe Nathan said Thursday. "Everyone always talks about the Mauers and the Morneaus, but Cuddy's as important, if not more, and I think last year showed how he probably is a little more important to that club," said Nathan, the Twins' career saves leader who last month signed a free-agent deal with the Texas Rangers. "(It's) just with his versatility," Nathan said. "He plays every day. You won't hear anything (from him) if he's banged up - he goes out and plays the game. If he's not in the lineup, something's got to be"
Justin Morneau encouraged by early workouts
December 2
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau has begun working out in preparation for next season. "Started light workouts," Morneau, beset with concussion symptoms last season, emailed Thursday night. "I am still limited in what I can do as I am still rehabbing my wrist from the wrist surgery, so am just allowed to do cardio, lower body and core stuff so far. "(It's) been going well so far." To listen to Terry Ryan, the rehired Twins general manager, next week's winter baseball meetings in Dallas could be more about groundwork for future deals than immediate deals. "We've never made a huge splash at the winter meetings," Ryan said Thursday. "We usually do OK, whether it happens on Dec. 4-8 or in"
Gardenhire weighs options for Morneau
December 1
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, when he was shut down for the season in September because of concussion symptoms and other ailments, expressed a willingness to DH more in 2012. That very well could happen. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, during an appearance on ESPN 1500AM on Wednesday, said he wants to decide sooner than later if the former MVP will play at first base or be the DH. ''One of the things Terry [Ryan, the Twins' GM] and I talked about is making sure before we get too deep in this thing [is] what were going to do with Morny," Gardenhire said. ''Where he is going to play, if it is DH, if it is first base. Morny has to eventually tell us what's right for him or I'll make the"
Minnesota Twins President Dave St. Peter has no regrets about big-bucks deals for Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer
September 21
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"The last-place Twins had just lost their 93rd game of the season Monday afternoon to the Yankees in New York, and Twins President Dave St. Peter was in his Target Field office. The Twins played without Joe Mauer, who is being paid $23 million this year and is finished for the season because of pneumonia, and Justin Morneau, who is paid $14 million and is done for the season because of concussion symptoms and a minor knee procedure. Mauer, 28, who is in the first season of a $184 million, eight-year contract, played in just 82 games this season. Morneau, 30, who is in the fourth season of an $80 million, six-year contract, played in just 69 games. Both players' contracts are guaranteed. I"
Twins shut down Justin Morneau for the rest of season. Next up: knee, foot surgery on Monday
September 19
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"The misery of coming to Target Field every day the past three weeks, hoping to make enough progress in individual workouts to get back into the Twins' lineup, finally is over for Justin Morneau. Morneau was advised by Twins medical personnel to sit out the rest of the season to help treat his recurring concussion symptoms and to get a head start on recovering from surgeries today to remove a cyst in his left knee and bone spurs in his right foot. "It's been a year to forget, for sure," Morneau said after the Twins' 6-5 loss to Cleveland on Sunday at Target Field."
Twins' Morneau packs it in for 2011, pins hopes on healthier 2012
September 19
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Twins officially shut down Justin Morneau for the season Sunday, marking the second year in a row they've done this because of his concussion symptoms. He's hoping this recovery goes much quicker. Morneau, 30, hasn't played since Aug. 28, when he dived for a ball down the first-base line and landed awkwardly on his left shoulder. He didn't hit his head on the ground, but he jarred himself and felt a headache and fogginess the next day. Morneau said his symptoms are more mild than they were one year ago and yet they haven't subsided. "The test results show that the impact test wasn't back to normal, so there's a protocol to follow," he said. "Everything isn't regular yet. We're going to"
What went wrong: Morneau's concussion
September 16
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Justin Morneau's latest concussion has him rethinking his future as a ballplayer. No, the 30-year-old isn't contemplating retirement. But as much as he loves playing first base, his main priority is becoming a season-long mainstay in the Twins lineup, even if that means more time at designated hitter. "If that's something I need to do, and if that means being able to hit fourth and help this team win every day, I'll do it," he said. "The last thing we need is to be out there tentative, and not being able to play the game the way it's supposed to be played." Morneau's awakening came Aug. 28, when he began feeling concussion symptoms after diving awkwardly for a double down the first-base"
