The Minnesota Twins placed outfielder Max Kepler on the 10-day injured list and recalled right-handed pitcher Cole Sands from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.

Kepler, 30, apparently suffered a left hamstring strain during Thursday’s 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres. He left the game in the seventh inning after appearing to hurt his leg as he ran to first base.

This is Kepler’s second stint on the IL this season. He missed time from April 8-15 due to patellar tendinitis in his right knee.

In 28 games this season, Kepler is hitting .212 (21-for-99) with five doubles, six home runs, 14 RBIs, 10 walks and 17 runs scored.

Sands, 25, started the season on the Twins’ Opening Day roster, posting a 2.25 ERA (4.0 IP, 1 ER) with three strikeouts over two outings before being optioned to the St. Paul Saints on April 14.

In seven relief appearances with the Saints, Sands went 0-1 with a 2.63 ERA (13.2 IP, 4 ER), four walks and 16 strikeouts. He held opponents to a .163 batting average (8-for-49).

In corresponding moves, the Twins recalled outfielder Trevor Larnach and optioned right-handed pitcher Dereck Rodriguez to Triple-A St. Paul

Larnach, 26, started the year with the Twins, hitting .221 (23-for-104) with three doubles, one triple, three home runs, 19 RBIs and 18 walks in 31games before being optioned to Triple-A on May 5. In four games with the Saints, Larnach went 7-for-14 with two doubles, two home runs, six RBIs, three walks and five runs.

Rodriguez, 30, made one appearance for the Twins since having his contract selected on May 5. He allowed one run on one hit with one walk in 0.2 innings in Friday’s 6-2 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs.

–Field Level Media