Buxton likely to miss start of season

Twins' top prospect still sidelined by sprained wrist suffered while diving for fly ball

March 26, 2014 at 4:59PM
Minnesota Twins first round draft pick Byron Buxton, center, talks with manger Ron Gardenhire and hitting coach Joe Vara during batting practice before an interleague baseball game with the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, June 12, 2012, in Minneapolis
Minnesota Twins first round draft pick Byron Buxton, center, talks with manger Ron Gardenhire and hitting coach Joe Vara during batting practice before an interleague baseball game with the Philadelphia Phillies, Tuesday, June 12, 2012, in Minneapolis (Tom Wallace — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Byron Buxton remains sidelined with a sprained left wrist, and the Twins confirmed Wednesday that their top prospect may start the season on the disabled list.

The 20-year-old outfielder, projected to open the season with Class AA New Britain, injured his wrist while diving for a fly ball 10 days ago, and has not played since. He still feels soreness in the wrist when he swings a bat, though an MRI taken Saturday revealed no structural damage to the wrist.

He has been diagnosed with a sprain of the pisotriquetral joint, which can be slow to heal. Buxton will likely be sidelined for another couple of weeks, Twins doctors believe, meaning he would miss the start of the Eastern League season next Thursday.

"It is in jeopardy, yes," Brad Steil, the Twins' director of minor leagues, said of Buxton's status for Opening Day.

Buxton has been rated the No. 1 prospect in all of minor-league baseball by Baseball America, ESPN, and several other outlets. He batted a combined .334 with 12 home runs and 55 stolen bases at Class A Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers last season.

Miguel Sano, the Twins' other top hitting prospect, underwent elbow surgery last month and will miss the entire 2014 season.

about the writer

Phil Miller

Reporter

Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.

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