Justin Morneau concerned his latest concussion occurred on routine play
September 10
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Whether Justin Morneau has a new concussion or is still battling the one that cost him 81 games last season, the fact it's an issue again has the Twins first baseman concerned. What particularly concerns Morneau is that the play that sidelined him this time was fairly routine. "It's a normal baseball play. I should be able to do that without any problems," he said. Morneau believed his July 7, 2010, concussion was long behind him when he dived to his left in an attempt to snag a double down the right-field line early in a victory over Detroit on Aug. 28 at Target Field. He stayed in the game, which he ended with an acrobatic unassisted double play. But he hasn't played since, missing"
Who's on first for Twins? Not Justin Morneau for the rest of this season
September 6
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, the biggest names on the Twins' roster, are facing a significant shift in roles over the final four weeks of the season. If and when Morneau returns to the lineup, he will be used only as the team's designated hitter. As for Mauer, Twins fans should get used to seeing him at first base. Both revelations came from Twins manager Ron Gardenhire before Monday's doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox. Injuries to both stars, particularly the concussion-related issues troubling Morneau, led to Gardenhire's decisions, and with the Twins out of the running in the American League Central, it's as good a time as any to examine new roles for the team's top two"
Morneau rests with minor concussion symptoms
August 31
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Justin Morneau made last year's concussion sound like a part of his distant past Sunday, after a game spent getting his uniform dirty at Target Field. Apparently, he spoke too soon. Morneau began experiencing concussion symptoms Monday — a headache and fogginess — and the Twins immediately contacted the Pittsburgh specialist who treated Morneau through the injury that cost him last season's final four months. The specialist recommended that Morneau take a baseline concussion test. "The test is broken down into a series of mini-tests, and one of them came back, as the doctor described, as mildly below baseline," Twins trainer Rick McWane said. "For the most part, the rest of the tests"
Morneau's mild concussion symptoms
August 31
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Four hundred and twenty days after taking a blow to the head in Toronto, Justin Morneau finds himself sidelined with "mild concussion symptoms." This technically marks the first time since the end of last year that Morneau has missed regular-season time as a result of the brain injury that cut short his 2010 campaign. But, in light of these recurring symptoms, one does wonder how much the first baseman's dismal performance this year can be attributed to the concussion's after-effects. It's been nearly 14 months since Morneau suffered the injury, yet he still barely resembles his old self on the field and can't be in a good place if he's asking out of the lineup."
Mauer, Morneau sit out
August 30
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Joe Mauer's latest injury was almost healed Monday, but Justin Morneau was hurt again. On and on it goes for the 2011 Twins. Mauer hasn't been in the lineup since last Tuesday, when he hurt his neck while playing first base, trying to make an over-the-shoulder catch in right field against Baltimore. "What happened was, I hyperextended my neck and sent my muscles into a spasm," Mauer said before the Twins' 3-0 loss to the White Sox on Monday night. "So I'm just trying to get past that soreness and get to where I can move my neck and get out there and play." Mauer took batting practice and fielded grounders at first base, where playing time might be available because of Morneau's latest"
Morneau and Mauer both sitting tonight against the White Sox
August 29
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Justin Morneau jammed his left shoulder diving for a ball in Sunday's game and woke up stiff and sore Monday, so he's not in tonight's lineup as the Twins begin a three-game series against the White Sox. "Sometimes you land a little funny, and we'll see what happens," Manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Hopefully he'll be playing tomorrow." Joe Mauer (sore neck) is not in the lineup for the sixth straight game. Describing the injury today, he said he hyper-extended his neck when he tried to catch that pop fly against the Orioles last Tuesday. He plans to take batting practice with the team tonight and hopes to be available to pinch hit off the bench."
