Buxton will be used at DH "a vast majority of the time" to begin the season, manager Rocco Baldelli told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Buxton went 1-for-3 with a double while at DH in his major league spring training debut Tuesday.
Buxton had been playing in minor-league games the past week. Buxton underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in late September, and the Twins are being very careful about easing him into action this spring. Buxton hasn't had any issues, but the Twins sound like they are going to take it cautiously with his return into the start of the regular season. Unfortunately, that could mean frequent days off and few stolen-base attempts, though keeping him healthy for a full season would still pay dividends for fantasy owners. Michael Taylor may get more playing time in center field to begin the season as a result.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Making spring debut Tuesday
Rotowire
Buxton is making his Grapefruit League debut for the Twins on Tuesday against the Rays.
The Twins have slow-played Buxton this spring, having him get in most of his work in drills and minor-league games. He's ready to finally play in an official game Tuesday and will be batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Plays another minor-league game
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Buxton went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk in a minor-league game Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Buxton underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in late September, and the Twins are being very careful about easing him into action this spring. Twins management has said Buxton hasn't had any issues, but it's still encouraging to see him play in two games, even if they're just minor-league contests, in the past week. He'll likely play in a few major-league spring games before Opening Day.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Plays in minor-league game
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Buxton played in a minor-league game Thursday in Twins camp, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
It was the first live action of the spring for Buxton, who has been brought along slowly by design after yet another injury-plagued campaign in 2022. The dynamic 29-year-old outfielder currently carries a clean bill of health and is hoping to show improved durability in 2023. When healthy last year, he delivered a strong .833 OPS with 28 home runs and six stolen bases in 92 games.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: No spring games yet by design
Rotowire
Buxton's absence from Grapefruit League games to this point has been by design and not related to injury, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Per Gleeman, the Twins don't see spring training games as more useful for veterans than back-field work. Buxton entered camp with no health restrictions and will play in some Grapefruit League games eventually, although it's unclear when that might happen.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: No limitations to open camp
Rotowire
Buxton (knee) reported to Twins camp Friday and doesn't have any limitations to begin spring training, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The 29-year-old underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in late September but apparently had no issues during the rehab process, and he looked good during a workout Saturday. President of baseball operations Derek Falvey said the organization will "take it slow in the early going" with Buxton this spring, which is hardly surprising given the center fielder's injury history. Falvey reiterated that Buxton reported to camp with no issues, but it's worth keeping an eye on his status throughout the spring. He was limited to 92 games last season and hit .224 with a 30.4 percent strikeout rate, but he also clubbed a career-high 28 home runs.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Requires season-ending surgery
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Buxton (hip) will undergo season-ending arthroscopic knee surgery Tuesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Buxton has been on the injured list with a low-grade right hip strain for a month and was initially expected to return prior to the end of the season. The 28-year-old likely would have returned if the Twins were in the playoff picture, but he'll instead undergo a season-ending knee procedure now that the team has been eliminated. Buxton's surgery has been described as insignificant by the Twins, and he should be ready to return in time for spring training in 2023.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Expected to return this season
Rotowire
Buxton (hip) is expected to return prior to the end of the regular season, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Buxton hasn't yet resumed baseball activities, and manager Rocco Baldelli said Saturday that he doesn't expect the outfielder to return this weekend or early next week. However, the team still hopes that the 28-year-old will be able to contribute late in the year.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Yet to start baseball activities
Rotowire
Buxton (hip) has not started baseball activities, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. "We're still kind of at the beginning phases of getting him moving and activating different parts of his lower half and getting back to some baseball activity," said manager Rocco Baldelli. "We're not quite there yet."
