Centerfielder Byron Buxton and utility bat Marwin Gonzalez have been reinstated from the injured list, per Dustin Morse of the Minnesota Twins (via Twitter). In corresponding moves, outfielders Jake Cave and LaMonte Wade Jr. are optioned back to Triple-A Rochester.
Buxton ultimately missed 13 games with a wrist contusion. His reemergence has been a major story for the Twins, as just a year after spending time in the minors, Buxton has sprung back to form with a .266/.324/.527 line. Like the rest of the Twins, power has really been his calling card. He’s mashed 21 doubles, 3 triples, and 9 home runs, good for a .261 ISO.
Gonzalez also rejoins the club after a minimal stint on the IL with a hamstring strain. Gonzalez, 30, has produced as promised in Minnesota, slashing .255/.323/.420, which aligns almost exactly with career averages. Defensively, he has been every bit the swiss-army-knife for Minnesota as he was for Houston, appearing at every position except pitcher, catcher, and centerfield, though he has by far been utilized most often at third base.
Wade Jr.’s stay in Minneapolis proved very short. He appeared just once, playing six innings in right field yesterday and getting hit by a pitch in two plate appearances. Cave was granted a little more opportunity, appearing in 28 games so far this season for the Twins. While playing all three outfield positions, Cave hit just .176/.299/.243 with 28 strikeouts in 74 at-bats.
Yes! The boys are back.
I don’t really have an issue with Cave being sent down… but why even bother calling Wade up? Unless the Twins were just trying to send out a flare to other teams saying “hey, we have an MLB ready outfielder if you’re interested!”
Umm, they were down two starting OFers with a third banged up. Wade was the only other OF on the 40 man not already on the active roster. Not some conspiracy on why Wade was called up, they were short-handed.
Right! Why do some always have to default to a conspiracy setting!?
The Twins played Wade for 1/2 a game and Buxton was eligible to come off the IL on Tuesday. It’s not like they couldn’t have activated Buxton a day earlier.
Just because a player is eligible to come off the DL doesn’t mean they are healthy. So you’re suggested they should have activated Buxton even though he wasn’t healthy to avoid calling up Wade. Why? Makes no sense.
Cave is just brutal. Didnt do the team any favors by making himself marketable with that long looping strikeout swing. Plus, he’s a butcher in the field….runs well, but you have to catch the ball when you get to it.
WTF is it with you people? Did Jake Cave bang your mom and your now ex-girlfriend in a 3 way or something?
The guy has never had a below average bat at any level until his SSS this year at the MLB level, and his defense grades out as fine. He’s a solid 4th outfielder option at the very least and he’s better than more than 1 or 2 teams are trotting out most days.
The guy starts pressing to stay in the line up and slumps a bit and people act like he’s running a dog fighting ring in his basement.
Did anyone else mistake “swiss army knife” for “swiss cheese” and think his defense was terrible?
@Curt great comment made me chuckle, bud!