'It's encouraging': Wallner nearing rehab assignment, return to Twins

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins are getting closer to having one of their biggest bats back in the lineup. Outfielder Matt Wallner could begin a Minor League rehab assignment as early as Wednesday.

Wallner, 27, has been out since April 15 due to a strained left hamstring. He has been ramping up his activity recently, and if he comes through his workouts on Tuesday well, he would likely be cleared to play at Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.

“It’s encouraging,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “He’s doing good. He’s doing about as well as we could have hoped.”

The left-handed slugger was the team’s best hitter before his injury, posting a .263/.373/.474 slash line in the season’s first 18 games. In recent weeks, the Twins have come on strong, winning 13 straight before Sunday’s loss in Milwaukee, but the addition of Wallner back in their lineup would be a major boost.

“I would much rather have them winning games when I’m not out there as opposed to the other way around,” Wallner said. “Like it was kind of early. Makes you a bit more excited to get back out there, but 10 times out of 10, you’d rather have the team go on a streak like that as opposed to having them struggle like we were in the beginning.”