11:59AM: Buxton may not even require an IL stint, as Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Twins aren’t planning another roster move.
11:10AM: Twins outfielder Byron Buxton left yesterday’s game in the first inning due to what the club termed as right knee soreness, and Buxton was set to undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (Twitter link), there wasn’t any structural damage revealed, though Buxton might need around a week to recover.
This counts as good news, as given Buxton’s lengthy injury history, there was plenty of immediate concern when Buxton immediately left the field yesterday after sliding into second base on a leadoff double. Even if a trip to the 10-day injured list seems probable, Rosenthal’s timeline would indicate that Buxton might only miss the minimum 10 days, though it’s possible the Twins might hold him out an extra day or two as a precaution.
Of course, missing Buxton for even 10 days is a big blow to Minnesota’s lineup, especially since the outfield was already thinned out when Alex Kirilloff was placed on the 10-day IL yesterday due to wrist inflammation. Max Kepler is suddenly the last starting outfielder left standing, and Trevor Larnach and Kyle Garlick have already been called up from Triple-A. That trio projects as the starting outfield for now, with Alex Gordon and Gilberto Celestino also on the active roster. Jake Cave and Derek Fisher are among the more experienced outfielders still at Triple-A, though the Twins would need to add either player to the 40-man roster.
Buxton has played an even 500 games during parts of eight MLB seasons, as multiple injuries have hampered one of the sport’s most exciting all-around players. When he has been able to play, Buxton has shown glimpses of his five-tool potential, such as the 4.2 fWAR and .306/.358/.647 slash line he posted over 254 PA (61 games) in 2021. The seven-year, $100MM extension Buxton signed with the Twins in November reflected both his injury history and this high ceiling of potential, as millions more in incentive bonuses are available to Buxton if he can hit plate-appearance thresholds and secure at least a top-10 finish in MVP voting.
Hope for a speedy recovery…Still glad the Phillies did not acquire him……
Who cares about the first team to lose 10000 games. Glad to see Buxton okay. If healthy, he is MVP candidate.
That’s the problem…. “If healthy” the Yankees have a CF too, but like Buxton, Hicks is never healthy…ever. Buxton is one of the best, if not the best, CF in the game, but it’s useless when he’s not on the field. I do hope he recovers & can play out the season.
I care. Phillies could lose a million more games and I would still care more about them than your opinion.
@Arnold. Did you even look at Buxton’s injury history before you posted this?
Mr. Glass is back at it again
“They called me Mr. Glass” – Byron “Don’t Call Me Bryan” Buxton
Fantastic news for baseball. We desperately need a full season of Buxton
Ok who had money on 12 days into the season before we’re talking about Buxton health? Come claim your prize
Everyone.
Saw the play……
The first batter in the game – Buxton – hits a routine popup behind the left side of the infield. Three Sox players are gliding to it……3B, SS, and LF. They all are looking up at the ball, but no one calls to catch it so it drops between them. Buxton is jogging around 1st (cause the ball was hanging up so long). When he see it fall he starts running, goes into a screwy slide at 2nd, and immediately pounds the ground as he knows he’s hurt. Again.
I uncontrollably LOL’ed. A perfect microcosm of: 1) the Red Sox defense; and 2) Buxton getting hurt on routine plays.
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Better still, the involved 3B and SS on the Red Sox are upset that they aren’t getting at least a $300m contract offer. LOL Just wait till next year when the shift goes away and their awful defense is exposed even more (if I can figure that out MLB FO’s sure can).
I mean they won’t be getting signed for their D it’s their elite bats
The over under was probably for week 1 lol
missed it by That much… I think i had lucky #13
Love the Get Smart reference
not many will know what we are talking about
They called me…..Mr. Glass.
Great news
Huh. I thought Alex Gordon retired? When did the Twins pick him up? Poor Nick, media will never get to know who he is, since Baldelli won’t play him, because HE doesn’t even know who Nick Gordon is.
I was as shocked as anyone when I heard Byron “Ironman” Buxton got hurt. At least he hasn’t herniated a disc sneezing…. yet.
Give him time.
He signed a mutually beneficial contract, 7 years/$100M. Completely fair for his level of play knowing you’re only going to get 100-120 games played. When he plays he’s great but just can’t stay healthy for a whole season.
What are you talking about the guy can’t even give you 100 games in hes entire carrer hes only played more than 100 games once. He robed the twins with that contract
Hate to say it but I bet he will land on the DL again. There’s just some guys who end up there constantly (Pollock, Belt) but Buxton is easily the worst case. It’s literally an Achilles heel for such a talented player.
@pwner- Could you, with your masterful prognostication skills & imminent wisdom, be so inclined as to teach me what the “DL” is? Thanks in advance =)
It’s the disabled list, you know, what MLB has called the “IL” for the past 100 years or so
It’s an antiquated term and no longer in use by the League. Using it implies there is a new usage.
Keep virtue signaling buddy!
It’s been 4 years. Using the proper terminology in professions is important to make other people understand what you are talking about. I could care less if it’s called the DL, IL, PL, FL, whatever… but using the proper verbiage is the issue.
My bad, “IL.” Somehow I had forgotten they changed it.
The article made me look to see what David Dahl is up to these days. Looks like he is in AAA with the Brewers organization.
