In a tale as old as time, the Minnesota Twins will place Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list due to a nagging hip injury, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic. The Twins removed Buxton from Monday’s game after he tweaked his hip on a swing in the third inning.
Even though he has no structural damage, Byron Buxton will be placed on the 10-day IL. Edouard Julien is en route. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) August 15, 2024
Buxton and the Twins hoped that rest and a cortisone shot could help him return sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, the star will now miss at least 10 days despite, per reports, no structural damage in his hip. In a corresponding move, Minnesota will recall infielder Edouard Julien from Triple-A.
Twins Place Byron Buxton on Injured List with Hip Issue
Losing Buxton to the injured list is a big blow for a Twins team competing for a postseason spot. Minnesota entered Thursday in the second Wild Card position, but multiple teams are breathing down its neck. Now, the team must fight off the competition without one of its best hitters.
In 90 games this year, the 30-year-old has hit .275/.334/.528 (140 wRC+) with 16 homers. He has excelled at making quality contact and has played excellent defense in center field. After only seeing time at DH last year, Buxton has given the Twins the electric value they expected since drafting him in 2012.
Standing ovation from the crowd here for this inning-ending Byron Buxton catch.
He was slow to get up, but seemed fine as he jogged off the field — and that’s when the ovation got really loud. pic.twitter.com/Is9dZpLDd7
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) August 4, 2024
With Buxton on the injured list, the Twins will continue using Manuel Margot and Austin Martin in center field. However, neither represents the offensive threat or dynamic fielder that Buxton is.
In his first season with Minnesota, Margot has produced a bad wRC+ of 81. Additionally, defensive metrics grade his defense as below average at all three outfield spots. The rookie Martin has been only slightly better with the bat. But, the natural infielder has not played well in the outfield.
Minnesota Might Have To Limp Into The Postseason
Buxton will join Carlos Correa and Brooks Lee as key Twins currently on the injured list. Plus, it might be only a matter of time before the perpetually-injured Royce Lewis joins them. One potential positive is that the Twins can backdate Buxton’s injured list placement. So, he theoretically can return as early as next weekend if he misses only the minimum days.
Minnesota likely wants Buxton back as soon as possible. That said, the team could take it slow with him since its next game against a postseason competitor is September 6 against the Kansas City Royals. Every win matters at this point in the season, and the Twins will likely push for Buxton’s return by at least then.
Photo Credit: © Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
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