Garcia hoping for quick return to Sox' lineup after bout with back spasms

After coming out of Saturday night's game against the Minnesota Twins with back spasms, Chicago White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia was held out of Sunday's game at U.S. Cellular Field.

Garcia felt some pain when he hit in the first inning.

"Nothing serious," he said. "I've been feeling great, then I felt something in my back muscle. They think it's a spasm. They took me for a MRI. Nothing serious."

Trayce Thompson got the start in right field Sunday and will remain in the lineup if Garcia is out for an extended period.

"Hopefully he's healthy," Thompson said. "I've just got to stay ready whenever my name's called, my name's in the lineup. I don't want guys to get hurt, by any means. Avi makes us a better team. He's an amazing player, an amazing talent, and so we need him to win."

Hunter fan:

More than a few eyebrows were raised in the off-season when Torii Hunter returned to the Twins on a one-year, $10.5 million contract.

First, Minnesota was projected to be one of the worst teams in baseball. Second, the aging Hunter wasn't expected to make much of an impact.

As it has turned out, the Twins are one of the biggest surprises in the game, and Hunter is showing he still can play at 40. He hit a big 3-run homer off Chris Sale on Sunday to spark Minnesota over the White Sox.

As for playing again next season, Hunter is leaning toward returning to the Twins.

"He can play another year," Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "He's a tremendous player. I think you respect those guys that play the game the way he has, even as a young player he did that. He makes everybody better around him. Having been around him, he's just good for the game."