by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (5/12/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willingham returned to the starting lineup Sunday afternoon against the Orioles.
Willingham, who sat out Saturday with lingering soreness in his wrist, singled in the eighth inning and went 1 for 4 with a strikeout in a 6-0 loss.
Willingham is hitting .125 in his first 10 games in May. He has a .210/.388/.430 line with five homers and 15 RBI in 100 at-bats.
Josh Willingham sits with wrist soreness
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/11/2013) The Twins gave outfielder Josh Willingham a rest on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles. Willingham, who is batting just .208 with five homers and 15 RBI, does have some lingering soreness in his wrist, MLB.com reports.
The slugger, currently mired in an 0-for-14 slump over the last four games, has gone just 2 for 28 (.107) in May. He is available off the bench and should be considered day to day.
Josh Willingham reaches base three times
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (5/7/2013)Josh Willingham reached base three times Tuesday against the Red Sox.
Willingham went 2 for 4 with a single and a double for the Twins. He drove in one run. In the ninth inning, Willingham added a walk. In 82 at-bats this season, Willingham is hitting .244/.410/.512.
Josh Willingham out of Friday's lineup
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (5/3/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willingham is out of Friday's lineup for a rest day, MLB.com reports.
Manager Ron Gardenhire is taking the opportunity to give Willingham two days off in a row following yesterday's open date. Willingham has played the last seven consecutive games. He is hitting .239/.400/.521 with five home runs.
Josh Willingham homers, steals base in win
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willingham went 2 for 4 with a homer and two runs scored Saturday against the Rangers. Willingham also stole his first base in the 7-2 win.
The 34-year-old had a two-run shot off Derek Holland in the sixth inning and singled in the eighth. Willingham is batting .254 with four home runs and 12 RBI.
Josh Willingham brings the pop
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/26/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willingham continues to sport a low batting average, but he provided some power Thursday against the Rangers.
Willingham slugged a solo home run in the seventh inning that accounted for the entirety of Minnesota's offensive output in a 2-1 loss. He went 1 for 4 overall, lowering his batting average to .235.
Despite the low averaging, Willingham has a .890 on-base plus slugging percentage, thanks to seven extra-base hits and 11 walks. He has also driven in 10 runs.
Willingham notches three RBI
by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com (4/21/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willingham knocked in three runs as part of a 2 for 4 day Sunday against the White Sox.
Willingham is hitting just .250 but has a sharp .998 OPS thanks to great discipline and power early in the season. He hit his fourth double Sunday, responsible for all three RBI.
Josh Willingham returns with RBI
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) After missing the previous two games with an illness, Twins outfielder Josh Willingham returned to action Saturday against the White Sox. He went 1 for 4 with an RBI and a walk in the 2-1 win.
Willingham singled home Brian Dozier in the third inning for his sixth RBI through 12 games.
Josh Willingham back after delay
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willingham returned to the lineup Saturday against the White Sox after dealing with an illness earlier this week. Willingham was sidelined for two games with the ailment before rejoining the lineup in left field and serving as the No. 3 hitter.
Josh Willingham's return postponed
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/17/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willingham was back in the lineup Wednesday night against the Angels after missing two games due to a stomach virus. Unfortunately for him, the game was postponed due to inclement weather and Willingham will have to wait to return until Friday against the White Sox.
Josh Willingham back in Twins' lineup
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/17/2013) Twins left fielder Josh Willingham returned to the lineup Wednesday against the Angels after missing two games with a stomach virus. Willingham comes into Wednesday's game mired in a 4-for-21 slump (.190) in his last seven games.
Josh Willingham still dealing with stomach virus
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/16/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willingham was not in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Angels while he continues to deal with a stomach virus.
Manager Ron Gardenhire sent the 34-year-old home after he arrived to the park ill. Willingham is hitting .222 with two home runs and five RBI. The Twins will wrap up a three-game series with the Angles Wednesday before playing three on the road against the White Sox beginning Friday.
Josh Willingham scratched due to illness
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/15/2013) Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said outfielder Josh Willingham was scratched from Monday's lineup against the Angels after showing up ill, according to the Pioneer Press. Oswaldo Arcia started in left field for Minnesota.
