Buxton (knee) went 1-for-4 during a rehab game Thursday for Triple-A St. Paul and will play again Saturday after a scheduled off day Friday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
If Buxton can stay healthy -- his last rehab stint was shut down after two games due to a flareup of the patella tendinitis in his right knee -- it's not clear if he'll be able to get enough at-bats to show he can be activated for the beginning of the playoffs with the minor-league season ending this weekend. Even if he does return in the postseason, the Twins seem unlikely to risk him in center field again, which would limit him to DH.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Resuming assignment Thursday
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Buxton (knee) will resume playing in rehab games with Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Buxton's assignment was shut down after he suffered a knee injury in a Triple-A game Sept. 1 while working his way back from a strained hamstring. He has received a cortisone injection in his knee since then and has now been cleared to resume game action. Barring any further setbacks, Buxton could still make his way back into the Twins' lineup before the end of the regular season.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Hopeful of rehab games soon
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Buxton (knee) remains hopeful of resuming a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul soon, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
St. Paul's season ends Sunday, so if Buxton gets into some rehab games it will need to happen soon. The outfielder received a cortisone injection for his ailing right knee earlier this month and has continued hitting, throwing and running. It's not clear whether playing center field could still be an option for Buxton or if the Twins plan to continue limiting him to designated hitter duty when/if he returns.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Gets cortisone injection in knee
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Buxton was given a cortisone injection in his injured right knee Sunday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Buxton was pulled off a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul early last week due to a flareup of the patella tendinitis in his knee. Simply resting wasn't doing the trick, so the decision was made to give him a cortisone injection in hopes that it will speed along the healing process. The Twins remain hopeful that Buxton will be able to get into some rehab games and return before the end of the regular season, although there's no timetable at this point for either of those things.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Meeting Friday to talk next steps
Rotowire
Buxton (knee/hamstring) will meet with members of the Twins' front office and medical staff Friday to discuss the next steps in his recovery, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
Buxton initially went on the 10-day injured list in early August with a strained right hamstring, but it was a flareup of the patella tendinitis in his right knee, which caused him to pause his rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul earlier this week. The team has said Buxton didn't suffer a new injury and it's something that was somewhat expected as he attempted to play center field for the first time this year. That said, when he might re-start a rehab assignment and whether the plan is still to try him in center field likely won't become clear until after Friday's meeting.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Takes pause in rehab assignment
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Buxton won't join Triple-A St. Paul for its upcoming six-game road trip, with his rehab assignment having been paused Monday due to a flareup of patella tendinitis in his right knee, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The Twins haven't ruled out Buxton from returning this season or playing in center field once he's activated from the 10-day injured list, but time is running out. Even if his knee improves following the upcoming week-long respite, Buxton will likely need to play a few rehab games before getting activated. Buxton played the first game of a rehab assignment last Wednesday in center field, took Thursday off and then left Friday's game while serving as a designated hitter. Buxton has been on the injured list since Aug. 4 with a strained right hamstring.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Knee issue not major setback
Rotowire
Buxton has been diagnosed with a flareup of patella tendinitis in his right knee after leaving Friday's rehab game for Triple-A St. Paul, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "He didn't hurt himself. It's just a matter of, the more he's on his feet, the more his knee is feeling it right now," Baldelli said of Buxton. "He's had this before. We'll continue to treat it day-to-day, like we have all along."
Buxton played the first game of a rehab assignment Wednesday in center field, took Thursday off and then left Friday's game after two at-bats while serving as a designated hitter. It's not clear when he may play another rehab game, but the Twins apparently don't believe that he's dealing with a serious setback.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Exits with knee injury
Rotowire
Buxton experienced soreness in the patella tendon of his right knee while playing for Triple-A St. Paul on Friday as the DH, and he was removed from the game after two at-bats, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Buxton played the first game of his rehab assignment Wednesday, which was his first game in center field this year. He then had an off day Thursday. This sounds like a setback which could put his return from the injured list in doubt, as the Twins had been hoping he could return and play center field on a semi-regular basis in September. Buxton has been on the injured list since Aug. 4 with a strained right hamstring and has served exclusively as a designated hitter in the majors this season due to limitations related to his September 2022 right knee surgery.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Plays center field at Triple-A
Rotowire
Buxton (hamstring) started in center field Wednesday and went 1-for-2 with two walks at Triple-A St. Paul. He played seven innings. It was the first time Buxton has played in the field in 2023.
