Twins place Trevor Plouffe on DL with strained oblique

Jun 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire (35) talks to third baseman Trevor Plouffe (24) the dugout after he gets injured in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire (35) talks to third baseman Trevor Plouffe (24) the dugout after he gets injured in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minnesota Twins are surprise contenders in the AL Central, but their potential miracle season is in danger of being derailed due to injuries. The latest Twins player to be bitten by the injury bug is third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who suffered a strained oblique in Saturday’s game and on Sunday was sent to the 15-day DL.

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Plouffe was hurt diving to stop an Ian Kinsler single during a seven-run Tigers rally in the third inning of Minnesota’s 12-9 loss to first place Detroit. The Twins also lost Eduardo Nunez in the game, and Saturday they were forced to put outfielder Aaron Hicks on the DL with a shoulder strain.

Plouffe has been one of the Twins’ better run-producers this year, driving in 38 while scoring 31. His slash-line isn’t great but he does have 22 doubles on the season. Pedro Florimon will take his place on the roster.

The Twins’ recent signing of Kendrys Morales will make it somewhat easier to absorb the loss of Plouffe, at least from an offensive standpoint, but they still would prefer not to see their top players going down with injury at a time when they’re finally starting to show some glimmers of life.

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