The Twins announced they’ve placed center fielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list due to a low-grade right hip strain. Catcher/infielder Caleb Hamilton was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul to take his spot on the active roster. The club also confirmed the previously-reported selection of righty Aaron Sanchez to start tonight’s ballgame against the Astros, with lefty Devin Smeltzer optioned to St. Paul. Corner outfielder Alex Kirilloff, who is out for the season after undergoing wrist surgery this month, was transferred to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man roster spot for Sanchez.
Buxton left last night’s contest with soreness in the hip, and manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters after the game that the issue had nagged at the star outfielder for much of the season (via Aaron Gleeman of the Athletic). The club announced he’d head for an MRI today. Darren Wolfson of SKOR North reports that the MRI didn’t reveal any serious issues, seemingly backed up by the team’s specification of a “low-grade” strain. It’ll nevertheless cost Buxton at least a week and a half of action.
It’s the second consecutive season in which Buxton has landed on the IL due to a right hip strain. His previous hip injury, suffered while running the bases, cost him nearly six weeks between May and June 2021. There’s no indication this issue is expected to be that severe — it seems unlikely given the generally optimistic tenor of the club’s prognosis — but even a couple weeks without the first-time All-Star will be a tough blow for a Minnesota team that is two games back of the Guardians in the AL Central and three games out of the American League’s final Wild Card spot.
In addition to the hip discomfort that has apparently plagued Buxton on and off all season, the club has been cautious with his workload as he nursed some soreness in his right knee. Being more judicious with his playing time had seemingly helped Buxton avoid an IL stint for the knee concerns, but he’ll land on the shelf for the first time all season with the hip issue. He’s spent some time on the IL in every year since 2017, but he’s continued to electrify when physically able to take the field. Buxton earned the first All-Star nod of his career this summer, and he’s blasted 28 home runs in 92 games. He’s hitting just .224 with a .306 on-base percentage, but the combination of his prodigious power and otherworldly center field defense has made him one of the game’s top outfielders.
BUCK NO!
Who playes more games between today and the end of the 2028 season (Buxton’s last under contract), Buxton or Mike Trout?
Oh that’s a good one. I’ll go Buxton
Trout.
I’ll lean towards Trout but only because after next season Ohtani will be gone and Trout will probably DH most of the time
My money is on Trout. Buxton has only played 46.1% of the Twins’ games over the past five years. Trout’s played just over 20% more of the Angles games in the last 5 seasons (66.8%).
I’ll take Buxton. Twins have been handling him with kid gloves in terms of load management this season. He’s also younger, and while he’s always banged up, his injuries aren’t chronic (yet). I think Trout, at least until Shohei is gone, isn’t going to see a ton of reps at DH like Buck is this year. So he’s either in the OF or he’s sitting.
It’ll be a tie of course. Zero each.
Well since trout is playing today, I’ll take that bet
Twins spinning this saying (paraphrased) “he’s been in pain so much this year even other players wouldn’t be able to comprehend”
What? I don’t buy it. If that’s true you’ve been lying to the fanbase all year saying all the days off are precautionary to keep him off the IL. Not to mention if since the beginning of the season he’s been “in so much pain not even other ballplayers can comprehend it…” he shouldn’t have been signed to a long term deal. He should just consider retiring
And I don’t mean that as some knee jerk “why is he hurt again!!??” Type deal. Saying he’s been so hurt other players have no idea is either total BS Or he needs to consider stopping playing ball so it doesn’t wreck the rest of his life
They’ve mentioned both injuries all season, I don’t know what this rant is about. He hurt his knee in early April and has been managing that ever since. His hip injury flared up during the all star game, so he’s been managing that since then.
He hurt his knee running into a wall. It’s not some ongoing injury that would need him to retire. He’s just never going to play anywhere close to 162 games in a season, his body can’t handle it. But he’s still a great player in 100 games.
This is just such a weird rant.
Wow. Only one season w more than one hundred games. Too bad. Imagine if he was healthy.
Yeah he’d strike out 225 times instead of “only” 160.
With 35 home runs and the best center field defense in the league. Who cares if he strikes out 200 times? Oh yeah, people with no real understanding of what provides value in baseball.
What if he struck out 200 times in a row? Then you would think it was a problem!
Wolfnutsucker’s low baseball IQ is the real problem. I guess he hasn’t watch Byron swing from the ass all year in every situation
But cretins like wolfdroppings who really “understand baseball” value Byron’s stars
.050 2 out and RISP
.160 High leverage situations
.143vlate and close with a 49% plus K rate.
Yeo- those strikeouts don’t matter in the least wolfsimp
Imagine there’s no healthy seasons
It’s easy if you try
Nothing for the Twins to play for
Cuz there’s no playoffs too
Imagine all the people
Who bought season tickets
You may say I’m a downer
But I’m not having fun
I hope there’s stuff for Twins fans to do
When the season’s done
There’s just not much there to win games
Without a healthy Buxton
Actually their record is nearly identical without Buxton, but I like the song.