Twins win, Morneau sounds optimistic about health and future
August 29
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Justin Morneau went 3-for-4 in the Twins' 11-4 victory today, but what impressed me was that Morneau, in a meaningless game, ran crazy on the bases, twice trying to advance on fly balls and making a hard take-out slide. I assumed Morneau was following up his public talk about the importance of the Twins playing hard the rest of the season. He downplayed that aspect, but I believe he was trying to set an example for the Twins' younger players, many of whom have not displayed a lot of baseball intelligence or gamesmanship this season. ``No, it was just an opportunity,'' Morneau said. ``On one of them, I probably shouldn't have run. ``Just trying to play the game. It's hard to be aggressive"
A day later, Justin Morneau feels no better about overturned HR
August 20
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"The attempt was to post a positive, second-day Justin Morneau's overturned home run. The Twins first baseman wasn't having any of it. "It's the hardest I've hit the ball for a while, if you want to take anything from that," he said. "But I went 0 for 4 after that, so it doesn't mean anything. There aren't a lot of moral victories in this game." Morneau clubbed a CC Sabathia fastball a good 400 feet into the plaza behind right field for a two-run homer with one out in the first inning Thursday night, but the umpiring crew quickly met and decided to review the homer on replay - and it was overturned relatively quickly. "You can take three horrible swings, break three bats, and get three"
Morneau delivers for Twins
August 18
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Tigers closer Jose Valverde was in a basesloaded jam in the ninth inning Wednesday. He blew away Trevor Plouffe and Joe Mauer with 96-miles-per-hour fastballs, but he still had Justin Morneau to deal with. One of the M&M boys had to come through. "That's how it's supposed to be," Morneau said. "It doesn't always work out the way it's supposed to, as we have seen this year go." It was a return to the good ol' days of a couple years ago, as Morneau singled up the middle to drive in two runs and help lead the Twins to a 6-5 victory at Comerica Park. Morneau's single drove in Rene Tosoni and Tsuyoshi Nishioka as the Twins took the three-game series 2-1. They last won a series July 14-17, when"
Health of Mauer, Morneau alters Twins' direction
August 15
MLB.com
 
"Think of the Minnesota Twins lineup, and you think of the modern-day "M"
Morneau back in uniform for Twins
August 12
Sacramento Bee
 
"Justin Morneau will be back on the field for the first time in over two months for the Minnesota Twins. The team has recalled the first baseman from a rehab assignment at Triple-A Rochester and activated him off the 15-day disabled list prior to the start of a three-game series in Cleveland. Morneau has not played for the Twins since June 9. He was first sidelined with a left wrist injury, then had surgery on June 29 to remove a herniated disc fragment in his neck that helped to relieve pressure on a pinched nerve. He played in seven games during his rehab assignment and batted .367 with one home run, four doubles and eight runs batted in."
Morneau looks ready to return to old form
August 12
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist: Sid Hartman
"Tom Nieto has watched Justin Morneau rehab for eight days, and the manager at Class AAA Rochester is convinced that Ron Gardenhire will see the MVP-caliber first baseman of old when he rejoins the Twins in Cleveland on Friday. "He's been doing good, he's been here [eight] days, and he's really progressed in his at-bats," said Nieto, a former Twins catcher. "He's having great at-bats now. He hit a home run [Wednesday] night, had an infield single, had a couple doubles the other night. He's moving around good and he looks like he's at full-go." After going 0-for-4 Thursday night, Morneau hit .367 with four doubles, a home run, eight RBI and eight runs scored in seven games with Rochester."
Morneau delivers message to get back where he belongs
August 11
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist Patrick Reusse
"Justin Morneau was starting a season with the Twins for the first time in 2005. He was hit in the helmet by a pitch from Seattle reliever Ron Villone in the third game. Morneau went on the disabled list because of a concussion. He missed 13 games and returned to the lineup April 22. Starting then through Sept. 12, 2009, the Twins totaled 778 regular-season games and Morneau played in 750. This included playing in all 163 games in 2008. Morneau had played despite back pain for several weeks in 2009. He was swinging feebly in September -- 3-for-39 (.077) -- and finally was sent for an MRI. It showed a stress fracture in his lower back. He missed the rest of the season, including another Game"
Morneau to rejoin team Friday
August 11
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was asked to describe the phone conversation he had with Justin Morneau on Wednesday. "It's not cable," Gardenhire said, "so I can't tell you. Ask the general manager [Bill Smith] about his texts." Morneau has made it clear he is ready to return to the majors. After he plays in one more minor league rehabilitation game Thursday, he will be activated from the 15-day disabled list and join the Twins on Friday in Cleveland for the start of a three-game series against the Indians. Morneau is batting .423 in six games at Class AAA Rochester. Wednesday night at Durham, he went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the ninth inning. "He's killing the ball, swinging really"
Morneau progressing well in rehab action
August 9
MLB.com
 
"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau turned in an impressive performance in his rehab game with Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, going 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored, and followed it up with another solid showing on Monday, going 2-for-4 with a double. Morneau, who underwent surgery to remove a herniated disk fragment in his neck on June 29, is hitting .353 with two doubles in four rehab games with Rochester. Morneau was originally placed on the disabled list, retroactive to June 10, with a sprained left wrist, before electing to undergo neck surgery later in the month. He was hitting .225 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 55 games before hitting the DL."
