When a cut he suffered on his left elbow turned into a serious infection in his left shoulder, Christian Vázquez didn’t think this day would come.

Undergoing treatment that required a surgical cleanout and an antibiotics schedule distributed through a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line every eight hours for a month, there didn’t seem enough time for him to recover and get back on the field this season.

But Vázquez, who was placed on the injured list on Aug. 8, proved even himself wrong. The Twins activated the veteran catcher from the injured list on Monday after he spent the previous four days rehabbing with the Triple-A Saints in Memphis.

“It was too close to the end,” he said last week. “I never knew how long it’s going to take. I (had) a surgery (and) it’s a long time to rehab and get back.”

But the catcher, who is in the final year of a three-year, $30 million deal he inked with the Twins, set his eyes on returning and has now accomplished that goal, getting back so he can prove he is healthy as he heads back into free agency.

“They pay me for this: To play,” he said earlier this month. “I don’t want to finish the season on the IL. It’s boring.”

The Twins have six more games remaining after Monday’s off day, beginning with a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at Field. For now, they will roster three catchers — Vázquez, Jhonny Pereda and Mickey Gasper, though Gasper has also spent some time at first and second.

To reinstate Vázquez from the injured list, the Twins optioned outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr.

Pereda and Gasper have been switching off behind the plate with both Vázquez and Ryan Jeffers (concussion) out. The Twins have not indicated that Jeffers, like Vázquez, will return at some point during the final week of the season.

“I would never expect to be back, for real,” Vázquez said last week. “I’m blessed and thankful (to) be back with the boys and happy to put the uniform back.”

Rookies dress up

The flight to Texas looked a little different on Sunday night, with 17 rookies — players and staff members — outfitted by starting pitcher Pablo López.

Gasper, who sports a black mustache, was dressed as Super Mario. Carson McCusker, who stands at 6’8” and is hard to miss, wore a red and white striped shirt and matching hat with glasses, dressed as Waldo from “Where’s Waldo?” Austin Martin was dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean and Travis Adams a minion from “Despicable Me.”

Last year’s rookie dress up was canceled, so some players who debuted last season joined in on the fun this year, like David Festa, whose nickname is the “Slim Reaper,” in a Grim Reaper costume and Brooks Lee, who donned an inflatable broccoli suit.

Briefly

Festa, on the IL with a shoulder injury, is scheduled to see a specialist this week in Dallas. … Zebby Matthews is scheduled to start the series opener in Texas on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. CT. … The Rangers will enter the series on a seven-game losing streak.

Originally Published: September 22, 2025 at 11:26 AM CDT