Joe Nathan.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan will play catch this weekend as he tries to decide if he can pitch with a torn ligament in his right elbow.

The Twins were intentionally vague about the plan for Nathan to test it this weekend. Manager Ron Gardenhire says he doesn't want it "to become a media circus."

Tests showed a torn ulnar collateral ligament on March 9. The injury could require season-ending Tommy John surgery. But Nathan wants to test it out first to see if he can pitch through the pain and not miss what was shaping up as a promising season for the Twins in their new ballpark.

Gardenhire would not say what day, or where, Nathan will play catch.