Now that the Twins’ season is over, surgery is in the cards for two prominent Minnesota players. Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told reporters (including Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune) that Byron Buxton under an arthroscopic right knee surgery today, and that Alex Kirilloff will undergo a procedure to fix his torn right labrum on October 24.
This is the second straight year that Buxton will have undergone an arthroscopic procedure on his troublesome right knee, though Falvey noted “this one wasn’t something that existed a year ago in terms of the evaluation and where things were. This is one that developed more related to the patellar tendinitis that he was dealing with this year, and a potential path to help alleviate this. In some cases, I’m sure this plica issue wouldn’t necessarily be surgically removed, but I think because he’s dealt with persistent symptoms, that’s a path.”
Buxton’s long injury history is well-documented, as is the fact that the former Gold Glover was entirely limited to DH duty in 2023 due to lingering discomfort in his right knee. The experiment wasn’t too successful, as Buxton hit a modest .207/.294/.438 over 347 plate appearances in 85 games, and he didn’t play again in the regular season after August 1 due to a hamstring strain. While rehabbing that hamstring injury, Buxton played seven innings of one minor league game in center field, but that seemed to again re-aggravate his knee issues. He didn’t make it back to action at all until Game 4 of the ALDS, when Minnesota inserted Buxton onto the roster as an injury replacement for Kirilloff — Buxton had one at-bat as a pinch-hitter, popping out to first base in his only appearance during the Twins’ playoff run.
Unfortunately for Buxton, it doesn’t seem like this latest surgery will entirely correct what seems to be a chronic knee issue. Falvey described today’s procedure as “hopefully…a step that gets us in a direction towards making sure it’s less of a problem going forward. He’ll have to manage it. We know that part. But ultimately, hopefully we can manage it a little bit better going forward.”
In terms of timeline, Buxton will be able to start physical therapy within a few weeks’ time, and Falvey said the All-Star should be ready for the start of Spring Training. If all goes well, Buxton should be able to return to center field in at least a part-time capacity in 2024, though naturally things are still very much up in the air given how Buxton’s knee (to say nothing of several other injuries) have plagued him throughout his career. As a result, the center field position will remain a question mark for the Twins, since Michael A. Taylor is slated for free agency until Minnesota can work out an extension before the market fully opens five days after the end of the World Series.
Kirilloff is also no stranger to the surgical suite, after undergoing wrist procedures in each of the last two seasons. Kirilloff hurt his right shoulder back in June while diving for a ball, and attempted to play through the pain before finally going onto the injured list for what ended up being around a six-week absence.
“I think if he had got through the first rehab and there was no soreness, and he got through the end of the year in an OK spot, it might not be a surgical procedure,” Falvey said, though unfortunately Kirilloff’s shoulder acted up against during the ALDS to force the situation. Falvey noted that a recovery timeline won’t be known until the surgery actually happens, though Kirilloff expressed optimism yesterday when speaking with the media that it would be a relatively simple recovery. Kirilloff throws with his left arm and not his right, so that should already cut back on the rehab required.
Buxton injured??? No way! There’s injury prone and then there is whatever he is. Great talent, but made of glass.
A career .240 BA is “great talent”? What am I missing here? Buxton had two insane stints mixed in a bunch of mediocre years and you call him “great”?
Great talent means he’s very gifted and skilled. Making it to MLB means you’re quite the talent, securing a $100m contract means he’s a great talent.
There are several who make it to MLB that aren’t “great.”
He might have the talent, but he hasn’t exactly been spectacular. Even when he was healthy last year, he had an insane start and then just plummeted. He dipped so low he was hitting .220, and by then who cares what your speed is when you can’t get on base.
The majority of players aren’t “great” when you compare them to all stars and hall of famers, but anyone who makes it to the majors is great. They’re in the 1% and they were pretty much all the best players on all of their teams growing up. It’s obviously all relative but the way you mention it seems more glass half empty.
As far as Buxton goes, a healthy version of him is an elite player. His walk rates are better than they used to be, and he doesn’t hit a ton but he slugs well enough that it’s still an above average offensive profile. When he’s healthy he’s great, but obviously the health is what keeps him from staying there and what kept him from playing center because he’s gifted defensively too.
JD
“A career .240 BA is “great talent”? What am I missing here? ‘
You’re missing an understanding of baseball if you think a batting average is in anyway comprehensive is a player’s baseball talent
Look at the other offensive stats. They’re not much better career wise
JD
“Look at the other offensive stats. They’re not much better career wise”.
You’re missing baseball knowledge if you think offence is all there is to baseball
I never said it was the only factor, but you’re blindly assuming that. My main point is Buxton is heralded as some giant superstar and he’s had poor offensive stats career wise. He’s very overrated.
He can’t even stay on the field to begin with. And his speed means little if he can’t get on base.
