Twins' Colabello played through nerve damage

Minnesota Twins first baseman Chris Colabello will see a hand specialist next week after revealing he played through a serious thumb injury this season.

Colabello told the Worchester Telegram he suffered nerve damage in his right thumb after getting jammed in an April 23 at-bat against Tampa Bay Rays reliever Grant Balfour. 

The 30-year-old Colabello, a career minor leaguer before the 2013 season, was in the midst of a franchise record-breaking month and, as a result, said he dismissed his doctor's recommendation to rest the injury. 

Pain and numbness began to hinder his production - his OPS plummeted over 160 points in a month - and Colabello was eventually demoted to Triple-A Rochester in May.

"Emotionally, it was a bit of a rollercoaster, especially starting out the way I did," Colabello said. "Then three weeks later, you find yourself back in Triple-A and you're scratching your head. You're looking at the American League RBI list and you're on it. But I understand the process. I wish things had gone differently at the beginning of May, but I haven't let it overwhelm me." 

Colabello, whose 27 runs batted in broke Kirby Puckett's team record for RBIs in April, said he used a thumb protector and even tried gluing cotton to his batting gloves in an attempt to mask the pain.

"I don't like to make excuses," Colabello said, explaining his decision to not publicly disclose the injury. "I chose to play and I'll deal with the consequences." 

Colabello said he's still experiencing numbness and tingling in his hand, and will visit a hand specialist Wednesday.