Injury shelves Crain

Job fight could evolve if he is slow to return

BY GORDON WITTENMYER
Pioneer Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Twins pitcher Jesse Crain suffered a right hamstring strain during pitchers' fielding practice Tuesday and is expected to be held out of workouts for a few days.

Crain, a right-hander with a fastball clocked in the mid- to upper 90s, felt the hamstring pull while reaching for a ground ball. The rookie, who made his big-league debut late last season and pitched well enough to earn a place on the Twins' playoff roster, is projected to make the Opening Day pitching staff.

If the injury lingers enough to hamper his conditioning this spring, it could create a job battle on a staff that appeared set when camp opened. Right-hander Grant Balfour, another member of the projected Opening Day staff, has been slowed during the first week of camp because of a sore forearm.

"We're hoping that (Crain) fits in. And we're hoping that Balfour fits in. But they have to pitch," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "If they are not healthy all spring and something happens, we have spots open... . There's a lot of stuff that can happen between now and the end of spring."

Punto hurt

Camp hasn't officially opened for position players, but infielder Nick Punto, one of the leading candidates to win the shortstop job, already is injured.

Punto, who had two extended stays on the disabled list for injuries last season, hurt his back taking batting practice Tuesday. The injury issue was considered the major difference maker in whether Punto opens the season in the starting lineup.

Punto told trainers he had back pain during the winter, too. It's unclear how much Tuesday's injury will limit him.

"We know he can play; he just has to be healthy," Gardenhire said. "Hopefully we can get him back on the field... . We'll have the answer sooner than later."

Signing of the times

Left-hander Johan Santana is expected to sign his four-year, $40 million contract in the next two days, once the company insuring the contract completes its review of Santana's physical, general manager Terry Ryan said.

Santana and the team avoided arbitration last week when the American League Cy Young winner agreed to the highest-paying contract in franchise history.

Briefly: Left-hander Terry Mulholland missed Tuesday's workouts because of an apparent case of bronchitis. Mulholland struggled through the first official workouts of the spring Monday before seeing the doctor and undergoing chest X-rays Tuesday.

Gardenhire said he plans to open the season without using a fifth starting pitcher during the first 2½ times through the rotation. Because of off days, he won't need the fifth starter until the 11th game, April 16. That figures to have the biggest impact on Joe Mays, the right-hander coming back from major elbow surgery who is expected to be the fifth starter if healthy.

Gardenhire also said he doesn't consider that a reason to alter his plans to carry a standard 11-man pitching staff to open the season.