Oh yes, sorry everyone forgot the almighty analytics…….the only way to comprehensively that can analyze a players real talent……yes that explains why other than little things called injuries which kept him from playing, his .240 average should still be considered top 10 in MLB….1 god year 2017 but beyond never has played even 100 games in a season…….LOL
Injuries are why he can’t be regarded as a good player, too. Sorry, they’re part of the game and he’s highly injury prone.
If we use that logic, then Brandon Belt should also be considered a superstar because he’d be ten times better if he were on the field. But I don’t see people treating him like he’s some almighty great player, despite his success in short stints.
Analytics or not, Buxton just can’t stay healthy and when he does he’s terribly streaky.
JD
“I never said it was the only factor, but you’re blindly assuming that.”
I’m going off of what you said
Maybe what you’re missing is the ability to express your thoughts
“Buxton is heralded as some giant superstar and he’s had poor offensive stats career wise”
Again, there’s more to baseball than offense
rocky7
Muted
Not interested in this kind of dumb argument
JD
Of course an injury prone player can be good players? Wut?
Okay, what more is there to offense? Defense? Didn’t he hurt himself pushing himself too hard to catch on defense?
If you’re a position player, offense is basically what makes you good. Defense is important, but if you can’t hit, Forget about it.
Buxton has always had potential. Bit potential doesn’t win you anything.
But please, what else is he good at? What parts are “everything” besides offense?
If they’re actually decent, then yes. But Buxton is injury prone and very streaky on offense with an average career BA and low OBP. If he’s good on defense, that’s a pinch runner and defensive replacement in most situations.
JD
“what more is there to offense? Defense?”
Defense is not part of offense, no
It’s definitely understanding of baseball that you are missing.
“But please, what else is he good at? What parts are “everything” besides offense?”
He’s also good at base running and defense
Those are the other parts of everything
JD
“If they’re actually decent, then yes”
I can’t imagine there is a reasonable definition of “decent” that Buxton doesn’t meet.
It’s also noted that Brandon Belt, another injury prone player, has more career WAR than Buxton by about 8 (baseball reference), yet he’s not regarded as anywhere near a better player.
Keep in mind, WAR includes defense as well.
I just explained defense and baserunning is pointless if you can’t get on base. At .8 WAR in 300 at bats, he’s a defensive replacement at best.
Brandon Belt has more career WAR as an injury prone player and it isn’t even that close.
JD
“It’s also noted that Brandon Belt, another injury prone player, has more career WAR than Buxton by about 8 (baseball reference), yet he’s not regarded as anywhere near a better player”
“I just explained defense and baserunning is pointless if you can’t get on base”
You’re wrong though. Defense is not pointless if you can’t get on base
It seems you don’t have any idea what you’re taking about. Which makes you not very interesting to talk to
Did you happen to note that Belt has played much longer and much more than Buxton?
I didn’t say defense is pointless if you can’t get on base. I said speed is pointless if you can’t get on base. That’s a huge difference and a huge misread. I realize it was weird the way I worded it there but if you read all my posts, you will see it explained.
Belt has played longer. Some is because of age, and some is probably because he’s less injury prone. But Belt more than doubled Buxton’s WAR in 2023, while having only 30 more at bats and being at the age of 35.
You keep saying I’m misinformed but I’m the one using stats here, buddy. I’ve used batting average, OBP, WAR. Pick and choose- Buxton is not as great as people make him out to be.
Is he talented? For sure. Is he one of the greats? That’s debatable.
JD
“I didn’t say defense is pointless if you can’t get on base. I said speed is pointless if you can’t get on base. That’s a huge difference and a huge misread.”
This is what you said.
“I just explained defense and baserunning is pointless if you can’t get on base”
You very clearly said that defense is pointless if you can’t get on base.
“Belt has played longer. Some is because of age, and some is probably because he’s less injury prone
Some is because Buxton has been a much better player
You clearly didn’t read every post of mine. I might have worded it that way but I didn’t mean it as so… I admitted to that last post.
Defense is important but with his current WAR, he’s no better than a defensive replacement with low offensive numbers.
I have no clue what you mean about “some is because Buxton is a better player.” You clearly took that out of context and it doesn’t make coherent sense on its own.
You still haven’t addressed any of the stats I brought up, yet continue to interrogate me on my wording and syntax rather than the argument at hand. Additionally, you have also incorrectly quoted and interpreted my posts. I would know, since I wrote them.
JD
I’m replying to the words that you write
If those don’t match your thoughts, that’s not my problem
Belt has more career WAR than Buxton because he played more. Not because he was better. Figure out WAR per PA.
He played more because he wasn’t as injury prone but they had similar at bats in 2023 but Belt still more than doubled Buxton’s WAR.
I’m not going to bother the parts you say about me because they’re so wrong, it’s laughable. Look, I’m trying to be nice here, but the stats don’t lie.
