MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins first baseman Justin Morneau walked into manager Ron Gardenhire's office Monday afternoon with a simple message.
"I'm good," Morneau said.
And with that, Morneau returned to the Minnesota lineup for Monday night's game against Baltimore after missing six games with an inner ear infection.
"I said, 'Do you want to go out and get some swings first?" Gardenhire said. "He said, 'No, I'm good.' That was the process. He's ready to go. I told him if you're not good after (batting practice) you come and tell me and I'll scratch you out. He came to the park really early and said he was in."
The All-Star slugger started experiencing dizziness last week in a series at Texas. He missed three games against the Rangers, then flew home to the Twin Cities to see a specialist and was diagnosed with an inner ear infection. He also missed all three games at Kansas City last weekend.
Morneau, who still leads the American League with 94 RBIs, knows he had to be certain he was ready to play.
"I understand the situation," said Morneau, who is fifth in the AL with 28 home runs. "I understand that if I play tonight and I have to come out and I have to go on the (disabled list), I'm on the DL into September. I know it's up to me to be responsible and make the right decision."
Morneau, who took early batting practice on Monday, said he began feeling better over the weekend and saw improvement day by day.
"I know it's different running around out there and trying to hit a 90 mile-per-hour fastball, but it feels better doing every day stuff."
While the Twins have won five of their past six games, Morneau's return to the cleanup spot is welcomed.
"We need Mourney out there, he's the whole package," Gardenhire said. "We've been scoring some runs, but we'll score more with him. It's good to have him back."