I remember on the front page of MLB website earlier this season they featured an entire article about how Buxton is the best player in the league and better than Mike Trout…It was laughable to me, but people seemed to actually buy into the hype. The guy literally has a .300 obp and barely hits above the Mendoza line. Give me a break. There are tons of super athletic people that suck at baseball
The walks and Ks are an issue, but his low BA this year is partially a product of bad luck. .244 BABIP vs his career BABIP of .304 despite a career high Exit Velocity (92.9 mph) and 2nd highest hard hit % of his career.
It’s not wholly related to BABIP (his fly ball % has soared the last two years, up to 36% vs a career average of 27.4%), but bad luck has been a decent factor.
He doesn’t suck at baseball, just a one-dimensional hitter. I wonder what happened because while he was always known for his defense and speed while coming up the Twins’ system, the dude had a considerable hit tool. MLB Pipeline even graded it as a 70-grade tool.
He’ll never be the best hitter in the league, but when healthy he has provided the most value per 162 games in the last three years, because baseball isn’t just hitting. He’s a much better defender than Trout is at this point and a better base runner, so even though trout is a better hitter, it’s a decent argument on per game production.
Buxton doesn’t seem likely to ever play a full season though, so you can’t be the best player in the league when you’re always hurt. But trouts always hurt now too, so he’s not the best comparison.
I assume the article mentioned it as “ if he was healthy for a full season”, but maybe not.
The above comment was supposed to be in response to Maverick, the comments server isn’t working.
Buxton hit over .300 last year. As mentioned, he’s had a ton of bad luck this year, and playing with his knee and hip injuries isn’t helping. He won’t hit .300 I don’t think but he’s a much better hitter than his .224 average this year. He’s definitely not one dimensional, unless you’re grouping all extra base hits into one category, which would be silly. Even in a “down year” he’s been 37 percent better than league average at the plate. I’ll take that all day every day.
Buxton hits for power and that’s about it. Sub-par OBP, doesn’t hit for average, consistently has a high slugging percentage. I think he’s better than a .220 hitter, but I don’t think he’s the .300 hitter we saw last season. He has a low BAbip this season, but he also had a very high BAbip in 2021. I think he’s more closely the player we saw in 2019-2020; a .250-.260 hitter who can hit upwards of 30 dingers and provide Platinum Glove defense. Being a one dimensional hitter isn’t a bad thing.
Guarantees in life Death, Taxes, and a stint on the DL for one Byron Buxton.
Amazing player. Over the past 6 seasons, his bWAR/650 ABs is 7.0. For comparison purposes, Soto, for his career, is at only 5.7/650.
Byron “What Could Have Been” Buxton.
Feels like Sanchez will be placed on the DL at some point in the next 24-48 hours with blister issues.
Two things. First he had a ton of talent but if he can’t stay oin the field that was just a terrible contract to dish out.
Secondly, purely guessing… but with this constant hip injury I’m going to say he has a torn labrum and is try to manage it and dodge surgery.
The Knee bone is connected to the Hip bone… if one is hurt… chances are there will be side effects..
Here we go again..
Twins losing the easiest division battle ugly again this year. Enter the mysterious “leg weaknesses” again – making excuses for poor performance.
Every year when players report they are better and stronger than ever before.. then they start to reveal ailments they’ve been dealing with for sooo long.
IL manipulation and excuses again..boooo
What a shock! No.
I had heard a few months ago that the Twins FO worked out a plan to have Mr. Buxton start 110 games in 2022. They asked him to cut down on trying to steal bases due to injury possibilities (in 382 PA’s he’s attempted only 6 steals – all of which were successful). They asked him to be more consciousness of sliding when baserunning, diving for balls in the OF, and running into walls in the OF. Sometimes one can’t help it.
Nevertheless he’s played in 92 games thus far – not sure how many of those he started. So even with this short IL visit it appears the pre-season plan is within range. The way the Twins FO and Mr. Buxton are handling a unique situation is admirable. It’s a pity, as the man is very possibly the most talented and impactful position player in MLB today…..and it would show if he could go all out and play in most games.
It’s admirable to see your “team leader” really stress themselves to attempt to appear in 67% of games?
67% is a D grade – something to be embarrassed of.
The only hope is Buxton has been injured so often and as he ages his elite speed will diminish so far as to keep him healthier by not being able to do what made him good… but then that leaves you with something not as goods so…
Twins are a much better team with him than without him. Couldn’t have come at a worse time. Jumping off the bandwagon and finding a Guardians hat.
Ones best ability is availablity… Buxton is a broken down player and the Twins will regret the contract for years to come…