Byron Buxton played through knee soreness for much of the 2022 season, eventually resulting in an arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in late September. In the aftermath of that procedure, the Twins took a caution approach in returning Buxton to action, to the point that the former Gold Glove and Fielding Bible award-winning center fielder has played exclusively as a DH for the entirety of the 2023 season. The strategy hasn’t entirely worked in keeping Buxton healthy, as he missed two weeks in June due to a rib contusion and hasn’t played since August 1 due to a hamstring strain.
Buxton has started taking part in baseball activities as he works his way back from the hamstring problem, and this time off might also contribute to getting Buxton back into the outfield. As Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters (including Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press), the club is at least considering the possibility of giving Buxton some limited time in center field.
“His legs are probably going to be in the best position possible for him to be able to play in the outfield after this period of time,” Baldelli said. “If it’s going to happen this season, it’s going to be after recovering and building himself up. And it’s going to be now. This is going to be his best opportunity.”
The plan is by no means set in stone, since as Buxton put it, “my biggest thing right now is just getting back on the field however that’s possible.” This means no setbacks, and getting through some minor league rehab games before returning to Minnesota’s lineup in any capacity. That said, a minor league rehab assignment would provide an avenue for Buxton to maybe log some actual game action as a center fielder, as a way of re-acclimating himself to the grass after not playing in the outfield for almost a full calendar year.
Buxton is naturally looking forward to the idea of perhaps once again playing his regular position, and giving some Minnesota some extra roster flexibility during the pennant race. Buxton’s fate will be determined by “how the body feels, how the knee feels, how everything all together feels. So for me, it’s putting us in the best situation so when we do get to that spot, get to the playoffs, to make sure that I’m in the lineup.”
Despite a modest 64-60 record, the Twins have started to take command of the lackluster AL Central, holding a five-game lead on the second-place Guardians entering Sunday’s action. While there’s plenty of baseball left to be played, Buxton’s return to the outfield could both help the Twins in the playoffs, and ease their path in clinching the division crown.
Michael A. Taylor has handled most of the center field action with Buxton relegated to DH duty. Taylor is a superb defensive player in his own right, but not much of a hitter, with only a .220/.270/.423 slash line over 324 plate appearances for the Twins this season. If Buxton is able to start in center field once or twice per weeks, the Twins can take Taylor out of the lineup and use the open DH spot for any of several better bats vying for playing time.
How this reshuffled lineup might look is still an open question, as beyond Buxton, the Twins are also waiting to see how Willi Castro, Alex Kirilloff, Nick Gordon, and possibly Jose Miranda return from their own stints on the injured list. A revolving door of injuries has kept Minnesota from fielding its first-choice lineup for basically the entire season, though rookie like Edouard Julien and Matt Wallner have also played well enough to earn regular or semi-regular playing time.
He’s so bad at the plate that you can’t possibly continue to DH him any longer.
His no-trade clause doesn’t kick in until next year, but nobody will want him even if MIN pays some of it down and sends a top 10 prospect along with him. The good news is he’s “only” making $15M a year for the next 5 years.
His value was tied so much into him playing in the field it’s quite bizarre how they’re using him. They’ve babied him all year and he’s still got hurt. Unless they’re afraid of him hitting some incentives they don’t want to pay him, and if that’s the case why did they sign him to that deal to begin with.
Athletes of the 80s didn’t get hurt to the degree these guys get hurt these days. It’s my belief they actually train too much.
MLBTR article two days from now: Buxton out with hamstring injury.
He’s already on the IL for a hamstring injury and isn’t coming back until September so they won’t be posting that in two days.
Yep, my bad.
Would be really nice as a MLB fan to see this guy play 150games. But it looks like the best days are behind him? Bummer.
One would think he stretches before games.
Breaking news: The Twins consider using an outfielder to play outfield.
“Sir, we have an outfielder coming back from injury!”
“What should we do?”
“Perhaps we should consider using him as an outfielder?”
“You’re a genius, Kip!”
Have the clubhouse manager order extra bubblewrap.
What could go wrong?????
Byron Buxton hurt himself just thinking about coming off the IL.
Jokes about a player getting hurt are lame. You are pandering to the lowest denominator of fan.
Buxton has played 100 games in a season once in spite of being in his 9th season. Injuries are a defining factor of his career.
Great
Don’t joke about it. That’s all I said. It’s not cool to joke about someone else getting hurt.
Buxton has played 100 games in a season once in spite of being in his 9th season. Injuries are a defining factor of his career.
Are you an idiot?
@King of Cards – Fans are frustrated. An incredibly enlightened, brilliant, super advanced human exhibiting the absolute pinnacle of virtue like yourself should be able to grasp that concept.
