Joe Mauer will not be able to return to the Twins on Thursday when he is eligible to come off the DL, according to Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune. Mauer reportedly lost about of week of recovery for his bi-lateral leg weakness due to a viral infection that he was suffering from at the same time. That delayed his trip to Baltimore to meet a specialist, and likely forced him to wait to really get into his rehabilitation.
(Twins General Manager Bill) Smith said he isn't sure whether Mauer will be heading on a minor league rehabilitation assignment, but manager Ron Gardenhire has said that is a good possibility.
The Twins offense has suffered without Mauer in the lineup, and they weren't even that potent when he was playing. We don't have any word on how Mauer's rehabilitation is going now that he is free of the viral infection, or if the team has set a timetable for when they hope he returns.