Morneau set for test flight with Red Wings tonight
August 5
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Justin Morneau is scheduled to fly to Norfolk, Va., tonight to meet the Class AAA Rochester Red Wings for a minor league rehab assignment. He is expected to play his first game tonight. Morneau hasn't played since June 9 because of neck, arm and wrist injuries, and had surgery to repair a ruptured disc in his neck June 24. He's been working out at Target Field the past week. "He had a very good week," general manager Bill Smith said. "He's done everything, in a workout setting - he's hit, fielded, run the bases, thrown. He looks good, and he feels good. That's great news for us." The Red Wings start a four-game series at Norfolk tonight, then play three at Durham, N.C. Smith said Morneau's"
Morneau ships out, will begin rehab assignment
August 5
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau flew Thursday night to Norfolk, Va., where he is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Friday with Class AAA Rochester. Morneau has been out since June 9, so he will likely need at least one week's worth of playing time with Rochester before coming off the disabled list. The Twins originally placed Morneau on the DL because of a strained left wrist, but he had surgery June 29 to relieve a pinched nerve in his neck. The pinched nerve was causing weakness in his left arm and numbness in his left fingers as he struggled through the first half. Morneau is hitting .225 with four home runs and 21 RBI in 55 games this season, after missing the second half of"
Morneau takes problem-free batting practice
August 4
MLB.com
 
"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who underwent surgery to remove a herniated disk fragment in his neck on June 29, took batting practice at Target Field on Wednesday and reported no problems. "He had a really good day on the field with BP and ground balls and the whole package," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Everything went good." Morneau is expected to do the same on Thursday, before taking early batting practice with his teammates upon their return to Minneapolis on Friday for their game against the White Sox."
Star duo facing unknown
July 31
Toronto Sun
 columnist Steve Simmons
"It must bother Sidney Crosby to see what has become of Justin Morneau this baseball season. Bother him — and worry him. Morneau was as productive a hitter as the American League had prior to his head colliding with John McDonald's knee last July. He had hit 136 home runs in the past 4 1/2 seasons. Before his concussion troubles, he won an MVP award, finished second another year, and was annually in the discussion for Canada's athlete of the year."
Morneau needed to boost offense
July 24
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist Sid Hartman
"Well, the Twins finally beat the Tigers on Saturday, winning 4-1 after losing their previous 11 games to the team managed by Jim Leyland. If the Twins are going to beat Detroit out for the American League Central Division title like they did last year and the year before, they will have to find a way to score runs. Entering Saturday, they are 12th in the American League and 24th in the major leagues in scoring runs. The Twins continue to have trouble scoring runs and that is a big reason for their 6-5 record during their current 12-game homestand to begin play after the All-Star break. Over the 11 games, the Twins have hit .251 and scored 39 runs, 3.5 a game, with seven home runs. At the"
Justin Morneau "pleased so far" as he regains arm strength
July 17
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"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"
The MIA boys: Mauer, Morneau
July 14
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"There is only one American League team that has two former Most Valuable Players on its roster. It's the Twins, with catcher Joe Mauer and first baseman Justin Morneau. They are the team's No. 3 and No. 4 hitters and one of the most devastating one-two punches in baseball --when they are on the field together. And the uncertainty of how often the two will be in the lineup in the second half is one of the biggest questions facing the Twins as they try to overcome a 6 1/2-game deficit in the AL Central. "Those two are a dynamic duo when they are back-to-back," Detroit Tigers righthander Justin Verlander said. "It is never going to be easy to get through those two guys, especially when there"
Morneau lauds Gardenhire, subs' buy-in for Twins' comeback
July 13
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"First baseman Justin Morneau has a theory behind the Minnesota Twins' remarkable comeback despite his team's inordinate amount of injuries this season. The Twins, who were 16-1/2 games out of first place June 1, are within 6-1/2 entering the second half of the season that begins Thursday against Kansas City at Target Field. Besides Morneau, the Twins still are without regular outfielders Jason Kubel and Denard Span. "You've got one of the best managers (Ron Gardenhire) in the game, and you've got guys who come up (from the minors) and buy into the program," Morneau said. "Guys are trying to stick in the big leagues, but they're willing to move a runner over and get rewarded with high-fives"
Justin Morneau doesn't do self-pity
July 7
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Justin Morneau was back in the Twins' clubhouse Wednesday, but he had to watch his team from the sideline for the 24th time this season. Since 2009, Morneau has missed 117 games because of a wrist injury, concussion and a back stress fracture. At age 30, in the prime of his career, it would be easy for Morneau to question, "Why me?" He doesn't, though. "When you see someone like Harmon Killebrew get cancer, that makes you say, 'Why him?' " Morneau said. "Why me? I had to have a little neck surgery - that's not life or death. It's unfortunate; it's not a lot of fun. It's something I was hoping to avoid, but there are kids in children's hospitals, there are people off fighting wars, and"
Justin Morneau starts another recovery
July 6
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau on Tuesday made his first appearance in the clubhouse since having a herniated disk fragment removed from his neck last Wednesday. So far, there's less numbness in his fingers and less pain down his arm than before the surgery. He expects both to eventually go away, especially as he regains range of motion. "So it's going good,'' he said. "Still a ways away unfortunately, but it's getting better.'' He will rest for another 10-14 days, then slowly begin some baseball activities. He's not expected to return until mid-August."
