Puckett Will Miss Twins’ Season Opener

Kirby Puckett’s blurry vision is being caused by a partial blockage of a blood vessel in his right eye, and the Minnesota outfielder will miss the season opener, the Twins said.

Puckett will undergo medical treatment for about two weeks, team spokesman Rob Antony said.

Puckett will be placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Thursday, which will make him eligible to return April 12, Antony said.

Matt Lawton will replace Puckett in right field.

*

Police say no citation is likely to be issued against Cleveland Indian outfielder Manny Ramirez for hitting Brent Simpson, 5, of Garrettsville, Ohio while driving past a crowd of autograph seekers in Winter Haven, Fla. Simpson suffered a broken pelvis and was doing fine, his family said. . . . Free agent pitcher Mark Gardner, who went 5-5 last season with the Florida Marlins, signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco Giants. . . . Detroit asked for waivers on reliever Joe Boever, 35, for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. . . . San Diego Padre owner John Moores and his wife, Becky, will give $3 million toward the $3.5 million renovation of San Diego State’s baseball stadium, which will be named Tony Gwynn Stadium. Gwynn, drafted by the Padres out of SDSU in 1981, felt the stadium should have been named after Aztec Coach Jim Dietz. . . . The Padres set their final 25-man roster by purchasing the contract of former Dodger Chris Gwynn, Tony’s younger brother, from triple-A Las Vegas. Pitchers Dustin Hermanson, Pete Walker, Ron Villone and Tim Worrell, infielder Mike Sharperson and outfielder Riccardo Ingram were optioned to Las Vegas.