The Twins have placed outfielder Byron Buxton and righty Michael Pineda on the 10-Day IL, the team reports. Buxton’s injury, the third that’s forced him to the IL this season, is a left shoulder subluxation, which is potentially serious and will likely sideline the former number two overall pick for at least a few weeks (per MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park). Pineda strained his right triceps; the timetable for his return isn’t yet known, but the absence isn’t believed to be a lengthy one. 1B/DH C.J. Cron, reinstated from the IL, and outfielder Jake Cave were activated in their places.
It’s the latest in a series of early-career injuries for Buxton, who’d hoped to both shake the injury-prone label and deliver a productive season after a lost 2018 campaign. He’s at least cashed in on the latter, pairing a solid 110 wRC+ with his typically sensational center-field defense to post 2.6 fWAR in just 82 games for the division-leading Twins this season. The 25-year-old’s sliced his K rate to an easily-career-low 23.1% and made hard contact over 35% of the time, a near-eight percent jump from his previous career best of 27.6% in 2017. In his absence, the Twins’ll likely shift breakout star Max Kepler, 11th in MLB fWAR thus far, back to center, where he’s acquitted himself about as well as could be hoped over his young career, and have super-utilityman Marwin Gonzalez assume right-field duties.
Pineda, now 30 and no stranger himself to the DL/IL, has turned in yet another productive season for Minnesota, with identical 4.15 ERA/FIPs that, when adjusting for the suddenly-diminutive confines of Target Field, have been good for 2.0 fWAR in just 17 starts. The towering righty’s fastball velocity is down a bit this season, but still checks in at a respectable 92.6 MPH in this, the final year of a two-year, $10MM deal signed prior to the 2018 season. It’s unclear who’ll replace Pineda in the rotation – the team just sent down lefty Lewis Thorpe, and has needed only five starts from hurlers beyond the Opening-Day quintet of Pineda, Jose Berrios, Kyle Gibson, Jake Odorizzi, and Martin Perez.
Buxton injuries never seem to end.
FWIW, Buxton was the #2 overall selection of the 2012 Amateur Draft – Carlos Correa was #1 overall.
Another stud that deferred a UGA commitment for the pros. Would have been crazy seeing him Between the Hedges.
This is true, and kudos again to the Astro’s for picking Correa when Buxton was a more consensus pick.
Didn’t that savings allow them to select Lance McCullers Jr.?
Stros picked Correa so they could play with the bonus pool, but in hindsight couldn’t have worked out better for them. That draft did not age well, particularly at the top. Still think Buxton will be a phenomenal player if the injuries don’t continue to pile up.
The Bux news is devastating. He really is a key cog to that team. Huge drop in the OF defense with him out plus they bring Cave up and he’s an automatic out in the lineup.
Gold glove, World class speed but you can’t steal firstbase.
His glove is actually made of brick. Seen him play?
Not now, but soon…MLB changed the rules in various affiliated leagues like the Atlantic League where the 1st player from the So MD Blue Crabs stole 1B, which is now allowed, on any ball that is not caught in-flight. So, technically, any passed ball, wild pitch or ball in the dirt – a batter can take off for 1B, but risks getting thrown out.
Let’s call this the Billy Hamilton rule.
No need to steal first base.
Buxton’s OPS is .827.
He has 30 doubles in 295 plate appearances.
(If only he’d stop running walls and diving so hard that he crushed his face into the turf!)
The Twins could have gotten Thor for him…
Now, they may want to simply trade him for an actual China doll.
The Mets wanted Buxton, Lewis and Kirilloff for Thor from my understanding. It was an absolutely ludicrous request so I expect it was a way to tell the Twins to go lowball other teams.
That said, the fact Buxton will never be the kind of guy you can expect to play more than 120 games a season. He’s made of frosted decorative glass.
He is not “made of frosted decorative glass” – although that’s a clever description. He is made of more steel and guts that any player playing today! And … that’s the problem. Mentally, he seems to believe he is indestructible. That is, he plays full out every play, which naturally leads to injuries that lesser players can only dream of!
Excellent comment!
They aren’t trading Buxton for anybody.