Good signs following Morneau's surgery
July 2
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"The Twins got good news about Justin Morneau -- about as good as it can be for someone not expected back until August. Morneau had surgery Wednesday to remove a herniated disk fragment from his neck -- with immediate results. "[He] demonstrated an increase in strength, which they felt is a very good sign," Twins trainer Rick McWane said before Friday night's game against the Brewers. "He still has some numbness in his finger. It's a little bit better, but we expected that to take a little bit longer. The fact his strength has gotten better was a very encouraging sign." Morneau can only do light activity for two weeks as soft tissue heals. Then he will need to have a couple of stitches"
Justin Morneau gets neck surgery, out another six weeks
July 1
Hardball Talk
 
"From Phil Mackey of ESPN 1500 AM comes word that Minnesota first baseman Justin Morneau underwent surgery Wednesday to remove a fragment of a herniated disk from his neck. Morneau had been bothered by the bone fragment for most of the regular season and decided to get it taken care of this week while he continues his recovery from a left wrist injury. The neck procedure is expected to sideline him for at least another six weeks, and perhaps the rest of the year. Morneau, 30, has batted just .225/.281/.338 this season with four home runs and 22 RBI in 51 games. The native of Canada hasn't been the same since suffering a concussion just before the 2010 All-Star break."
Justin Morneau to have surgery on his neck and be out until August
June 25
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"If you were wondering why Justin Morneau was batting .225 this season, it's because he could barely feel his left arm. He hasn't felt his left index finger since the last week of spring training, and the entire arm has been numb for much of the season. "I'd like that to go away," he said Friday after it was revealed the Twins first baseman and 2006 American League most valuable player will have surgery Wednesday on a herniated disk in his neck. Morneau is expected to miss six weeks after the surgery is completed. Doctors will remove a bone fragment pinching a nerve in his neck. A cortisone shot in May helped ease the pain, but the numbness and weakness have never gone away, which goes a"
Morneau to sit six more weeks
June 25
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau will have surgery Wednesday to relieve a pinched nerve in his neck and isn't expected to return before August. Morneau was dealing with the neck issue before going on the disabled list June 14 because of a strained left wrist. He was scheduled to have his cast removed Friday, but since he wasn't regaining strength as the Twins had hoped, they asked him to see a neck specialist, who recommended the surgery. "It's a very noninvasive procedure that he'll have to remove a herniated disk fragment from his neck, and he should be back playing full in six weeks," Twins trainer Rick McWane said. Since playing in all 163 Twins games in 2008, Morneau has had three"
Injury to left wrist puts Twins first baseman Justin Morneau on disabled list
June 15
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau thought the cortisone shot he received Sunday night in his left wrist was working, but he changed his mind once he started swinging a bat Tuesday afternoon at Target Field. With the pain in his wrist increasing with every swing he took, Morneau went to see hand specialist Thomas Varecka and, eventually, the team opted to immobilize the first baseman's wrist for 10 days and place him on the disabled list. Twins general manager Bill Smith, speaking with reporters after Tuesday's game against Chicago was rained out, said the team will make a corresponding roster move today. That move might be activating infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka, who played for Class AAA"
Morneau added to long injured list
June 15
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"This was supposed to be the week the Twins finally got healthy, and now Justin Morneau has landed on the disabled list, too. Morneau has a strained left wrist, which will be immobilized in a cast for 10 days, General Manager Bill Smith said after Tuesday's game against the White Sox was postponed because of rain. The Twins plan to announce a corresponding roster move Wednesday, after infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka (broken left fibula) and Glen Perkins (strained oblique) are re-evaluated at Target Field by team doctors. So it's possible the Twins will activate Nishioka and Perkins from the DL, with Joe Mauer (bilateral leg weakness) possibly returning Friday, and others such as Denard Span"