Buxton has been on the injured list since Aug. 4 with a strained right hamstring. It's not clear how long his rehab assignment will last, but he could be activated in early September. Once activated, the 29-year-old looks like he'll get the chance to play his first innings in the field with the big club in 2023 after serving exclusively as a designated hitter prior to landing on the IL on Aug. 4.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Closing in on rehab assignment
Rotowire
Buxton (hamstring) will run the bases Monday and take live at-bats Tuesday before potentially heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Buxton doesn't look as though he's on pace to return from the 10-day injured list when the Twins' roster expands from 26 to 28 men Friday, but he could be activated soon after that if he's able to head out on a rehab assignment this weekend. According to Hayes, the Twins are still planning on having Buxton log some time in center field during his time in the minors. Once activated, the 29-year-old looks like he'll get the chance to play his first innings in the field with the big club in 2023 after serving exclusively as a designated hitter prior to landing on the IL on Aug. 4.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Still lacks clear return timeline
Rotowire
Buxton (hamstring) was spotted shagging flyballs in center field Friday in Arlington but he remains without a clear timeline to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "He's still building up and getting where he needs to be for us to take the next step," manager Rocco Baldelli said, when asked about Buxton's status.
Buxton has been on the shelf since Aug. 4 with a right hamstring strain. The Twins still anticipate Buxton making his return from the 10-day injured list at some point in September, but until he reaches the point in his recovery program where he's ready for a rehab assignment, a target date for his activation won't be available. Buxton has served exclusively as a designated hitter this season, but the fact that he was seen in the outfield Friday adds credence to the notion that the Twins are planning on having him make at least a handful of starts in center field once he's activated.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Outfield return possible
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Buxton (hamstring) could play center field once he's deemed ready to return from the 10-day injured list, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Buxton has exclusively served as the Twins' designated hitter this season in an effort to keep him healthy, but it's hard to call the plan a success. Even with the extreme caution, he's still landed on the IL twice, though as long as he returns in time to appear in eight more games, he will have reached the second-highest mark (93) of his career. His numbers at the plate (.207/.294/.438) have taken a considerable hit, however, which may or may not be linked with his role change. The Twins have yet to officially announce that he will indeed start outfield work as part of his rehab, but manager Rocco Baldelli said Saturday that the team was having conversations about the idea.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Rehab assignment planned
Rotowire
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Tuesday that Buxton (hamstring) is getting better but will need to go on a rehab assignment before returning, John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Buxton has been on the injured list since Aug. 4 with right hamstring tightness. Although his return doesn't seem to be imminent, it's a good sign to hear that he's trending upward. A clearer timeline for Buxton's activation will likely come once he begins his assignment, but a late-August return is certainly possible.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Shut down two weeks
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Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler said Friday that Buxton (hamstring) will be shut down for the next two weeks, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Buxton was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday due to nagging tightness in his right hamstring that has since been diagnosed as a muscle strain. The team will see how he responds to the two-week shutdown period before attempting to map out a timetable for his return. Matt Wallner is serving as Minnesota's designated hitter Friday night against the Diamondbacks.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Lands on IL with tight hamstring
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Buxton was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Aug. 2, with right hamstring tightness, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
This is the second IL stint of the year for Buxton, who missed 10 days in June because of a left rib contusion. Jordan Luplow, who was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays on Friday, will fill the vacant spot on the Twins' active major-league roster.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Remains sidelined Friday
Rotowire
Buxton (hamstring) is again absent from the lineup Friday versus Arizona.
Buxton missed the final two games of the Twins' three-game series in St. Louis because of right hamstring tightness and he'll remain on the bench as Minnesota opens a three-game weekend set against the visiting Diamondbacks. Matt Wallner is serving as the designated hitter and batting fifth.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Out again Thursday
Rotowire
Buxton (hamstring) remains out of the lineup Thursday at St. Louis.
Buxton was scratched from the Twins' lineup Wednesday due to right hamstring tightness and needs at least one more day of rest and treatment. Jorge Polanco will take a turn at designated hitter Thursday while Kyle Farmer covers third base.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Scratched with tight hamstring
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Buxton was scratched from the lineup Wednesday at St. Louis with right hamstring tightness, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Buxton may have tweaked his hamstring while legging out a double in the Twins' defeat of the Cardinals on Tuesday night. There's no word yet as to the severity of the injury. Consider him day-to-day for now.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Bangs out three doubles
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Buxton went 3-for-3 with three doubles, two runs scored and two RBI in Saturday's 10-7 loss to the Royals.
He was also hit by a pitch. Buxton clawed his way back over the Mendoza Line with the performance, but his .206/.295/.436 slash line remains far below expectations. The 29-year-old also has yet to play a game in the field in 2023, making all his starts at DH, and it's fair to wonder if his surgically repaired right knee has ever been 100 percent healthy in 2023.
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Twins' Byron Buxton: Out of lineup Friday
Rotowire
Buxton is absent from the lineup Friday at Kansas City.
Buxton is back from paternity leave, but he'll be on the bench as the Twins open a three-game series against the Royals. Matt Wallner is taking a turn at designated hitter and hitting sixth.
