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After repeating as AL Central champions in 2010, the Twins entered 2011 with no players on the disabled list, and the team seemed poised for another strong season.

During the off-season, the team signed Japanese shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka to fill a hole in the middle infield, re-signed Jim Thome, who was in pursuit of career home run number 600, and also re-signed Carl Pavano.

However, the season was largely derailed by an extensive list of injuries.

Nishioka's broken leg in a collision at second base led the way and was followed by DL stints from Kevin Slowey, Joe Mauer, Jason Repko, Thome, Delmon Young ( two stints on the DL ), Jose Mijares, Glen Perkins, Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano, Jason Kubel, Denard Span ( two stints ), Justin Morneau, Scott Baker, and Alexi Casilla.

The team's low point was arguably on May 1 when the team started 7 players who were batting below. 235 in a game against Kansas City.

From that day forward, the Twins made a strong push to get as close as 5 games back of the division lead by the All-Star break.

However, the team struggled down the stretch and fell back out of contention.

The team failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and experienced their first losing season in four years.

Despite an AL-worst 63-99 record, the team drew over three million fans for the second consecutive year.