Twins put slugger Nelson Cruz on 10-day injured list

SEATTLE – Minnesota Twins slugger Nelson Cruz was disappointed he won’t get a chance to play against one of his former teams.

Taking care of his strained left wrist was a bigger priority than trying to hit another home run in Seattle.

The Twins placed Cruz on the 10-day injured list Friday with a balky wrist that was showing improvement but not enough to avoid sidelining the slugger. The move was retroactive to last Tuesday and came after Cruz missed four straight games.

The expectation is Cruz should be ready to go when the 10 days expire and he’s likely to rejoin the lineup May 24 when Minnesota returns home to host the Chicago White Sox.

“It’s tough, regardless of where you’re playing. But it’s a little more special to play against a former team,” Cruz said. I think I should be good for next Friday and have my wrist under control and be pain-free.”

Cruz had not played since last Sunday due to the wrist strain and said the time of the year was a major factor. Rather than trying to play through the injury, Cruz and the Twins decided resting the wrist now would be the best move. Cruz said if it was later in the season, he would play through it.

Cruz is hitting .270 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs and a .508 slugging percentage in his first season with Minnesota. But there was noticeable disappointment about Cruz being unable to play this weekend in Seattle, where he spent the previous four seasons and hit 163 home runs with 414 RBIs.

“He has great perspective. He’s been around, he’s seen it all,” Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Doesn’t get easy to put him on the (injured list). … But if we can knock this out and put this past us, or not really have to worry about it playing a big factor going forward we’re going to take the next week and do that. I think he totally realizes it makes sense.”

Minnesota recalled Luis Arraez from Triple-A Rochester. Arraez was recently promoted to Triple-A and had hit .342 at Double-A Pensacola.