Buxton was placed on the injured list Aug. 23 with a low-grade right hip strain, and it was thought initially he may travel with the Twins during the current road trip for a potential activation. However, now it sounds as though the team will be lucky to see him return in September.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Could join team on road trip
Rotowire
Buxton (hip) will not travel with the team for its upcoming road trip but could join later on if he shows enough improvement, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Buxton will continue to take part in his rehab from Minnesota, but there is a small bit of hope that he could join the team on the upcoming road trip, which concludes Sept. 8 against the Yankees. His availability will hinge on how he feels in his rehab activities after playing banged up for most of the 2022 campaign.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: To IL with hip strain
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Buxton was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a low-grade right hip strain, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Buxton's hip injury was already serious enough to warrant an MRI, and the fact that he didn't travel with the team to Houston suggested a stint on the IL was on tap. Gilberto Celestino and Jake Cave could see extra playing time while Buxton is out.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Set for MRI on hip
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Buxton will get an MRI on his sore right hip and won't play Tuesday in Houston, Patrick Borzi of MinnPost.com reports.
Buxton was removed from Monday's 2-1 loss to the Rangers due to the sore hip, an injury he's been nursing for awhile. The 28-year-old could be dealing with more than a day-to-day injury, but the Twins aren't likely to provide a clear update on his outlook until the results of the MRI are available.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Nursing hip tightness
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Buxton was pulled from Monday's game against the Rangers due to right hip tightness, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
It initially looked as though Buxton was dealing with a knee injury, but the team announced later in the night that a hip injury was the reason for his removal. He'll be considered day-to-day moving forward, per Gleeman.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Exits with injury
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Buxton was removed from Monday's game against the Rangers after appearing to tweak his right knee on a swing, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Buxton remained in the game after the swing as he tried to play through the issue, but he was ultimately taken out. The star outfielder struggled with his health since the start of the 2022 campaign, as he needed a few days off at the beginning of the month due an undisclosed injury. Buxton also dealt with a right knee issue earlier in the year, missing time in June due to soreness.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Receives breather
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Buxton is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Buxton started each of the past eight games either in center field or at designated hitter, so the Twins are presumably just giving him some routine maintenance in the series finale. Nick Gordon will draw the start in center and Luis Arraez will serve as the Twins' DH on Sunday.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Homers, swipes bag
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Buxton went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a stolen base in a 4-2 loss to the Angels on Sunday.
Buxton provided all of Minnesota's offense with a two-run shot off Los Angeles' starter Tucker Davidson in the first inning and added a single and stolen base in the sixth for his second two-hit game in his last four. During the span, he's batted 5-for-17 with two home runs and two stolen bases. Buxton started at DH after appearing in center field during the last two contests but is most likely feeling healthier after logging a theft for the second straight game.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Logs fourth steal
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Buxton went 0-for-5 with a stolen base, a hit-by-pitch and three strikeouts in Saturday's 5-3 extra-innings loss to the Angels.
Buxton didn't get much going at the plate Saturday, but he was able to generate a little value in his one trip on base. The steal was his fourth of the year and his second in his last nine games, a span in which he's hit just .233 (7-for-30). Buxton has started each of the last two contests in center field, though he may be due for a rest soon as the Twins continue to manage the oft-injured outfielder's workload. He's slashing .219/.300/.537 with 27 home runs, 49 RBI and 58 runs scored through 85 games this season.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: On bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Buxton isn't starting Wednesday against the Dodgers.
Buxton will take a seat for the third time in the last five matchups after he went 3-for-9 with a homer, a double, three RBI, a walk and three strikeouts over his last three games. Nick Gordon is shifting to center field while Jake Cave starts in left.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Crushes two-run homer
Rotowire
Buxton went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 10-3 loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday.
Buxton singled in the sixth inning and took reliever Phil Bickford deep to left in the eighth for his fourth long ball of the second half. The performance improved his slash line to .222/.301/.549, though the bigger story is that the 28-year-old started again at DH despite a couple of recent off days. Minnesota is taking a cautious approach with its injury-prone star; Buxton (undisclosed) hasn't played the field since July 31 aside from one inning Sunday.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Takes seat Sunday
Rotowire
Buxton is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Even though he received the day off in Friday's 6-5 win and served as a designated hitter in Saturday's 7-3 victory, Buxton will get another breather for the series finale. The Twins haven't indicated Buxton is still experiencing any lingering body soreness after he missed two straight games earlier in the week, so his absence from the lineup Sunday could simply be a precaution. Luis Arraez will serve as the Twins' DH on Sunday, while Gilberto Celestino gets a start in center field.