Josh Willingham's RISP numbers lacking
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/15/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willinghamhasn't had a lot of success with runners in scoring position. In seven games, Willingham is batting .100 (1 for 10) with one double and two RBI with runners in scoring position.
Some of his troubles, however, could be traced back to leadoff hitter Aaron Hicks, who has just a .109 on-base percentage.
"We want him to do well because if he does well, we do well as a team," Willingham said, per the Pioneer Press. "Obviously, he'll be a big part of our team this year. There's no doubt in my mind. It's just something he's got to battle through."
Josh Willingham muscles up in K.C.
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Minnesota outfielder and No. 3 hitter Josh Willingham connected for his second home run of the season on Tuesday night during a loss at Kansas City. Willingham took Jeremy Guthrie deep in the third inning for a solo shot.
The Hammer finished the game 2 for 3 and added a single for the Twins. He also walked in the game and is now batting .280 on the season with two homers and three RBI after eight games. Unfortunately, he's also struck out 11 times to this point.
Josh Willingham kicking up a breeze
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/5/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willingham went 2 for 5 with a pair of doubles and a run scored during Minnesota's 9-5 loss to Baltimore on Friday. Willingham also whiffed three times to increase his strikeout total to seven through four games on the young season.
Josh Willingham hits his first home run
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/4/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willingham clubbed his first home run of the season Thursday.
Willingham took a Rick Porcello fastball over the left field wall in the bottom of the third. Willingham hit 35 home runs last season, and hasn't been impacted by the large dimesions of Target Field. Last seasaon, Willingham hit 21 homers at his home park.
Twins like 'ambush' approach atop lineup
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/1/2013) Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said prior to Monday's season opener against the Tigers he likes the dynamic of having Aaron Hicks, Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham atop the team's lineup since it forces the opposing pitcher to face all three batters in the first inning.
"As Bruno (hitting coach Tom Brunansky) and I talked, we talked about 'ambush,'" Gardenhire said, per the Pioneer Press. "So we're going to ambush 'em at the top with all these hitters and go from there. At least for today. We can always adjust as we go along."
Brian Dozier, who spent most of the spring batting second, was moved to eighth in the lineup Monday.
Josh Willingham should have opportunities to knock in more runs
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (3/31/2013) Twins manager Ron Gardenhire will top his opening day lineup against Detroit with speed and on-base percentage going with Aaron Hicks and Joe Mauer. That should leave plenty of runs on the bases for Josh Willingham to drive in.
Willingham, expected to hit in the middle of the order for the Twins, won a Silver Slugger award last year for the Twins as he hit .260 with 35 homers and 110 RBI. He had a solid spring training with a .321 batting average, three home runs and six RBI over 53 at-bats.
Willingham racking up hits
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/28/2013) Twins outfielder Josh Willingham boosted his spring average to .727 (8 for 11) with a pair of hits Thursday against the Orioles. Willingham also drove in a run, drew a walk and scored twice. Willingham hit a career-best 35 home runs last season, his first as a Twin and his first hitting during most games between Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau in the lineup. "Joe's always on base," Willingham said. "So that's always a good thing. It's always good to have people on base. And with Morneau hitting behind me, that gives me good protection. So I like that spot. I like that spot for me."
The Hammer strikes early
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (2/23/2013) Minnesota outfielder Josh Willingham started his spring season off with a bang on Saturday in a Grapefruit League loss to the Orioles. Willingham homered in the third inning off Tommy Hunter for a two-run shot with one out. He finished 2 for 2 in the game and is perfect thus far on the spring.
Twins expect status quo from OF
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (1/28/2013) FOX Sports North reports the Twins feel veteran outfielder Josh Willingham is capable of producing numbers similar to what he had in 2012, when he crushed a career-high 35 homers and drove in a career-best 110 runs. "I don't see any reason why he can't come close to duplicating, now that he's familiar with the environment up here and certainly the staff and the ballpark and everything that involves a major move coming form Oakland," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "He's a solid guy. I don't think you're going to see much waver out of his performance." Willingham said the key to being productive is staying healthy. Willingham also played in a career-high 145 games last year. "You have to be able to be on the field to do it," Willingham said. "Just try and get into a rhythm, try and get comfortable and play every day. I think if that happens, I'll put up good numbers. I don't know if they'll be that good, but they should be productive."
