The Twins say veteran back-up catcher Drew Butera sustained a broken left pinky finger Friday playing for Triple-A Rochester, the Pioneer Press reports.
Butera was injured after being hit by a pitch by Buffalo right-hander Ramon Ortiz. It was his first at-bat for the club this season.
He was sent down to the minor leagues on March 25 after the Twins decided to go with two catchers on the roster. Chris Herrmann replaced Butera as the back-up to starting catcher Joe Mauer.
Butera — who has come off the bench for 184 games for the Twins over the past three seasons — is expected to be out for at least four weeks.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire called Butera a “very good catcher” who “doesn’t belong in Triple-A,” and that he’s “one of the best defensive catchers we have throwing and catching.”
