As the Twins move closer to an American League Central title, Byron Buxton's status for the remainder of the season remains uncertain.
Byron Buxton remains sidelined indefinitely after knee pain
Byron Buxton, out since Aug. 1 with hamstring and knee injuries, did not travel with the Saints, and there is no timeline for his return.
September 9, 2023 at 4:32AM
Front office and medical staff planned to meet with Buxton on Friday to discuss his right knee injury that paused his rehab assignment and next steps in his attempt to get back in the Twins lineup. Buxton played two games at Class AAA St. Paul, one in center field and one at designated hitter, before patella tendinitis flared up in his right knee.
What's the next step for him?
"Until he's healthy, nothing," manager Rocco Baldelli said Friday. "We're just going to keep getting him going physically until he's ready to play and get at-bats again. When he is, then we'll get him out there."
Baldelli emphasized the tendinitis wasn't a new injury and it wasn't necessarily unexpected as Buxton prepared to play center field for the first time this year. Buxton played seven innings in the outfield Aug. 30, and then he took two at-bats as a DH on Sept. 1 before he was pulled early from his second rehab game.
"This is kind of what we've discussed for the last six months in this room, talking about some of the challenges we might deal with [after] putting him out in the outfield," Baldelli said. "It's more of a volume issue. The pressure and just being on his feet and running around for two hours was not something that he was probably able to handle at that point.
"That doesn't mean he's not going to play for us. We're anticipating him working his way back and taking the field for us."
Buxton, who hasn't played in a major league game since Aug. 1, was originally sidelined by a right hamstring strain. Baldelli said Buxton is moving around better "than he was a few days ago, even," but there is no timetable for his return.
"I can't give any kind of decisive answer on that until he's healthy and basically ready to go play," Baldelli said.
With Buxton on the injured list, the Twins have rotated infielders Edouard Julien, Jorge Polanco and Royce Lewis as their DH to keep each of them in the lineup against righthanded starting pitching.
Buxton is batting .207 with 17 homers and 42 RBI in 85 games this season. His .731 OPS is his lowest since 2018.
Kirilloff back, Gallo on injured list
The Twins had some things they wanted to see from Alex Kirilloff on his rehab assignment for St. Paul, and he passed all his tests.
Kirilloff, who missed 34 games because of a right shoulder strain, was activated from the injured list before Friday's game against the Mets. He had 12 hits in 27 at-bats (.444 average) with two homers in six rehab games for St. Paul.
"It's not just about whether his shoulder is good for one day," Baldelli said. "It's: Can he play the rest of the season and be productive and feel good? I think the answer to that question is 'yes' from everything we've seen."
Joey Gallo was placed on the 10-day injured list because of a left foot contusion.
"From what I was told, he whacked a ball off his foot and he was gimping around and sore," Baldelli said.
Stewart faces hitters
Brock Stewart threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Friday against fellow injured Twins Nick Gordon and Michael A. Taylor, a sign he is nearing a rehab assignment after missing two months because of forearm and elbow soreness.
His fastball was up to 99 miles per hour, though he did admit he gave up a homer to Gordon.
"He looked great," Taylor said. "It was the first time I stood in the box. He's got a lot of different pitches. Everything jumps out of his hand. The movement is great. We've seen that this year. He's very effective."
Etc.
• Taylor ran on the field Friday for the first time since he went on the IL because of a right hamstring strain. "I still have a few more days to get to 100 percent, but progressing well," he said.
• Carlos Correa had his first chance to face the Mets after a failed physical nixed a potential 12-year, $315 million contract in the winter. "It was different, but at the same time, I appreciate every moment and everything I've gone through in my life," he said. "They shaped me as a man, and I'm here for a reason. I'm very happy that I'm here today."
• Tony Wolters homered and drove in four runs as the Saints beat host Louisville 7-6 to move 23 games over .500 on the season at 79-56.
Robust competition is likely for righthander Roki Sasaki, whose agent suggests a “smaller, midmarket” team might be a good route to take, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are said to be the favorites to land him.
