Justin Morneau Shut Down for Season

The Minnesota Twins have shut down their second MVP of the weekend, as the club announced that first baseman Justin Morneau is done for the year.  Morneau has been out for nearly three weeks while dealing with concussion-related symptoms.

Morneau sustained the concussion diving for a ball back at the end of August.  Originally, Morneau hoped to return before the end of the season, acting as a designated hitter for the club.

But Morneau came down with the flu recently.  Not only was Morneau very sick, but the flu prevented the Twins training staff from properly examining his concussion symptoms.

With only 10 games remaining and several other players already done for the season, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said it was an easy decision to shut down Morneau.

Morneau will use the final two weeks of the year to get a head start on some clean up procedures and rehab.  Morneau is set to undergo surgery today to remove a bone spur from his right foot and cyst in his left knee.  The operations aren’t expected to keep Morneau out for more than a few weeks.

While 2011 wasn’t kind to the Twins in general, Morneau seems to have taken a brunt of the year’s wrath, especially when it comes to injuries.  Morneau’s laundry list of ailments has included a strained left wrist, a pinched nerve in his neck, a bum knee that had to be drained and now operated on, and the concussion that ultimately ended his season.

All told, Morneau was only able to suit up for 69 games this season.  When he has managed to play, the results haven’t been there.  Obviously impacted by his injuries, Morneau only turned in a line of .227/.285/.333 with 4 home runs and 30 RBI’s.

I’m sure Morneau summed up the sentiment of the entire Twins organization when he said he’s hoping to deal with his troubles, put this year behind him and come back ready to go for 2012.

For more on the Twins, be sure to check out Puckett’s Pond.