First you tell me batting average means nothing. Then when I presented numbers about offense aside from batting average, you shifted your argument to “offense is not everything.” And you make it sound like defense is everything when offense really shows more value. You literally are in denial.
It’s obvious Belt has played longer but how long do we let Buxton play to get better? He has had 5 to 6 years to move from potential to great player and he hasn’t stepped up to the plate. Blame injuries all you want, but they happen and are part of the game. They can’t be the excuse for everything.
And yes, when you don’t quote me word for word, it makes your argument look weak. You haven’t even written some of them coherently to how I worded them. That’s basically misquoting, to put it nicely.
JD
‘no, you just don’t know how to use them”
“First you tell me batting average means nothing”
No, I didn’t. Are you 1) lying 2) confused, 3) misspoke?
“you shifted your argument to “offense is not everything.””
Offense is not everything. Do you think it is? Or do you think defense is part of baseball?
“And you make it sound like defense is everything”
I have NOT said that. Are you lying or confused? I said that defense matters. Do you disagree that defense matters?
“It’s obvious Belt has played longer but how long do we let Buxton play to get better? He has had 5 to 6 years to move from potential to great player and he hasn’t stepped up to the plate. Blame injuries all you want, but they happen and are part of the game. They can’t be the excuse for everything.”
What are you talking about? YOU are the one who brought up Belt’s career WAR.
Again, figure WAR per PA. Buxton has been better
You know another oft injured OF with one outlier season with meh stats otherwise? Give you hint, he wears White with blue pinstripes and averages about 110 games a season.
JD
Since you didn’t do it, I’ll help
WAR/600 PA
Belt 20.6 WAR in 5483 PA: ((29.6/5483)*600) = 3.2
Buxton 21..0 WAR in 2187 PA: ((21.0/2187)*600) = 5.1
So, excellent job comparing Buxton to a solid player and showing that Buxton is significantly better.,
Thumbs up!
But if you close your eyes, does almost seem like we’ve been here before? How am I gonna be an optimist about this?
Just put this post on autopost every October. Save MLBTR some time.
“It kind of popped up, I think, because of all the running”
There are only 5 years and $75.7MM left on Byton Buxton’s contract. Maybe they should extend his contract a few years?
That was a joke.
Injury prone players remain injury prone. Both these guys do not have the gift of health.
One surgery leads to the next, leads to the next, etc. Sure, he’ll be ready for spring training, but then what? What is the genuine probability he makes it through ST and the first month of the season without an injury? Does anyone see that happening?
Mr. 200 average Buxton.
It’s too bad injuries have run afoul his 5-tool talents. Reminds me of Grady Sizemore’s career.
Jake Meyers is an obvious trade candidate in the offseason for the Astros that could potentially be a pairing for the Twins in CF. A top 3 defensive CF’er in the game & has offensive upside. The Astros were much higher on Meyers originally than the eventual everyday CF’er, Chas McCormick who just outplayed Meyers offensively. However, there’s still much hope that there’s much more for Meyers offensively in the tank if he plays everyday. The Twins may just be the right fit.
If the Astros could have a do over, they’d probably trade Meyers or Chas and keep Jose Siri, who turned out to be better than both McCormick and Meyers. It’s clear the Astros had hoped for much more from Meyers.
McCormick had a better year than Siri. Siri does play better defense & had 25 HRs vs 22 for Chas…however Chas beats him in every other category. Chas hit around .280 this year as opposed to the .220 approximately that Siri hit. Chas’ OPS is also around 100 pts higher & stole more bases this year. You hit the nail on the head though as Siri has certainly played much better than Jake Meyers. Meyers is still an extremely good defensive CF’er & has offensive upside which is why I think he could be a fit for the Twins & may not cost too much in a trade. Meyers also has multiple years of control remaining which would be attractive.
The Twins knew Buxton’s knee was a real problem back in January. They opted for rest and rehab, plus signing Michael A. Taylor. If the Twins had Buxton go through a procedure then, he probably only misses the first month or two of the season.
Instead, it cost them any hope of Buxton playing for the full year and rather than just giving in and having the surgery, they continued to push forward with an inflamed knee resulting in even more damage and an additional surgery. Buxton fans and proponents should mercifully stop talking about his MVP potential. He’s a borderline All Star at this point, even if he does manage to get back into the field on a limited basis.
Kirilloff’s career is probably over. Between that wrist and the shoulder, his inability to play defense, and his marginal upside at the plate, there just isn’t a lot to expect out of him.
Hate to see this for Buxton. It’s nice to have all that money, but I bet he’d give a lot back to be out there.
Not sure how much he’d give back. I think he’d want to keep a few million. Hanging out with the fellas isn’t too bad so he probably wouldn’t accept being destitute in order to play
Signed through 2028 with a full no trade clause, Buxton’s going to be hanging out with the guys quite a bit. It’s not a crippling deal at $15MM per year, but it sure will be painful for the Twins.