Twins Put Thome, Kubel On 15-Day Disabled List
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Minnesota Twins put Jim Thome and Jason Kubel on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, the latest injuries to beset the struggling team.
The defending AL Central champions have the worst record in the majors and eight players on the DL.
Thome strained his left quadriceps Wednesday night in a loss at Detroit, and this will be his second stint on the DL this season. The designated hitter has 593 career home runs.
Kubel leads the team with 30 RBIs and a .310 batting average. A DH and outfielder, he sprained his left foot Monday against the Tigers.
"We thought one, but not two," manager Ron Gardenhire said before the Twins played Kansas City. "There's not much we can do about it. Other guys will have to step up. It's not the same team we thought we had in spring training. We'll just have to find ways to win with the guys we've got."
The Twins recalled Ben Revere from Triple-A Rochester and he was immediately inserted into the lineup Thursday night in right field. Revere, a 2007 first-round pick, hit .242 in 14 games earlier this season with Minnesota. He hit .303 in 32 games with the Red Wings.
Minnesota also recalled infielder Luke Hughes, who will join the team in time for Friday night's game in Kansas City. Hughes hit .211 in 23 games earlier this season with the Twins.
The Twins have used the disabled list 13 times this season. AL MVP Joe Mauer, starting pitchers Francisco Liriano and Kevin Slowey and closer Joe Nathan are among those who have been sidelined.
"I don't even count any more," Gardenhire said. "Injuries happen in this game. Unfortunately, we've had quite a few. Right now we're looking for bench help. I lost two left-handed hitters today. Some of these kids are not ready to come up here and sit on the bench. There might be somebody in Triple-A who might be ready."
Thome and Kubel were sent to Minneapolis to be reevaluated by the Twins' doctors.
"We don't have a time frame for them," assistant trainer Dave Pruemer said. "We want to wait and see what our doctors say and go from there."
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