MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota’s Justin Morneau won’t play again this season because of concussion symptoms and a cyst that needs to be surgically removed.
The Twins announced Sunday the first baseman will have the cyst removed from his left knee this week.
The decision to shut down Morneau with 12 games remaining in the regular season means the 30-year-old slugger and former American League MVP will have played in only 69 games. Morneau, who missed two months of the season because of neck surgery, hit .227 with four homers and 30 RBIs.
Morneau suffered a concussion shortly before the All-Star Break.
On Friday, Minnesota announced Joe Mauer will miss two weeks — likely the rest of the season — after being diagnosed with pneumonia. The Twins, AL Central champions a year ago, have the worst record in the American League and the second-fewest wins in baseball.