@King of Cards… not going to happen. The perception is Buxton is acting selfish and the Twins are indulging his behavior. Thus fans are going to continue to vent their frustrations regardless of the virtue police telling them what they can or can’t say.
Putting a player in a position to provide the most value for the team? Wild.
This headline feels like satire.
Would the Twins consider Buxton straight up for Starling Marte (Cohen eats the rest of the contract) in the offseason?
Trade deadline is passed. Only players who have not been on the 40 man roster this year can be traded.
@martras I said “In the offseason”
A buxton salary dump is what you’re asking. I don’t think that any team would assume his full contract
@BrianStrowman9 Buxton is still valuable wether you think so or not. Plenty of teams would take on his contract. He reminds me of Billenger a bit. High potential but high risk
Bellinger had to settle for a 1 year deal this off-season. Buxton has 5 years left.
@LFGMets Sorry, must have skimmed over that. Aside from the timeline, Buxton has a full No Trade Clause until 2027.
Assuming the Twins could trade Buxton, the answer is no. Marte has shown severe decline at the plate and in the field this year with little hope of a rebound. Marte would probably be DFA’d and released with little leash to bounce back meaning it would essentially be something like Buxton for a PTBNL. I don’t see the Twins’ front office making such an obvious admission of error.
@martras Marte was an all star last year. Hes dealt with a groin issue and migraines all season, which is why his numbers are down. Marte is not as good as Buxton but, he more available and hes cheaper than Buxton as he is only owed 40 mil compared to Buxton’s 85 million
Keep telling yourself it’s just a down year.
FO is probably thinking he’s gonna get hurt no matter where or how they play him, so why not get a little mileage out of him in CF before he inevitably heads back to the IL.
Was this a failed arthroscopic surgery? Usually players are back a full strength in a few months. He’s going on a year since the surgery.
Yes. The Twins were aware it didn’t work out in January, which is why they signed Michael A Taylor. Still, rather than having Buxton go back through a procedure, they elected rest/rehab and an incredibly optimistic approach to Buxton healing up while playing DH.
Do you know if they plan to have a follow-up surgery after this season?
Who knows? The Twins seem pretty fickle with how they treat most players (don’t care at all about the players input) vs. Buxton (whatever Lord Byron wants!!!).
I’m not Buxton’s doctor and I don’t have the scans to compare, but based on the amount of time Buxton’s knee has continued to be aggravated (all year), it’s likely there’s more scar tissue and debris which need to be cleaned out in order for him to reasonably recover.
HUGE BUST
Outfielder comes back as… outtttfielder¿?¿?
Even only DHing Buxton has only managed to play in 85 of the Twins 125 games so far this season. Might be better to stay the course and let him try to play the OF next season (perhaps moving him to an OF corner as well)
GREAT start by Dallas Keuchel today! Taking a no hitter into the 7th inning. Good job!
The Twins need to go with a 6 man rotation once Joe Ryan is back.
The other Twins starters need an extra day to be fresh for the playoffs.
Yes, Keuchel’s start yesterday was better than his 2.00 WHIP in his first start or his 6 earned runs in 1.2 innings at his last start. Let’s get him into the permanent rotation right away!
Hey there, Captain!
Does playing Buxton make us better? If not, then let’s keep his leash very short. We can win without him.
Sadly. Unfortunately.
Getting in the field and making big catches/throws could be all he needs to turn his season around. Taylor could use a day off by now
The price they’re paying him, he should be playing the outfield, running concessions, and cleaning the clubhouse.
They may be trying to get him to retire early. Putting him in the outfield almost guarantees an injury.
Taylor has a weak bat? Well maybe. But you can overlay his stats this year with Buxton’s. Kinda scary how similar they are, other than slugging %, with Bux around .480 and Taylor .420, give or take. Both hitting .200-220, OBA below .300, between 15-20 dingers, 40-45 RBIs in 300 ABs or so. I don’t see the hitting “dropoff” with Taylor in CF as much of an issue.
Overall
.207/.294/.438 wRC+ 99, 10.1% BB, 31.4% K = Buxton
.222/.274/.424 wRC+ 90, 5.8% BB, 34.3% K = Taylor
June 1 and later
.187/.248/.423 wRC+ 77, 6.6% BB, 35.0% K = Buxton
.228/.276/.463 wRC+ 100, 5.7% BB, 33.1% K = Taylor
As you note, it’s awfully hard to consider Buxton superior to Taylor at the plate right now. Buxton is clearly struggling to make contact, his plate discipline has diminished and he’s become all or nothing (mostly nothing) at the plate as the season has worn on.