Morneau gets good news on wrist
June 14
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau will avoid the disabled list for now after an MRI exam of his sore left wrist revealed no serious damage. "The doctor looked at the MRI of Morneau's wrist and concurred with our treatment plan,'' Twins General Manager Bill Smith wrote in an e-mail. "He is day to day.'' Morneau missed the final three games of the four-game series with Texas over the weekend because of the injury. It's not clear if he will be in the lineup on Tuesday when the Twins open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field. Morneau has been bothered by the wrist for more than two weeks. He also has had a pinched nerve in his neck that has affected his left"
Morneau sits, will see specialist for wrist
June 12
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau missed Saturday's 8-1 victory over the Rangers and won't play in Sunday's series finale while his troublesome left wrist is examined. Morneau, who has been playing with a sore wrist for about two weeks, will be examined by Twins hand specialist Dr. Tom Varecka and might require a cortisone shot. "It makes no sense for me to stick him back in the lineup before Dr. Varecka sees him and makes sure we're on the right path," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Take today and tomorrow and Monday's day off. By Tuesday, I think he'll regroup."
Sore Morneau keeps playing
June 9
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Twins first baseman Justin Morneau will have his sore left wrist checked out when he arrives at Target Field on Thursday. He's been trying to ignore the pain, playing with it tightly wrapped. He said the wrist swells up "whenever I use it." He said he hurt his wrist sometime during the last homestand. When asked how his neck and shoulder were doing, he said, "It is what it is,'' but he gets daily treatment for soreness in that area. Morneau hopes his wrist can be treated with a cortisone shot. If so, he wants to take the shot after Sunday's game, enjoy Monday's off day then play Tuesday against the White Sox at Target Field. "That's the whole point," he said, "so we don't miss any games.""
Span, Morneau latest Twins to sit out
June 5
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Denard Span and Justin Morneau joined the ever-growing list of Twins casualties Saturday, as neither was in the lineup for their 7-2 victory over the Royals. Span was scratched because of a sore neck and continued to feel effects from his slide and collision at home plate Friday with Royals catcher Brayan Pena. Morneau had been playing with a pinched nerve in his neck, which is causing weakness in his left shoulder. But he also has soreness in his left wrist. Manager Ron Gardenhire said he might extend Morneau's break through Sunday, though he could be available to pinch hit. "With everybody being out, [Morneau] feels like he should be out there," Gardenhire said. "You finally get to the"
Morneau confident his play will improve
June 2
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 columnist Sid Hartman
"Justin Morneau is playing despite a neck injury that would sideline most players. In fact the other day, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire asked the first baseman if he wanted to go on the disabled list, because Gardenhire realizes Morneau is playing in pain and unable to produce as has in the past. But Gardy knew Morneau's answer would be no. Last July, before Morneau missed the rest of the season because of a concussion, he was hitting .345 with an American League-best .437 on-base percentage and a .618 slugging percentage. Entering Wednesday's game with the Tigers, Morneau was batting .242 with a .291 OBP and a .335 SLG before going 0-for-3 with a walk Wednesday. Morneau did hit two home"
Justin Morneau is happy to be playing but wishes he were playing better
June 1
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Nearly a year out from the season-ending concussion he suffered last season, Justin Morneau is a regular in the Twins lineup again. But he's not healthy, and he's not happy. Yes, it's great to be on the field again, he said Tuesday afternoon, but quickly added, "I'm not someone who's happy to be out there, though. I expect a lot out of myself." A pinched nerve in his neck is bothering him at the plate and in the field; two cortisone shots have failed to tame it, and the 2006 American League MVP said Tuesday he is resigned to playing the rest of the season in pain. Whether that has contributed to what has so far been a subpar season, he doesn't know. "Obviously, I'm not playing as well as"