You’re thinking of Nick Gordon. Alex played his entire career with the Kansas City Royals and retired after the 2020 Season. Alex Gordon is not a part of the Minnesota Twins organization.
No, he was talking about Alex Gordon, and making the comparison to how frequently he was hurt.
The article is misprinted and said the Twins outfield had ALEX Gordon.
Thanks for saving me the Google, because I was perplexed by this when I first read it.
Buxton 2022 injury watch off to a roaring start.
The man is literally too athletic for his human body. His joints and bones can’t handle the speed
Orrrrr…he’s mentally weak, and would rather sit on his couch counting stacks than grinding..
BUXTON is hurt?!?! no way….
Death Taxes and Buxton getting hurt during the year. Absolute guarantees in life.
“No structural damage yet” There I fixed it.
Lol may miss up to a week and in a week they’ll place him on the IL saying it hasn’t healed as quickly as they thought or it’s not responding to treatment.
*PLYMOUTH PARAKEETS
I’m sure I’ll get bashed for this, but the way Buxton made a huge deal out of it when it happened makes me think that he’s a guy who’s embellished injuries in the past. That’s a huge red flag, and is all too common in sports..some just hit that payday and lose the drive to be great.
I agree I watched the play a few times now and it doesn’t look like he did anything other than slide into second. He didn’t jam it or bang it he just performed a common slide into a standing position. I believe this guy wants to be injured at this point he has to no one gets hurt this much. He’s never played a full season yet in all his years which seems impossible. I mean you would think he’d get one full year in by accident right? I can’t figure why the Twins would give him that contract. I get it he’s a talented guy but if you have never shown the ability to stay on the field for even 100 games how can a team give you that contract especially a team like the Twins?
Completely agree..kinda reminds me of Chris Brown back in the ‘80’s/early ‘90’s..lots of talent, but no drive to stay on the field.
Insinuating a player has poor character deserves to be bashed.
Gbs42-Did you see the play? Guy acted like his leg snapped in half..and it’s looking from the medicals like it’s a sprain at worst..and this isn’t the first time.
I saw the play. How serious it is remains TBD.
I was referring to the comment “some hit that payday and lose the drive to be great.” That’s quite presumptuous.
He regularly crashes into walls full speed and celebrates his dingers like WS walk offs.
I wouldn’t question his passion, in fact, I question how many Buxton games you’ve watched as that is his calling card.
He’s probably just sensitive to his own injury history and you saw the intensity in his reaction, but confusing a fragile narrative for being apathetic is way off.
I’ve watched a lot @LL..electric talent in short spurts..but personally? After seeing how he reacted over a sprain? I wouldn’t trade for him without prospects coming my way..I’d be surprised if he ever plays a 100 game season again..which he hasn’t in years..There’s bad luck, and there’s dramatics..and while I believe he’s seen both, it seems obvious that there’s more going on..JMO
What does his trade value have to do with his character and playing style?
Attributing his reaction to milking his 100M deal seems a bit complicated.
There is literally no chance he plays over 100 games this season. A stiff wind in the outfield blows this guy over causing some kind of injury. Soft dare I say pillowy soft?
Mr Glass
Less knee damage due to Pfizer vaccination, plus boosters.
Hahaha! Right?!
In 7 seasons he’s played over 100 games once and they have him 7yr at $100mil?!?!? Bigger rug pull than crypto
Considering his talent and WAR per 162 games, I’d say his questionable health history was already baked into that figure.
Without the injuries, his level of performance would easily command over 30M per year on the open market.
Wonder what the Twins have turned down in trade offers for him over the years..bet they wish they could have a bunch of them back.
well don’t trust MRIs done in haste.. while it might be fine for certain body structures.. the MRI isn’t a perfect view. For instance it sees newly dead tissue ( from loss of blood) the same as live tissue… it normally takes about 3 days for dead tissue to look dead on an MRI… and then there is the art of reading the MRI.. its not a science… 2 different doctors could see the same MRI differently… and if you look at the twins injury history of misreads and miscalculation on rehab.. you’ll find their cracked medical staff is terrible.. for instance they missed a fracture of a leg on Sayno… and played him on that leg.. eventually he needed surgery to fix the break because they had mistreated the injury.. I won’t bore you with the details.. but Glen Perkins was pitched with a torn labrum in his pitching arm… which likely made it worse and ended his career prematurely..
Not that school is everything… but why should we trust the guy who breaks up his thoughts with… excuse me if that’s just the dead tissue in my brain displaying as living tissue…
well maybe i don’t write like you………………….. maybe i was a Independent Living Coordinator and have worked with many injuries………………………… maybe you just don’t like people with knowledge……………….. Here get an education……………. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/health/14scan.html
Well if anyone survived the TLDR and grammar nazi openings, I’m sure they appreciated your dots, sorry, I meant expertise.
Some people just have a really low pain tolerance and won’t play through any pain. Buxton is clearly one of those people. You’d think a professional athlete would be tougher.
I suspect a bone bruise unrealized…. meaning the MRI didn’t see it… and they do hurt and if not treated properly they can lead to permanent damage..
You’re speculating about how much pain he was in. Nothing but speculation.
It looked like nothing happened. But he is out for a few days. I feel strongly that it’s gonna happen again.
Damn.