Fractured finger ends Buxton's trying season

Byron Buxton's Arizona Fall League season is over after doctors discovered that his left middle finger is fractured and might require surgery.

The injury occurred on Monday when he dived for a ball in the ninth inning while playing for the Salt River Rafters. He initially was diagnosed with a dislocated left middle finger, and the Twins held out hope that he could return to action before the Arizona Fall League season ended on Nov. 13.

Buxton had an X-ray and was examined by a hand specialist in Arizona on Tuesday when the fracture was discovered.

''We have to wait and see what we are going to do as far as treatment,'' said Brad Steil, the Twins director of minor league operations. ''We can put a splint on it and then rehab it or have surgery and put a pin in it.''

Buxton's injury-plagued season is now over. Twins General Manager Terry Ryan was in attendance when the injury occurred, just like he was in August when Buxton suffered a concussion while playing for Class AA New Britain.

But that's not the only issue Buxton has had this season. He bruised his left wrist during spring training, then dealt with a bruised toe, sore left shoulder, a bruised right wrist and a concussion. He entered the season ranked as the top prospect in baseball but his trips to the disabled list limited him to 31 games during the minor league season. He batted .234 with four home runs and 16 RBI. He stole six bases and was thrown out stealing twice.

The Twins sent him to the AFL to get some at-bats and salvage the season. In 13 games with the Rafters, Buxton batted .263 with six RBI and five stolen bases.

The Twins have decided that third base prospect Miguel Sano will not play any winter ball this offseason, instead having him focus on being ready for spring training next year.

Sano missed the entire season because of Tommy John surgery on his right elbow after injuring it during 2014 spring training.

"We talked with the doctors and everyone involved," Steil said. "The earliest he could come back would be mid-to-late December, and we just decided that it wasn't worth it for just a few at-bats."

Sano is in Fort Myers, working out daily at the Twins complex there. He's throwing, hitting and taking ground balls.