Twins to activate RHP Santana for season debut

[July 25, 2018]    Minnesota Twins right-hander Ervin Santana will be activated from the 60-day disabled list Wednesday to make his season debut in a start against the Blue Jays at Toronto.

Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana (54) throws a pitch during the first inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

In a corresponding move, the Twins designated utility man Taylor Motter for assignment Tuesday night.

Santana began the season on the DL after undergoing surgery on the middle finger of his throwing hand in early February. He was expected to miss three months as a result of the injury, though several setbacks delayed his return.

Santana, 35, threw two rehab starts in May before being shut down for a month. He returned to the mound with high Class-A Fort Myers on June 30 and has thrown five rehab starts across three levels since, allowing one run on two hits and three walks in six innings in his last start for Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

Santana, the Twins' Opening Day starter in 2016 and '17, was an All-Star last season, when he went 16-8 with a 3.28 ERA in 211 1/3 innings. Overall, the two-time All-Star has a 4.02 career ERA across 13 years in the majors spent with Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Minnesota.

Motter, 28, went 1-for-19 with the Twins after being claimed off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on May 28. He was 1-for-4 on Tuesday in Minnesota's 5-0 win at Toronto.

--Field Level Media

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