Twins activate 3B Corie Koskie

ANAHEIM, Calif., May 24 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Twins will get back another one of their ailing infielders Friday night, with third baseman Corie Koskie having recovered from a torn right hamstring.

Koskie, one of the most complete third basemen in the American League, has missed 13 games since suffering the injury while sliding into second base in a 4-1 loss to Kansas City on May 7.

He worked out at the Metrodome on Thursday morning, fielding ground balls, taking batting practice and running the bases. Friday is the first day he is eligible to be return to action.

"Everything went good," said Manager Ron Gardenhire, whose team opens a series in Anaheim Friday night. "He said he felt great."

The Twins have been playing without three-quarters of their infield.

First baseman Doug Mientkiewicz missed six games with a wrist injury before returning Wednesday, and second baseman Luis Rivas has been out since the first week of the season with a broken arm.

Last season, the 28-year-old Koskie became the first American League third baseman with 100 runs, 25 homers, 100 RBI and 25 stolen bases. He also was the first Twin since Gary Gaetti in 1987 to reach the 25-homer and 100-RBI plateaus in the same season.

This year, Koskie is hitting .311 with four homers, 19 RBI and three stolen bases in 34 games.

To make room for Koskie, the Twins optioned infielder Casey Blake to Triple-A Edmonton of the Pacific Coast League. Blake was 4-for-20 since taking Koskie's roster spot.