7:39 pm: Buxton’s initial examination revealed no serious problems, according to manager Rocco Baldelli (via Hayes). They are cautiously optimistic. Buxton will be fine.
6:47 pm: Buxton is snapping a picture of an injury to his left foot, Hayes tweets, adding that the Twins should have more information on his condition on Tuesday.
6:38 pm: Twins center fielder Byron Buxton He was removed from the field Monday after suffering an apparent injury to his left ankle, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Buxton left after possibly getting “a spike caught in the grass, ”writes Hayes. More details are not yet available.
If this turns out to be a major injury, it would be the last on a long Buxton list. The 26-year-old’s health issues helped limit him to 115 of the possible 324 regular-season games for 2018-19. Buxton only participated in 87 games last year, which ended for him when he underwent left shoulder surgery in September. That procedure prevented Buxton from participating in the Twins’ ALDS matchup against the Yankees.
Thanks in part to injuries, Buxton’s career may not have been planned since the Twins recruited him second overall in 2012. But there is no denying that Buxton has shown immense promise at times. The speedy defensive back was a 3.6 fWAR player in 2017, the only season so far in which he has racked up over 100 games, and posted 2.7 fWAR in 2019 despite missing nearly half the season. He slashed his career best average of .262 / .314 / .513 (111 wRC +) with 10 home runs and 14 steals in 295 plate appearances, and also contributed 10 saved defensive runs and a final zone rating of over 8.7 .
To his credit, the Twins did more than stay afloat without Buxton a season ago. And at least some of the center field options they used instead: Max Kepler, Jake Cave and LaMonte Wade Jr. – They’re still at hand. That said, it would be optimal for the team to have Buxton in the mix. The hope right now is that you are not dealing with another major problem.
