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Twins third baseman Miguel Sano, walking with a slight limp through the clubhouse this afternoon, wanted to take batting practice to see where he's at after injuring his left leg on Tuesday. The Twins decided to be cautious and nixed the idea.

There is still hope that could be ready to play on Friday when the Twins open a three game series against the Royals - which is a little surprising given that he was carted off the field Tuesday with a lower left leg bruise after sliding into second base. But Sano, despite the limp, has indicated he feels much better.

"I wouldn't have surmised that would be the likely outcome at the time of the injury but thankfully he's doing well," Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

The sight of Sano rolling on the ground in pain, then needing to be wheeled off, was a concerning look and suggested that his lower left leg, which has a titanium rod in it, was severely injured. But it appears that he's dodged a bullet and could contribute on Friday.

"I think there's a good chance," Molitor said. "Things can change if they go backward for some reason when they get back on the field. Hopefully, him and Rosie will be seeing some baseball action this weekend."

Indeed, Eddie Rosario is running and taking batting practice and could return to action Friday as well. Rosario has not played since the Cleveland leg of the road trip because of a sore left quadriceps.

"I think he's getting a little anxious to play," Molitor said.

Sano is being treated in three different areas in his lower left leg. But he focused on the contusion near his left knee one day after injuring himself when he slid into second base and leaving the field on a cart.

"I got scared because I thought I broke my leg at that moment when I hit the bag," Sano said. "But, obviously, I didn't."

X-Rays confirmed that there was no break, and Sano will go in for treatment on Thursday.

"[Thursday] is a day off," Sano said. "I'm going to go to the field and work on rehab with Tony, get in the water and work my knee. My knee hurts right now, but it is better than yesterday. Hopefully the next day I will go hit in [batting practice] and see how I feel."