The Twins fell to the Astros in Game 1 of the ALDS this afternoon, though that didn’t stop manager Rocco Baldelli for providing reporters (including Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune) with fresh insights into the injury situations surrounding rookie Royce Lewis and outfielder Byron Buxton.
Regarding Lewis, there’s reason for optimism that the young slugger can return to the field in the near future. While he typically serves as the regular third baseman for the Twins, Lewis has been limited to DH-only duties throughout the playoffs to this point thanks to a hamstring strain he suffered in late September, with Jorge Polanco covering the hot corner in his stead. It sounds as though a potential return to third could be in Lewis’s future before the postseason is over, however, as Baldelli noted that Lewis was making progress, though he’s still currently at risk of re-aggravating his hamstring injury by returning to the diamond.
As for Buxton, the oft-injured center fielder was similarly limited to DH-only duties this year, never once taking the field on defense throughout the regular season. The injury also seemingly hampered Buxton at the plate, as he slashed just .207/.294/.438 in 85 games with the Twins this year. The club made the decision to leave Buxton off the ALDS roster, and Baldelli shed some light on that decision in what appears to be a worrisome update regarding Buxton’s ability to impact the club later in the postseason. Per Baldelli, Buxton has yet to progress to running the bases as he hopes to return to the club this postseason. With Buxton not yet running the bases, it’s hard to imagine him being healthy enough to return to defensive play in the outfield as the Twins make their push toward their first World Series championship since 1991, though the Twins have not yet ruled him out for the postseason.
More from around the major leagues…
- Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins provided an update on right-hander Alek Manoah during today’s end-of-season presser, as noted by ESPN. Manoah, clarifying some of the uncertainty that surrounded the right-handers status last month. Atkins noted that Manoah had received an injection to reliever discomfort in his throwing shoulder, though he added that no structural damage had been found after multiple tests. Atkins described the 2022 AL Cy Young award finalist as “motivated to get back to form,” adding that Manoah felt the injection was the best choice for a next step forward as he looks to prepare for the 2024 campaign. Manoah, 25, struggled badly in 19 starts with the Blue Jays this year, posting a 5.87 ERA and 6.02 FIP in 87 1/3 innings of work.
- Braves right-hander Kyle Wright is set to miss the 2024 campaign due to an impending shoulder surgery, as the club announced before today’s 3-0 loss to the Phillies in Game 1 of the NLDS. Following the game, Wright spoke to reporters, including Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, about his injury. Wright noted that an MRI revealed perforations on the capsule in his right shoulder, and that while the severity of the damage won’t be clear until the procedure begins, he’s certain to miss the entirety of the 2024 season. Prior to testing revealing the damage, Wright adds, the issue was something he attempted to pitch through in hopes of making Atlanta’s postseason roster.
The Manoah notes are both grammatically incorrect and an include incomplete sentence.
That’s right, but same can be said about Manoah
Cry about it. Grammar soldiers suck
Says the dumb guy.
@GhostOfKevinElster,
At the risk of infuriating you even more, you just delivered textbook satire, which makes you a Grammar Officer. Nicely done!
I hope you die Harley Jarvis
Manoah, clarifying some of the uncertainty that surrounded the right-handers status last month. Atkins noted that Manoah had received an injection to reliever discomfort in his throwing shoulder, though he added that no structural damage had been found after multiple tests.
> The Manoah notes are both
> grammatically incorrect and
> an include incomplete sentence.
Yo dogg,
Heard u like fixin grammar so I put some busted grammar in yo failed grammar so u can chill wit yo gramma and hammer out grammar.
—Xzibit
Never mind injecting into his arm/shoulder; it’s his head that needs to straighten out. His mouth was writing cheques his performance couldn’t cash. Not sure if the Jays should be waisting more time and money on this young fella. Time to move on. Pearson is another one. Still can’t throw strikes when he needs to. Very frustrating pitcher to watch. Don’t understand Jays management on some of their decisions. Sometimes you just have to cut your losses and move on. If they don’t with some of these players they will be in the same position this time next season; on the fairway!
Not arguing he talked too much, but CYA finalist says his performance *can* cash those checks. As for moving on, they won’t. They’ll give him another season to figure it out. More room for his value to get to go up than down at this point .
I dont know if you are a Jays fan or a Jays hater, your comment reads both ways.
1) Manoah is worth very little now so there is no point in trading, Also Atkins is the worst trader in the history of the game
2) Manoah was a Cy Young finalist last year when his mouth was writing cheques, so you are allowed to? I mean I hate when players talk smack but if you cant talk smack at that level then you can never talk smack.
3) Pearson train has passed, there is no return now so it is what it is. Having guys with zero trade value on the AAA team who may figure it out (Manoah, Pearson is cooked) is better than dumping them for nothing.
Atkins and Shapiro are truly awful, but at their current value, there is nothing to do with these players.
1) agree on Manoah but is Atkins worse than JP Ricciardi?
2) Manoah has been humbled now. That is a good thing.
3) agreed.
Jays need Manoah to be somewhere in the middle of 2022 and 2023 in 2024. Completely agree on the Atkins/Shapiro part.
Manoah and Pearson didn’t even make the major league minimum, since they weren’t in the majors all year. Talk about misplaced penny-pinching.
Manoah is all-around garbage.
As is your comment.
“motivated to get back to form,”
=========================
Presuming that he is being nice and he means “losing 30 pounds”, that would be an excellent start.
Couldn’t agree more, he came to camp out of shape, I think the clock affected him also
At 25 and having had success like he did, some guys think they’ve got it figured out when they don’t. What a guy in his shoes SHOULD be doing is hiring a nutritionist and hire a sports psychologist and get his head and body in a place where he gain find success once again… You’ve only got a shot at being an elite athlete when you’re young… ya guys do whatever you can to make that happen…
Sadly for him, I’ll be shocked if it happens
Couldn’t agree with you more. I hope he can get back to form but the odds are against him. Needs to drop 40+ lbs which we know can be done as Vladdy has done it. I guess we will see how bad he wants it!
You see this in every sport. A SH 7-foot senior shows up fat and blows a chance to be a first-rounder. A 3rd round TE from the Giants doesn’t even get signed because he showed up 30 pounds overweight.
You only have a few years. I would hit some of these camps in AZ & FL, Driveline, whatever, and just pounds the weights every day, hit the track, whatever. Take a couple of months off, come back in December & January, and be ready for ST in February.
Manoah needs to use the new fancy gym the jays built for the players. Seeing him huff and puff between pitches was ridiculous
In 2024 we find out what Manoah is made of. Jays need him in the rotation. As the presumed 5th in the rotation they need him to be a 3.
Manoah’s form closely resembles a bag of leaves.