The Minnesota Twins placed center fielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list Friday due to inflammation in his troublesome right knee. They are cautiously optimistic that his absence will be brief.
Buxton left the game early in Chicago on Wednesday due to knee soreness. This knee has been previously operated on and limited his role to designated hitter last season.
The discomfort arose when he tried to steal second base for the third time but had to stop due to the pain after two failed attempts.
“This is a long season. He wants to make sure he’s in good shape because he’s still dealing with some tenderness and tightness,” said Derek Falvey, president of baseball operations. “We don’t want to deal with this every couple of days, so we’re trying to address it proactively.”
Buxton has a batting average of .250 with eight doubles, one triple, one home run, 12 runs, and 11 RBIs in 28 games this season. The Twins called up Austin Martin from Triple-A St. Paul to fill his roster spot. Willi Castro played in center field for the series opener against Boston on Friday.
Buxton has rarely played more than 92 games in his 10 years in the major leagues. This season, the 30-year-old has been in center field for 20 of Minnesota’s first 30 games and served as the designated hitter in four others, with four additional appearances as a substitute.
The decision to put Buxton on the injured list was backdated to Thursday. Both Falvey and manager Rocco Baldelli stated on Friday that they are hopeful Buxton will be ready to return by May 12, or shortly after that. An MRI scan on his knee showed no structural damage.
“He’s very committed. He doesn’t want to disappoint anyone, and he always wants to say he’s okay,” Baldelli explained. “But in the last game, he reached a point where he couldn’t say it anymore.”
Meanwhile, third baseman Royce Lewis is progressing well, according to Falvey. Lewis, who injured his right quadriceps while running the bases in the season opener, has resumed batting practice, running at up to 70% speed, and some light field work.
Lewis recently had a check-up that confirmed he’s on track, but this news doesn’t provide much comfort for the 24-year-old, whose major league career has been hindered by two ACL tears and subsequent knee surgeries, limiting him to just 71 games.
“Whenever I see a doctor now, I always expect bad news. They might say it’s going as planned, but to me, it feels like I can’t play. It’s disheartening,” said Lewis, who was the first overall pick in the 2017 amateur draft.
“Unless I can confidently say I’m ready to play, it all feels negative. That’s where I’m at.” Lewis mentioned that this recovery process has been tougher mentally compared to his ACL surgeries.
“The most challenging part is not having a clear timeline,” Lewis added. “I trust my body to heal quickly. If I’m feeling this good now, I can’t imagine how I’ll feel in another two weeks or so. Hopefully, it’ll be sooner.”
Acknowledging that the muscle is still reattaching, Lewis understands why the Twins are being cautious with his rehabilitation. “I just miss playing the game. I’d give anything to be out there every day, just like when I was a kid,” Lewis expressed.
The Twins also faced another injury setback with key reliever Brock Stewart, who was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder tendinitis on Friday.
Left-hander Kody Funderburk was called up from St. Paul to take his place. Additionally, right-hander Jorge Alcala was brought up for bullpen duty earlier in the day, while right-hander Caleb Boushley was sent down without making an appearance.
